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RECRUITMENT FOR THE ROYAL NAVY .
Home Intelligence
5th December, 1941.

In accordance with your memorandum of 25th November, we asked all R.I.Os to send us reports on the various aspects of this subject in which you are interested. All but Scotland have replied; the following is a summary of their reports.

In our directive to R.I.Os we specified three main categories of men to whom they should direct their enquiries:

1. Young men not yet liable to be called up, and who, therefore, can volunteer.

2. Men now being called up, under the Act which permits them to express a preference for the Navy.

3. Men who are at present reserved, but who may be de-reserved in the future.

Reporting on factors which appear to deter men from joining the Navy, and on the attitude of their friends and relatives towards their doing so, R.I.Os, generally speaking, are in agreement. This seems to apply equally to inland Regions, where the Navy is not an obvious choice, and the coastal Regions where strong naval traditions have often existed for generations.

Main reasons in favour of joining the Navy .

These appear to be in the following order of importance:-

1) Spirit of adventure. Under this heading come all remarks such as “Well, it's a man's life,” and “We always have been a sea-going people.”

2) Prestige. This takes in both the personal prestige of the man concerned, and the feeling that the Navy is the Senior Service and has a high reputation for successful action in this war. In connection with the first point, one R.I.O. writes: “Near the coast, the naval uniform is taken rather for granted but in an inland pub a sailor has more glamour than the R.A.F.”

3) Welfare. There appears to be a strong inducement in the feeling that while he is afloat, the man has his berth and his food assured, and is in a settled place. “You belong somewhere,” is the comment often reported. This feeling appears to weigh even more than the idea, also expressed freely but more in the nature of a second thought, that the men are better looked after, and get better food in the Navy than in the other Services. There is a belief that Naval life is more “human” than Army or Air Force life, that there is more comradeship between the men, and less “useless drilling”. Men from well-run homes, in particular, seem to appreciate the idea of cleanliness and good organisation.

4) Pay. The higher scale of pay and family allowances in the Navy naturally appeals most to married men, but even those without commitments refer favourably to the absence of worry about money, because “there's nothing much to spend it on at sea.”

5) Negative reasons: “To avoid joining the Army”; and about the R.A.F.: “Don't fancy flying, and wouldn't be content with ground duties.”

Main deterrents to joining the Navy .

1) A belief that the applicant is not needed in the Navy, and is not likely to be accepted. This emerges as by far the most widespread obstacle to expressing a preference for the Navy, when men are called-up. It is thought that the Navy is not anxious for recruits and that standards of fitness, eye-sight etc., are therefore made excessively high so that “all but the cream are kept out”. “Long waiting lists” are frequently mentioned. Stories of delay in the call-up of naval volunteers at the beginning of the war, are regarded as “evidence” that “it is no use putting your name down for the Navy”. (It is thought, in some cases, that there is a feeling of “slur” in being rejected).

2) Ignorance about the conditions of naval life. Several R.I.Os stress the lack of publicity for the Navy. “This compares very unfavourably with the publicity given to individual and group exploits of the R.A.F., and even with the Merchant Service, which has received considerable wartime notice.” (One R.I.O. points out that on the rare occasions when particular stories of the Navy are given by press or radio, they are almost invariably accompanied by descriptions of shipwreck and dying of thirst in open boats.

3) The appeal of the R.A.F. to the adventurous types. It is pointed out that whereas the Navy is “the Silent Service,” and is usually invisible as well, planes are constantly to be seen and heard in every part of the country, so that the R.A.F. is constantly in the mind of the potential recruit wavering between the two Services.

4) Dislike of close and crowded quarters. “Wouldn't like to be cooped up in a ship” is a comment often reported.

5) Long absences from home or friends ashore.

6) Fear of the sea, and similar fears such as sea-sickness and boredom.

Youth training schemes .

It is suggested that there are few youth organisations or training schemes which serve to pledge a youth to the Navy at any early age, such as the Air Cadets scheme for the R.A.F. which is described as “excellent.” Where such organisations do exist, like the Sea Cadets, they are said to be seriously hampered for lack of funds.

The attitude of relatives .

Little evidence of resistance has been found among the families of men who intend to express, or who have expressed a preference for the Navy. It is pointed out that “my boy's in the Navy” is a remark habitually made with the greatest pride. There is much talk of the long absences entailed, but on the whole there does not seem to be a strong feeling anywhere that the Navy is more dangerous than the other Services; some contacts state that “relatives have a feeling that in spite of the grave risks of life at sea, the chance of survival compares favourably with an airman's chances, though mothers and wives “think a good bit about the dangers of cold as well as privation from other causes”; the character of the battle “is not so grim or harrowing”. The standards of pay and allowances are frequently mentioned with appreciation.

Suggestions for increasing recruitment .

Here the R.I.O's reports differ widely. Publicity for the simple fact that the Navy wants men, and that there are no longer waiting lists, is suggested by the majority, as likely to meet with an immediate response. Other suggestions are that:-

(1) A preliminary physical examination should be available to anyone who is considering joining the Navy. “It is regarded as unfair to the individual, and unwise as a policy, to allow men to prepare for entrance into the Navy for a period prior to the passing of a very stringent medical examination. Cases were instanced where men, at the cost of considerable disappointment and frustration to themselves, were turned down after some months of preparation, on account of faulty eye-sight.

(2) It is suggested that men awaiting call-up, and who have already expressed a preference for one of the other Services, (possibly under a belief that they had no chance of getting into the Navy) might now be allowed to alter their choice in its favour. It is also thought that those “who previously volunteered for the Navy but who were pushed into the Army instead, should be given an opportunity to transfer”.

(3) As it is thought that older men becoming de-reserved may want to pursue their trades, it is hoped that publicity will be given to specific vacancies, e.g. “The Navy wants -” and then lists of shore-callings which can be carried on afloat.

(4) Among suggestions made are that the Sea Cadets should receive more financial and technical help. It is also suggested that joint courses of instructions on signalling and other subjects might be arranged between the A.T.C. and Sea Cadets, that a certificate of proficiency should be issued for elementary subjects which would be accepted by the Navy and be helpful to those joining this way; whenever possible permits might be granted for Sea Cadets to look over naval craft coming into harbour; also the lads should be allowed more often to wear their uniform, of which they seem to be very proud, as it stimulates envy in other youths.

(5) Generally speaking, films, posters and radio are regarded as the best media for publicity. It is stressed that “any picture of the Royal Navy designed to induce young men to recruit should set out to give some knowledge of the work-a-day life on board ship. There is no need for further representation of ‘cabin life’ - the cup of tea, parrot, bunks, gramophone, etc. Depiction is needed of the duty tasks performed, such as the handling of guns, instruments, radio etc. without too much stress being laid on the scrubbing of decks. It should always be emphasised that it is an honour to be accepted for the arduous and heroic life of the Royal Navy.”

Localities suggested for drives .

Though not all Regions made suggestions for suitable recruiting localities, the attached list includes the names of all places specifically mentioned. Opinions differ as to whether the coast towns, with their greater familiarity with naval personnel, or the inland districts, “the comparatively untapped sources”, offer the best advantages for recruiting drives. Northern Ireland, where there is no conscription, is said to be specially good ground: “Judging from the numbers of inquiries there is an interest here (Belfast district) which could be given a real impetus”.

SUGGESTED LOCALITIES FOR RECRUITING DRIVES