Service Number Information (R.N. & R.M.)
Royal Navy:
The numbers of ratings consisted of a Prefix indicating their Port Division (responsible for their training, promotion and manning of ships), a forward slash, a Main Letter denoting their trade, and a 4 - 6 figure number. An additional letter "X" after the main letter indicates that the rating was engaged after the new pay code of the early 1930's was introduced.
| Prefix Letters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Home Port Divisions | C | Chatham |
| D | Devonport | |
| P | Portsmouth | |
| LT | Lowestoft (W) | |
| R | Rosyth (W) | |
| Overseas Port Divisions | MALTA | Malta |
| GOA | Goa | |
| A | Alexandria (W) | |
| Fleet Air Arm | FAA | (W) |
| L | Lee-on-Solent | |
(W) - World War 2 only
| Main Letters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Long Service (12 years plus optional 10 years to qualify for pension) |
J | Seamen and Communications |
| K | Stokers and Mechanicians | |
| L | Officers' Stewards, some Officers' Cooks | |
| M | Others -Artificers, Electrical, Supply etc | |
| N | NAAFI staff (W) | |
| F | Fleet Air Arm | |
| Short Service (7 years plus 5 years on Reserve) |
SS | Seamen and Communications |
| SK | Stokers | |
| SM | Miscellaneous | |
| SF | Fleet Air Arm | |
Examples:
Some Royal Marine numbers had prefix letters as shown below (e.g. PO/1327) and sometimes there was a letter after the number indicating their trade.
| Prefix |
Location |
| CH | Chatham Group |
| PLY | Plymouth Group |
| PO | Portsmouth Group |
| EX | Exton (W) |
| RMB | Royal Marine Bands |
| RMP | Royal Marine Police |
(W) - World War 2 only
Royal Marine Police guarding dock yards and depots had group prefixes as shown above with main letters "RMP" (e.g. PO/RMP12345).
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