Hi Bill, Anchor Line archives are held at Glasgow University, see http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb248-ugd255/01 The lowest officer's exam was for 2nd mate and a holder of this certificate would normally sail as 3rd or 4th mate. Similarly someone holding a first mate's certificate would sail as 2nd mate, etc. A ship's steward would generally look after passengers and / or officers, keep passengers cabins clean, serve meals, etc. Can you put the photo on line or e-mail as an attachment? regards Ted On 11/11/2013 10:40, Bill Kean wrote: > > > > > From: Bill Kean [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, 10 November 2013 12:14 PM > > Subject: Mixture > > > > I have a relative shown on the Glasgow 1881 (April ) Census as 4th Mate - SS > Marathon ( which was likely to be O.N 28820 according to your website - > previous query ). I have since discovered he got his 2nd Mate Certificate in > June 1879. > > Would he have taken a ship at a lower rating? > > > > Another relative is shown in October 1894 as an Assistant Ships Steward on > the Anchor Line. I learned previously that Cunard Archives are held in > Liverpool. > > Who would hold the archives for the Anchor Line and what were the duties of > a ship's steward? > > > > Lastly I have a photo of someone in uniform ( presumably Shipping Line) > > Who can I contact to find out about the insignia on his cap and sleeves , ie > the line and rating? > > > > Many thanks......Bill > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

The situation is similar to that in British police forces. Any ambitious constable takes his sergeant's exams, but promotion to sergeant depends on the usual position bedcoming vacant and your face fitting. There is no way you get a promotion just because you have passed your exam. My brother (MM) was on North Sea ferries where the ship keeps sailing but the crew keeps changing. There the situation seemed much like that described in the Hornblower novels. The officers gathered and compared seniority to decide who was 3rd mate and who was 4th mate. On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 11:49 AM, Ted Finch <[email protected] > wrote: > Hi Bill, > > Anchor Line archives are held at Glasgow University, see > http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb248-ugd255/01 > > The lowest officer's exam was for 2nd mate and a holder of this > certificate would normally sail as 3rd or 4th mate. Similarly someone > holding a first mate's certificate would sail as 2nd mate, etc. > > A ship's steward would generally look after passengers and / or > officers, keep passengers cabins clean, serve meals, etc. > > Can you put the photo on line or e-mail as an attachment? > > regards > Ted > > > On 11/11/2013 10:40, Bill Kean wrote: > > > > > > > > > > From: Bill Kean [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Sunday, 10 November 2013 12:14 PM > > > > Subject: Mixture > > > > > > > > I have a relative shown on the Glasgow 1881 (April ) Census as 4th Mate > - SS > > Marathon ( which was likely to be O.N 28820 according to your website - > > previous query ). I have since discovered he got his 2nd Mate > Certificate in > > June 1879. > > > > Would he have taken a ship at a lower rating? > > > > > > > > Another relative is shown in October 1894 as an Assistant Ships Steward > on > > the Anchor Line. I learned previously that Cunard Archives are held in > > Liverpool. > > > > Who would hold the archives for the Anchor Line and what were the duties > of > > a ship's steward? > > > > > > > > Lastly I have a photo of someone in uniform ( presumably Shipping Line) > > > > Who can I contact to find out about the insignia on his cap and sleeves > , ie > > the line and rating? > > > > > > > > Many thanks......Bill > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >