Medal Society of Ireland

To research the career of a naval rating in the earlier part of the 19th century is generally more difficult and often less productive than carrying out the same task on his army counterpart. In the army a man usually remained with one regiment throughout his career, so his service papers were tidily kept together. On the other hand, a sailor joined a ship for a single commission, a tour of duty at sea usually lasting three or more years. The ship then returned home and the crew were paid off. (This of course refers to the period after 1815, while the Napoleonic War was in progress a man was only discharged when injury or sickness rendered him unfit for any further useful service, he was usually sent straight from one ship to the next without even a chance to see wife or family, in case he did not return.) Each time his ship was paid off, he received from the Captain a Discharge Certificate. This showed his time and rating on board and a statement of his conduct. He was expected to produce all his previous certificates when applying to join a ship and, finally, when he was applying for a pension. (This required a consistent assessment of "Very Good" in addition to a certain number of years of service.) Of course, these Certificates were sometimes mislaid - perhaps deliberately if his conduct had been less than acceptable.