The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), as it became known in 1958, celebrates its centenary this year.

Appropriately, Glasgow provided the venue for the first in a series of celebrations to take place around the UK, as it was in Glasgow in October 1903 that the Duke of Montrose established Clyde Division, the very first RNVR unit to be formed in the UK after the passing of the Reserve Forces Act 1903. London Division was not established until the following month.

In 1903 the Reserve Forces Act was passed to ensure that enough manpower was available for the Fleet in time of conflict, which led to the formation of the Wavy Navy, as the RNVR was affectionately known because of the wavy Naval stripe worn by Reservists.

Six years after the passing of the Act, the strength of the RNVR stood at 4,000 men. In World War II 800,000 people were mobilised.

Today the strength of the RNR is approximately 3,500, and the raison d’être for the organisation today remains exactly the same as it did 100 years ago.

And in its centenary year, for only the third time in its history, members of the RNR are being compulsorily mobilised, and approximately 290 have been called up as part of planning for operations in the Gulf – the previous occasions were during the two World Wars.

In recognition of the Scottish link, the five northern RNR Units now located within the land area of Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland’s (FOSNNI), Rear Admiral Derek Anthony, came together for a day of celebrations in Glasgow – and Glasgow did the Navy proud!

The guest of honour was Prince Michael of Kent, Honorary Commodore RNR, who had undertaken a four-day ‘working’ visit in Scotland to give him the opportunity to meet as many reservists as possible before the big day itself.

On arrival he visited HMS Dalriada, the West Coast Reserve Training Centre (RTC) at Greenock on the Clyde.

He was briefed on the role of the RTC and the training it provides to reservists drawn from an extensive catchment area, and from as far afield as Campbeltown.

Hosted by Commanding Officer Cdr Alasdair MacTaggart, a chartered surveyor in ‘Civvie Street’, the Prince met members of the unit both formally and informally.

Whilst visiting a class of Medical Support Assistants he was invited by CPO(MSA) John Reilly to undertake an intravenous infusion, and the royal visitor performed the operation very successfully – at least, the dummy concerned did not complain. LNN Frances Dewar kept a watchful eye on proceedings.

The following day the Prince joined the Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff (JMOTS) in the Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane.

JMOTS staff is normally based at Northwood, but three times a year travels to Faslane to run Joint Maritime Courses (JMCs) – two-week joint RN and RAF training courses with invited Allied and NATO navies and air forces taking part.

Conducted off the north-west coast of Scotland, JMCs train personnel at sea and in the air to operate in a multi-threat environment (air, surface and sub-surface) in the most arduous of conditions, both man-made and natural – the winter JMC is usually not for the faint-hearted.

During each JMC, Naval and RAF reservists augment the JMOTS staff at Faslane, and also at sea. Prince Michael had the opportunity to meet JMOTS and FOSNNI staff, and reservist augmentees, as he toured the MOC and received briefings on the complexities of the threats that those at sea and in the air would be encountering.

In the afternoon the Prince travelled to the East Coast of Scotland to visit the Rosyth Royal Dockyard. There he went on board Type 23 frigate HMS Monmouth, presently in refit but due to rejoin the Fleet this summer on completion of her 12-month overhaul.

The ship has been fitted with a new Mod 1 4.5in gun and converted to carry the Merlin helicopter.

He was met by her Commanding Officer, Cdr Guy Haywood, and during a tour of the ship had the opportunity to talk with many members of the ship’s company.

After leaving HMS Monmouth, Prince Michael moved on to HMS Scotia, the East Coast RTC at Rosyth, where Cdr Andrew Gould, the unit’s Commanding Officer, met him on arrival.

Scotia had invited the civilian employers of a number of its reservists to come to meet Prince Michael and to learn something about the training their employees receive in the RNR. This was the first time that the Prince had had the opportunity to meet with employers in his capacity as Honorary Commodore RNR, and it proved very successful.

He then went on to join Scotia personnel for the Thursday evening Drill Night where he was invited to present Long Service Medals to Petty Officer (Operations HQ) Mark Firth and Leading Seaman (Mine Warfare) Malcolm Brown.

The following day, Prince Michael’s full programme included a tour of HM Naval Base Clyde and the RN Armaments Depot at Coulport. Once again he had the opportunity to meet RNR personnel, who are currently serving at Faslane on Full Time Reserve Service.

That evening he attended a Mess Dinner to commemorate the centenary of the RNR. Held in the Wardroom of HMS Neptune, it was hosted by Commodore John Ellis, Commodore RNR. Guests included the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral James Burnell-Nugent, FOSNNI and the Chaplain of the Fleet, the Venerable Barry Hammett.

Many dignitaries from both the East and West coasts of Scotland attended this special occasion.
The big day itself dawned bright but showery and proved to be a day to remember for all those who attended the centenary celebration in Glasgow.

It began with a Service of Commemoration in Glasgow Cathedral which was conducted by the Minister, Dr William Morris, and the Chaplain of the Fleet. The congregation, some 1,400 in number, was a mixture of veterans and past members of the RNVR and RNR, serving RNR personnel and VIPs and dignitaries from Scotland, the North of England and Northern Ireland.

The service was followed by a parade through Glasgow city centre, led by the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland, and including 250 personnel from HMS Scotia, HMS Dalriada, HMS Eaglet in Liverpool, HMS Calliope in Newcastle and HMS Caroline in Belfast, taking a route between Glasgow Cathedral and George Square in the heart of Glasgow.

As Prince Michael took the salute, a small gathering of anti-war protesters made themselves heard, but failed to disrupt proceedings. The First and Second Sea Lords, FOSNNI and Commodore RNR were joined by Commodore Laurie Brokenshire, Commodore HMS Raleigh, Captain Chris Massey Taylor, Director Naval Reserves, and the present Duke and Duchess of Montrose.

On completion of the march, Glasgow City Council held a civic reception in the City Chambers to celebrate the centenary and the links between the city and the first RNVR Unit on the Clyde.

To mark the occasion, Commodore Ellis presented the Deputy Lord Provost, Cllr Jean Macey, with a scale model of HMS Dovey, a minesweeper and the last ship tendered to HMS Graham, the Glasgow RNR Unit which closed in 1993. The model will go on display in Glasgow’s Museum of Transport.

The Deputy Lord Provost, on behalf of the Glasgow City Council, presented the Commodore RNR with a trophy , which will be used as an annual award in recognition of achievement within the RNR.

In keeping with tradition, Mrs Tina Ellis, wife of the Commodore RNR, and Wren (Logistics) Rachael Morris (17), the youngest rating at HMS Dalriada, cut a centenary cake which was later taken and presented to patients at the Erskine Hospital by members of HMS Dalriada.

Further centenary celebrations will be taking place during the year, with the principal event taking place in London at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday May 17, when the RNR will be presented with the Sovereign’s Colour of the RN in recognition of one hundred years continuous contribution to the Royal Navy.