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Typical crew of an early 1900's British ship

Rank
Other name
 
Responsibility
MASTER
CAPTAIN
 
Overall commander of the ship
CHIEF OFFICER
1st MATE (OR MATE)
 
2nd in command of the ship
2ND OFFICER
2nd MATE
 
3rd in command of the ship
3RD OFFICER
3rd MATE
 
4th in command of the ship
4TH OFFICER
4th MATE
 
5th in command of the ship (often a cadet)
RADIO OPERATOR
R/O
MARCONI SAHIB
 
Jr RADIO OPERATOR
Jr (OR 2nd) R/O
CHOTA MARCONI SAHIB
 
CHIEF STEWARD
 
BUTLER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CARPENTER
CHIPPIE
MISTREE
 
 
LAUNDRYMAN
DHOBI WALLAH
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BOSUN
SERANG
Head of the deck crew, responsible to the 1st Mate
 
BOSUN'S MATE
TINDEL
Assistant to the Bosun
 
QUATERMASTER
SEACUNNY
Helmsman of the vessel
 
STOREMAN
CASSUB
In charge of the deck stores
 
SEAMAN
LASCAR
2nd class Lascar (ordinary seaman), 1st class Lascar (able Seaman)
 
CLEANER
TOPASS
Responsible for maintaining a hygenic ship
 
COOK
BHANDARY
A Bhandary was often the indian crews cook
 
LAMPTRIMMER
KUSSAB
Responsible for trimming the wicks of the ships oil lamps (before electricity) and ensuring they were full of oil
 
 
 
 
CHIEF ENGINEER
1st ENGINEER
 
Head of the engineroom
2ND ENGINEER
 
 
2nd in command of the Engineroom
3RD ENGINEER
 
 
3rd in command of the Engineroom
4TH ENGINEER
 
 
4th in command of the Engineroom (often a cadet)
 
 
 
 
FIREMAN
STOKER
 
Responsible for tending the fire in the boiler of a steam engine
COAL TRIMMER
 
 
Responsible for all coal handling tasks starting with the loading of coal into the ship and ending with the delivery of the coal to the stoker
OILMAN
GREASER
TAL WALLAH
 
DONKEYMAN
 
 
Responsible for the running of the ships Donkey boiler (used for auxillury equipment)

 

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