1888 – First enrolment

ENGINEER VOLUNTEERS.
Submarine miners, Royal Engineers.
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FORTH DIVISION
Honorary Commandant –
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HOPETOUN.
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Arrangements have now been completed for the Training of this Corps, and eligible Young Men are invited to join it. Forms of Application for Enlistment may be had from W. Nimmo & Co. Stationers, 42 Constitiution Street, Leith.

Those ought to be filled up and forwarded at once to the Officer Commanding, Forth Division, Submarine Miners, R.E., Leith Fort.

All who give in their names will be summoned to an early Meeting, when the Officer Commanding will complete the Enrolment of those whose applications are satisfactory, and the Rules of the Corps will be submitted to the members.

It is expected that the training will commence in the second week of March. A short notice of the Corps is annexed.
The defence of the Forth has been considered by the Authorities in charge of the National Defences, and an important section of the defences resolved upon consists of Submarine Mines. These consist of iron cases containing explosives, and are placed in a waterway in such positions that by their explosion they would damage a vessel attempting to use the passage. The explosion is caused either mechanically, as when a vessel bumps against a mine-case, or electrically by a current of electricity sent through the mine from a shore station when a hostile vessel is over or near the mine.
Should war become imminent it will devolve upon the Forth Division, Sunmarine Miners, to lay out all the Submarine Mines necessary in the Firth, and to have all the shore arrangements ready for their use. It is the duty of the Corps to acquire such knowledge and skill in this work as will render it worty of the trust conferred upon it.

The plans for the distribution of the mines will be retained by the War Office until it may become necessary to apply them, but the Corps will be practised annually in work involving all the essential features of the system.

Every man in the Corps is required to pass annually in Squad and Company Drill, including the Manual and Firing exercises, and in the prliminary Musketry Drill. With a view to practice in these points he is required to attend not less than nine drills and the Inspection; more will be necessary the first year.
In regard to Engineering duties, some subjects are common to the whole Corps. Thus every man will be instructed in Rowing and Sculling, Knotting and Splicing, Signalling, Cable Work, Loading, Connecting-up, Laying-out and Raising Mines, Making-up Electrical Batteries, etc. Other subjects will be taught only to Special Classes, men being selected for one class or another according to their previous training and ordinary occupations or special aptitude, so that each may be employed at the work he is best able to do. Such subjects are – Management of Boats, Sounding and Use of Sextant, Telegraph Instruments and Telephone, Electrical Testing, Working Electric Light, Engine-Driving, Diving.

The training in Engineering duties will consist of Evening Drills at the Head-Quarters of the Corps; of practice on the water in boats and on the “miner” – the Dundas – on Saturday afternoons during Spring and Summer; and of a systematic exercise in Mining operations during an encampment of a fortnight at a time fixed to suit the convenience of the Corps – probably at the Trades’ Holiday time in the end of July.

The Head-Quarters of the Corps will be, for some time at least, the Store-ship Dido. This vessel is at present being fitted up with all requisites for preliminary training in Submarine Mining, and is expected to arrive in Leith in the beginning of April; till then the Corps will drill at Leith Fort.
The “Miner” Dundas, at present at Leith Harbour, has been assigned to the Forth Division. It has been specially designed for Submarine Mining in an open firth, and is fitted with the newest mechanical appliances for laying-out and raising mines.

The Annual Encampment may be at any place convenient for the work. It will probably be on Inchkeith. Each man who completes this Annual Training of a fortnight receives an allowance for loss of wages; at present the rate is Five Shillings a-day.

The Uniform of the Corps is similar to that of the Royal Engineers, but with White in place of Yellow.

FULL DRESS – Scarlet Tunic, Blue Trousers with broad Red Stripe, Helmet.

UNDRESS – As above, but with Forage Cap instead of Helmet.

WORKING DRESS – Reefer Jacket, Blue Jersey, Blue Serge Trousers, Naval Cap.

Each member is required on joining the Corps, to agree to serve for four years.

In view of the nature of the work of the Corps the classes of men from which it is desired to draw Recruits are Electricians and Telegraphists; Artisans of various trades, Boatmen and other intelligent and able-bodies young men who have a knowledge of boat-work.

Members of the Corps who can spare the time may have the privilege of joining the detachment sent to Chatham for special training during a period of one month. In some cases this may be extended to two or even four months. These men receive rations, etc., and are paid Five Shilling a day during the training.

F. GRANT OGILVIE. Capt.

O.C. Forth Division, Submarine Miners, Royal Engineers.