Find out more about the men who served in HMS Victory...
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The Gunner
 The gunner, William Rivers, was responsible for looking after of all the guns and associated equipment. He made sure that gunpowder kept in the magazine was safe and dry, and that there was a plentiful supply of cartridges ready to use. Assisting him were six mates, twelve quarter gunners and two yeomen of the powder room. He was also responsible for all small arms: muskets, bayonets, pistols, cutlasses, pikes and hatchets. For this equipment he had an armourer, his mates and a gunsmith. The gunner was also in charge of the gunroom situated at the after end of the lower gun deck where he kept a watch over the ship’s boys. |
Marines
 Marines served as a professional military unit, both afloat and ashore. They also protected the ship’s officers from the crew. During battle they provided extra manpower to operate guns, small arms fire and disciplined defence at close quarters. They participated in attacks on coastal installations and capturing enemy ships at anchor.Under normal sailing conditions they were employed as sentinels guarding the powder rooms, magazines, the spirit room and other storerooms, and the entrances to the Admiral’s and Officers’ quarters. This precaution was considered essential after the mutinies in 1797. Their other duties were to give general assistance to seamen when unskilled heavy labour was required, such as hauling on ropes when the ship was manoeuvring. They also supplied manpower to help turn the capstan to weigh anchor or embark heavy stores.
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The Purser
The purser was the ships grocer. He took delivery of all food and drinks. He bought supplies from foreign ports when they were away from home. He gave out hammocks and bedding and sold tobacco and slops (clothes) to the men.
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The Master
 The master and senior warrant officer on board victory at the time of Nelson was Thomas Atkinson.His main tasks were the safe navigation of the ship and the keeping of her logbook. He looked after the sails and rigging, anchors and the keeping of stores. The way stores were put in the hold would affect the way the ship sailed and how fast she would travel. Thomas Atkinson died in 1836 and was buried in St Andrew’s churchyard in Farlington in Portsmouth. |
Midshipmen
 The midshipmen were usually young gentlemen from well to do families who had been sent to sea to train as Naval Officers. Like Nelson had they would have joined the navy at 12 or 13. They learned how to sail a ship, navigation and maths. They would assist the officer of the watch by taking care of the log line, which was used to see how fast the ship was travelling.When they first joined the ship they would live at the back of the ship in an area known as the gunroom. As they were a little older they would move to the midshipmen’s quarters on the Orlop deck. |
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A powder monkey was the term given to any member of the ship's company who passed filled cartridges and shot during action from the magazines below decks. The suggestion that this work was done entirely by ship’s boys is a myth. Eighty to ninety people were needed to perform this task in battle and there were only thirty-one boys on HMS Victory. As the ship’s boys ranged in age from twelve to nineteen, many of them were not really boys.
