Royal Naval Minewatching Service

The Royal Naval Mine Watching Service was a civilian organisation formed in 1952 as part of the auxiliary forces of the British Naval Service.

Its intended wartime role was to man observation points overlooking ports and strategic waterways, in order to report mines dropped by aircraft.

The service came into existence early in 1952 when nearly 3,000 men and women enrolled for duty in an emergency.

In 1962 the service was amalgamated with the Admiralty Ferry Crews Association, to become the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (R.N.X.S). The flag inscription was altered from "RN MWS" to "RNXS" to reflect that name change.

Mine watching was described as a task of vital national importance; in a debate on defence in the House of Commons in March 1952, Winston Churchill pointed out that the Royal Navy had three main threats to meet in the event of war: the mine, the U-boat, and the threat from the air.

Churchill also emphasised the threat of the aerially laid mine in coastal waters and much thought was being devoted to the problem in high places. "It is therefore fitting that we should Salute the Mine watching Service as Her Majesty the Queen recently did by approving a uniform to be worn by members of the Service. This uniform, comprising a beret with specially designed badge, a greatcoat with shoulder flash bearing the initials "R.N.M.W.S." and battledress (with either skirt or trousers for women watchers) should do much to improve the standing of the Service and extend recruitment".

He welcomed the R.N.M.W.S. composed of men and women in civilian life and said it "might well be as valuable to the Royal Navy and to the life of the Island as our sailors afloat."

The Royal Naval Mine watching Service, was designed as an integral part of British mine countermeasures.

The service was a civilian one, operated and administered by the Royal Navy under the overall direction of the Admiralty. Its members were volunteers of either sex of the age of 26 or more, normally British subjects, who are trained at centres near their homes and were willing to serve on a full-time or part-time basis in the event of emergency. They must live near the coast or the principal rivers or waterways.

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