wiremen

[hazy77911]

Hello everyone i wonder if you could help me i'm interested in the royal naval battleship h.m.s. hood what i need to know is several of the crew had the rank of wiremen does anyone know what this is i have talked to an ex naval rating and he has never heard of it does anyone out there know thanks in advance.

[THECORBYLOON]

I've had a look and it seems to be an engineer. There is a forum on the HMS Hood site here http://hmshood.com/admin/forum.htm and no doubt you'll get a more detailed explanation there.

[heathfield]

A wireman was an electrician. As the Navy relied more and more on electrical equipment, the ranks evolved from simply 'wireman' into 'wireman, 2nd class', 'wireman, 1st class', and eventually, during WWII, a wireman could be given the rank of Petty Officer.
The term wireman is still used today by some companies in the UK and USA.

[THECORBYLOON]

Many apologies, I have no idea why I wrote engineer instead of electrician! I mind on thinking it's obviously a reference to electrical wires.

Anyway, I've not been well and I have a headache <cue violins and expressions of sympathy>