This was another matter taken up with energy during 1917, and with excellent results.
(4) The drilling of guns crews for the merchant ships.

Men were invited to go through a course of drill, and large numbers responded and were instructed at the Royal Naval Depot at the Crystal Palace.
All these matters were additional to the important work upon which the Trade Division was constantly employed, which included all blockade questions, the routeing of merchant ships, examination of ships, etc.
In addition to the instructional anti-submarine course for masters and officers, gunnery courses for cadets and apprentices were started at Portsmouth, Chatham and Devonport.

A system of visits to ships by officer instructors for the purpose of affording instruction and for inspection, as well as for the purpose of lecturing, was instituted, and arrangements were made for giving instruction in signalling.

Some idea of the work carried out will be gathered from the following figures showing the instructional work carried out during the year 1917: Masters 1,929 Officers 2,149 Number of cadets and apprentices passed through the gunnery course 543 Number of merchant seamen trained in gunnery at the Crystal Palace 3,964 Number of ships visited by officer instructors 6,927 Numbers attending these lectures: Masters 1,361 Officers 5,921 Number of officers and men instructed in signalling 10,487 The keenness shown by officers and men of the merchant service contributed in a marked degree to the success of the courses instituted; just one example may be given.

I visited the Royal Naval Depot at the Crystal Palace early in 1918, and amongst other most interesting scenes witnessed a large number of men of the merchant service at gun drill.