Fleet Paymaster H.W.E.
Manisty was appointed as Organizing Manager of Convoys, and the Convoy Section, comprising at first some ten officers, soon increased to a total of fifteen, and was in immediate touch with the Ministry of Shipping through a representative, Mr.Leslie.His function was to make such arrangements as would ensure co-operation between the loading and discharging of cargoes and convoy requirements, and generally to coordinate shipping needs with convoy needs.
The organizing manager of the convoys and his staff controlled the assembly, etc., of all convoys and vessels.
The routing of the convoys and their protection, both ocean and anti-submarine, was arranged under the superintendence of the A.C.N.S.
In addition to the central Admiralty organization, an officer with the necessary staff was appointed to each convoy port of assembly at home and abroad.

This officer's duties comprised the collection and organization of the convoy and the issue of sailing orders and necessary printed instructions to the masters of the vessels, seeing that they were properly equipped for sailing in company, and forwarding information to the Admiralty of the movements of the convoy.
An essential feature of the system was the appointment of a convoy commodore.

This officer was quite distinct from the commanding officer of the vessel forming the ocean escort, but acted under his orders when in company.

The duty of the convoy commodore, whose broad pennant was hoisted in one of the ships, was, subject to instructions from the commanding officer of the escorting vessel, to take general charge of the convoy.
The convoy commodores were either naval officers, admirals or captains on the active or retired lists, or experienced merchant captains.

The duties were most arduous and responsible, but there was no lack of volunteers for this work.