Naval Biographical Database Appointments
	Three key dates are sought - date of appointment, date of entry and date of discharge.  No single source gives all three dates but some sources give additional information which is not available on standard reports.  These entries represent the bulk of data held on the database to date Appointment date.  In the early days this date is only available and useful for Commission and Warrant officers.  Comments such as ‘of good testimony' or ‘recommended by' normally imply first entry into Navy employment. The detailing of individuals to take over important posts in the event of death or illness (what today we would call dormant appointments) dates from late in the 17th century.  There are also a number of instances where the posting was noted as ‘acting' or was subsequently cancelled or not taken up.  The reason for the new Warrant Officer's move is normally recorded in the warrant - such notes as ‘former deceased' being commonplace.  This may be the only record of what happened to the previous post-holder. Entry date.  This is taken as the day on which pay started.  For officers bringing ships out of build, it often (but not invariably) coincided with Commissioning. Discharge date.  The day on which pay ceased.  This might represent the day the ship was paid off, or when the individual was relieved or died.  Beware, ships were not always paid off on the day they were lost. © CHD 2004