Hello Stan, and thanks for the response.

I have checked out the link and found it interesting.

However, I am wondering if it refers to the RANK and not the actual position of the holder.

An example from the Canadian Forces. An army Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) is the most senior rank for the enlisted men. However duties of holders may well be the Pipe Major, the Drum Major, or the unit Regimental Sergeant Major. Each holds the rank of CWO but are refered to as the Drum Major, Pipe Major or RSM.

I wonder if this is similar in the US Navy.. or if the new position of CPO was in fact created in 1893. And if the later, did the new position encompass all of the chiefs of the various trades of years earlier.

My sources are several for Robinson's rank.

I'll quote two.

General Order #59, dated 22 June 1865 identified the Robinson who deserted, as holding the rank of CHIEF BOASWAIN'S MATE. In this same order are listed CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS'S Robert Summers and James W Verney as also having both been awarded the MOH for actions during the Civil War.

In July of last year the PR department at the Naval Museum in DC sent me a list of 74 MOH's they were holding, and were, I assume the remnants of more probably sent to them back in the 50's from the Naval Department.

Item 20 therein identifies the deserting Robinson's medal, contains the inscription and the use of the title CHIEF BOATSWAIN'S MATE. It is a direct quote of the inscription on the medal that one ought to preume was made in the 1860's.

On that same list there is also the name of John Hill who is identified as a CHIEF QUARTER GUNNER and the inscription including rank indicates his medal dated from actions in 1872 at Nicaragua.

All the above predate the new rank of CPO in the 1890's.

hopes this helps,

cheers from Victoria BC

Bart