Passing out for Navy's last artificers
A PASSING-out parade was held yesterday for the last ever group of Royal Navy artificers, as the 141-year-old ranking was consigned to the history books.
The artificers taking part in the ceremony were the final graduates of the Marine Engineering Artificer Qualifying Course at HMS Sultan, Gosport, Hampshire.
The rank of artificer, affectionately referred to as "tiffs" or "tiffies", will now fall under the new banner of "engineering technicians" – ME for marine engineers and WE for weapons.
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Hide AdA Royal Navy spokeswoman said: "This change of rank better reflects the job of artificers in the 21st century and recognises the continued evolution of naval engineering.
"As an improved method of training, becoming an ET also improves the career training available to sailors."