The Navy List for November 1924 gives both Robert Fry RNR and also Arthur William Fry RNR. Arthur William Fry was a "Paymaster" in RNR. From 1914, promotion to Lieutenant-Commander was automatic on reaching eight years' seniority as a Lieutenant.
All Naval Clerks who have passed the required examination as to their qualifications to fill the office of Paymaster, R.N., were designated "Assistant Paymasters". Paymasters were constituted Accountant Officers for Cash to the Accountant General of the Navy, and were no longer to be considered exclusively under the direction of the Comptroller of the Victualling ; and as the Accountant Officers of the ship in which they are serving, the Paymasters had, under the control of the Commanding Officer, the direction and superintendence of all Assistant Paymasters, Clerks, and Assistant Clerks, on board.
RNR officers were recruited from officers of the Merchant Marine so one would expect Arthur William to have been something like a Purser rather than a bank clerk. One would have thought that Paymasters recruited from civilian life would be RNVR. Paymasters were part of the Accountant Branch which was responsible for the administration of the navy including pay, victualling etc.
1881 Oct/Dec. Born Finchley
1891 census His father is a higher grade 2nd Division Civil Servant in HM Treasury. Living at Northfleet, Stafford Rd, South Mimms.
1901 census. living at 28 Fairfield Rd, Hornsey with his parents. He was a Bank Clerk
1904 Nov 29. The undermentioned Acting Assistant Paymasters have been confirmed in the rank of Assistant Paymaster, Arthur William Fry.
1909 Jul 31. A W Fry Assistant Paymaster posted to HMS Cochrane
1910 Sep 10. Assistant Paymaster RNR to Venus, A W Fry. Additional for training.
1911 Census. 84 Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, London
1914 Aug 3. Appointed to MFA Alcinous
1914 Dec 30. Appointed to MFA Umgeni
Appointed to Thalia, base ship Cromarty/Peterhead 1/1/15 for miscellaneous duties, still there Oct. 17.
Thalia replaced by Nairn in March 18 & he is borne as additional at Aberdeen, still there Dec. 18.
1917 May 2. Assistant Paymaster RNR to Paymaster Lt Commander
1920 Jul 20 Awarded RD, Edinburgh Gazette
1922 Dec 30 Paymaster Lt Commander Arthur W Fry RD to Paymaster Commander
1924 Listed as Paymaster Commander
1930 May 30. Attended reunion dinner of officers who had served on HMS Cyclops during WW1
The single-funnelled Cyclops was commissioned at Devonport on 5 November 1907 as Home Fleet repair ship. Always known as the Cycle Box, she was at first nominal depot ship for trawlers of the Northern Flotilla and served the whole of the First World War at Scapa Flow where, as well as being repair ship, she acted as an Auxiliary Patrol depot ship. Paid off on 1 April 1919, she was recommissioned for White Sea duty at Archangel. 12 May 1919 sailed Murmansk to Dvina River with the Ice Breaker SVIATOGOR and stuck hard and fast by ice estimated 12 ft thick and 183 miles from Archangel & 20 miles out from the nearest land. Two ice breakers were wirelessed for from Archangel to assist the "Sviatogor" in getting them through the ice field. H.M.S " Cyclops" acting as repair ship at Archangel during .the summer of 1919, rendered invaluable service by the efficiency with which her staff performed the repairs required by the vessels employed on the expedition. Her Captain, Captain A. C. Bruce, D.S.0., R.N., acted as S.N.O. at Archangel during the absence of Naval Commander from that port. A Parliamentary reply stated that it was intended that His Majesty's ship "Cyclops" should return direct to the United Kingdom, but, in order to assist the many small craft returning from North Russia through Norwegian waters, this vessel was diverted for the time being to Aalesund. His Majesty's ship "Cyclops" will probably return to home waters early in December 1919..She returned to Chatham and on 31 January 1920 went into the Nore reserve for refit and conversion to a submarine depot ship.
1932 Jan 1. RNR Paymaster Commander A W Fry RD, placed on retired list
1933 Feb 11. Attended RNR accounting officers reunion dinner in London
1935 Feb 11. Attended RNR accounting officers reunion dinner in London
1950 Died Wood Green, Middlesex