Navy Days

This year:

Saturday's Events

Sunday's Events

Monday's Events

Everyday Events

Visit of Ships

Nautical & Naval

Previous Years

SCUTTLEBUTT

From ‘Scuttled Butt’ - A cask having a square piece sawn out of its bilge and lashed in a convenient place to hold water for present use. It is located “’tween decks” from which the issues of fresh water were made to the mess decks. It served as a focal point for the exchange of rumours or other daily information.

NAUTICAL

The general word pertaining to ships and the sea. It came from the Latin, NAUTICUS and that from the Greek, NAUTIKOS. Both having the same meaning.

NAVAL

Anything or person related to a Navy. The word comes from the Latin, NAVALIS loosely pertaining to ships and may come from the Greek NAUS-SHIP.

NAVY

The first known Navy was Assyrian c.700 BC. A fleet of ships with armed men aboard. The derivation of the word is a bit vague, but it did come from old French NAVIE-FLEET and goes back to the Latin – NAVILIS, as for NAVAL.

WATCHES AT SEA

MIDDLE Midnight to 4.00 a.m.
MORNING 4.00 a.m. to 8.00 a.m.
FORENOON 8.00 a.m. to Noon
AFTERNOON Noon to 4.00 p.m.
FIRST DOG 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
LAST DOG 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
FIRST 8.00 p.m. to Midnight.

STRIKING THE SHIPS BELL.

Striking the hours and half hours on the ships bell throughout each watch indicates the time.

First half hour. One bell. First hour. Two bells.
First hour and half. Three bells. Second hour. Four bells.
Second hour and half. Five bells. Third hour Six bells.
Third hour and half. Seven bells. Fourth hour. Eight bells.

At Midnight on New Year Eve SIXTEEN BELLS are rung. Eight for the Old Year and Eight for the New Year.

PIPING AND THE BOATSWAINS CALL

Piping is a naval method of passing orders. Orders thus passed are known as “PIPES”.
The use of the Boatswain’s call on English ships can be traced back with certainty to the days of the Crusades A.D. 1248.

HEAVING THE LEAD.

When a sounding is required, while a ship is making way through the water, the lead must be hove sufficiently ahead to allow time for it to reach the bottom (ocean bed) before the Leadsman is directly above it.
The depths on the line are indicated as follows: -

2 fathoms = 2 strips of leather
3 fathoms = 3 strips of leather
7 fathoms = red bunting
10 fathoms = leather washer
13 fathoms = blue serge
15 fathoms = white duck canvas
17 fathoms = red bunting
20 fathoms = two knots

THE WOMEN OF MUMBLES HEAD.

On January 27th 1883 the German barque (a three masted sailing vessel with fore and main masts square rigged and mizzen mast fore and aft rigged) the Admiral Adalbert was driven towards Mumbles Head and although being taken in tow by a tug from Swansea, after two attempts to save her, she continued to drift nearer to the rocks.
The Mumbles lifeboat was called out but before it arrived to help the ship had gone aground on the rocks below Mumbles Lighthouse.
The storm was said to have been more terrible than any in living memory. Attempts were made to persuade the Lifeboat Coxswain not to launch the lifeboat as he was told that conditions were ‘HELL’, to which he replied, above the blast of the wind “well, hell it shall be”. After three attempts the lifeboat was launched and although it was impossible to close to the ship, the lifeboat managed to anchor some 30 yards (15 fathoms or 27.432 metres) away and attached a line to the stricken vessel. Two men were transferred from the ship to the lifeboat but as the third man was being transferred the anchor cable of the lifeboat parted and the lifeboat overturned.
The crew were thrown into the sea and the only hope for the lifeboat crew and the two passengers was to try to make for the shore. Four of the lifeboat crew and one of the passengers perished. The survivors were all grievously injured from their ordeal and many had broken limbs, one had suffered from the crushing of both legs.
The two daughters of the lighthouse keeper, Abraham Ace who risked their lives in a gallant effort to save some of the survivors (they saved two of the lifeboat men) by wading up to their armpits in the boiling sea rightly received universal acclaim.

The two girls have been immortalised by the well-known narrative poem, written in 1883, by Clement Scott titled “Women of Mumbles Head”

HMCS SWANSEA

(Royal Canadian Navy)

PENDANT NUMBER K328 is a Frigate similar in

design to the British "River" Class.

(18 in its class) Commissioned on 19thDec. 1942

Displacement 1445 tons Dimensions 301.5 x 36.5

x 12 feet. Guns 2 x 4", 10 x 20mm Anti-aircraft.

Speed 20 knots. Complement 140. And she

survived the war.

MORE THINGS NAUTICAL !

H.M.S. HABBAKKUK

The name refers to the Old testament

Prophet who said " I will work a work in

your days which ye will not believe, though I

thought it be told you".

Some more interesting facts!

Invented, researched but never fully built, it

was to have been a gigantic airstrip made of

sawdust and ice floating in mid Atlantic.

The idea was put forward in 1942 as a

means of defence against German 'U' boats.

"CUTTY SARK" Means a 'mini skirt' or short

tailed chemis. The name is taken from

Robert Burns poem ,'Tam O'Shanter'.

"BLIGHTY" = HOME from the Hindustani

word "BILAYATI.

"BOATSWAIN" - Pronounced 'Bos'n', it is one

of the few names that originated in English,

"Swain" means attendant or assistant and

comes from the old English "SWAN" of the

same meaning. He is the one between the

officers and the men. For this reason has

acquired the nickname 'Chief Buffer' or

'Buffer'.

Boatswain is a very old title dating back to

Viking days and comes from "Boats Swain"

meaning that he has to 'husband' or look

after the crew.

"HULK" - Probably derives from an ancient

Greek word"HOLKAS" meaning a towed

ship.

"JUNK" - Discarded useless cordage.

"ADMIRAL" - From the Arabs "Amir-al-Bahr"

meaning - "Lord of the sea".

(provided by Cllr. A. C. S. Colburn)

THE GREATEST MARITIME TRADEGY!

Most people would consider that the greatest maritime

tradegy in British history was the loss of the "TITANIC" or the

"LUSITANIA"! Yet in reality the sinking of the "LANCASTER"

in 1940 cost the lives of more people that both of their losses

put together.Some estimates put the figure at more than

4000 lives lost.

The death toll, when the "LUSITANIA" was torpedoed

off the old Head of Kinsale, was 1195 and the "TITANIC"

1522 lives were lost.

The "LUSITANIA" was built in Scotland and made her

maiden voyage for the Cunard Steamship Company to

Canadian 1924. At the time she was called "TYRRHENIA"

and was known by her crew as "SOUP TUREEN"although

the new name was easier to pronounce. The change was not

welcomed by the sailors, given that the maritime superstition

boded eventual disaster.

"LANCASTRIAN" was 582.5 feet long and 75 feet wide. She

had 5 decks with the highest being 43 feet above the water

line and the bridge 15 feet.The tonnage was 16,24.

At the beginning of World War 2 she was taken from trading

and converted to a troopship.

On the 17th June 1940 at mid-afternoon, while lying in the

wide estuary of the river Loire off the last open harbour at St.

Nazaire, as the largest vessel of a fleet sent to assist save

thousands of service personnel crowding into the port town,

to escape the advancing German Army. (this is following the

evacuation from Dunkirk) the "Lancastrian" was hit by four

bombs from a German plane she listed sharply and then

turned over and sank.

SOME TRUE NAVAL SIGNALS!

1. S.O.S..- S.O.S. MAID OF CORK SINKING.

2. AUTUMN 1939

From Admiralty to destroyer -

"Proceed with all despatch"

From destroyer to Admiralty -

"Request destination"

From Admiralty to destroyer -

"Aden repeat Aden"

From destroyer to Admiralty.

" AM AT ADEN"

3. From Gracie Fields (Trawler)

"Gracie Fields making water and sinking fast"

4.From salvage tug to C.in C. Plymouth.

"Have one hand with septic foot"

5.From submarine (returning from patrol) to base -

"Expect to arrive 18.00 hours if friendly aircraft

will stop bombing me.

6. From Senior Officer to submarine, apparently

in difficulties. "What are you doing?"

From submarine "Learning a lot!"

7. From Canadian Training Establishment to

Canadian Flag Officer, Atlantic -

"Renewal of stockings required - white womens

and shoes black womens."

8. From Captain D. Plymouth to C.in C. NORE -

"Intend putting Fisher Girl out of action for 7 days

for scrapping of bottom".

9. After the battle of Matapan. From

Captain of destroyer flotilla to C.in C.

Mediterranean - "Have Italian survivors on board

including Admiral. He has piles" -

reply for C.in C. Med. " I am not surprised.

10. In winter 1940, when WRENS were buying up

all available serge to make trousers, a

Commander-in-Chief made the following signal -

" WRENS clothing is to be held up until the needs

of seagoing personnel have been satisfied"

(submitted by Cllr. A.C.S.Col burn)

WRECK IN THE BRISTOL CHANNEL

Did you know that at 0200 hours on the

30th May1906 the battleship H.M.S.

MONTAGUE ran aground on Shutter Rock

off Lundy Island. The ship at that time was

worth about £1 Million.

At a Court Martial, following this event, it was found

that the incident was caused by a combination of

heavy fog and human error. The Captain of the

'Montague' and the Navigation Officer had been

so engrossed with the ships new wireless

equipment and system that they had allowed the

ship to run off course.

Following an inaccurate calculation the ships

Captain decided that they were stranded near

Hartland Point on the mainland. A boat was

dispatched from the ship to contact the Hartland

Lighthouse Keeper so that the accident could be

reported. However the rowing party found

themselves having an argument with the

Lighthouse Keeper who informed them that they

were on Lundy Island and that he was quite sure

at which lighthouse he was stationed.

It had been hoped that the ship could be salvaged

and repaired but it was too firmly aground and

badly damaged. The ship was eventually sold for

scrap for a mere £4250.

Both the ship's Captain and the Navigation Officer

were dismissed the service by the Court Martial.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 1793 - 1815

SEA MEASURES - DISTANCE AND SPEED

1 NAUTICAL MILE = 1 DEGREE OF LATITUDE

= 6116 FEET (now fixed at 6080 feet) OR 1852.01

METRES , EXACTLY ONE 21,600th OF THE

EQUATOR. 1 LAND MILE = 1760 YDS. OR 1.609

KILOMETRES.

1 LEAGUE = 3 DEGREES OF LATITUDE

1 CABLE = 200 YARDS (USA 240

YARDS OR219.5 METERS) OR185.3 METRES

1 FATHOM = 6 FEET OR 182.88

CENTIMETRES, FATHOMS WERE LONGER IN

GREECE = 185.42 AND AUSTRIA= 189.64.THE

OLD ENGLISH WORD "FAETHEM" MEANS

"STRETCHED OUT".

1 KNOT = 1 NAUTICAL MILE AN HOUR.

FROM THE ABOUT YEAR 1500 DUTC H

SAILORS WERE TRAILING OVERBOARD A

PIECE OF WOOD ATTACHED TO A ROPE

MARKED OUT BY KNOTS AT REGULAR

INTERVALS. THE SEAMEN COUNTED THE

KNOTS AS THE LINE RAN OUT FROM A COIL.

AFTER 30 SECONDS BY THE HOUR GLASS

THE NUMBER OF COUNTED CORRESPONDED

TO THE SEA MILES PER HOUR. DURING THE

PERIOD 1793 - 1815 KNOTS ON A LOG-LINE

WERE 48 FEET APART FOR A 28 SECOND

GLASS. 48 FEET TO 6116 FEET (ON NAUTICAL

MILE) IS ALMOST EXACTLY AS 28 SECONDS

IS TO 3600 SECONDS OR ONE HOUR.

A PISTOL SHOT = 25 YARDS.

A MUSKET SHOT = 200 YARDS.

A GUN SHOT = 1000 YARDS (approx.)

MARITIME MYTHS!

1. Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson never wore an

eye patch, despite suffering what was at the time,

irreparable damage to his right eye during the siege of

Calvi in1794. (It is thought that Lord Nelson had a

displaced retina.) The eye looked completely normal

so much so that he had great difficulty in convincing

the Admiralty that that he was eligible for a disability

pension. (no change there then).

Do you know the answer to these?

3. The black silk, worn by sailors around their necks

as part of the uniform are not worn as mourning for

Lord Nelson, as some believe, Do you know of a

special reason? (see below for some explanations)

A FEW ROYAL NAVY CEREMONIALS

OBJECT OF SALUTING

Saluting is both an impersonal and personal

matter. First and foremost it is a recognition

of the authority of our Sovereign and her

Government, which may be vested in a

person, in a place or in an occasion.

It is by no means a subservient act, it is an honest

acknowledgement of duty and of the laws and

discipline of the Service and a ssuch it is observed by

every person in the Royal Navy (also the Army and the

Royal Air Force), from an Admiral of the Fleet to a boy

seaman. It is also an act of greeting and meeting other

members of the service, or other members of other

services, also foreign service visitors and is therefore

an expression of good manners and courtesy with a

sense of proportion on the part of the individual.

CEREMONY ASHORE.

On all ceremonial occasions the Royal Navy, as the

senior service of the armed forcesof the crown, is

accorded the position of honour on the right side of the

line, in review order and in the van in marching order.

The Naval march music is the "Heart of Oak" for the

march past and "Nancy Lee" for the advance in

review order.

NEW YEARS DAY

iT IS THE CUSTOM FOR THE YOUNGEST MEMBER

OF THE SHIPS COMPANY (OFFICER OR RATING)

TO "RING OUT THE OLD YEAR AND RING IN THE

NEW" BY STRIKING 16 BELLS AT MIDNIGHT ON

THE NEW YEAR.

WHISTLING

The practice of whistling is discouraged in H. M. ships

because the noise is apt to be confused with the

piping of orders. It is usually anything but sweet,

except to the ears of the perpetrator and more often

than not a cause of annoyance to messmates.

SHIPS BELL

THE SHIPS BELL ALWAYS BEARS THE NAME OF

THE SHIP AND THE DATE OF HER LAUNCHING.

UNLESS IT IS DAMAGED IT REMAINS WITH THE

SHIP UNTIL SHE IS SOLD OR BROKEN-UP. THE

BELL IS THEN EITHER PRESENTED TO A PUBLIC

BODY OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE FIRST

INSTANCE TO ANY WHO MAY HAVE SERVED IN

HER DURING HER LIFETIME.

SPLICING THE MAIN BRACE

The order "Splice the main brace" may be given by

the Sovereign or by members of the Royal Family on

occasions of inspections of or visits to H.M.ships or

establishments or it may be ordered by the Admiralty

on special occasionsof celebration or national

rejoicing. This order authorises (or used to!!) the issue

of a tot rum to all officers and men over the age of 20

years. Those who might prefer not to and all under

that age may be issued with a ration of 'lemonade'.

GARLANDS

When a member of the crew of a ship is married in

the port in which the ship is lying, it is the custom to

hoist a garland of evergreens between the masts on

the day of the ceremony. It is also custom to decorate

the trucks and yard arms with sprigs of holly on

Christmas day.

CROSSING THE LINE

The unofficial ceremonies of "initiating novices into the

brotherhood of the seas and as subjects of his

Oceanic Majesty, King Neptune" are held on many

ships when circumstances allow as they cross the

Equator.

DISTINCTION MARKS OF BRANCH

Until some years ago the Branch to which officers

belonged was indicated by a coloured cloth strip worn

between the gold stripes on the sleeve of their

uniforms. In the case of single stripes e.g. Sub-

Lieutenants these are worn below the gold stripe.

The various branches and corresponding cloth are -

 Executive branch     No coloured cloth  

Engineer   Purple Medical Scarlet Dental Orange

Wardmaster Maroon Supply & Secretariat White

Instructor Light Blue Shipwright & Constructor

Silver Grey Electrical Dark Green Ordnance Dark Blue

Officers of any branch serving on the personal staff of

a Flag Officer or Commodore and Naval Attache's

wear Aiguillettes (ropes of gold lace, hung from the left

shoulder).

Aides-de-Camp to the Sovereign, Admirals of the Fleet

and Honorary Physicians and Surgeons to the

Sovereign Wear Aiguillettes on the right shoulder.

NAVAL UNIFORM

A uniform was not introduced into the Royal Navy until

comparatively recent times, because on the 'old days'

there was not the same need, at sea, to distinguish

individual friend from foe as there was in landwarfare.

When the need arose, as when boarding an enemy

ship, devices such as coloured scarves or head gear

were worn as distinctive emblems.

Until after Nelson's day the sailor did not wear

prescribed uniform and had to provide his own

clothing, but a certain uniformity in dress was

achieved as each article had to be serviceable for the

job to which they were assigned. All clothing was

either made or purchased by him from the limited

resources provided by the ships stores or the

outfitters in the main manning ports.

It was not until 1857 that the detailed uniform

regulations for officers and men in the Royal Navy

were laid down, and a complete issue of kit was then

made to a sailor on joining the Navy. Many changes

have been made since then but the main principles

remain the same.

The colour scheme for the Naval uniform was

selected by King Goerge 2, after he had seen and

admired the Duchess of Bedford (wife of the First Lord

of the Admiralty at that time) dressed in a riding habit

of blue and gold.

The sailors collar dates from the time of wigs and

pigtails, when the seamen used to wear some sort of

scarf over their shoulders to protect their suits from

powder and grease. This scarf eventually became

standardisedin the form of the present collar and it

was made detachable in order that it could be washed

seperately.

The scarf or silk worn around sailors necks, as part of

the uniform was in 1857 standardised as black and

silk. Bell bottoms to the trousers were designed so

that the trousers could easily be rolled up to the knee

to prevent them from getting wet when scrubbing

decks or during heavy weather. These no longer form

part of the sailors uniform but the men loved the 'bells'

with the seven creases up each le. These have been

fazed out and replaced with the normal crease.

The sailors uniform is known as "square rig" and Chief

Petty officers uniform is known as "fore and aft rig".

NOTES ON CLOTHING FOR SEAMEN.

You will see in the earlier question, why certain stripes

and other paraphernalia on uniforms were present!

Well here is the explanation by Cllr. A. Colburn.

DO YOU AGREE?

The scarf or silk or other good material of any

colour was part of the sailors dress long before the

days of Nelson, when it was worn as a comforter or a

sweat rag. It therefore cannot be said that it was

introduced as mourning for the death of Lord Nelson.

The tapes or white stripes on the collar were originally

a trimming which became common pratice. The

number of rows varied with individual taste, but when

the uniform for seamen was standardised three rows

of tapes or stripes were decided upon.

There is no foundation for the story that they

commemorate the victories of Lord Nelson.

Many countries, who have sailors uniforms, which

copy that of the Royal Navy also have 3 rows of

tapes/stripes on the collar.