Naval service

“ The romance of the armed merchantmen affords material for many a vivid page, and when in its proper place in this volume it is set forth somewhat in detail the reader will grasp—if he has not already done so through perusal of the daily press—the fact that all the glory of naval service in this war has not resided within the turrets of the dreadnought nor on the deck of destroyer or patrol-vessel. ”

“ My Lord, – Permit me with all humility to represent to your lordship, that I have been in the naval service since 1794, in which period have been entrusted with command on shore as well as on board; nay, volunteered myself in the West India islands, as well in the Irish rebellion [2] ; served also in the expedition to Holland, by which sustained loss of time, and have, for two years past served in the Red Sea, from which have but recently returned; have passed for lieutenant abroad us well as at home ”

“ Such international uses of the navy accentuate the value of the Marine Corps, now a naval army of 10,267 men and officers. Little has been said heretofore in this book of this valuable, indeed invaluable, force, as its duties are merged largely in the general duties of the navy. It differs from the army proper in its mobility and ever-readiness for foreign service. Its mobility is that of the navy itself; its transport is ever ready; its supply train is the fleet. ”

“ Such a service, among the occupations of peace, ranks equally high with the brightest achievement of war: if the latter has shed lustre on the naval profession, the former reflects equal honor on those by whom it was accomplished, and adds no less to the character for enterprise which distinguishes the British seaman. ”

“ Against a few ships observing them they might run the risk, encouraging their ignorance by their numbers; but when kept in check by many, they will remain quiet; and through not practising will be the less skilful, and therefore the more afraid. For naval service is a matter of art, like anything else ”

“ But it must be admitted that a serious practical question does arise, or, rather, has existed, from practices formerly attending the mode of manning the British navy in times of war. The principle is, that all subjects of the crown are, in case of necessity, bound to serve their country, and the seafaring man is naturally taken for the naval service. ”

“ You will feel it as a compliment if I say, that the result of our meeting may be the most grateful service I can render to my country; and I doubt not that you, equally confident of success, will feel convinced, that it is only by repeated triumphs in even combats that your little navy can now hope to console your country, for the loss of that trade it can no longer protect. ”

“ I have the pleasure to assure you, that the officers and men employed on this service, shewed a degree of zeal and intrepidity that can only be equalled by the cool, steady conduct which I had the satisfation to observe in them, when passing through a very intricate navigation, under a constant discharge of cannon from the shore. ”

“ Though the reputation of a British naval officer is the pride and best possession of his life, yet I cannot feel insensible, also, to the affectionate anxiety of relatives, whose lives have also been entirely devoted to the service, nor to the kind solicitude of all who know me. ”

“ So popular is the naval service the only embarrassment is that men volunteer so rapidly we have to work overtime to give them hardy, adequate housing and proper training. ”

“ It is impossible to say too much of the energy, the activity, Or the judicious management, evinced by the Rear-Admiral on all occasions; while animated by his example, every individual under his command, whether of the men of war, or of the transport ships, have seemed to vie with each other in forwarding the public service to the utmost, and in endeavouring by every obliging considerate attention, to convenience the situation of individual officers and men, whenever the circumstances of the moment have put it in their power to afford their disinterested and truly hospitable assistance. ”

“ When the gallantry of the action with such a force, under numerous galling batteries, and the intricacy of the navigation amidst dangerous rocks, at the very mouth of the enemy’s harbour, are taken into consideration, the performance of so important a service, while it reflects the highest honor upon the courage, skill, and extraordinary management of all concerned, must be acknowledged to have added fresh lustre to the naval annals of Great Britain. ”

“ I am under the greatest obligations to the officers, seamen, and marines, I had the honour to command on this occasion, to whose gallantry and exertions the service is indebted for the capture of these vessels; any comments of mine would fall short of the praise due to them: I am especially indebted to Captains Montresor and Roberts, for their advice and assistance; they are entitled to more than I can say of them, and have my best thanks for the admirable style in which they pushed on with their divisions to the capture of the remainder of the enemy’s flotilla. ”

“ To make what sailors you have efficient and available for naval emergencies. In this respect the French authorities have achieved an entire success. Every sailor, nay, every man whose employment savors at all of maritime life, though he be only a boatman plying the river, or a laborer in harbor or dock, is enrolled in what is called the marine inscription,—thenceforward in all times of need to be called into active service. ”

“ These defects have now been remedied; and as all young men who enter the service must have a regular education, and consequently be the sons of gentlemen, a level has been produced, which to a certain degree precludes favouritism, and perfectly bars the entrance to such men as Captain G——.
After the battle of Trafalgar, when England and Europe were indebted for their safety to the British fleet, the navy became popular, and the aristocracy crowded into it. ”

“ On both ships of the Navy and naval-manned merchant ships sea-training constantly went on of those who had finished the courses at training stations, camps and schools, each ship of whatever type receiving its quota for a certain length of training in specified duties. Training bases in Europe for men who had already had some service aboard ship furnished material for refilling the crews of destroyers, part of whose complement had been sent back to this country to form the nucleus of new destroyer crews. ”

“ His mixed naval and military service, creditable but undistinguished, turned his mind to the consideration of our needs as the centre of a vast and far-spreading empire, and enabled him to realise, with a force then little understood, how the navy was the connecting chain of the whole. ”

“ By the Foreign Enlistment Bill, I am liable to be deprived of my rank, as a commander in His Majesty’s navy, with the half-pay attached to it, if I accept any appointment in the service of the Greeks: and these I would willingly sacrifice, in exchange for the glory of sharing (not to say commanding) in such an expedition as I am suggesting to your lordship. ”

“ The ability with which it was conducted, and the success which ensued, have given their lordships a satisfactory proof that the skill, bravery, and discipline of British seamen and marines, when guided by officers of enterprise and talent, are irresistible. It is their lordships’ directions, that you make known to the officers and ship’s company of the Seahorse, their approbation of their zealous and gallant conduct: – a conduct so in unison with the high character which British seamen have on all occasions maintained in their country’s service. ”

“ I believe, accordingly, it is now pretty generally allowed in the Navy, that, in those ships where the captain either lives altogether alone, or altogether with his officers, or where they sometimes dine with one another, and sometimes not, instead of following the established routine of the service, and meeting at regular periods, the discipline is found greatly wanting, and all parties, high and low, speedily become discontented. ”

“ Naval forces, with only about 7,000 men, constitute less than 5 percent of the armed forces' personnel strength. They man a variety of vessels, however, including escort ships, patrol boats, torpedo boats, two submarines, and miscellaneous supply and service vessels. ”

“ The advent of aircraft has introduced new and, at present, only partially explored problems into naval warfare, and officers commanding naval forces will require frequent opportunities of studying them. They must be worked out with naval vessels and aircraft acting in close association. With the Air Service under separate control, financially as well as in an executive and administrative sense, is it certain that the Admiralty will be able to obtain machines and personnel in the necessary numbers to carry out all the experimental and training work that is essential for efficiency in action? ”

“ We never ask questions when a seaman ships for us."
"You have an abundance of our seamen, both in your marine and merchant service," said our captain.
"Yes," said Green; "and we are never likely to want them, while you impress for us."
"We impress for you?" said Captain T——, "how do you prove that?"
"Your impressment," said the American, "fills our ships. ”

“ Officers and men come from among those who have served the sea for generations. In the Navy List of to-day one may read names which were borne upon the ships’ books of hundreds of years ago. And since the tradition of the sea plays perhaps the greatest part in the development of the Naval Soul, this continuity of family service, on the lower deck as in the wardroom and gun room, needs first to be emphasised. ”

“ THE NAVAL MILITIA. — A VOLUNTEER SERVICE WHICH IN TIME OF WAR WILL BE EFFECTIVE. — HOW BOYS ARE TRAINED FOR THE LIFE OF A SAILOR. — CONDITIONS OF ENLISTMENT IN THE VOLUNTEER BRANCH OF THE SERVICE. — THE WORK OF THE SEAGOING MILITIA IN SUMMER.
he personnel of a navy is quite as important as its vessels. It has been said that a ship is worth what her captain and crew are worth. ”

“ The cool and determined manner in which this service was performed, after a pull of many hours, and the strong opposition they met with, induce me thus publicly to express my approbation of every officer, seaman, and marine engaged in it; and I am happy to add that no lives were lost upon the occasion. ”

“ By William Young, Esq. Admiral of the White, and Commander-in-Chief of a squadron of His Majesty’s ships and vessels to be employed on a particular service. “As there is great reason to believe that the appearance of a naval force in the Elbe might, under the present circumstances, contribute materially to inspire the inhabitants of the neighbouring coasts with confidence, and encourage them to active resistance of the French. ”

“ For this service the Vice-Admiral prepared a gunboat, and armed the launches of the fleet with heavy carronades, landed two battalions of seamen, about 1000 strong, in addition to 800 soldiers and marines, and sent ships frequently round the bay, to prevent suspicion of an attack, when any favourable opportunity might offer. ”

“ The perseverance, spirit, and gallantry, of the officers and men of every denomination, merit the highest praise. Unprovided, as we are, with many necessary articles of preparation, the service, at this season of the year, has been severe, but undergone with the greatest cheerfulness and good-will. * * * * Success has crowned the joint endeavours of the British arms. ”

“ In the variety of boat-service we have had, these officers have particularly distinguished themselves, and some months back were both severely wounded. the silence and regularity of the seamen and marines in their advance to the fort, and their bravery in the attack, are equally deserving of praise, and truly characteristic of British seamen. Enclosed is a list of the officers and midshipmen employed on shore and in the boats [3] . ”

“ The First Lieutenant didn't sing. The fire needed so much attending to.
V.
THE ARGONAUTS.
"... Lest perchance them grow weary
In the uttermost parts of the Sea,
Pray for leave, for the good of the Service,
As much and as oft as may be."
—The Laws of the Navy.
Life on board a man-of-war in the tropics, especially Gunroom life, is attended by discomforts peculiarly its own. To begin with, a trip at sea heats the ship like a steel-walled Inferno, and on reaching harbour she swings at her anchor, bows-on to what breeze there may be ”

“ In the performance of this service great judgment was exhibited, as, by the mode of doing it, a chain, by which she was fastened to the shore, was broke, 20 feet of which is now hanging to the schooner’s bow. The crew of this vessel“ (consisting of about 60 whites and blacks) , “finding it impossible to withstand British intrepidity, jumped overboard and swam ashore, which they were enabled to do from her being moored close to it. ”

“ This was done by the carpenters of the ship, under the direction of the captain: the advantages soon became so apparent, that many captains followed the good example; and government, receiving into its counsels some of the most active and influential officers in the navy, adopted the mode of fitting store-rooms throughout the service, and great are the benefits derived from it. ”

“ I had an opportunity from the ship of seeing the nature of this service, and the gallantry displayed in the execution of it. The merchantmen, on the approach of the boats, anchored, and hauled themselves aground, leaving eight armed vessels to protect them outside, who took up an excellent position for that purpose. ”