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Title: The Story of the "Britannia"
Author: Edward Phillips Statham
Release date: September 6, 2014 [eBook #46788]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF THE "BRITANNIA" ***
THE STORY OF
THE “BRITANNIA”
THE TRAINING SHIP
FOR NAVAL CADETS
WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF PREVIOUS
METHODS OF NAVAL EDUCATION,
AND OF THE NEW SCHEME OF 1903
CASSELL and COMPANY, Limited
LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED MCMIV
PREFACE.
THE principal object of the preface in a volume of this nature is to acknowledge the assistance received from various persons; the title speaks for itself, and but little is necessary by way of introduction.
The material for the account of the Naval Academy and the old Naval College has been obtained, with very little exception, from official documents. There is, unfortunately, a considerable period which is not covered by any papers to be found in the Record Office; possibly the records of this period are in existence somewhere, but I have not been able to discover them.
I hope, however, that such information as I have succeeded in obtaining about this establishment, of which so little is generally known, may be of interest.
In dealing with the Britannia, I have thought it necessary to include some account of the various modifications which have taken place from time to time in the examinations and general regulations affecting the entry of cadets, as illustrating the official ideas which have prevailed at different periods concerning the education of young naval officers.
Personalities in a book of this kind are inevitable, but I hope that none will be found which could give offence to anyone.
All the “yarns,” etc., which appear have been obtained from authentic sources, including my own reminiscences.
To return to the chief object of the preface, my thanks are due for valuable assistance to the following:—
The Admiralty, for special facilities for access to documents; Vice-Admiral Sir Robert H. Harris, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Vice-Admiral Noel S. F. Digby, Admiral W. H. Edye, Captain M. P. O’Callaghan, Captain C. H. Cross and the officers of the Britannia, Captain A. W. Warry, Captain G. Mainwaring, Captain G. S. MacIlwaine, Commander G. E. Bairnsfather, and other officers who so readily supplied information; Captain G. H. Inskip, for the loan of interesting papers and photographs; Professor J. K. Laughton; Mr. A. C. Johnson and Mr. J. L. D. Barton, former naval instructors on board the Britannia; Mr. Aston Webb, R.A., for the use of his original drawing of the College at Dartmouth; and Messrs. J. Gieve and Son, for the use of old prints.
E. P. Statham.
Arundel,
March, 1904.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| THE GOOD OLD TIMES. | |
| PAGE | |
| A Youthful Diplomat — Old Methods of Entry — Captain’s Servants — King’s Letter Boys — Lord Dundonald — A Warrior at Eight — Sir P. W. P. Wallis — Absurd Regulations — Education at a Discount — Midshipman Easy — Peter Simple — The “Pitchfork” System — The Royal Naval Academy — Letter to the Navy Board — Commendable Promptitude — The Scheme Approved — Delay in Building — Scheme of Instruction — Uniform Instituted — Scholars’ Expenses — Rules and Orders — “They are cursed troublesome” — Commissioner’s Report — Entry and Final Certificates — Captain Broke’s Work Book — A Comprehensive Course — A Successful Institution | 1 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| THE ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE. | |
| New Brooms — Radical Changes — The Academy Closed — Wanted, a Professor — James Inman — An Enthusiastic Scholar — His Love of Fair Play — Senior Wrangler — Antarctic Astronomer — Appointed Professor — “Inman’s Tables” — The College Opens — A Master’s Untimely Optimism — A Poser for Their Lordships — The New Course of Studies — John Irving, Silver Medallist — A Mathematician’s Device — The Rod and the “Black Hole” — New Regulations — Commissioned Officers Admitted — Elastic Hours of Study — The End Approaches — The “late” Royal Naval College — Inman’s Pension — Sir H. Keppel’s Recollections — The Box Seat — A Retaliatory Cascade — Sir W. R. Mends — Alleged Toadying — Sir G. R. Mundy’s Letters — Keeping a “Mess” — The “Black Hole” in Being — “A Blow-out,” and After — Sir B. J. Sulivan — Bullying Studious Juniors — A Discouraging Experience — The Captain Converted — The College and the Excellent — Professor Main — The “Pitchfork” System Again — A Slender Equipment — Naval Cadets — Haphazard Methods — A Little More Detail | 16 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE “ILLUSTRIOUS.” | |
| Captain Robert Harris — His Birth and Career — Appointed to the Illustrious — “Jemmy Graham’s Novices” — A Model School for Seamen — A Visit to the Illustrious — Why not Train Young Officers? — Opposition of Old Officers — Cadet Robert H. Harris — A Successful Experiment — Institution of Cadets’ Training Ship — Captain Harris Suffers for His Zeal — Commendatory Letters — He is Superseded — The New Admiralty Circular — General Approval of the Scheme — The Staff of the Illustrious — Lieutenant George S. Nares — Disciplinary Methods — The Cadets’ Corporals — Withering Sarcasm — Old-fashioned Seamanship — Cricket — “Sling the Monkey” — Rev. R. M. Inskip — His Sea Yarns — Mr. Kempster Knapp — “Knapp’s Circles” — Penalty of Fidgeting — Prince Alfred — Enter the Britannia — Her Predecessors | 35 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’SIXTIES. | |
| A “Three-decker” — Arrangements on Board — The Morning Drum — Persuasive Corporals — “Cockpit Mess” — “Cheeky New Fellows” — Important Modifications — Sea-going Training-ship — A Dead Letter — The Question of Locality — Portland Selected — Its Numerous Drawbacks — Preparing for Sea — Voyage of the Britannia — She Asserts Herself under Sail — Arrival at Portland — Great Monotony — A Sad Accident — Good Education — French and Drawing — Sample of a French Lesson — Messroom Songs — “The King of Otaheité” — Going Aloft — A Foolhardy Feat — A Swift Descent — Fatal to Clothes — Reading at the Yard-arm — Captain Powell Appointed — Departure of Commander Nares — Corporal Punishment — A Cool Young Hand — The Royal Marriage — Another Change Decided Upon — Voyage to Dartmouth — A Busy Time — Sailors as Navvies — The Hindostan — Captain Randolph Appointed — A Futile Complaint — Stern Measures — Parliamentary Interference — Humanitarian Fads — Flogging Abolished — Cadets’ Sailing Cutters — Gymnasium Built — The Bristol — Competition on Entry — Reduction of Numbers — A New Britannia — Statistical Results | 53 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’SEVENTIES. | |
| Mr. Inskip Departs — His Statistical Diagram — Vindication of Britannia — Final Examinations a True Test — A “Facer” for the Old Salts — Mr. Inskip Triumphant — Captain Warry’s Recollections — Lieutenants’ Duties Ill-defined — “Goose” Dinners — Fighting by Authority — The Dapper — The Ariadne — A Tragic Incident — A Plucky Boatswain — The Ariadne Abolished — A Possible Explanation — Mr. Knapp Resigns — An Unexpected Successor — A Generous Appreciation — Committee of Enquiry — Recommends Abolition of Competition — An Academic Proposal — Unanimity of Cadets — Admiral Ryder’s Evidence — Dr. Woolley’s Evidence — A Plausible Contention — New Regulations — French at a Discount — Site for a College — Dartmouth Recommended — A Dissatisfied Parent — The Britannia in Parliament — The Royal Cadets — Lieutenant Mainwaring — Beagles Started — The Grave of “Jim” — A Phenomenal Admission — Britannia Regulations — The Officer of the Day — The Cadet Captains — No “Hampers” Allowed — Punishments — A Drastic Health Regulation — Captains in the ’Seventies — Statistical Results | 82 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’EIGHTIES. | |
| Competition Reintroduced — Reduction of Numbers — A Ferocious Examination — The Britannia in the Times — “Rule of Thumb” Instruction — “Fire” and “Sword” — “Veritas” at Sea — The Britannia Magazine — Editorial Introduction — The Politics of Naval Cadets — Editorial Difficulties — A Questionable Pseudonym — Popular Advertisements — The Wave — A True Prediction — An Original Poem — Jones Takes a Lesson to Heart — The Wave’s Holiday Trip — A Warning to the Reckless — “First Catch Your Cadet!” — Ambulance Lessons — How to Tell a Toadstool — The Electric Light — Another Committee — It Makes Recommendations — Also Suggestions — Very Unpractical — Captains in the ’Eighties — Statistical Results — A Rapid Rise | 118 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| THE “BRITANNIA” IN THE ’NINETIES. | |
| Captain Digby — Alleged Gross Bullying — A Lively Correspondence — Various Uninvited Opinions — A Gleam of Light from Within — “Old Etonian” and Admiral Richards — Captain Digby Sums Up the Case — “Navilus”: His Book — Morning Amenities — “One Day’s ‘Four’” — A Typical Day — The Hardships of “Four” — A Day in the Wave — “A Nice Fresh Breeze” — Reefing Topsails — “Man Overboard” — Comfort for Mothers — A Trip in a Skiff — Forbidden Joys — A “Slippery Hitch” — A Half-holiday — Tea with “Ma Fox” — A Sunday Outing — “Fearful Fagging” — The “Baby’s” Final Aspirations — Captain Moore — A Hot Reformer — Lieutenants as “Sea-Daddies” — Abolition of Cadets’ Corporals — Chief of the Staff — Naval Warrant Officers — New Admiralty Regulations — The Racer Arrives — Ship Struck by Lightning — Jubilee Day — The Queen’s Medal — Captain Marryat’s Spectacles — Cadets’ Food — A Hard Case! — Remarkable Physical Development — Influenza Epidemic — An Ill-informed Parent — Ridiculous Allegations — Visit of the King and Queen — John Gilpin — “Ye Mariners of England” — Captains in the ’Nineties | 144 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| “BRITANNIA” GAMES. | |
| Scanty Early Records — Practice v. Precept — Officers v. Cadets — Presumptuous Juniors — A Close Match — Football — Penalty of Punning — A Decisive Victory — A Demon Bowler — Two Curious Innings — Sports and Regatta — The Rushworth Seal — The Editor is Sarcastic — His Feelings are Soured — An Excited Timekeeper — Why Williams Didn’t Win — The Pro’s Average — Teignbridge Victorious and Vanquished — W. G.’s Eleven — Some Fatherly Advice — The Editor is Appeased — A Close Sculling Match — Foreign Football Matches — A Dry Cricket Season — The Editor and the Beagles — Lord Harris’s Maxims — The Bold Sir Bedivel — Big Third Eleven Scores — Seventeen Years’ Athletics — Huddart Shows the Way — The Editor on “Stodge” — A Hot Run for the “Footmen” — Youthful Boxers — Glasgow to the Rescue — An Afternoon’s Cricket — Splendid Playing Fields — And Plenty of Cricket — Teignbridge’s Small Score — Britannia Wins All Round — Third Eleven Makes a Record — A Question of Time — Keep Your Ground Clock Right — Remarkable Results of the Season — Money Well Spent | 190 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| CONCLUSION. | |
| Forty-six Years’ Record — Internal Arrangements — Swimming Baths — “On Their Honour” — No More Sails — The Revenge as a Picture — The Isis and Aurora — Lieutenants’ Adventure — Scotch Hospitality — Shooting Instruction — “Good Fishing” — A Creditable Record — The Cost of the Britannia — The Instructional Staff — An Excellent Arrangement — A Heavy Responsibility — Discharged Right Well — The New Scheme — Utilitarian Buildings — The Racer Again — Popularity of Practical Mechanics — No Half Measures | 230 |
| Appendices | 251 |
| Index | 271 |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| PAGE | |
| The “Britannia” Approaching Portland, Feb. 7th, 1862 | Frontispiece |
| Cadet of 1849 | 1 |
| The Royal Naval Academy, Portsmouth | 9 |
| The Title-page of Broke’s Book | 12 |
| A Page from Broke’s Book | 13 |
| First and Second Class Volunteers | 14 |
| A Plan from Broke’s Book | 15 |
| West Front of the Naval College in Portsmouth Dockyard | 17 |
| Billiard-Room, Naval College (Formerly the Large Study) | 20 |
| The Courtyard of the Naval College | 21 |
| “Jack Tar” Expounds | 34 |
| Captain Robert Harris | 36 |
| Vice-Admiral Sir Robert Harris, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., as a Midshipman | 38 |
| Rev. R. M. Inskip and Mr. K. Knapp | 48 |
| Model of the First “Britannia,” Built in 1682 | 50 |
| Model of the Third “Britannia,” Built in 1762 | 51 |
| The Fourth “Britannia,” Built in 1820 | 57 |
| Officers and Cadets, 1861 | 67 |
| Captain R. A. Powell and Officers, 1863 | 73 |
| Captain John Corbett | 77 |
| The Fourth “Britannia” as Training Ship | 81 |
| Reading Off the Sextant | 82 |
| The “Ariadne” Disaster | 89 |
| Rev. J. C. P. Aldous | 94 |
| Mr. A. C. Johnson | 95 |
| Captain the Hon. F. A. C. Foley | 97 |
| Royal Galley. Prince Albert Victor (Duke of Clarence), Coxswain; Prince George (Duke of York), Port Bow Oar | 101 |
| The Royal Cadets at Seamanship | 105 |
| Prince Albert Victor | 106 |
| Prince George | 107 |
| “Jim the Pioneer’s” Grave | 108 |
| Lieutenant Mainwaring and Cadet Captains | 109 |
| A Class at the Seamanship Instruction Model | 113 |
| The “Britannia” and the “Hindostan.” Cadet Racquet Courts in Foreground | 121 |
| A Beagle Meet | 126 |
| The Kennel | 127 |
| Cadet Messroom | 129 |
| Captain N. Bowden-Smith | 137 |
| Poop of the “Britannia.” Cadets at Prayers | 139 |
| Captain F. G. D. Bedford | 141 |
| The Schooner Yacht “Syren” | 143 |
| Captain N. S. F. Digby | 146 |
| A Group of Captains (Christmas, 1890) | 148 |
| First Term Sleeping Deck on Board the “Hindostan” | 154 |
| Chapel on Board the “Hindostan” | 155 |
| A Signalling Exercise | 156 |
| Pocket Money | 157 |
| H.M.S. “Racer,” Tender to the “Britannia” | 159 |
| Captain A. W. Moore | 164 |
| The “Victoria and Albert” at Dartmouth | 165 |
| The Cadets’ Hospital | 168 |
| On the Sick List | 169 |
| Fourth Term Cadets on Board the “Isis” | 171 |
| A Lesson in Seamanship | 174 |
| A Typical Fourth Term Group: “Passing-Out” Cadets, 1893 | 175 |
| H.M.S. “Isis,” Sea-Going Training Ship | 179 |
| The King’s Visit, March 7, 1902 | 183 |
| The “Britannia” Dressed for the King’s Birthday | 187 |
| The Cricket Pavilion | 195 |
| A Class at the Gymnasium | 199 |
| Regatta Day: Twelve-Oared Cutter Winning a Race | 203 |
| Cricket, Football, and Rowing Trophies, and the Rushworth Seal | 207 |
| First Eleven, 1889: Opponents of W. G.’s Team | 211 |
| A “Britannia” Rugby Team | 213 |
| A “Britannia” Association Team | 217 |
| Boxing Class | 219 |
| The Beagle Whips | 221 |
| The Cricket Field | 223 |
| View from the New College | 229 |
| Captain C. H. Cross | 232 |
| Mr. J. H. Spanton | 238 |
| Mr. G. B. Mason | 239 |
| Officers’ Quarters | 240 |
| Cadets’ Dormitory | 241 |
| The Old Stable-yard, Osborne | 246 |
| The New College, Dartmouth | 247 |