The Interior of a Midshipman's Birth

[anteros_lmc]

I've been accumulating pictures of the midshipman's berth over the last while (as you do) and now I'm going to spam you with them :) I love these illustrations, the details are always fascinating and there's always at least one mid getting up to mischief! This one, The Interior of a Midshipman's Birth dates to 1821 and is by George Humphrey. I love the guy who appears to be drawing on his sleeping messmate and the chap putting his overcoat on, I wonder if he's going on watch?



National Maritime Museum catalogue record here.

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Oh that is just the best! I notice so many details. I did not know that they hung the sextants up on the wall. And nobody seems to be using a sextant case, either.

I love the guy on the left, who is just standing there looking stupified.

And didn't Jack Aubrey say that every mess had one man who played the flute and would only play like two songs badly? Look-- there he is!

This is delicious.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Just catching up with these comments now! It's a wonderful picture isn't it? You can just drink in all the details.

nd nobody seems to be using a sextant case, either.
If you look at wall on the right hand side, I think that may be sextant case hanging there, though I suspect you are right and that it is not in use.

And didn't Jack Aubrey say that every mess had one man who played the flute and would only play like two songs badly? Look-- there he is!
*dies laughing* Just wait and see how many other pictures he's in!! XD

[vintagehearted.livejournal.com]

Wow, look at those details! I love it. The guy on the left appears to have fallen asleep. Quite a feat because it looks like a noisy bunch.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

It's the details that make it. All those little things that are never mentioned in the great histories, but which bring the past so close.

The guy on the left appears to have fallen asleep. Quite a feat because it looks like a noisy bunch.
Aren't sailors fabled for being able to sleep anywhere? :)

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

I love the guy who appears to be drawing on his sleeping messmate
That caught my eye too!

And another thing: they drink wine using tea cups. *g*

[julian-griffith.livejournal.com]

It would seem that the frat boy trick of drawing on passed-out comrades with a Sharpie is older than I thought, if you allow for the differences between a quill and a Sharpie!

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, coming to think of it, probably it was already risky to fall asleep next to dear buddies in a lunch break during painting of bisons in caves. You certainly could wake with extra whiskers and the equivalent of "I'm a rabbit" on your back...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yep. Seems to be an age old occupational hazard!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ha! I hadn't noticed the wine in the tea cups until you mentioned it! Very observant!

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

The studious one in the left is having the last laugh - possession of decent French might get you appointed captains aide du langue which, as Nicky Pateshall told his mother is " a famous berth "

though if he used the title around the mess I am sure a few bright sparks saw other meaningful ways to translate the French which Nicholas spared his mother hearing ...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if the one on the left is studious or has fallen asleep!

I am sure a few bright sparks saw other meaningful ways to translate the French which Nicholas spared his mother hearing ...
nodbear I am shocked! Not :P

[nodbear.livejournal.com]

Contre-Amiral Bergeret doesn't look too shocked though :)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Funny that :P

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

I have that piccy in a book somewhere - have always loved it. Boys don't change, do they?

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I have that piccy in a book somewhere - have always loved it.
Me too! I've seen this in several AoS books too, that's one of the reasons I tried to track down a decent digital version :)

Boys don't change, do they?
Nope. Boys will be boys, what ever the age.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

The fellow putting on his overcoat is most definitely going above for his watch. I can tell from his face that it is pitch-black outside and the freezing rain is falling horizontally. The one dozing on the left looks a little like Paul McGann, lol...

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I think you are right about that freezing rain. That guy looks miserable. And he has his scarf tied over his ears. I guess he puts his uniform hat on over that.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I noticed that too! There is another picture of a mid wearing his scarf wrapped round his ears just like that.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Aye, the poor lad putting on his coat doesn't' look like a very happy bunny does he? I'm quite sure he is going on watch.

The one dozing on the left looks a little like Paul McGann, lol...
Gosh you're right! There is a bit of a resemblance.

[rum-inspector.livejournal.com]

oh how jolly :D
the one putting the coat on does not look happy...

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

They look very jolly indeed! Except the poor bugger who is off out on watch :}