Striking Terror in the Heart of the Enemy
Feb. 2nd, 2013 12:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anteros_lmcAnother image of the midshipmen's berth, this time in words rather than pictures. This extract is from Lieutenant Commander C.F.Walker highly entertaining book Young Gentlemen: The Story of Midshipmen from the 17th Century to the present day.
With his penchant for interior decor, I feel sure William Bush would approve! :)
Walker, C.F., (1938), Young Gentlemen. The Story of Midshipmen from the 17th Century to the present day, Longmans, Green and Co, London.
From the days of Blake, if not before, until the end of the eighteenth century, it had been the regular practice to paint all inboard works red, with the exception of officers' cabins. This was done for the grim, though practical, purpose of rendering blood splashes less conspicuous in action. In the days of the midshipmen's berths, therefore, the youngsters lived in scarlet surroundings. But in the early years of the nineteenth century red was replaced with yellow which in turn gave way to green, and finally about 1830 to white - the fashion which has prevailed ever since. There was however, a certain amount of latitude allowed in officers' messes. And, although the gunroom in question started life in a coat of sober white, the young gentlemen in question soon gave rein to their imaginations and repainted it sky-blue and pink! Even the two guns did not escape, but were painted blue with pink carriages to match the general ensemble. This might certainly have struck terror into the heart of the enemy when they were run out for action, but one cannot help wondering what the captain could have been about to permit such things.
With his penchant for interior decor, I feel sure William Bush would approve! :)
Walker, C.F., (1938), Young Gentlemen. The Story of Midshipmen from the 17th Century to the present day, Longmans, Green and Co, London.
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Date: 2013-02-02 02:28 pm (UTC)How kind and thoughtful to let the boys have at least a little control over their surroundings.
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Date: 2013-02-08 10:57 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-02-02 06:14 pm (UTC)As near as I understand it, exterior paint schemes for naval vessels was pretty much up to the captain, until the mid 1800s or so. The same may have applied to interiors as well. On all the plastic model kits I built of Constitution in my earlier years, interior bulkwarks were directed to be painted white. That is the interior of the spar deck rail. Aboard the frigate these days, those areas are green.
There also seems to be the conception that US warships had white gunport stripes compared to the British yellow. I understand that yellow was pretty much universal at the beginning of the 19th century. The big difference was the color of gun port covers when closed. US ships usually matched the stripe, while British lids contrasted.
Dave
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Date: 2013-02-08 11:51 pm (UTC)Ha! HMS Petticoat! Well remembered :) I'm sure I saw this film when I was a kid.
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Date: 2013-02-09 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-02 06:26 pm (UTC)@eglantine: You are sooooo naughty! *tuts*
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Date: 2013-02-08 11:03 pm (UTC)@eglantine: You are sooooo naughty! *tuts*
She's terrible. Don't encourage her ;)
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Date: 2013-02-02 09:48 pm (UTC):))))))))))))))
And *cough* it irresistibly brings this old joke (http://www.sailorgirl.com/s/m9_joke.htm). *g*
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Date: 2013-02-02 10:41 pm (UTC)Dave
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Date: 2013-02-03 12:06 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2013-02-12 11:44 pm (UTC)I bring puppies for Navies, and Naval puppies at that... My pirate reputation's in shreds... Well, love thy enemy. And puppies. ;)
And this ball of fluff is more succesful in making me interested in another try with Hornblower than Mr.Ioan. What does it say about me? Admittedly I have tried only the books...
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Date: 2013-02-17 09:47 pm (UTC)Pirate shmirate! You're just a big pussy cat! :D
And this ball of fluff is more succesful in making me interested in another try with Hornblower than Mr.Ioan.
Forget the movies...forget the books...all you need to
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Date: 2013-02-17 10:16 pm (UTC)whiskersnose up* Pussy ca...? *coughhh* Sorry. A hairball.Looks like I do indeed. XD
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Date: 2013-02-18 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-18 09:38 pm (UTC)Maybe a little...
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Date: 2013-02-22 06:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-22 08:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-03 04:20 am (UTC)don't mind me, I'll be over here laughing...
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