Striking Terror in the Heart of the Enemy

[anteros_lmc]

Another 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.

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.

Comments

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Hey don't blame me! It was them wot started it! XD