<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> T H E B O S U N ' S C H R O N I C L E All the latest news/views for fans of Julian Stockwin ++ always sent in plain text: guarantees no virus/malware on your computer ++ <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> : Connect with Julian on Twitter and FaceBook : All Shipmates are cordially invited to become Friends and Followers === August 2010 In this issue: another historic personage from the pages of VICTORY, the Devis portrait of Nelson - and our regular trawl of maritime books... Plus, we've 50 Review Copies of the U.S. Edition of VICTORY, out October 1, to give away! See CONTESTS for details. 1 DISPATCHES 2 BOOKSHELF 3 FEATURE 4 SALTY SAYINGS 5 CONTESTS 6 SEA MUSIC 7 NELSON'S SURGEON 8 SEA CADETS, AHOY! ==================== 1 DISPATCHES + Plaudits for VICTORY Readers continue to lavish praise on VICTORY at Amazon. If you'd like to share your thoughts, please add your comments, too. And here's a selection of recent reviews in the press: "This heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail. The author closely follows the historical record, taking readers into the world-defining events of 1805" - the Nautical Magazine "The false sightings of the enemy fleet, Nelson's dramatic chase across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the final confrontation at Trafalgar are all expertly described. Stockwin's descriptions of the bloody reality of naval combat 200 years ago are memorably vivid, and reveal a profound respect for the seamen who were willing to sacrifice their lives to help save their country." - Yorkshire Evening Post "Those who have followed Thomas Kydd's adventures since he was press-ganged into the Royal Navy will have waited for this book, which portrays him as a frigate captain in Nelson's fleet, as the admiral prepares for the battle of Trafalgar. Stockwin's intimate knowledge of the sea ensures that this, his 11th in the series, is a faithful tribute to the mariners who defended England in 1805. This is an elegantly plotted book with horrific scenes, including Nelson's death, carefully intertwined with historic events leading up to the famous battle. The writing has the power of a broadside at close range." - Oxford Times "The full-blooded seagoing adventures of Thomas Kydd reach another thrilling chapter as our hero's ship joins Admiral Nelson's fleet in a determined move to thwart Bonaparte's plans for the invasion of England. There's plenty of blood and thunder and it climaxes with the mighty British and French fleets clashing in a fight to the death at Trafalgar." - Peterborough Evening Telegraph And you can read an interview with Julian about the book - + Parade of Sail Up to 100 Tall Ships from around the world will be in Hartlepool, northeast England, from 7-10 August. The port is hosting the finale of the prestigious Tall Ships Race. + Out and about Julian and Kathy were VIP guests for a tour of the nuclear submarine HMS "Courageous" recently. Julian's reflections on the world of the under-the-sea mariner will be featured in a future issue. + Your feedback We appreciate all your emails about the Chronicle; please keep 'em coming! Many Shipmates told us how interesting they found the item on swinging the lead in last month's issue. Among them was Roger Partridge, who also has experience of this way of sounding a ship into an anchorage - in an ocean-going minesweeper, HMS "Coquette" in Arctic Norway! Brrrr... "For six weeks in December/January 1953-54 we were patrolling the fishing grounds around Norway's three-mile limit when we tried to get into the port of Kirkenes, which is only 5 miles from the Russian border. The sea was very rough, and there was a very strong offshore wind. Our Captain was not happy with the reliability of the charts (and the fact that his immediate predecessor had been court-martialled for a collision with a Swedish ice-breaker in Gothenburg about eight months previously), so in addition to the echo-sounder he posted two Bosun's Mates fore and aft with telephone links to the Bridge; I was the one down aft on the Sweep Deck. It was so cold that I had six layers of clothing on topped off by a duffle-coat and a fur hat plus two or three pairs of gloves. We were only moving small amounts fore and aft or in and out from the quayside so I was able to drop the lead straight down most of the time, call out the mark and then haul it straight back up over the wire guardrail - this meant that I got a constant spray of sea-water onto the front of my duffle-coat which was soon coated thickly with ice; when the task was finished and I got below and when I took the coat off it cracked completely and had to be thrown away! The embarrassing thing was that in the 30 or so minutes that we had taken to tie up safely a Norwegian coastal steamer, 'Hurtigruten' had shot into the next berth and tied up in about two minutes flat! But at least our Skipper kept a clean sheet. (He went on to become an Admiral and the Second Sea Lord.)" + Round world racers return Thousands of people gathered in Hull recently to welcome home the 10 yachts which have completed the 35,000-mile Clipper Round The World Race. One vessel lost their original skipper to a broken leg in storms in the Pacific. The event also saw a sailor swept overboard and another yacht abandoned after hitting rocks. + Hold that contraction! Shipmate Matt Davis emailed Julian: "Just started reading 'Victory' last night. I held off from reading the book which was hard; I would look over and there it would be taunting me, like a woman's chocolate bar lying there in wait. My wife and I are expecting our first baby. Last night I got home from work and was told, 'Contractions have started!' I put the kettle on and opened up the book. We'll be off to the hospital some point this morning. My wife's all packed ready to go, me - I'm armed with 'Victory' - although she is concerned I'll be too interested in the book." We're delighted to report that Matt became the proud father of a son, Jack. And he didn't quite finish the book at the hospital... ==================== 2 BOOKSHELF There are so many maritime books coming that picking the selections for the Chronicle means we're spoiled for choice! Our recommendations this month are a book about one of the strangest episodes at the end of World War II and a roundup of how the experiences of our seafaring forebears have been brought to life by present-day sailors, historians and archaelogists. --- The Grey Wolves of Eriboll by David M Hird Whittles Publishing ISBN 978 1 904445 32 6 A fascinating account of the mass surrender of 33 German submarines in a rugged and remote Scottish sea loch at the end of the Second World War. Locals were sworn to secrecy but now the astonishing story of the biggest ever surrender of Nazi U-boats has been told. U-boats caused huge devastation to allied ships during the war, 5150 were lost, half to the "Grey Wolves", as the U-boats were nicknamed. David Hird's book includes a wealth of historical insights, personal recollections of the combatants plus contemporary photographs and maps. --- Sailing into the Past by Jenny Bennett (editor) Seaforth Publishing. ISBN: 978 1 84832 013 0 Over the past generation, the building of accurate replicas of ships from the distant past has radically changed perceptions of our ancestors' sailing and voyaging. This beautifully illustrated book looks at individual replicas and discusses what they have taught us, providing a very accessible view as to how the ships of our seafaring forebears affected the manner in which they traded, fought, and explored. Jenny Bennett is an experienced sailing journalist specializing in the traditional boat world. She had worked for "Wooden Boat" magazine in the U.S. and for "Classic Boat" magazine in the U.K. She lives in England and teaches traditional sail techniques at an American school each summer. For this book she headed up an impressive list of contributors including Richard Woodman, Rikke Johansen and Antonia Macarthur. ==================== 3 FEATURE "The Death of Nelson", probably the most famous representation of Nelson's death, was painted in 1807 by Arthur William Devis. It portrays the death of the nation's hero at 4:30 pm, 21 October 1805. The portrait now is part of the Greenwich Hospital Collection housed at the National Maritime Museum. On 22 November 1805 a publisher called Josiah Boydell announced in a press advertisement that he would give a prize of 500 guineas for the best "death of Nelson" painting, which he would then engrave and sell as prints. The two most notable entrants were Arthur Devis and Benjamin West. West produced a work that showed Nelson dying on the quarterdeck, where he had first been shot. Devis's work correctly set the tragedy in the cockpit, where the wounded Nelson was carried. West criticised Devis saying that his work was not an "epic representation" and that Nelson should not have been picture "like a sick man in a Prison Hole". Devis, the nineteenth child of the portrait painter Arthur Devis, received his early art education from his father and exhibited at the Royal Academy. He obtained a post as draughtsman aboard "Antelope", a merchant ship of the East India Company, with the promise of 100 guineas to make maps of the islands in the South China Sea. Devis spent some time in Calcutta, initially finding himself in great demand for portrait commissions. After an unfortunate scandal involving the assets of a fellow painter, Devis travelled elsewhere in India in search of patronage. He returned to Calcutta in 1792 where he was commissioned to paint the portrait of Governor-General Cornwallis . Despite now receiving astronomically high fees, GBP 2530 for the Cornwallis portrait, Devis struggled financially. He also made what was considered an unwise marriage to an actress, a Mrs Coombes. Returning to England Devis set about establishing himself there. But by 1800 he was bankrupt and saved from prison only be intervention of John Biddulph, a friend and patron. In 1804 he was in trouble again, and his friend could no longer prevent his incarceration. Devis gained release from prison in late 1805 to enter Boydell's contest. He saw this as a chance to clear his debts and establish himself as painter of modern history. Probably due to the influence of Alexander Davison, Nelson's agent, and one of Devis's patrons, he was permitted to spend a week aboard "Victory" after her return from Trafalgar. Devis made a number of sketches, a model of the place Nelson died, and notes and studies for the individual portrait heads that would eventually be in the painting. He was also present at the autopsy when Beatty removed the fatal ball from Nelson's Body. Devis's work won Boydell's commission, though it was only printed in 1812. West's painting made it to print by 1811. Both the two artist's works had great success in the short term. The Devis portrait was purchased by Nicholas Vansittart, Lord Bexley, who was the envoy to the Danes at the time of the Battle of Copenhagen. In 1825 he presented it to the Naval Gallery, in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital where it was at the heart of the hall's role as a major Nelsonic shrine until the early twentieth century. The figures featured in the painting are: Scott, Nelson's chaplain; the purser Walter Burke; Nelson's steward, Chevalier; Beatty, Captain Hardy, Midshipman Collingwood, Lieutenant Yule, Guitano, Nelson's valet; Mr Bunce, the carpernter; Lieutenant Bligh, and Assistant Surgeon Smith. (Hardy was not actually present at the moment of death and Devis took a number of other liberties such as exaggerating the 'tween-deck height and making Nelson the main source of light.) --- A plaque aboard "Victory" marking the spot where Nelson died was actually in the wrong place for over 100 years. It was only when Keeper & Curator of Victory, Peter Goodwin studied the Devis painting that he realised the spot was 25 feet to the right. This was verified by other experts and the correct position marked after the consecration of a new memorial. ==================== 4 SALTY SAYINGS + Sling your hook Many of our everyday words and phrases owe their origins to the language of the mariner. Today, if someone is told to "sling your hook" elsewhere it indicates they are unwelcome in the present company and should seriously consider a quick departure... The saying certainly has a salty origin. In Kydd's day each seaman was issued with at least one hammock, often two so that one could be cleaned and dried in turn. Hooks were placed under the upper deck beams for fixing the hammocks. The seamen were certainly crowded by today's standards - 500 men had to berth in an area of 6000 square feet aboard a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, for example - and tensions sometimes arose between neighbours. "Sling your hook elsewhere" was an informal invitation to move away from the complainant. This was easier said than done, however, as it had to be sanctioned by the first lieutenant, who had to ensure that men from the same part-of-ship were kept together so they could be easily mustered in an emergency. (Julian is "Old Navy" - in his time at sea hammocks were still on issue, and these were fitted with metal hooks to secure to the ship's deckhead.) ==================== 5 CONTESTS Emails to + Review copies of VICTORY Following the popularity of our draw for 50 review copies of the UK edition of VICTORY, Julian's U.S. publisher, McBooks Press is sponsoring a similar draw for American readers. Here's how it will work - just email your full postal address with "U.S. VICTORY draw" in the subject line. The first 50 names out of the hat on September 15 will be sent a copy of the book. All we ask is that each winner leave a review of the book on Amazon and/or a social networking site of their choice. This draw is restricted to residents of the States. + You choose... For a chance to win your choice of either a signed hardback of TREACHERY or a signed QUARTERDECK - how many British ships-of-the-line fought at Trafalgar? Please include your full postal address and nominate which book you would like if you win. Deadline: August 25 Winners all: Congratulations to the winner of our latest monthly draw of all subscribers to the Chronicle, Margaret Simmons. A package of Stockwin goodies are in the mail to her. Entry is automatic for all subscribers old and new, each month, so you might be lucky next time... The winner of the Holiday Reading Tote contest in July's Chronicle is Jack Lawrence. ==================== 6 SEA MUSIC We asked Julian to pick some of his favourite pieces of sea music. He told us: "Hard to select 'favourites', as different times/ different places make for different moods/likes. However, here are some that I particularly enjoy at any time: + Percy Grainger's setting for orchestra and choir of the 'Shallow Brown' sea shanty; its surging beauty is the closest I can think of to the open-ocean experience in a sailing ship. + Another very atmospheric work is Vaughan Williams's 'Sinfonia Antarctica' (symphony #6) which is so powerfully evocative that I can smell that cold tangy seaweed smell of the deep southern ocean! + I've always loved real sea-shanties, not the bowdlerised versions, ones that were really sung at sea. Stan Hugill was the last true shantyman who actually sang on the capstan-head in commercial square-riggers. He wrote a number of interesting books on the subject, including 'Sailortown', which went through the colourful ports-of-call detailing their delights for sailors on the ran-tan... The biggest section he reserved for the Pool of London and the notorious stews and haunts of Shadwell and Limehouse." --- Do let us know what your favourite sea music is - we'll give a round-up in a future issue of the Chronicle. ==================== 7 FEATURE From the pages of history to the pages of VICTORY... One of the real historical personages in VICTORY is Nelson's surgeon, William Beatty. Although he is inextricably linked with Horatio Nelson, we know very little about Beatty, the man. His "Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson", published in 1807, described the mortally wounded hero's selflessness and stoicism but shed no real light on its author. Beatty was born in Londonderry in April 1773, his father an official in the Irish Revenue Service. William probably left school aged 13 or 14, with a grounding in Latin, Greek, mathematics, natural history, physics and perhaps moral philosophy and navigation. Why he chose a career in naval medicine is not known but it may have been due to the fact that his mother's half brother was a naval surgeon who had settled in Londonderry. William served a medical apprenticeship before being examined before the London Company of Surgeons. Shortly afterwards he joined HMS "Dictator" as second mate to the ship's surgeon. He served in ten warships in various parts of the world before being warranted to "Victory". He survived a yellow fever epidemic, an unjust court martial, an attempted mutiny, shipwreck and earned a considerable amount of prize money from a captured Spanish treasure ship. Despite all this, he was not reckoned to have had a particularly distinguished record before Trafalgar, being representative of the 2000 surgeons who joined the navy in the course of the wars with France. Beatty was aged 32 at Trafalgar, with fourteen years' service in the Navy but no fleet action experience; Trafalgar was his baptism of fire. As the battle raged Beatty worked long hours below the waterline in the dark, hot, airless, cockpit. He and his assistants treated 100 casualties in the 820 crew. Beatty witnessed the agonising death of one of his close friends Lieutenant William Ram, a fellow Irishman who he had first met while serving aboard HMS "Spencer". Ram was wounded by splinters from the quarterdeck timbers thrown up by an enemy round shot. Beatty managed to staunch the loss of blood from his wounds, but driven mad with pain Ram tore off the ligatures and later died. Beatty then was called upon to tend the mortally wounded Nelson. He could do little for him and he was constantly drawn away to treat other gravely injured men. Although the battle concluded at approximately 4:30 pm there was no rest for Beatty and his assistants who struggled over the ensuing hours - and days - to save the lives of the wounded. Once all the wounded were out of immediate danger Beatty set about preserving Nelson's corpse. When Nelson's body was taken up the Thames Beatty was in the first barge which carried the admiral's standard and guidon. The following day he took part in the funeral procession, riding alone in a mourning coach. After Trafalgar Beatty became Physician of the Channel Fleet, based at Plymouth, and eventually Physician to Greenwich Hospital. A somewhat unflattering glimpse of Beatty in later life came from Vice-Admiral Sir William Dillon who consulted him about continual headaches. Beatty, he said, diagnosed "plethora and reduced me to the lowest degree of debility, but would not change his system." When "the worthy doctor decided I should be bled in the jugular vein" Dillon sought a second opinion. He was told to take a trip to the Continent and eat and drink as much as he desired. Returning to England in perfect health he met Beatty at his club. "'There', said I, pointing to a pint of port wine on my table, 'since I have renewed my former habits I have recovered my health and strength.' My medical friend retired in very ill humour..." Beatty died in 1842 and was buried in an unmarked tomb in a vault in Kensal Green cemetery. He never married. --- During the autopsy Beatty conducted on Nelson he removed the musket ball that had killed him. He gave the ball to Captain Hardy who had it set in a crystal case and presented it to Beatty as a memento. Beatty had it mounted in a fob on a watch chain. He was once offered 1000 guineas for the ball but bequeathed it to Queen Victoria. It is now on public display at Windsor Castle. Beatty's surgical instruments, which he purchased himself as was the practice at the time for naval surgeons, are housed at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. (see last two issues for other historical personages from VICTORY: June for Charles Middleton, July for Alexander Scott) =================== 8 SEA CADETS, AHOY! As a former sea cadet and also having been a Boy at TS "Indefatigable" before joining the Royal Navy, Julian was delighted to hear from Shipmate Noel Wheatley of a special connection between the Sea Cadets and his old Stone Frigate. Noel, who is Senior Staff Officer Sea Cadet Corps, London Area, takes up the story for the Chronicle: "There was a time, not too long ago, when the British mercantile marine was larger than the rest of the world's merchant navies combined. This was perhaps the pinnacle of hundreds of years of British maritime tradition, when Britain really did 'Rule the Waves'. This created a huge and constant need for young men, trained for the challenge of a rigorous life at sea. This demand accelerated during the two World Wars, and "Indefatigable", like many other Training Ships existed to answer this demand, and was something special in Britain's maritime tradition. An HMS 'Indefatigable' has existed in one form or another from 1784 to 1956. TS "Indefatigable" was founded in 1864 and closed in 1995. The Indefatigable Old Boys Association was established in 1983. The association presents a sum of money each year, along with a trophy, the TS Indefatigable Cup, to the individual sea cadet unit that has made the most significant improvement over the preceding 12 months. The most recent winner of this prestigious prize was Clapton and Hackney Unit - TS Bulwark SCC. The presentation of the award took place at the Unit on June 29 and was handed over to the Officer in Charge, CPO (SCC) Anthony Weston by the IOBA Vice Chair Owen Sutton who was accompanied by other Inde old boys, Tom Keyes, Steve Humphries, Marc Hardman, Bill Smith and Roger Astley. Also in attendance was Captain Mark Windsor RN, Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps, along with Commander Paul Haines RN, the London Area Officer in 2009. The assembled guests, parents and supporters were treated to various evolutions by the cadets including boating on the adjacent River Lea, cooking skills by the Juniors, rigging a sailing dinghy - and an extremely proficient display of African drumming!" --- The Sea Cadets, the UK's largest maritime youth charity, has recently undergone a re-branding with a distinctive new logo. Around the country there are 14,000 Sea Cadets aged 10-18, based in 380 units. Says Julian: "I commend this organisation to all young people with an interest in the sea. I know my time in the Sea Cadets was hugely enjoyable and gave me a leg up in my naval career and equipped me with many life skills that I still call upon today." =================== Coming next month: ASK JULIAN, more SALTY SAYINGS - and all about "Lady Nelson", Tasmania's tall ship and a special favourite of Julian's. Yours aye, THE BOSUN ++ Download back issues from the WebSite ++