<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> T H E B O S U N ' S C H R O N I C L E The official Ezine of the Thomas Kydd Shipmates' network <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> VOL. 8, ISSUE 6, July 2007 Avast, Shipmates and anchors aweigh! ---------------------------------------- S T O P P R E S S Special Collector's Set of THE ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER - reserve your copy now! --------------------------------------- In this issue - the captain of HMS "Southampton" gets a ducking; we reunite relatives with a connection to SS "Titanic" and Shipmate Michael Wonio credits Julian for making him a competent climber aboard the barque "Elissa". 1 DISPATCHES 2 BOOKSHELF 3 ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP 4 SALTY SAYINGS 5 CONTESTS 6 TRAFALGAR CAPTAINS 7 ASK JULIAN 8 ON BOOK FOUR 9 HMS "SOUTHAMPTON" CALLING ==================== 1 DISPATCHES + Cutty Sark update The tragic fire in the early hours of May 21 aboard the "Cutty Sark" touched the hearts of people around the world. A number of Shipmates contacted Julian to express their sorrow, among them was Gerry Reilly from New Jersey, who had built a model of the ship as a boy and visited her with his family many times. Fortunately, less than 5% of the ship's original fabric was destroyed. The greater part had been removed and safely stored for conservation, and the famous iron hull withstood the flames remarkably well. However - now, more than ever, the Grand Old Lady needs your support! www.cuttysark.org.uk/ As well as giving money online, there are other ways you can help the appeal. Geoff Hunt, president of the Royal Society of Marine Artists (and painter of the covers of the Kydd series) is making a significant donation towards the recovery plan with every purchase of the limited edition print of "Cutty Sark" in his "Speed Under Sail" series. www.artmarine.co.uk/speedundersail/ And Keith White, who lost the use of his left arm in an accident, is literally sailing single-handed across the Atlantic in September to fund-raise. www.justgiving.com/atlanticchallenge + THE ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER Special Collector's Set We're delighted to announce that there will be a Special Collector's Set available for KYDD: THE ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER when the hardback is published in October by Hodder & Stoughton. It will comprise a signed, numbered and embossed First Edition of the book, a signed colour postcard of the cover, and an exclusive Julian Stockwin leather bookmark. The Set, which is strictly limited to 500, is priced at GBP 19.99 plus p&p. Sales are on a first-come, first- served basis. Email Admin@Julianstockwin.com to reserve your copy. Prepayment will be accepted now (by Paypal or UK cheque) but is not necessary to be made until publication. + Industry accolade Shipmate Tom Morga, who we featured in last month's Chronicle, was a member of the team of stuntmen from "Pirates of the Caribbean II" which recently won the prestigious Taurus Best Fight award. + Relatives reunited Among the emails Julian had in recently was one from Adam Baker who was doing a web search for William Brailey, the pianist on the "Titanic" when she went down. Adam had come across the September 2005 issue of the Chronicle, in which was mentioned a Patricia Fray, whose great uncle was William Brailey! Adam's partner, Anne, can also claim Brailey as a great uncle. Julian was delighted to put Adam and Patricia in touch, reuniting members of both families. + Salty bids Two English historic maritime areas are applying to become World Heritage Sites - Chatham Dockyard and Portsmouth Harbour. Currently 830 sites (including Greenwich) have been designated as being of "outstanding universal value" to mankind. + The spoken word COMMAND is out now in audiobook (cassette tapes), read by Christian Rodska. CD format will be available in August. www.audiobookcollection.com We have a copy to give away!See CONTESTS. + In Kydd's footsteps When Shipmates Ian and Sue Hewes visited Malta for a holiday they took the opportunity to track down some of the sights that would have met Kydd when he found himself there as captain of "Teazer" in COMMAND. Ian was particularly impressed with the fortifications round Valletta and the Grand Harbour as a testament to the island's strategic significance. + Down Under tribute Julian has been made an Honorary Member of the Far East Strategic Reserve Navy Association (Australia). During his time in the Royal Australian Navy Julian saw active service in Vietnam. We'll chat to some members of the FESR in a future issue. + Online feature The June issue of McBooks Press newsletter "Quarterdeck" features an interview with Julian by George Jepson. www.mcbooks.com ==================== 2 BOOKSHELF "Nelson's Victory. 101 Questions and Answers" by Peter Goodwin. Conway Maritime Press This month, 248 years ago, saw the beginning of the building of what was to become the most famous man-o'-war in the world, HMS "Victory", when her keel was laid down at Chatham Dockyard. There have been whole flotillas of books on Nelson and "Victory", but Goodwin's treatment remains one of the best introductions to this iconic ship - and to sea life in Kydd's day in general. For a chance to win a copy see CONTESTS. ==================== 3 ALL I ASK IS A TALL SHIP... The second of our three-part feature on the growing number of Shipmates who are bitten by the tall ship bug! "Elissa" is a three-masted iron-hulled sailing ship built in Scotland in 1877. She now is housed at Texas Seaport Museum in the historic sea port of Galveston. Michael Wonio works as an information manager for a pathology research group at the University of Texas. He's "done theatre" since he was a youngster, and enjoys keeping fit by cycling and weight training. With over 900 hours' volunteering work at "Elissa" clocked up, he talks about his experiences:- Bosun: Why did you become an "Elissa" volunteer? Michael: Ultimately what draws and keeps me is the elemental nature of it all. A small tight-knit group of humans confronting wind, wave and current with just canvas, wood and rope (and the occasional bit of hardware) and their collective brain, muscle and cooperative behaviour. It's what we are evolved for, and what is missing from much of contemporary life. Bosun: Can you describe some of the work you have done there? Michael: Just about everything, except in the engineering department - sailing manoeuvres in practice at the dock and on the foremast and mainmast during daysails at sea; loosing and furling aloft; slushing the masts; cutting and splicing new ratlines; lots of deckwashes and brass polishing - to name just a few. Bosun: Do you have a favourite among Julian's books? Michael: It's the first one. KYDD was such a pleasant discovery, a worthy entry into the genre, with appreciable differences. Not a midshipman, let alone a lieutenant-manque, we're presented with a pressed man, with whom anyone can identify. We're "taught the ropes" not via the bumblings of a comic sidekick but along with Kydd, bit by bit, in the language of the common seaman. And it's not just technical detail but emotional detail - not just how it was done but what it feels like to be up there doing it! As an aside, I need to thank Julian for making me a competent climber. In all my training no one ever emphasized the importance of the arms for anything but personal safety, the reason given for the strength test to qualify for climbing. It was Kydd's shellback mentor Bowyer, who in chapter three of the debut book in the series taught me that "a seaman uses his hands to pull himself up, only rests his feet. Doesn't go at it like he was climbin' stairs." I had been climbing the ratlines like stairs, using the shrouds like a handrail. Now I can climb like Bily Budd and it's a lesson I've passed on! http://www.galvestonhistory.org/1877_Tall_Ship_ELISSA.asp See ASK JULIAN for a question from Michael. === Shipmate Rod Redden, who lives in Japan, enjoys seeing the "Kaiwo Maru" in all her glory when they raise her sails at various festivals throughout the year. The vessel is part of the fleet of Japan's National Institute for Sea Training. http://www.kohkun.go.jp/kaiwomaru_e/index.html ==================== 4 SALTY SAYINGS Deliver a broadside Today, this refers to a crushing remark that ends all further discussion, an all-out verbal attack. The origins of this phrase are definitely salty. On sailing ships in Kydd's day, a broadside was the simultaneous firing of every cannon which could be brought to bear on the enemy from one side. In a three- deck ship-o'-the line with fifty guns or more a side this meant a considerable weight of ironmongery! ==================== 5 CONTESTS Deadline: July 25. Entries to Bosun@JulianStockwin.com. Please include your full postal address. + Nelson's Victory There's a copy of Goodwin's book for the first entry drawn to correctly identify her final resting place. + COMMAND audiobook What year was the first book in the Kydd series published? + July's lucky dip What is the name of Britain's First Sea Lord? ==================== 6 THE CAPTAINS OF TRAFALGAR - the last of our pen portraits of six of the men who were so instrumental in securing Britain's great victory Philip Durham + A naval career of uncommon length and triumph + Born into a long-established family given lands by Robert Bruce, Durham sailed as a 14-year-old midshipman with Lord Cornwallis to face the American revolt. On 29 August 1782 he was officer of the watch when "Royal George" sank at Spithead. Durham managed to jump overboard and swim to safely, but over 800 died, including Rear Admiral Kempenfelt and around 60 children who were visiting the ship at the time. A subsequent court-martial acquitted the officers of any wrongdoing, blaming the accident on rotten timbers. Of the 27 sea captains at Trafalgar, Durham was one of the most successful - and colourful. Captain of "Defiance", a 74-gun warship, he narrowly avoided death when a splintered shaft of wood caused a severe leg injury. Despite his wound he fought on to capture a Spanish man-o'-war and a French warship. Durham was known as a teller of tall tales; he was on friendly terms with King George III who was said to be fond of Durham's long rambling yarn-spinning, and shouted "That's a Durham!" when he heard such a tale, regardless of the raconteur. He later saw distinguished service in the Mediterranean, Baltic and West Indies. He was made admiral in 1830 and from 1836-39 was commander-in-chief at Portsmouth. He was almost continuously in employment during the wars with the French, while many of his contemporaries found themselves on the beach on half pay. By the end of his very long career it was generally acknowledged that Durham had captured more enemy vessels than any of his peers. He took the first and last prizes of the 1793-1815 wars, and was the only British naval officer decorated for valour by the restored French monarchy. ==================== 7 ASK JULIAN Brian Joy wants to know where the term "slop room" comes from. Julian replies: "To this day, slops is a term referring to naval clothing issue. It derives from the old English 'sloppe', a loose fitting and shapeless garment. Slops have been provided by the Royal Navy since 1632. In modern navies, the area of a ship where the slops are kept and issued is called a slop room." === >From Michael Wonio: "In 'Elissa' there has been considerable discussion of the sing-out 'Two, six, heave!' which we use to coordinate sweats. In Chapter 1 of KYDD the boatswain calls out 'And it's one, two, six an' a tigerrrr!' Can you elucidate on these." Julian replies: "Over the years there have been a number of interpretations regarding 'Two, six, heave!' as a phrase to coordinate seamen pulling or hauling but to my knowledge we do not have anything definitive about its authenticity or origins. Some have claimed it refers to the second and sixth position in a gun crew, but for a number of reasons this is unlikely - odd number positions were generally on one side, even ones on the other. Two and six would have been on the same side! Also two men, regardless of what tackle they used, would have found it almost impossible to haul a massive gun weighing several tons in a timely fashion. One explanation that may carry some truth is that it is a corruption of some foreign phrase meaning all together, which was transformed by English sailors into 'two, six, heave'. The phrase that I quote in KYDD is one that has also been mentioned in various printed sources, but, again, I can offer no real origin. I think we had just better put them down to being altumal expressions, sea cant..." =================== 8 ON BOOK FOUR... Christina Moore, who lives in Halifax, Vermont, is a telecommunications engineering specialist. She is also involved in local politics in her home state. After reading QUARTERDECK she emailed Julian: "A couple of bits in the book struck me. There was a passage where Kydd stood his first watch as officer of the deck. You did a wonderful job capturing his doubts and the weight of the responsibilities. I am recently returned from a year in Baghdad where I was a civilian advisor to the US Army. I was given troops, US civilians and others to supervise, and I had the responsibility to keep my guys safe. My internal dialogue during those early days was reminiscent of Kydd's ponderings. At the end of the book you touch on the peculiar subtleties of a New England town meeting. I captured the most concise understanding of the legal status of a New England town meeting from a Brit!" Christina, a keen sailor, has written a nautical fiction adventure herself. Set in the 21st century, it's called "Black Swan". www.blackswan.us =================== 9 HMS "SOUTHAMPTON" CALLING - the second dispatch "After leaving Barbados and transiting the Panama Canal, we sailed into the Pacific Ocean, one month into our eight month deployment from Portsmouth, England. All was well until June 22 when at approximately 0300 the ship received a message from King Neptune. The king claimed that we had strayed into his waters and he would be sending his representatives on board to arrest and try those responsible. Thus the ship prepared for the traditional 'Crossing the Line' ceremony! Later that day we received King Neptune himself on board, escorted by his 'bears' and an odd mermaid or two. Those who had not ventured into his kingdom before were placed before a full session of his court. First up was the captain, Commander Richard Morris, who despite a plea of 'not guilty' was sentenced to the traditional shave and 'medicine' before being dunked in a pool of water! After King Neptune had satisfied himself that all on board had been welcomed into his kingdom in the same manner, he and his servants disappeared back to the depths of the ocean and allowed us to carry on our way. Two days later we arrived at the busy port of Callao in Peru. The ship fired the traditional twenty-one gun salute as we passed the Peruvian Naval College and we were welcomed alongside our berth by a Peruvian Navy brass band. It was a short shop - just two days, but there was time to go ashore in Lima to sample some of the local attractions. We then joined up with the French frigate FS 'Prairial' and conducted a series of joint manoeuvres over the next few days, as well as live gunnery exercises. Some of our ship's company spent a day on board the frigate and enjoyed a very hospitable French welcome, including a four-course lunch with wine. We then headed south towards the north coast of Chile for the next stage of our deployment." [In ARTEMIS, 200 years ago, Kydd experiences a very similar Crossing-the-Line Ceremony!] More next month... Yours aye, THE BOSUN Have you visited Julian's website recently? www.julianstockwin.com === Coming next month: Shipmate Rick Wehmeyer aboard "Tenacious"; Julian talks about his time in the Royal Naval Reserve in Hong Kong - plus great contests and all the old favourites...