COMMISSIONING A WARSHIP.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1926, Page 3

COMMISSIONING A WARSHIP.

(By . Jackstaff). Between Nelson’s Victory and flic battle-cruiser Repulse, which took the Prince of Wales on his last tour, there is ‘no similarity. One is the oldest warship in the world, the other among the, newest. Yet so easily does tradition bridge passing years in the British Navy that when the Repulse goes into full commission this month her crew will bo berthed just as the Victory’s!'were at- Tiiafaljgar. Incidentally, the Repulse rejoining the battle-cruiser squadron for the first time since the Prince disembarked from her, and her new captain will be Captain E. R. G. R. Evans, the well-known Antarctic explorer—“ Evans of the Broke.” Commissioning a warship is a picturesque proceeding. In the morning the crew—some 1,10!) in number in the case of the Repulse—march from the “stone frigates” (barracks) in which they have been mustered ashore and fall in on the jetty alongside the ship.

Once in their ship the crew are divided up on the system that prevailed in the old days of mast and yards. Those berthed forward are “ fo’c’sle men.” Next come “maintop men” on the stnrboard side, “foretop men” on the port side, and “quarter-deck men.”

That there is actually neither “foretop” nor “maintop” in a modern warship goes for nothing, and because tradition enjoins it, the marine detachment is still berthed between officers and ship’s company, a custom tnat. arose when marines “kept the peace.”

At 8 a.m. in summer and 9 a.m. in winter colours are hoisted ceremoniously. When this is done for the first time in a newly commissioned ship the captain's pennast is hoisted immediately after tho colours, to signify that lm has taken command, and it flies at the masthead day and night as long as lie remains in her. The pennant is the lineal successor of tho whip which Blake ran up to his masthead in reply to Von Tromp’s arrogant broom. Nowadays tbo captain does not read his commission to the ship’s company, hut his word is law. The starboard side of the quarter-deck is sacred to him. None, muy walk there unless ho invites them. Worst of all, he must livo absolutely alone unless tlio wardroom sometimes invites him to dinner.