THE LIFE OF A MIDSHIPMAN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 99, 22 October 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LIFE OF A MIDSHIPMAN.

The hazardous life led by the middies on board our warships during the war, renders some particulars of his life particularly interesting. The Admiralty do not pay him anything for hie valuable services, although—don't laugh—a midshipman is one of the hardest-worked officers on the ship. His people have to guarantee £6O a year, so that he shall not be hard up or run into debt. He is not allowed to smoke until he is eighteen, and he is expected to study, and to pass a series of examinations and become a sublieutenant within three years. This is how his day goes, according to a corespondent:—

The hands get up at five, but I he snoozing in my hammock till 6.15, when I am shaken into sensibility by the hammock corporal—a special rating. After taking some five minutes or so to make up my mind. I tumble out and make my way to my chest, where I slip an overcoat over my pyjamat, and proceed to the gun-room, where I make myself a cup of cocoa. I then scramble into flannel trousers and a sweater, and rush on deck for physical drill by the "gym." instructor. Directly this is finished—and, hot or cold, it lasts for half an hour—the object of all is to get a bath; but, owing to there being only three baths available, one has to look slippy. Drying myself as best I can, I rush back to my chest to dress, ready for " signals" at 7.40 a.m. These consist in deciphering a message by semaphore, or Morse, "made" from the bridge, and " taken" by the midshipmen on the quarter-deck. At eight we Lreakfast, and afterwards read or write letters till 8.50, when it is time to get out books for school. Five minutes past nine sees us sitting down waiting for the chaplain—our instructor—to appear; but when he does turn up no one take* much notice. Unlike a real scuool, there is no sudden silence when the master entere. He simply says, 'We 11 do so-and-so to-day," and goes out again. Wo then do a little work in the subject set, till noon which is lunch-time. After lunch, som chaps try to sleep, and others read; but the majority "kag" (jaw or argue), and do a little friendly "scrapping" till 1.15, when we are instructed by a lieutenant in gunnery, seamanship, or torpedo-work. At 3.15 everyone rushes to the gunroom for tea—an extra meal, for which one has to pay. After tea I do what I Ike till 4.10 (evening quarters), when we perform somo sort of evolution, which lasts about half an hour—out torpedo-nets, clear for action, out fire-engines, or away all boats' crews to pull round the fleet. ... Nothing else happens till < .30, which is dinnertime—the most interesting event of tlte day. About 9 p.m. theie is a fleet-signal exercise which everyone has to take part in, and the commander goes the rounds. The hammocks are got up from below, slung by hammock boys, and "made down by one's servant. Every midshipman, L should explain, has a "servant" to drynurse and valet him.