NAVAL TERMS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 362, 25 October 1932, Page 2

NAVAL TERMS

FREQUENT MISTAKES MADE WHEN REFERRING TO THE NAVY MANY DILUSIONS Nothing amuses, and, at the same time annoys a naval man more than the errors into which many civilians fall when discussing life afloat. To begin with, a civilian probably talks about being "on" a ship. You may be on a horse, or on a donkey, or on a 'bus top, but you are always "in" a ship, , especially if it be one of His Majesty's. vessels of war. It should be borne in mind also that those who are in a King-'s ship are not called "Jack Tars." This soubriquet was bestowed on naval men years ago by sportive civilians, and it was adopted by writers of ''breezy" drawingroom ballads, who- would probably be sick on a river ste-amer. The men of the lower-declcs are spoken of as "bluejackets," but they like to call themselves "matlows" — a phonetic rendering of the French matelot, a sailor. Sometimes the seaman refers to himself as a "flatfoot," or, if in a self-pitying mood, a "poor blooming, old flatfooted matlow." The term "Jack Tar" is never heard aboard a ship or anywhere else where sailors congregate. Their Real Title | lviidshipmen are not called "middies," as sentimental women are prone : to think. This very junior officer is ' affectionately known as a "snotty/' [ If one of them is attached to the navi- j gating officer his name is "tankie"; j if to the captain, "doggie." The well- | meaning person was wrote a song and , called it "The Midshipmite," gave j much quiet amusement to the Navv. I

The bluejacket has his own names for various omcers and men. The captain is "the owner"; the first lieutenant is "Number 1"; the navigating officer is "the master." The master-at-arms is "jaunty," and his assistants, the ship's coroprals, are "crushers." One of the mistakes about the Navy is that the sailor's black silk neckerchief is worn as a symbol of mourning for Nelson. This scarf was piart of a seaman's kit many years before Trafalgar. When the captain of the Berwick died in 1794 his men tore their black neckerchiefs in halves and wore one half round their hats and the other on their arms in token of grief. Nelson's death did not occur until 1805, or 11 years later. Uniform Symbols. It is assumed that the three lines of white braid which trim a sailor's broad collar domm'emorate Nelson's three great victories— those at the Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar. What sentimental landsman invented this legend will probably never he known. As a fact, the uniform of the lower deck was not authorised until 1857, and Nelson's victories were not considered by the Admiralty when the designs were approved. Anothe? fact which discounts this theory is that-foreign sailors, notably those of the United States and Brazil, wear the three lines of white braid. Tii are under no ohligation to remember Nelson.

Young women who have been brought up on sea songs written by civilians may be interested to know that the matlow does not sing 'Yo, heave ho,' 'or even "Hiley, hanley-hilly-ho." Probably he would regard these expressions as some kind of heathen gibberish. On . the other hand, part of his vocabulary is racy j and amusing. He speaks of his particular mate as a "raggie." This is due .to the habit of sharing polishjng rags and other. clinging gear. The cookhouse gunnel is "Charlie Nohle," and a bill of fare is a "beef chit." The sailor has. oud names for his food. Sausages a.re "bangers," a hloater is a "Spithead pheasant," and a piece of meat baked on potatoes is a "schoofier on the rocks." Tinned meat is called "Fanny Adams," in gruesoma memory of a girl who was murdered and cut into pieces .many years ago. When,1 after a good meah 1 the seaman 1 snatches a little slumher, he is said to "take a stYetch* off the land.vr " ' "*