Whats in My Bag

I was asked recently what I think are the essential items to take to uni with you every day, and it got me thinking. 

What are my go-to important must-haves? 

It helps that I have a locker to keep some bits in it, especially as a commuter student.

Locker:- 

• Electrical items (Headphones and camera for online meetings. Various charging cables and plugs)
• Power bank.
• USB Drive, just in case.
• Pencil case with contents.
• Notepad.
• Basic First Aid kit, Pain killers
• Spare shoes (I hate having wet feet on a rainy day.
• Sanitary Items
• Deodorant
• A4 Document wallets (useful when I have printed documents at uni and want to take them home).
• Hair bobbles, Safety pins etc
• Sewing kit

Bag:-

• Tissues
• Charging cable
• Powerbank
• Earbuds
• Notepad
• Pens
• Hand Sanitiser
• Sanitary Items
• Pain Killers/Anti-Histamines etc
• Reusable Cup
• Water Bottle
• Reusable Shopping Bags
• Snacks, when I remember to replenish. 

Additionally, my diary is normally in my bag. Laptop or tablet as required.

Would love to know what else you suggest. 

MoD Art Collection

 Discovered the MoD Art Collection today, though it no longer exsists as 2000 items have now been distributed to other collections around the UK such as the National Maritime Museum. 

Rowland Langmaid

More information about the former colection can be found here

MoD Collection Overview

MoD Collection Catalogue

Knickers

 Knickers

Possibly not what you would expect to see on this blog, but Knickers it is today.

NMM

Yep, HMS Invincible Knickers. I was browsing the National Maritime Museum collection, and came across these knickers.

But there is more here on Reddit (it will ask your age as apparently its mature content)

Reddit

Australian Submarine Memorial

 The Australian Submarine Memorial in Barrow

Barrow-in-Furness is a town in Cumbria, England, with a long and proud history of shipbuilding. It was here that the first two submarines for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) were built, HMAS AE1 and HMAS AE2. Both AE1 and AE2 were built in Barrow, a town famous for its submarine building.

The submarines were lost during World War I, and their crews were killed in action or taken Prisoner.

HMAS AE2, berthed at Garden Island in Sydney, with the HMAS AE1 behind. Taken soon after arrival on May 24, 1914

In 2013, a memorial was unveiled in Ramsden Square, Barrow, to commemorate the loss of the AE1 and AE2 crews. The memorial is a three-sided granite structure with plaques listing the names of the men who died. It is a fitting tribute to the brave sailors who lost their lives in service to their country.

It is a reminder of the sacrifices that have been made in the name of freedom, and it is a source of inspiration for those who serve today.

The memorial is also a symbol of the close relationship between the UK and Australia. The two countries have a long history of cooperation, and they share a common bond in defence of freedom. The memorial is a reminder of that bond, and it is a symbol of the friendship between the two nations.

If you are ever in Barrow-in-Furness, I encourage you to visit the Australian Submarine Memorial. It is a moving tribute to the brave men who lost their lives in service to their country. It is also a reminder of the close relationship between the UK and Australia.

New Researchers in Maritime History conference 2023

Attending the New Researchers in Maritime History Conference 2023

I had the pleasure of attending the New Researchers in Maritime History Conference 2023, held at the University of Portsmouth in the UK from 31 March to 1 April 2023. The conference was a great opportunity to learn about new research in maritime history, network with other researchers, and gain feedback on my own work.

The conference was organised by the British Commission for Maritime History (BCMH), and it brought together over 100 postgraduate students and early-career researchers from around the world. The theme of the conference was "New Directions in Maritime History," and it featured a variety of papers on a wide range of topics, including:

• The use of new technologies, such as digital humanities and remote sensing, in maritime research
• The study of maritime history from a global perspective
• The intersection of maritime history with other fields, such as environmental history, social history, and gender studies
• The history of women at sea, the history of maritime labour, and the history of maritime environmentalism

I was particularly interested in the papers that explored new approaches to maritime history.

I also enjoyed the opportunity to network with other researchers at the conference. I met a number of other postgraduate students and early-career researchers who are working on interesting and innovative projects. I found it very helpful to talk to other researchers about their work, and I learned a lot from their insights.

Overall, I had a very positive experience at the New Researchers in Maritime History Conference 2023. I learned a lot about new research in maritime history, I networked with other researchers, and I gained feedback on my own work. I would definitely recommend attending the conference if you are interested in maritime history.

First time attending this conference. Lots of great speakers on a range of subjects. 

Really enjoyed Sarah Louise Mller's presentation on Women in British W11 Naval Intelligence.

bouy

The history of buoys is a long and varied one, dating back to ancient times. The earliest known buoys were simply pieces of wood or stone that were anchored to the seabed to mark hazards or to serve as moorings. Over time, buoys became more sophisticated, and they began to be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Marking channels and shoals
• Providing a safe passage for ships
• Aiding navigation
• Measuring water levels
• Collecting weather data
• Supporting aquaculture
• Serving as birdbaths
• Providing a home for marine life

Today, buoys are an essential part of maritime safety and navigation. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and they are made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and concrete. Buoys are used in all parts of the world, and they play an important role in the global economy.

Here is a brief timeline of the history of buoys:

• 1295: The first mention of buoys as navigational aids is in the medieval seaman's manual La Compasso da Nivigare.
• 14th century: Hollow wooden casks chained to stones are in use in the Netherlands and Germany.
• 1514: King Henry VIII of England creates Trinity House, a corporation responsible for the maintenance of navigational aids in English waters.
• 17th century: Buoys with lights are used to mark channels and shoals.
• 18th century: Buoys with bells are used to warn ships of hazards.
• 19th century: Buoys with foghorns are used to warn ships of hazards in foggy conditions.
• 20th century: Buoys with radar reflectors are used to improve the visibility of buoys to ships using radar.
• 21st century: Buoys with GPS receivers are used to track the position of buoys and to provide real-time information to ships and other vessels.

Buoys have come a long way since their humble beginnings as simple pieces of wood or stone. Today, they are an essential part of maritime safety and navigation, and they play an important role in the global economy.

https://dunnriteproducts.com/blog/a-history-of-buoys/

On this Day - Nelsons Furneral

Nelson's funeral at St Paul's Cathedral.

Nelsons Funeral (NMM)

1806, Britain's War Hero Horatio Nelson had been killed at the Battle of Trafalgar just over two months ago; his body made its final journey to London from Greenwich on the 8th January. 

After his death at 4.30, with no coffins on board, they needed something to store his body. A leaguer or large water barrel was the best option available. His body was prepared, his clothes (except his shirt) were removed, and a lock of his hair was cut for his dear Emma. William Beatty explained that after his body was placed in the barrel, it was filled with Brandy.

With the cask placed on the Middle deck, a sentry was placed to guard his body. 

On the 28th October HMS Victory arrived at Gibraltar, and the Brandy was drained off, and fresh Brandy added. During the 5 week trip to Spithead, the Brandy was replaced twice more.

11th December Dr Beatty prepared Nelsons Body and it was at this point he found the ball that had killed him. The body was wrapped in cotton and bandaged from head to toe before being placed in a lead coffin, then a wooden coffin made from the main mast of the French Ship L'Orient from the Battle of the Nile.

His body was placed in the Painted Hall at the Royal Hospital Greenwich as the nation mourned. 

Nelsons Funeral 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-scandalous-decision-to-pickle-admiral-horatio-nelson-in-brandy

https://navyhistory.org.au/the-preservation-of-horatio-lord-nelsons-body/

Chapter One

Chapter One

 Chapter One, the first version, is complete, just about, I will tweak it a bit more after a couple of days. 

After a nightmare with Endnote not syncing, so not able to use it, I finally managed to get it fixed (thanks to my internet provider).

So a few hours tidying up references and adding them to the document. I found it mildly amusing that I could reference both these books in the same chapter.

A Royal Navy Christmas

 Christmas in the Royal Navy

Just as at home the traditions surrounding Christmas in the Royal Navy start well in advance.

The Royal Navy whether in a shore establishment or at sea take part in this tradition.

Christmas Pudding

Chatham 1940

IWM

Customs vary slightly but normally include the Captain and the Youngest sailor both stirring the pudding. The pudding was always made on Stir-Up Sunday, the last Sunday before Advent.  Royal Navy Christmas Puddings are also laced with Rum the traditional drink of the Royal Navy.

HMS Raliegh 2016

RN

HMS Heron C1960s

Holywell Publishing

"The Collect for the Sunday next before Advent, according to the Book Of Common Prayer, is as follows: “Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  So the tradition stands that Stir-Up Sunday is the day to get stirring!" The Regulating branch and Royal Navy Police Association

Christmas Day

Christmas day was one of food, and often drink much like the average household back home. One tradition however was that the youngest member of the ship's company and the captain would reverse roles, with a junior rating taking charge. 

"Christmas day would start with ‘gimpy gifts’ in the mess whereby everybody received a ‘present’ from their oppo. The gift would normally be an insult and would highlight any faults and inadequacies of the recipient!

On hearing the pipe ‘standby for Captain’s rounds’ the mess would muster and await the youngest sailor in his newly empowered guise. Lagging behind him would be the real skipper, in the role of Bosun’s mate, trying his best to blow the bosun’s call! After a beer and best wishes they would proceed to conduct rounds in the rest of the mess decks, no doubt a bit bleary eyed by the end. " Royal Navy Association - Norwich

Hartlepool Monkey

Hartlepool

Hartlepool is a coastal town in the North of England, many have never heard of it. 

HMS Trincomalee

Hartlepool is the home of HMS Trincomalee and the National Royal Navy museum, however, it is another aspect of the town's nautical heritage that it is perhaps better known for.

Legend has it that coastal towns lived in constant fear of an invasion during the Napoleonic war. Fishermen and seafarers are a superstitious bunch at the best of times and observed all outsiders as potential spies.

During a storm a French ship struggled, observed by the town's fishing fleet. When it sunk off the coast of Hartlepool, the crew all lost at sea, except one. That one survivor was a Monkey dressed in military uniform. For many years it was stated that the locals, having never seen a real Frenchman and not being able to understand the monkey decided he must have been a french spy. It is said that during his trial the monkey failed to provide a defence and so he was sentenced to death by this Impromptu people's court and was hanged from the mast of a fishing boat. 

The Telegraph

One other alternative was that the Monkey was actually a powder monkey, these were often small boys that were used to supply cannon with powder during battle. A small french child would likely have been unable to communicate with locals through language barriers, his traumatic sinking and fear from being away from home.

Is it true?, who knows, it is likely that the story comes from a musical song written by Ned Covan in 1855, or maybe from an earlier song about a visiting Baboon.

Many Hartlepool residents seem proud of their Monkey Hanger nickname, with the local Football team Hartlepool FC known as the Monkey Hangers, and having a mascot called H'Angus the Monkey. The clubs fanzine is called MoneyBizz .

Two local rugby teams also incorporate monkeys into their logos. Hartlepool RFC and Hartlepool Rovers.

 

The famous Monkey is commemorated with this statue in the marina, which is used to raise money for local charities.

Hartlepool Mail

And this statute on Hartlepool Headland

Who hung the Monkey?

 This is Hartlepool

Hartlepool Mail

BBC

History

Sailors in 18th Century Art

 The growth in cheaper printing also made it possible for more of these images and stories of daring sea battles to be distributed.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/2/collection/810690/the-welch-sailors-mistake-or-tars-in-conversation

Artists such as Thomas Rowlandson often painted his sailors in very similar clothes, so while there was no uniform prescribed at this stage, in the public mind at least sailors were easily recognisable. Mostly his sailors are dressed in a blue jacket with red striped or beige trousers, with a scarf or handkerchief around their necks. 

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/9/collection/810689/accommodation-or-lodgings-to-let-at-portsmouth

Other Rowlandson images such as this one of an old sailor still show similar clothing. Though he wears the older style red knitted hat.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/5/collection/810613/a-sailors-will

This image shows a sailor wearing an item of clothing that was synonymous with the Royal Navy Slops or a Skilt. Basically, a very large baggy pair of shorts either worn on its own or over trousers or breeches to protect them. These items of clothing were one of the first items of PPE. 

https://www.rct.uk/collection/search#/13/collection/810622/the-brave-tars-of-the-victory-and-the-remains-of-the-lamented-nelson

These items were mass produced and purchased by sailors from the ships slops.

Interestingly Issac Cruickshank sailors were dressed almost identically to Rowalandsons sailors as can be seen here.

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O587198/the-sailor-and-the-quack-print-cruikshank-isaac/ 

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O587197/making-a-sailor-an-odd-print-cruikshank-isaac/

This similar imagery could be down to the artists copying each other as this appears to be commonplace with images often described as in the style of or following …..

Royal Navy Uniform Myths - Part 1

Myths of Royal Navy Uniforms

The Royal Navy seems to attract myths and legends, maybe this is due to the fact that sailors have always told tall tales and dits, going back to stories of mermaids and sea monsters. The history of the Royal Navy Uniform is no different.

There are lots of myths and rumours surrounding the origin of some of the items of the Royal Navy uniform. Some are more plausible than others. 

The Collar

One such myth I have seen repeated many times is the reason for the white stripes on a blue collar. 

Royal Navy Collar

The myth states that there are three white lines that represent Nelson's three great battles (Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar). And yet the French Navy also have three white strips, despite the fact they were beaten in the same three battles by the British. 

The collar itself was often said to have originated to protect uniforms for tarred plaits often work by sailors in the 18th century, Royal Navy uniform was not introduced until the mid-19th century, by which time hairstyles had changed, and so tarred plaits were not the issue they had once been.

Blue Uniforms

The reason for Blue uniforms is not as is often stated to do with camouflage or that sailors were on the sea, it is simply down to the availability of cheap colour fast dye in a time before the availability of synthetic dyes, colonising India meant a ready supply of indigo.

Early naval clothing was often red or grey, and not the blue we think of today.

The Sailor Suit

Queen Victoria popularised the fashion of dressing children in the sailor suit, after dressing her son Prince Albert in a sailor suit as a child of four in 1846.

https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/trails/royal-travel/king-edward-vii-1841-1910-when-albert-edward-prince-of-wales

This tradition has continued with Royal Children, most recently with Prince Lois wearing a sailor suit for the Trooping of the Colour (2022).

https://www.tatler.com/article/a-history-of-royal-children-wearing-sailor-suits-a-la-prince-louis-at-trooping-the-colour

Submariners - The Navy Silent Service - Part 1

 

The Silent Service

The Royal Navy Submarine Service was formed in 1901, the first Submarine was the Holland 1, built by Vickers in Barrow in Furness.

13 years later, at the outbreak of World War One (WW1) the Submarine fleet consisted of some 62 Submarines (or boats).

WW1 Submarines

The Subamne while considered ungentlemanly warfare by some, proved itself with submarines winning 5 VCs in WW1. 

By WW2 Submarines had developed and got bigger, capable of travelling further distances and longer at sea. 

But it was after the war during the Cold War that Submarines came into their own with nuclear power. The first nuclear powers Submarine was launched in 1960. named HMS Dreadnaught. Nuclear power meant submarines could stay below the service for greater periods. Something that makes the Submaire service motto even more accurate. "We Come Unseen."

References

https://www.forces.net/services/navy/navy-submariners-pictured-wearing-black-caps-one-first-times

https://www.forces.net/news/royal-navy-submariner-trainees-get-new-badge

https://www.facebook.com/britanniaassociation/posts/a-recent-rntm-directive-03-03321-notified-royal-navy-personnel-that-to-commemora/4095024360553141/

Hull

 

The Brynmoor Jones Library (University of Hull)

Things I love about the University of Hull.

• It's an excellent Campus out of town and with lots of space around the buildings.
• The mixture of old and new buildings is very much like Huddersfield.
• And the library, more specifically the Observatory on the 7th Floor of the Library.

These views are amazing.

Of course, I didn't visit just for the Views I visited to collect my SCONUL Card and to check out their nautical book collection. I was not disappointed. 

Lots of reading to do now.

After the University we popped into the Ferens Gallery, mainly to avoid the rain, but in the Gallery, I was thrilled to find this Painting by Alexender Johnston (1868). Though painted in 1868 the painting is set in 1798, and clearly depicts the clothing worn by sailors and junior officer.

The Press Gang 

Press Gangs