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/