Today I had the pleasure to attend a talk with the Northern Society of Costume and Textiles, called The Gentlewomen's Wardrobe, Fashions in the Era of Anne Lister, by the great Lucy Adlington of the History Wardrobe.
Lucy talkked the auduience through the items worn by woman in the era, along with aditional information about their lives.
I'm currently reading a range of books, completely immersing myself in all things Royal Navy. One book I found by chance online while looking for another book was
We Joined the Navy,
Traditions, Customs and nomenclature of the Royal Navy.
Petty Officer Writer Robert Burgess & Leading Writer Roland Blackburn
1943
The Duke of Brunswick's Hat
During Lord Howe's famous victory of the "Glorious First of June" an incident occurred which again illustrates the Bristish Sailors indomitable light-heartedness, even in the stress of the fiercest action. The (HMS) Brunswick had for its figure-head an effigy of its namesake, the Duke of Brunswick, and when the ship was locked in a close-range duel with the French Vengeur the "Duke's" gorgeous gold-laced hat was shot off.
Now a sailor can stand so much, but there comes a point where a halt must be called, and this was the point. It was little short of sacrilege that any Frenchman should dare so to affront the Duke. A meeting was instantly held, in midst of flying shot and all kinds of missiles, and finally, a stern-faced deputation approached the Captain. Their request must not bot be considered flippant, for these trifles matter much to Jack. They asked the Captain for a loan of his own personal gold-laced hat to replace that so blatantly removed by cannonball !! The request was granted, the hat produced and nailed firmly in place on the effigy's recently bald head. There it stuck until the conclusion of the action when it was returned, , none the worse for wear, to the Captain.
I can not find any reference to this incident anywhere else, so have no idea if the story is true or not. However the Captain of the Briunswich for the battle of the Glorious First of June was John Harvey, who dies from his wounds in the battle, with Lieutenant William Edward Cracraft taking command of the ship for the remainder of the battle, so maybe it was his hat.
Is it true, maybe, maybe not, but it is a good dit and that's what the navy does best.
As a child growing up near Greenwich, I was always in awe of the buildings that made up Greenwich Royal Navy College (now Greenwich University). This had originally been the Royal Hospital Greenwich for retired seafarers. I particularly loved the painted hall, but that's one for another day.
Whilst browsing the collections of The National Maritime Museum Online Collection (another of my favourite places as a child), I came across this wonderful item of uniform from the Hospital.
