Open invitation to all bootnecks and tars

[1812USMarine]

Ah yes, Mike, I was just 4 days into my 17th year and hadn't even held a razor, let alone applied it to my baby-tender face. But the DI could see that nearly invisible blonde hair shining in the morning sun, and promptly taught me how to dry-shave. I looked like left over pizza...

[Contractor]

Humphs

[/quote]Contractor if you PM me with your address I have a copy of Royal Marine speak Iwill copy and send you

Thanks mate, found a copy on Amazon.com, copy on order.

Andy, thank you for the link - some slang common to the Army too, I wonder who stole from who?

Cheers one and all.

Aye. Tony

[harry hackedoff]

Who`s the oldest
Well, it makes a change from "who`s the best"
Scoff, anyone? Only if you must

[1812USMarine]

Well, in this case since you have bilgerats older than my ship, I'll have to defer. By the way, how much of Victory is still original???

JD

[Andy O'Pray]

By the way, how much of Victory is still original???

JR and Owdun.

Aye - Andy.

[1812USMarine]

Ahh, all that embalming fluid they've been quaffing has kept them well preserved, I see.

JD

[El Prez]

That embalming fluid is Rum, Pussers for the use of. Neither of them creak or squeek, they are far too lubricated. However Owdun has a nasty splinter rash, which was the result of a near miss from a French frigate near Akaba. He also has a nasty rash from a French Miss in Akaba while returning to his Frigate.

[Mike]

. By the way, how much of Victory is still original???

In the early 70s there was approximately 5% of her that had actually floated, until 1922 when she was placed No2 dry dock.
There were parts of the inner main keel left that were at Trafalgar, but who knows.. One thing is for certain, is that the traditional ship building skills and tools, such as the Adce(Spell) were still in use and the apprenticeship as Caulker, Brace maker and other old wood working trade were being tough.
Today the ship is manned by ex senior rates and not a ships company of Matelots and Royal.
I went back to visit her a while back, the route through the ship had not changes but the whole guide had been sanitised, no bull , no naughty stories and no flannel, I think in my day it was better
The ship was manned 24/7 and we slept on board, and in Mics if you wanted to (we had the option) We also manned the ship as sentries for Admiral's dinners and Cocktail parties, and usually got lashed up (given Booz and food)for doing so. Trafalgar day was families day and we all used to watch the band Beating the Retreat along side the ship, then the Admiral and his staff would Retire and the ships company would have a real good sesh!
Aye... all gone, happy days.

[JR]

Mike,Hell that was half the fun telling tall stories,I would think every 'Bootneck' had his favourite,The peg leg cook, with his peg leg he could poke the fire,stir the stew and punch holes in doughnuts.Aye JR

[Mike]

Aye... JR.... Main Capstan, pull out the draws put in the the spars in and put Dhobi Dust in the top where the acorn was, rock it too and fro with the ships fiddler playing a jaunty tune..then put the washing in the rigging out to dry. But not when Nelly was aboard. The OAPs loved it and if you kept it up, the KLEBS (tips, which we NEVER accepted) would come rolling in.... Did they have the Kleb boxes in your day? We used to empty them each month, under the eager eye of the Sgt Maj. who would say, once the notes were stashed, 'Im of to find my lighter' and be out of the wardroom for about a minute!....Nuff said, but we all had our turn in counting th cash!

[1812USMarine]

Too bad they santised the stories; that's half the fun! The Constitution is manned by a crew of about 50 active duty personnel (shorthanded due to the war), which now includes females. My tattoos are older than most of these squids. They serve a 1 or 2 year tour, then off to the fleet. The CO is a full commander, and will be leaving in August. his replacement will be the first black skipper in the ship's history. the XO is a full lieutenant and looks about 14 years old, but not a bad chap, as XOs go. Most I've dealt with wanted to take away my stripes or pay. We Marines do sunset parades with the crew the night before cruises. A lot of times we have Brit bands and royalty as guests. (The first one I attended had your lovable Randy Andy as special guest). We usually have one or two Commonwealth Consul Generals go on the cruises with us; last week, the CGs of Eire and Canada, eh, came along.

JD

[1812USMarine]

Oh, and about 15% of Constitution is original to 1794, most notably, the entire keel.

[harry hackedoff]

Good stuff lads, keep it coming
I think Victory is about 5% genuine. HMS Unicorn is similar vintage and is 95%. The lads who built her couldn`t read or write, but every large timber in her hull has the mark of the man who made it, plus the date in many cases. It felt like touching the marks made by Napoleonic POW`s.
Jim, have you still got yer "Holy stone" Missus JR wants the floor in the lounge cleaned
By the way, I won the raffle last night, twice(fix ) and me second choice was a book about Nelson by one Oliver Warner and published in 1958. Iwas surprised to see Secker referred to as a Sarn`t Major. Thought he was a Stripey?
Warner has this to say about Nelson`s death.
"At about a quarter-past one, when the flagship had been in action for a full hour, Hardy, turning in his walk, suddenly saw the Admiral on his knees, the fingers of his left hand touching the deck.Then his arm gave way, and he fell on his left side, just where Scott had been killed in the opening moments of the battle. Sergeant-Major Secker of the Marines, together with two seamen, was soon on the spot, tenderly raising the wounded man." They have done for me at last, Hardy, " said Nelson. "I hope not," answered his friend. "Yes," said Nelson, "my backbone is shot through"
Nelson died about half past four and Warner sticks to the "kiss me Hardy" version.
I`ve heard several versions, ref the wearing of the red sash originating with Secker. Can you two Victory hands give us the "authentic" version, please.
First choice was a bottle of Semillon Chardonay, since you ask.
Got me prioritys well sorted
yours, Aye,
Harry

[JR]

Yep Harry,Secker was a Sergeant,and one of the reasons why Stripeys wear gillt buttons in this day and age is because the good sergeant refused to clean Nelsons blood from off his uniform buttons.Aw come Harry dont tell me that your Mrs has'nt got a floor polisher,My Mrs has one It's called JR.And for all those interested the spot where Nelson Died (knees of the ship) Matelot's would remove their caps Royal Marines were excused.And as for the Red sash It's an Old Infantry custom denoting the rank of the wearer stripeys would wear the sash right shoulder to waist,any officers wearing sashes would wear from left shoulder to waist,and only one regiment in the British Army where the Sergeants alllowed to wear left shoulder to waist, That regiment the Somerset light Infantry the reason, all of the officers were killed during a Battle (North of the Border) so the burden of command fell on the Stripeys.Aye JR (Holy stones) why do ya think Matelots are called Sand scratchers?.and Most of the Wardroom would like to think Nelsons Last words were 'Kismet' which most of our Arab chasers would know means 'Fate' here endeth the lesson.

[1812USMarine]

This is a veritable font of salty knowledge! Now a request: can either of you Victory vets send me a mint-condition postcard of the ship, mailed in an envelope? If so, I will give it a place of honour in the display I'm arranging on the LT. Bush Quarterdeck, for all the world to see. I'll send a Constitution item in return.

JD