Sailors in Early 20th Century Great Britain
Historian Jeffrey Charles' website about the Motor Launch Patrol of the British Royal Navy around WWI offers an extensive look into the world of sailing in the early 20th century. One account of Naval Officer Robert Jones describes the activities of sailors in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,
particularly the men who occupied “Movies” or Motor Launches, nicknamed for
their speed. These sailors were employed in patrol units along the coast of the
British Isles, in the Mediterranean, the West Indies and the White Sea. A day
in the life of a sailor might include scouting, anti-submarine work, inshore
mine sweeping, smokescreen-laying, and hydrophone (underwater microphone)
monitoring. Some were served as wireless telegraphists and were responsible for
communicating through Morse code, with radio signaling reaching widespread use
in the 1930s. During World War I, Morse lamps, flags and radio were still
important means of naval communication.[1]
In early 20th century Great Britain sailors were
recruited extremely young: “boys” aged 15½ to 16¾ and “youths” ages 16¾ to 18
received months of naval training while still attending school part-time at
special Training Establishments. Their education included “seamanship,”
swimming, squad drill, gunnery and mechanics. Eventually, these young men
advanced to their sea-training and joined the Second Fleet. Recruits had a
choice of enrollment in the Advanced Class Courses (boat work and mechanical
work), the Wireless Course, and the Signal Course. The Wireless and Signal
Course “lads” were sent to sea as soon as possible to begin service.[2]
During World War I, not all British sailors remained at sea:
in Germany internment camps were established as war broke out and many sailors,
especially fisherman and merchant seamen, docked in German harbors at the time
were sent to internment camps. While these men certainly endured a hard life,
suffering from physical and mental illness with limited outside communication
and nourishment, it seems it wasn’t all miserable: one account of a prisoner I
discovered describes how he competed in athletic games inside the camp and was
awarded a metal as the tug-of-war champion.[3]
Sailing Life Today
While technology has certainly changed things, perhaps for
the better, about life in the navy since the early 20th century, it
is clear that sailing remains a high-stress, isolating experience. In an online
article published by the American Psychological Association about Naval Lt.
Lisseth Calvio, a doctoral candidate at the Uniformed Services University of
the Health Sciences who is the first person to even finish their clerkship on
board a deployed warship, Calvio describes experiencing “the constant strain
the ship’s crew feels as they live and work in crowded conditions.” Calvio
spent her days offering counseling and therapy to 5,000 sailors and officers on
board, helping them cope with family issues, practice stress management techniques,
and deal with issues like anger management, depression, anxiety, and conflicts
with other men on board. While perhaps young men are a little older now when
they enlist than they were in the 1910s and 20s, the article points out that
many of these sailors are very young and experience significant stress leaving
home for the first time to a totally new kind of life.
The article also gives a picture of the kinds of tasks
performed by sailors in the Navy today. Calvio describes participating in daily
exercise drills on deck. The article also describes the arduous physical labor
done by the deck crews, who keep “the ship clean and running” with tasks like
handling ropes at dock, bringing aboard fuel and provisions, launching and
recovering amphibious landing craft, and fighting against rust.[4]
In an online Guardian interview with British sailing prodigy
Emma Richards, she describes not only the extreme physical conditions while
racing, including severe cold and very little sleep, but also fighting the
loneliness with technology. Richards not only listens to CDs with recordings of
friends and family or her favorite music, but she has a weekly phone call home
when she catches up with her friends while they hang out at the pub on Friday
night. While technology may afford some comfort to a sailor today, the close
quarters and general isolation at sea is still palpable.[5]
One stress of sailing life I discovered in my research that
is surprisingly relevant to Barbarous Nights is that many sailors struggle finding romantic companionship
compatible with their nomadic lifestyle. Once again technology may be shifting
that dynamic some today, as contemporary sailors can turn to an online dating
site called LoveSail.com that helps connect sailing enthusiasts around the
world. CNN published a sentimental article about a 52-year-old man who finally
found his sailing sweetheart through LoveSail.com, experiencing a whirlwind
romance ending in, what else, a honeymoon sailing tour. The director of
LoveSail.com says that “people who sail tend to be extremely passionate about
it” and that “it can be difficult for sailors because when they do find someone
they often have to leave them.” The predicament faced by the Sailor and the
Maiden in Barbarous Nights is
then a familiar tale to anyone who spends their time at sea.[6]
Maritime Law: AWOL vs. Desertion (Based on the About.com
US Military Guide)
While looking into what happens if a sailor deserts his
ship for our play, I discovered that there is in fact a difference between someone who is
Absent Without Leave and someone who is a deserter. In the Navy or Marine
Corps, AWOL is actually referred to as an “Unauthorized Absence (UA)” with the
punishment depending on the circumstances. In general, AWOL is when someone
fails to show up when they are supposed to, whether its on purpose or not. The
only real defense is if you are physically unable to get there, and even then
it cannot be through misconduct or neglect. The difference between AWOL and
desertion is that a deserter has the “intent to remain away permanently” or to
shirk an “important duty,” like going on a hazardous mission or being deployed
to combat.[7]
The court-martial decides whether or not the duty that was avoided was
important or hazardous, therefore determining the severity of the punishment.
Basically, if a sailor is AWOL he or she means to return someday to “military
control,” even if its years later. A deserter leaves for good.
Punishment for Desertion
In the case or desertion, it is highly unlikely that someone
would receive the maximum punishment, being death. In most cases, the result is
some form of discharge in Other Than Honorable Circumstances (OTHC). When a
soldier or sailor is missing, the commanding officer decides how to proceed
based on the circumstances. When a case of desertion goes to trial it is tried
by the General Court-Martial, the most serious type there is.
The punishment for desertion varies in severity: if you
desert and then later voluntarily return, you would most likely receive
dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay, reduction to the lowest rank,
and two years in prison. For deserting to avoid important duty, you might
suffer the former but with five years in prison. The most severe punishment for
desertion is death or another punishment as the court-martial sees fit, such as
life in prison. This punishment is generally only given out during a time of
war.[8]
Read more about Sailing Symbolism in Lorca's Poetry here.
[1] Charles,
Jeffrey. “The Motor Launch Patrol in the
Western Approaches and Irish Sea, 1917-1919.” The “Movies”: The Ships
and Men of the Royal Navy Motor Launch Patrol 1914-1919. 2012. Web. http://www.motorlaunchpatrol.net/written_accounts/personal_accounts/personal_accounts/jones.php
[2] Taylor,
Richard. “Details of Boys Training.” Naval Historical Collectors and
Research Association. Web. http://www.nhcra-online.org/20c/seamanship15.html
[3] “Life in an
Interment Camp.” Naval Historical Collectors and Research Association. Web. http://www.nhcra-online.org/20c/seamanship15.html
[4] Munsey,
Christopher. “Psychology at Sea.” American Psychological Association
gradPSYCH Magazine Online. 2008. Web. http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2008/11/sea.aspx
[5] Hall, Sarah.
“Interview with British Sailor Emma Richards.” The Guardian. 2012. Web. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/oct/07/gender.uk1
[6] McKenzie,
Sheena. “Lonely Sailors Search Online for Love on the High Seas.” CNN.com. 2012. Web.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/21/world/lovesail-sailors-online-dating
[7] Powers, Rod.
“AWOL and Desertion.” About.com Guide. 2013. Web. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/awoldesertion.htm
[8] Powers, Rod.
“AWOL and Desertion—Maximum Possible Punishments.” About.com Guide. 2013. Web. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/awol6.htm
