Sow-Sow-La
15th March 2007, 18:59
Working Routine for the Blue Funnel Line Cadet ship – ‘M.V. Diomed’
1956 to 1963
The ship is manned by 22 Midshipmen, made up of 11 ‘seniors’ and 11 'juniors'. A ‘senior’ being one who has already made a voyage in the ship, and a ‘junior’ making his first voyage in the ship.
The amount of ‘sea time’ that each boy may have, has nothing to do with his status in this ship. In other words, if he has done one voyage in the ship he is a senior, if he has not done a voyage in the ship he is a junior, irrespective of how much sea time he already has in.
Of the senior 11, two are always the Bosun's Mate and Lamptrimmer. Another two are the 5th and 6th Mates, this is to say they work with the 2nd and 3rd Mates at sea and in port doing all the duties that those two officers do and taking their meals in the Saloon with these officers. The 5th and 6th Mates change each week. Of the remaining seniors - three are on watch and four are ‘daymen’.
Of the junior eleven - there are two in each watch, - three ‘daymen’, an ‘Accommodation Peggy’ and a ‘Mess Peggy’. Of the latter two, the ‘Accommodation Peggy’ works in the accommodation until 10am each day and then joins the ‘daymen’. The ‘Mess Peggy’ does no other job other than the Messroom.
When entering and leaving port the Bosun's Mate goes forward and the Lamptrimmer aft. The watch on deck supply men for the wheel, gangway and lookout. The last watch on ‘standby’ tend the forward springs. The next watch on ‘standby’ tend the after springs. Of the daymen, two seniors and two juniors go forward, two seniors and two juniors go aft, leaving the ‘Mess Peggy’ to ‘standby’ down in the Engine Room.
In port when the ship is working cargo there are at least five men aboard at all times. Either the 5th or 6th Mate, the gangwayman, and a derrick gang of three (one senior and two juniors). With the exception of the two leading hands all duties are changed once a week – i.e. on Sunday.
In addition to the 5th and 6th Mates who always dine in the Saloon, the two juniors of the 8 - 12 watch always have dinner in the Saloon at sea, thus ensuring that all midshipmen dine with the officers from time to time.
The new Bosun's Mate arid Lamptrimmer for the next voyage are selected at Singapore homeward. For two weeks, (usually between Port Swettenham and Colombo) these two leading hands assume control for a trial fortnight. This has been found to be a great help when they take up their new duties the next voyage. When the two newly selected leading hands take over, the two old ones become 5th and 6th Mates thus getting in their ‘Bridge Time’. At the and of the trial fortnight the old leading hands revert but the two newly selected ones, although not in charge, shadow their seniors and remain on day work for the remainder of the voyage.
On arrival at the first U. K. port. as a rule all midshipmen proceed on leave. For coasting around the U.K. ports, is left to the old senior and the new Junior eleven, thus leaving the old junior eleven (or as they are now, the new senior eleven), time to get in their leave.
It is clearly understood that if a Bosun’s Mate or Lamptrimmer proves unsatisfactory he can be disrated and replaced. This has occurred in the past.
A Landing Book is supplied and should be filled in by all midshipmen going ashore and also when they return to the ship. Similarly there is a Sailing Book to be filled up each time a dinghy is taken away. The Standing Orders concerning shore leave and sailing are contained in these books.
If a midshipmen wishes to change his watch he must first get permission from the Chief Officer.
1956 to 1963
The ship is manned by 22 Midshipmen, made up of 11 ‘seniors’ and 11 'juniors'. A ‘senior’ being one who has already made a voyage in the ship, and a ‘junior’ making his first voyage in the ship.
The amount of ‘sea time’ that each boy may have, has nothing to do with his status in this ship. In other words, if he has done one voyage in the ship he is a senior, if he has not done a voyage in the ship he is a junior, irrespective of how much sea time he already has in.
Of the senior 11, two are always the Bosun's Mate and Lamptrimmer. Another two are the 5th and 6th Mates, this is to say they work with the 2nd and 3rd Mates at sea and in port doing all the duties that those two officers do and taking their meals in the Saloon with these officers. The 5th and 6th Mates change each week. Of the remaining seniors - three are on watch and four are ‘daymen’.
Of the junior eleven - there are two in each watch, - three ‘daymen’, an ‘Accommodation Peggy’ and a ‘Mess Peggy’. Of the latter two, the ‘Accommodation Peggy’ works in the accommodation until 10am each day and then joins the ‘daymen’. The ‘Mess Peggy’ does no other job other than the Messroom.
When entering and leaving port the Bosun's Mate goes forward and the Lamptrimmer aft. The watch on deck supply men for the wheel, gangway and lookout. The last watch on ‘standby’ tend the forward springs. The next watch on ‘standby’ tend the after springs. Of the daymen, two seniors and two juniors go forward, two seniors and two juniors go aft, leaving the ‘Mess Peggy’ to ‘standby’ down in the Engine Room.
In port when the ship is working cargo there are at least five men aboard at all times. Either the 5th or 6th Mate, the gangwayman, and a derrick gang of three (one senior and two juniors). With the exception of the two leading hands all duties are changed once a week – i.e. on Sunday.
In addition to the 5th and 6th Mates who always dine in the Saloon, the two juniors of the 8 - 12 watch always have dinner in the Saloon at sea, thus ensuring that all midshipmen dine with the officers from time to time.
The new Bosun's Mate arid Lamptrimmer for the next voyage are selected at Singapore homeward. For two weeks, (usually between Port Swettenham and Colombo) these two leading hands assume control for a trial fortnight. This has been found to be a great help when they take up their new duties the next voyage. When the two newly selected leading hands take over, the two old ones become 5th and 6th Mates thus getting in their ‘Bridge Time’. At the and of the trial fortnight the old leading hands revert but the two newly selected ones, although not in charge, shadow their seniors and remain on day work for the remainder of the voyage.
On arrival at the first U. K. port. as a rule all midshipmen proceed on leave. For coasting around the U.K. ports, is left to the old senior and the new Junior eleven, thus leaving the old junior eleven (or as they are now, the new senior eleven), time to get in their leave.
It is clearly understood that if a Bosun’s Mate or Lamptrimmer proves unsatisfactory he can be disrated and replaced. This has occurred in the past.
A Landing Book is supplied and should be filled in by all midshipmen going ashore and also when they return to the ship. Similarly there is a Sailing Book to be filled up each time a dinghy is taken away. The Standing Orders concerning shore leave and sailing are contained in these books.
If a midshipmen wishes to change his watch he must first get permission from the Chief Officer.