Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Jonty on November 10, 2009, 09:17:44 pm

Title: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Jonty on November 10, 2009, 09:17:44 pm

  Those interested in poetry and music, as well as matters nautical, can try googling this title.  A new recording of this song cycle with Kipling's words set by Elgar has just been released.

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Jonty on November 11, 2009, 03:13:10 pm

  I posted this because I had never even heard of it before. The poems and songs have subjects like 'Minesweepers' and 'Submarines' and include the Royal Naval Patrol Service.

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: tolnedra on November 11, 2009, 05:04:09 pm

I presume you're an ex-Jossman, then Jonty? From an ex CGI!

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Netleyned on November 11, 2009, 06:22:31 pm

Should be Jaunty

Yours Aye

Ned

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: RickF on November 11, 2009, 11:41:59 pm

I love Kipling and "Sweepers" (actually called "Mine Sweepers" and published in "Sea Warfare" 1916) is one of my favourite:

Dawn off the Foreland, the young flood making
Jumbled and short and steep,
Black in the hollows and bright where it's breaking,
Awkward water to sweep.
"Mines reported in the fairway,
"Warn all traffic and detain.
"'Sent up Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock, and Golden
Gain."

Noon off the Foreland, the first ebb making
Lumpy and strong in the bight.
Boom after boom, and the golf-hut shaking
And the jackdaws wild with fright!
"Mines located in the fairway,
"Boats now working up the chain,
"Sweepers, Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock, and Golden
Gain."

Dusk off the Foreland--the last light going
And the traffic crowding through,
And five damned trawlers with their syreens blowing
Heading the whole review!
"Sweep completed in the fairway.
"No more mines remain.
"'Sent back Unity, Claribel, Assyrian, Stormcock, and Golden
Gain."

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Jonty on November 12, 2009, 11:34:54 pm

  Great stuff! And sung to Elgar's music, too.

  You flatter me, chaps. I've done many things in my life, but Master At Arms would have been beyond my wildest imagination.

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Netleyned on November 13, 2009, 11:08:15 am

The Royal Naval Patrol Service
was made up of Armed Trawlers and the like
Not Crushers!

Yours Aye
Ned

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Jonty on November 13, 2009, 11:39:17 am

  Now you've lost me completely!

  I had to google 'Jossman', a corruption of gendarme apparently, and 'Jaunty'.

  Explain please.

Title: Re: The Fringes of the Fleet
Post by: Netleyned on November 13, 2009, 02:54:20 pm

Jossman and Jaunty
naval slang fo Master at Arms
Crushers-Naval Patrolmen(RN Police)


Yours Aye

Ned