The Death of Hope by Andrew Wareham (inspirational books for women txt) 📕

your watchkeeper’s certificateas quickly as possible. You may have to learn some of the basics of navigationto do that.”

“I know a little already, sir. Sat downwith the books when the winds blew too hard, sir, and I had to find something todo. Most of the lads would be sat in the shore boozers, sir, throwing away themoney they worked so hard for. Always seemed daft to me. Add to that, when theygot a skinful on board, some of them would always start fighting, for the funof it. One or two would always want to take a swing at me, for being a bigtarget. No point to that, sir. If I backed off, they would call me yellow. If Iswung a punch and damned near killed one of them, they would whisper ‘bully’behind my back. So, before too long, I kept clear of the drinking entirely andthat meant I had to find something to do.”

“The tribulations of being very big, MrMudgely! It sounds as if it may have made you even more useful to me.Conditions will be rough at sea. You will have work to do and will be welcomeaboard.”

Simon reported back to Tyrwhitt, told himhe had accepted the giant and the Lancashire trawlerman.

“The third, sir, Paton-Rees, did notdisplay the makings of a destroyerman. He might make a flag lieutenant,provided you can find an admiral who is not too demanding in his choice offlunkeys.”

“Pity! I hoped you would take him off myhands. Are you sure that big fellow will fit into your little wardroom?”

“I’ll lend them a shoehorn, sir.”

Simon ran up from the boat to boardLancelot, Packer at his heels As always he enjoyed the welcome of the pipes,the shrill whistles announcing his presence to all aboard.

A short, stocky, heavily beardedlieutenant saluted and introduced himself.

“Strachan, sir.”

He used the Scots pronunciation, ‘Strawn’,Simon noted. He had met an Ulsterman who pronounced both syllables, hadwondered which sort his First would be.

“My pleasure, Mr Strachan. How long haveyou been aboard?”

“Brought her from the yard at Chatham,three days ago, sir.”

“Good. No dents as well!”

“Not one, sir!”

They exchanged grins, each deciding theywould find it easy to work together.

“We have a spare hand coming aboard, MrStrachan. The expectation is that we will be at sea on patrol for several daysat a time over the winter. An extra body will be able to provide relief, allowfor a bit more sleep occasionally. He has not got his certificate yet, for lackof opportunity. I think he may prove very capable. He is a little larger thanaverage.”

“Beg pardon for contradicting you, sir. Ifthat is him in the drifter coming over now, he’s bloody enormous!”

They observed the mass coming towardsthem.

“Better tell the wardroom steward to getsome extra supplies in, Strachan.”

They watched Mudgely swarm up the ladder,salute the quarterdeck and announce his presence to the rating on duty at theaccommodation port.

“Yes, sir. Captain has just come aboard,sir.”

Mudgely stepped forward.

“Reporting to join, sir.”

“Welcome aboard, Mudgely. Mr Strachan isFirst and will settle you in.”

He left the pair, walking briskly to hiscabin, stopping to inspect the new gun in place of the Maxim. The CommissionedGunner, Mr Rees, was there, exercising the three-man crew.

“’Morning, Mr Rees! Good leave?”

“Very, thank you, sir. Finally have mywife settled in our own house here in Harwich, sir. Managed to buy my ownlittle place.”

“That’s good, Mr Rees. I became engaged tomarry, myself. Probably have a wedding in our next long leave – which won’t befor some little time, I suspect!”

Rees offered his congratulations, staringin awe at Mudgely as he was led to the wardroom.

“New sub, Mr Rees. Show him round the guns,please. I think we will find him to be a good seaman – years on the drifters,so he is used to the North Sea. In the nature of things, he will know nothingof guns or torpedoes.”

“Huge, is he not, sir. Carries himselflike a seaman, sir. Good school, the drifters. A man brought up on them shouldknow his way about any small ship.”

“So I thought, Mr Rees. What do you thinkof the new gun?”

“Rapid fire, sir. Over a thousand yards, auseful weapon. Short range, but so is most of our work. I am not sure what itwill do as an anti-aircraft weapon. Difficult to take an aim. A bit slow on itsmounting. On balance, sir, considering that we have seen an aeroplane no morethan twice since I have been aboard, it should be a useful gun. Better than theMaxim, for sure.”

“Good. What of ready-use?”

Rees pointed to a far larger locker, onthe centreline behind the gun.

“Additional magazine space belowdecks,sir. Three gunners – layer, loader and third hand whose job is to keep therounds coming into the loader’s hands. Explosive shells. Contact fused, forlack of time to set fuses in rapid fire.”

“Should do some damage to a small ship’supperworks in close action. The gunlayer will have to use his discretion, especiallyin night action.”

“Yes, sir. Experienced hand, sir. Norton.Twenty year man, sir.”

Norton came to the salute, showed himselfto be older than most aboard, well into his thirties, still seeming fit andcompetent.

“South Africa, Norton?”

“HMS Terrible, sir. Was one of her gunparty ashore, sir. Better part of a twelvemonth, that was, chasing about with asix inch pulled by three dozen of oxen, sir. Didn’t know whether I were agunner or a farmer, half the time, sir. China Station since, sir, and a fewyears on the East African coast on Challenger, sir. Scapa on Royal Sovereign,sir, last ship. Had the chance to come to the destroyers, sir. Took it forbeing better than polishing the brass at Scapa.”

“You can expect to be busy here, Norton.The gun is new – see what can be done with it.”

“Aye aye, sir.”

Simon wondered if Norton might be too muchset in the ways of the big ships, needing orders rather than thinking forhimself as was demanded on the destroyers. It might be necessary to shift himacross to one of the four inchers instead. Give him a chance and then speakwith Rees – he would not condemn the man without giving him the opportunity toshow what he could do.

They waited for orders, exercising thehands, fitting in