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

eight miles distant! It isnecessary to be close to take the enemy’s surrender – how can one board andbring home a battleship if one is not within range of it?”

“Nelson is dead, Griffin! The old days of takingby boarding died with him. The sole aim now is to sink the enemy while takingminimal losses ourselves. Their Lordships much want us to board German destroyers– they have even issued cutlasses for the purpose! You will not indulge in suchfoolishness except you collide with the enemy in the dark of night. I most certainlydo not expect to see cutlasses in evidence when I inspect your ships – they shouldbe locked away in a dark corner of the magazine where none of the hands cantrip over them.”

“Boarding is our oldest tradition, sir. Ithas made the Navy all that it is!”

“Possibly so, Griffin. Times have changed.We must change with them. We fight a twenty-five knot war now. Nelson crawledinto battle at walking pace. We do not. We are creating a new Navy in theboats. You must be part of it.”

“I am afraid I cannot agree, sir. Withrespect, sir, you have little experience of the more important aspects of navallife – when you have another ten years in, you will come to appreciate that theold ways are best – they have developed over centuries, sir, they must beright! For the while, sir, I am sure I can guide you into a correct way of doingthings.”

Griffin returned to his ship happily convincedhe had shown his young master the correct path. He ordered the crew to gunneryexercise, agreeing that to be necessary.

“Maximum rate of fire over open sights,Gunner. Assume a range of two cables and shortening. The important thing is tochieve the highest possible rate of fire. No need to worry about aim. Riflesand revolvers to every gun and to the torpedomen, ready to board.”

The Gunner, commissioned after twentyyears in, was heartily in favour. Broadsides at arm’s length was exactly how hewished to fight the ship.

Simon paid a call on Tyrwhitt to discussreadiness and orders.

“A first shakedown patrol, sir, and thenready for trade, with one exception. I find I cannot work with Griffin. He believesin fixed patrol lines on an unvarying routine. If we should be ambushed, welland good! That will give us the opportunity to close the range and take theenemy by boarding. I do not believe he has considered the torpedo or thepossibility that faster and better-armed German ships would simply hold off andbatter. He will not enter into the spirit of my orders, being convinced that onceI have a few more years in, I shall learn that the old ways are best. He is notsuitable for service in destroyers, sir.”

“So be it, Sturton. I shall have the devil’sown job with the clerks at the Admiralty, trying to explain to them that allsmall ships are not identical. A man who has done well minesweeping at fourknots is not necessarily to excel at nearly thirty knots in a destroyer. Theships may be much of a size; the demands on the captain are very different. Thedecision is mine, however. Griffin will be relieved of duty as of this day.Discovering his replacement will take a little longer, should be able to layhands on a body inside two days. Luckily, the clerks who are in charge of makingnew appointments live in different offices to those responsible for dealingwith unsuitable officers who have been relieved from duty in their ships forreasons other than disciplinary.”

It seemed peculiar. Simon’s slight knowledgeof the Admiralty suggested it was not surprising; it was a strange place.

“Oh, while I think of it, Sturton, I wasin Town over the weekend, met up with your old shipmate Baker. The VC, youknow?”

“In company with his slightly eccentriclady, sir?”

“Elkthorn’s daughter? Yes, they make afine couple, happy with each other. A pleasure to see. He has made brigadier,has been given three battalions of the New Army to take out in May.”

“Good for him! You know, sir, we lost a goodman there. Makes me wonder sometimes if we in the Navy go about things theright way all the time. Never known a mid to be beaten as frequently as Bakerwas, or to seem so useless – yet we can see his achievements and must admirethem, since he left the Navy.”

Tyrwhitt wondered if that was not goingtoo far. Perhaps the young man had been unsuited to the sea, was of a differentgenius.

“Can’t deny his ability, Sturton. Pleasantchap to talk to, as well. Young Adams’ name came up as well – engaged to a daughterof the Duke of Blair. Don’t know how he blotted his copybook but he is navigatoron Black Prince now and has made his way back into Their Lordship’s graces, forthe duration. He will have to send his papers in when the war ends, of course,but there will be no disgrace.”

“Glad to hear that, sir. A good shipmate,although determined to rise in the world in the old way. I had thought he wouldhave made post captain by the end of the war and rear five years later, all bystanding at Jellicoe’s shoulder. I do wonder just what he did – so wholly outof character!”

“We shall never know, officially. You knowwhat the Navy is like, Sturton – somebody will talk, one pal to another, andthe word will eventually spread. Not to worry. Griffin for now. Call him acrossto Naiad, inform him that you cannot work with his attitude, you do notconsider him suited for service in destroyers, send him directly to me.Unpleasant interview for you – something that you need to do. Good experience.When you break a man, always do it face to face – makes you a better officer.You have things to learn if you are to rise further in the world, Sturton. Youwill need three years at least in Naiad, then, if this damned war is over, itwill make sense for you to be appointed to a flagship for two years before comingout as a post captain with a new cruiser or one of these aircraft carriers theyare talking about