Ensigns
The use of ensigns (an identifying flag denoting military or civilian ship) dates back to the 1600’s and evolved to denote a squadron and admiral by the colour of the ensign designated to the squadron (Blue, White and Red). The ensign linked to promotion followed a distinct order in 1805 as described below.
Rear Admiral of the Blue, White then Red to Vice Admiral of the Blue, White then Red Admiral of the Blue, White then Red to Admiral of the Fleet.
In 1864, the White Ensign became the official standard of the Royal Navy and is still used by Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. The Blue ensign is used by Fleet Auxiliary and the Red Ensign by the Merchant Navy.
Colours
The Colours of Her Majesty’s ships in the Royal Navy consist of:
*White Ensign (worn at the stern, from the gaff, main yardarm when at sea);
*Union Jack (worn at the ship’s jack staff, at the bow when not underway or when the ship is dressed)
*Masthead pennant (worn at the masthead, except when displaced by an admiral ‘s flag or commodore ‘s broad pennant).
Colours are hoisted at 0800 from 15th February to 31st October, inclusive, and at 0900 from 1st November to 14th February inclusive.
When abroad, Colours and Evening Colours will be carried out as the local Commander in Chief shall direct. Evening Colours will take place at Sunset or at 2100 hours if sunset is after that time.
Shore establishments also fly the White Ensign and Ships underway continuously fly their White Ensign whilst at sea.
*photo credit – Royal Navy Photography
Crests
This role is now managed by the Ships Names and Badges Committee. Each badge (known as a Crest) features a Naval Crown at the top, framed by gold rope. Ships and Submarines feature a circular design and shore establishments a slightly offset square. Many Royal Navy Ships have affiliations with various locations, organisations and charities, including sea cadets.
These affiliations are often inherited from their previous namesake.
Heart of Oak
Dr William Boyce composed Heart of Oak in circa 1758/59. Formerly a child chorister at St Pauls Cathedral, in later life he became the Master of the Kings Music until his death in 1779. Boyce also composed music for Shakespeare plays and symphonies.
The Royal Navy in the UK, Canada and New Zealand share this composition as their official quick march. The title and lyrics to the song have two versions. The oak in the song’s title refers to the wood from which British warships were generally made during the age of sail. The “Heart of Oak” is the strongest central wood of the tree and sailors with hearts of oak are strong, cheerful, and patriotic.
Digital purchase copyright the Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines – Mountbatten Festival of Music – CD SKU:”sku”>CHVCD50LOTOW. www.royalmarinesbands.co.uk
Divisions & Piping
The assembling of the Naval Fleet before the monarch is formally known as the Fleet Review and occurs based on ceremonial visits and key events in history. The formal parade of a shore establishment or ships company for inspection is known as Divisions.
– “Piping the side” is a form of ceremonial gangway salute. By custom, the piping is a boatswain call of a low note, to a low note with a rising high note in the centre lasting 12 seconds, all in total on one breath. It serves as an official greeting of a Flag Officer, ships Commanders foreign uniformed Officers and members of the Royal Family.
– “Piping the still” is a single call to bring the ships company to attention for “Colours”, a salute to a passing warship followed by a second call of high note dropping to low note to order a carry on with duties.
*photo credit – Royal Navy Photography
Salutes
In the early days of sail, a sailor would salute Officers by removing their hat. Over time this changed to the format whereby a sailor would raise the hand to head, to clearly demonstrate that they were not carrying arms.
The salute has since evolved into the current format whereby a sharp movement of the right hand to the head, palm facing in at a 45 degree angle, the Navy salute of the present day. Its origins go back several hundreds of years when opposing combatants had a need to show that they carried no weapon and as such raised their hands to confirm this fact.
Nicknames
The Royal Navy is known as the Andrew by all ranks in the Senior Service. This is believed to be a reference to Lieutenant Andrew Miller a prominent member of the ‘Press Gangs’.
Sailors are not spared nicknames as the Royal Navy takes their issue to a whole new level, with obvious nicknames such as “Albert” Hall, “Ginger” Rodgers to “Taff” (Welsh) and “Jock” (Scottish). Additionally, there are nicknames such as “Harry” Harrison, “Bobby” Charlton, or tradesmen “Dusty” Miller and “Chippy” Carpenter, to the opposite in description, in that someone really tall or of a large frame would be remarkably known as “Tiny”.
All part of naval life!
Jackspeak
Jack Speak, is the evolution of Royal Navy slang.
The sailor is known as “Jack” or “Jenny” (for the WRNS) replacing the older version of Jack Tar.
Matelot (pronounced “matlow”) is derived from French nautical slang of the mid-19th century.
Friends are “Oppos”, derived from “Opposite Number”.
Royal Marines are known in friendly terms as “Bootneck” or simply “Royals”.
*Illustration copyright Tugg 1999
Uckers
Uckers is a board game played by many irrespective of rank. It is similar to Ludo with extended rules to make it a more skilful game. It has been played in the Royal Navy and other countries for over 100 years and it is believed to have originated in the 18th/19th century from an Indian game Parchisi.
Uckers is played by two or four people with the players opposite each other partnering to form 2 teams using two dice and is combined with energetic, fiercely competitive play. The best result is for the player to get their entire pieces home whilst the opponent still has their own pieces still at base. The Uckers Pussers Rum World Championship is held annually and there is even an Uckersfest.
Image credit – uckers-ya-uckers
Crown & Anchor
Another game of note is Crown and Anchor a dice gambling game which originated in the 18th Century as a simple dice game played by sailors in the Royal Navy.
The game consists of three six-sided dice—each having the symbols crown, anchor, spade, heart, diamond, and club—are used along with a layout (a board or a cloth) containing those symbols. The players place their bets on the layout symbols, after which the banker throws the dice from a cup.
Euchre is a trick-taking card game similar to Trumps also played, however there are several forms of the game and less popular.
Army Navy Rugby
The Army v Navy match is the final fixture on the Senior XV Rugby Union calendars of the Royal Navy & the Army and the last of three matches that together construct the Inter-Services Championship.
It has taken place every year since 1907, with two exceptions: 1915-1919 due to the first world war, and then again between 1940-1945 due to the second world war. The 100th match therefore took place in 2017 which was won… The women’s fixture was introduced in 2003.
The Army Navy Match has become a reunion event, a day for members of the armed forces both currently serving and veterans to catch up with old friends and meet new ones and is popular to the point of early sell out and exceeds 80,000 each year.
Proceeds from the match go to the Royal Navy Rugby Union (registered charity 1165153) and the Army Rugby Union Trust (registered charity 1149105). https://www.armynavymatch.org.uk
Armed Forces Day
The Armed Forces Day in the United Kingdom is an annual event celebrated in late June to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces.
First observed in 2006 as Veterans Day, it is an official event built around the contributions of those men and women who have served in the British Armed Forces.
In celebration of this, the name was changed to Armed Forces Day in 2009 and usually takes place on the last Saturday of June, save 2020 when all public events were cancelled due to the Global Pandemic..
*photo – contains public sector information licensed under the OGL v0.3
Trafalgar Day
There are many key dates in the calendar which relate to the many traditions undertaken, the details of which are referenced in other sections of the site and also various museum and societies dedicated to Naval history.
One specific day known to all and particularly related to HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world especially, is Trafalgar day. Each year on 21 October, a ceremony is held on board Victory and a dinner is held by commissioned officers of the Royal Navy in the officer’s mess, to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a battle which defined the Age of Sail.
https://www.hms-victory.com
Ltn J R Lapenotiere
The name of the ship that brought the news of the Trafalgar victory to England, HMS Pickle was a topsail schooner and though deemed too small to take part in the fighting, she distinguished herself as the ship commanded by Captain John Lapenotiere with the news of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar and sadly his death.
HMS Pickle set off on October 26th and after facing a gale off Cape Finisterre took 9 days to reach Britain. She anchored in Falmouth Bay on November 4th. Lapenotiere started his journey to London (a trip that usually took a week was covered in 37 hours with 19 horse changes) in order that the news of Victory and Lord Nelsons death could be published in the Times.
Warrant Officers and Senior Rates continue to celebrate Ltn J R Lapenotiere of HMS Pickle on this day. Fact Sheet Ltn JRL.
The Tot
A “Tot” is a half gill measure of “Pusser’s” previously issued at “Tot Time” of around 11.30 am previously an eagerly awaited event in a warship’s day.
The term of “Splice the Mainbrace” warmly known as splicers is a Navy wide celebratory issue of “Pussars” by Royal prerogative. Originally given after the main brace, from deck to top mast and about 6″ thick had to be spliced, deemed to be an extremely dangerous evolution and as such an extra “Tot” given in reward. In this context the Officers would not receive a tot.
Later however, “Splicers” were called for Reviews when the Officers would partake.
The Tot as a custom was withdrawn by the Admiralty in 1970 and commiserated each year on “Black Tot Day” with 2020 the 50th Anniversary of the cessation of the rum ration – “Up Spirits”.
Signals and toasts
The signal hoist for “Splice the Main Brace” is BRAVO-XRAY and since 1773 remains the order to mark a royal birth, a victory or visit by a Monarch.
The Royal Navy has a set of traditional drinking toasts as listed in the image and delivered by the youngest Officer in the mess and directly after the Loyal Toast, which is undertaken seated and then the toast for the corresponding day or the week. Royal Toasts (when a member of the Royal Family is present) are taken whilst standing.
The Sunday toast of “Absent friends” is extended into the broader Royal Navy family to remember “Oppo’s” who have crossed the bar on dates significant to the departed.
*photo – contains public sector information licensed under the OGL v0.3
