The kit muster went well! Standing next to my bed, to attention, having just saluted and blurted out that I was ready for inspection, was on my list of worst ever experiences. I need not have worried, the inspecting Officer seemed to know how nervous I was, and he showed more interest in why I had wanted to be a sailor than in the quality of my hand stitching or sharpness of my creases.
Standing on parade or being inspected was becoming part of daily life but in the future when all the bullshit was over, it would become far less common an event. The operational and technical Royal Navy was different but without the initial training and discipline, the backbone, the essentials of the job could not have been achieved.
Having past with "flying colours" we were allowed to go “ashore”, Our first jaunt was not going to be to eventful we all had to go in uniform, be inspected before leaving on the Liberty boat (another blue bus), we also had to go in groups of no more than six and no less than four, we could not visit any public houses, tattoo artist or ladies of the night! “As if”!
Plymouth, the very home of the Royal Navy were pubs and red light area’s were only separated by tattoo artists was like a bright light to a moth. We arrived by way of the Torpoint ferry after a short bus ride from the camp.
We had to pass Aggie Westons on the way, we had been told about the Sailors rest by sea daddy as part of one of his “sea dits” it was nice to see part of naval history.
It wasn’t far to the centre of town and "Union Street", the forbidden land. The patrons of this area named it the strip as it was just one strait road with bars, dance halls, flashing lights and lots of ladies.
The fact that we were in our uniforms and were only sixteen was a slight hindrance but we stuck at it and were soon allowed into a bar.
Uniforms were not usually worn by off duty sailors so it made it very obvious that we were still in training and also underage.
The Naval patrols cruised the strip in search of anyone drunk or doing something that would bring the Navy into disrepute.
Keeping a low profile was going to be a priority. I had had alcohol before but not in any quantity, the hooching bars were full of "old salts" only to happy to be bought a beer and tell a story, I was more interested in sightseeing than listening.
Unfortunately we only had (Blue station cards), which meant like Cinderella we had to be back in past the camp gates by a set time, sometime it was refered to as cinderella leave, any fun and enjoyment was to be crushed into just a few hours, not a good idea when it was the first time as sailors we had seen alcohol and woman.
Liberty boat:
On most naval ships one of the boats is designated the Liberty boat, it would be used to transfer sailors for some leisure time to the nearest harbour, even on a shore establishment the tradition is carried on and it is possible to miss the liberty boat as it can just be a designated time.
Going ashore:
In the same manner can be the movement away from a ship or out of an establishment.
Flying Colours:
If a fleet won a clear victory the ships would sail back to port with their colours proudly flying from their masts.
"Sea Dit”:
Royal Navy expression for a tale, story or anecdote.
Sailors tend to “spin their dits” when feeling relaxed and sociable - often (in times past) after the mid-day issue of grog, or during a make and mend (a half day free of duties) or, best of all, when putting the world to rights in the bar of the Fleet Canteen . Some dits are tall tales, where accuracy may take second place to sensation. verification of the dits between eye witnesses to the events described were often wildly inaccurate.
Blue Station Card:
Blue station card was given to sailors under the age of seventeen and a half this card was to be handed in on returning from shore, the navy take the responsibility like parents to make sure that the younger sailors are tucked up in bed before a certain time.
Old Salts, Men who have spent most of there lives in and around the Royal Navy, always willing to share a dit and give advice.
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