NAVAL CUSTOMS

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 5

NAVAL CUSTOMS

AS SEEN IN PRACTICE THE ROYAL TOAST The Sydney ‘ Morning Herald’s ’ special correspondent, who travelled on H.M.A.S. Australia during manoeuvres between Adelaide and Melbourne, gives this interesting story of naval customs : Traditions are strong in the Navy, whose history is long and whose customs are deeply ingrained. From slight beginnings these practices, which are nothing if not impressive, have become a devout ritual, and their observance is closely guarded against infraction. The layman travelling as a privileged person with the warships, finds some of these strange, even unreasonable, until their origin and development are explained. The most ritualistic of the every-day observances is the Royal toast at dinner, in the ward room each night. It is honoured with remarkable fervour, which contrasts boldly with the frequently perfunctory ceremony at civic gatherings. When the courses are completed, stewards set wine glasses on the right of each diner. Four decanters of port are them placed in pairs in front of the presiding wardroom officers —Mr President and Mr Vice-president —who sit opposite each other in the middle of either side of the long dining table. Almost reverently the stoppers of the decanters are removed, and the vessels passed from officer to officer to the left—never to the right. They continue on their way until those which have left Mr President’s hands have reached Mr Vice-president’s, and vice versa. In the process they have not—they must not cross. Why, I was unable to discover, but superstition plays its part. For instance, if a wine glass rings in being handled, as glasses sometimes do when they receive a tap, Navy lore says that the ringing must be stopped and not allowed to fade of its own accord, for if that happens ill-for-tune, probably death, awaits one of the company. The ritual of passing the decanters having been concluded, the band plays the National Anthem, the company remaining seated. Then the toast is offered as follows: Mr President: “Mr Vice-president —The King.” Mr Vice-president: “Gentlemen— The King.” The company (raising their glasses) : “ The King.” The company then replace their glasses. CURIOUS CUSTOM. The origin of the passing of the wine without taking and drinking it, which to the layman is probably more curious than the fact that the company remains seated during the playing ol the National Anthem, is not clearly explained. But it is clear tiiat the toast, if drunk, must be drunk either in wine or water, and since -many prefer neither on many occasions, the custom has developed of honouring it in form, but not in substance. There is another rule about taking the wine. If everybody at dinner passes tlie decanters without partaking, Mr President has the privilege of a drink at the expense of the mess. But if even one diner has wine for the toast Mr President loses his privilege. It may be added that Mr President does not often press Jus claim, even when he has the right. As for not standing when the National Anthem is played—a procedure which finds opponents within the ranks of the officers, who point out that they stand when attending shore functions when tire toast is drunk—the custom is reputed to have had its origin in the reign of “ one of the early Georges ” (George HI. seems most favoured). It so happened, so the story goes, that when the King was visiting one of the low-headed ships of the day, he rose when the Royal toast was being honoured and struck his head on an oak beam. He thereupon promised that in future the .officers need not stand for the toast. PRIVILEGE OF SITTING. Commander Moyes, a charming conversationalist, appeared to get nearer to the real truths of the Royal toast ceremony. He said that, apart from the Navy, at least four British Army regiments had the privilege of remaining seated while the National Anthem was being played. Opinion was divided as to whether the company should or should not remain seated, and he ad vanced reasons other than the fact that George 111. (in his opinion, the most likely author of the above-mentioned precedent) had granted such a privilege. His reason was one of dignity. When the ship was rolling heavily it was difficult for the company to preserve their poise, and the indignity of the swaying figures, he indicated, was alone sufficient reason for preserving the custom. There are other smaller details associated with the Royal toast. They include restrictions as to the subjects of conversation before the toast has been given. “ Shop ” is barred (a rule said to be broken not infrequently), as also is the “mention of the name of a lady,” a breach of which rule is a graver happening; the penalty, a round of port. Of all the customs, the saluting of the quarter-deck is the most familiar to the layman. This is rigidly observed. The custom had its origin in pre-lle-formation days, when a crucifix and a picture of the Virgin were affixed there. Since then the quarter-deck has become to denote the ship authority and the colours. THE PIPES. Possibly of lesser significance, but of equal or greater antiquity, are the customs associated with piping the captain on board and the ceremony at sunset. The first is a survival of the days when the arrival of someone who required to be hauled aboard in the bosun’s chair was announced by the “ piping ” or calling of those needed for the task. The Navy still pipes (through its system of loud speakers) a warning that an order is about to be given. It is a rather shrill whistle, which, calls all to attention around the loud speaker. A popular phrase in the Navy used to be, “ I didn’t hear the pipes, Sir,” Commander Moyes explained. That was the excuse of sailors who wanted to escape reprimand for having ignored an order, In the days when warships were small all hands could, or should, have heard the pipes; but as ships grew larger there was good reason to believe that some of the men could not hear. So the Navy made a change. To-day on the Australia the pipes are broadcast through fifty loud speakers, and “ I didn’t hear the pipes, Sir,” is no longer a satisfactory excuse. At sunset, when the ships are at anchor, officers and men, called to attention by a bugle call of “ Retire.” face aft to the colours and salute. This ceremony of less than a minute is a tribute to other days, when, at the close of day, the battle was called off'. In those times, as everybody must know, the naval battle was almost a hand-to-hand affair. The engagement persisted throughout the day, and, as darkness approached, the ships were glad of the opportunity to call it a

day, retire to a safe distance, there to lick their wounds and collect their forces for a • possible renewal of the battle on the morrow.