A Life That Is Indeed A Romance Of The Sea

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19248, 13 February 1937, Page 9

A Life That Is Indeed A Romance Of The Sea

;' "LIE was the kind of man that our people most- hold in honour," I spoke the Dean of Winchester at the i funeral, service of the late Sir Edgar ' Britten, captain of the Queen Alary. "lie was one who faced all weathers with mi equal calmness of mind, who rose to tho top of his profession by his merits. The sorrow and pride , thai we feel is fell throughout the whole nation and on every sea where the British flag is flown, and, above all, through the ranks of the Merj chant Navy." The lruth of this tribute is borne out by "A Million Ocean Miles," a notable book by Sir Edgar T. Britten, R.J)., R.N.R., which was completed just before his death. "This distinguished sailor," stales the writer of the epilogue, "with the modest manner, the sensitive and retiring character, but the tremendous ability for handling ships and men, owed his success to that self-restraint acquired in a hard school of seafaring. Nothing could have been further from his qualities than those of the oldtime blustering, bullying skipper; for Britten was essentially a loveable being. "Happy Ships." "His officers and, men held him in respect ful affection; both the Berengaria and Queen Mary were known as ['happy ships'; he himself loved both vessels ardently, though his pride in the newer ship knew no bounds. He who had been brought up in sail, who had graduated in the largest, fastest and most deep-draught Atlantic mailcarriers, never had the slightest doubt about the Queen Alary. Uii tho .contrary, when once she had been brought out of the Clyde for her trials in the open sea, he was not long in affirming that never had he known a ship so amenable, so responsive, so sweet-tempered. Thus, from first to last, by a fortunate set of cireumLstances, the most wonderful ship in the world had been placed in the hands of the faultless commanding officer." The story of his career as related by Sir Edgar Britten is indeed a romance of the sea. It tells of the happenings during those voyages of "A Million Ocean Miles" —a true romance. I