Having Fun in the Navy

Bedford School from the North 1914-1918 [Z208/12]

Friday 11th December1914: An old boy of Bedford School writes from the Royal Naval College at Devonport where he is enjoying his training as a Naval Cadet:

“I  am having a ripping time here. We do hardly any school work, only steering a steam picket boat about the harbour, sailing the cutter, navigation, gunnery, and torpedo work. We have been out in the Jupiter, firing 12in. guns, and in a picket boat firing torpedoes. They weigh a ton, and go at a tremendous speed about 15 feet under the water. The Torpedo Lieutenant examined us the other day … We are coming home at Christmas for a fortnight, and in March we go to sea to the war as midshipmen. We can go all round the Dockyards, where they build big Dreadnoughts. The sailors salute us, and we can go practically where we like. I am having the time of my life.”

Source: The Ousel, December 17, 1914 [Z447/21]