More from Steering to Glory. This is aboard the fictional HMS Splendid during the forenoon watch, 8am to noon, on a real day in June 1810. All events and people are based on actual historical fact, as noted in the author's notes, added at the end of the post here. This is copied exactly, with the addition of lj-cuts at suitable points - I have not edited the text beyond adding those in where the author changes topic a little, to make it easier to read on screen.

( On the Quarterdeck of HMS Splendid )

( Notes below )

( Upper deck of HMS Splendid )

( Soldiers Serving as Marines )

( The men's role )

( Notes )

(Taken from Steering to Glory: A Day in the Life of a Ship of the Line, a secondary source by Nicholas Blake.)

( Describing a 74 (based on Bellona) )

( From Chapter 2: Washing the Weather Decks (Middle watch - midnight to 4am) )

( On Marines and the Master-at-Arms )

( Notes for above excerpts )

(From A military treatise... by J. MacIntire)

( Text below )

(I think this is possibly the best place to post this)

Questions to research/look into

1. Chatham Marines: Different plume? - possibly black according to some unsubstantiated sources.
2. The exact lace: white with one blue and one red stripe, yes, with the blue towards the outside edge. But was the red stripe in the centre, or towards the inside edge? Is there a sample from a sealed pattern or similar?
3. I'd like to know the form the orders took for a sentry post aboard ship - what the Marine was supposed to do. "To guard my position..." etc.
4. The nickname 'Jollies'. What are the origins of this name? (If they can be traced, that is.)

To be added to later...

From A Military Treatise...

( The Manner of posting and relieving Centinels )
( Directions for the Conduct of Centinels )

From A military treatise... by J. MacIntire

( Excerpt Below )

Button image and info originally posted by patches_the_shipcat