Fast signalling, voyeurs and gardens
Meanwhile back at the dockyard signal tower life was going on uncomplicated. We kept a watch on the harbour, a set of offices adjacent the tower building and a rear watch on Alameda Gardens where courting couples got some privacy and it was also a haven for queers performing their rights.
The harbour and Gibraltar Bay formed an ideal location for many ships requiring victualling, chandleries¹ and engineering repairs with a number of American navy ships passing through from the Pacific. Some of these could be very stroppy with regard to who were the fastest visual signallers. The speed I preferred was about 15 to 16 words per minute for which I had to concentrate. It’s rather like learning a different language and some people have the knack. It also concerns coordination of eye and brain and when the Yanks fancied their chances our leading signalman loved a challenge and they could send their maximum speed to no avail. It’s normal when reading to give a flash for each word sent but Russell used to present them with a continuous light and never missed a word. Roll on the Rodney, Nelson and Renown?
The office next to the tower was a supply stores and we had a bird’s eye view of how to get quick promotion. A Wren officer was present, also a Commander and two other officers. The first two used to stay until 2000 most nights and it was rather hilarious watching the goings on. She was quite young and he had a paunch and they usually stripped off and using the cruiser scopes it was like being in the same room as them! He had to chase her at times with some difficulty but she got her second ring in about eight months. Everybody was in agreement. A really lovely pair!!! I also thought he was a customer of the tug men too…
Alameda Gardens was laid out on a rise and levelled off at the same height as the flag deck and with the cruiser scope little was missed unless our patrons disappeared behind the shrubbery. It looked directly into a straw thatched enclosure that saw some incredible sights. It was surprising the people one knew who operated there.
The queers considered it their favourite playground but had to go into the bushes until the lovers had finished. I recognised a coder off the Vetch but it was no surprise really as it was known on the ship. Being a Yorkshire lad he often used to give a fond display of drinking an imaginary pint of Tetley’s Bitter that brought a laugh or two.
The harbour and Gibraltar Bay formed an ideal location for many ships requiring victualling, chandleries¹ and engineering repairs with a number of American navy ships passing through from the Pacific. Some of these could be very stroppy with regard to who were the fastest visual signallers. The speed I preferred was about 15 to 16 words per minute for which I had to concentrate. It’s rather like learning a different language and some people have the knack. It also concerns coordination of eye and brain and when the Yanks fancied their chances our leading signalman loved a challenge and they could send their maximum speed to no avail. It’s normal when reading to give a flash for each word sent but Russell used to present them with a continuous light and never missed a word. Roll on the Rodney, Nelson and Renown?
The office next to the tower was a supply stores and we had a bird’s eye view of how to get quick promotion. A Wren officer was present, also a Commander and two other officers. The first two used to stay until 2000 most nights and it was rather hilarious watching the goings on. She was quite young and he had a paunch and they usually stripped off and using the cruiser scopes it was like being in the same room as them! He had to chase her at times with some difficulty but she got her second ring in about eight months. Everybody was in agreement. A really lovely pair!!! I also thought he was a customer of the tug men too…
Alameda Gardens was laid out on a rise and levelled off at the same height as the flag deck and with the cruiser scope little was missed unless our patrons disappeared behind the shrubbery. It looked directly into a straw thatched enclosure that saw some incredible sights. It was surprising the people one knew who operated there.
The queers considered it their favourite playground but had to go into the bushes until the lovers had finished. I recognised a coder off the Vetch but it was no surprise really as it was known on the ship. Being a Yorkshire lad he often used to give a fond display of drinking an imaginary pint of Tetley’s Bitter that brought a laugh or two.
¹ A ship chandler (or ship's chandler) is a retail dealer who specialises in supplies or equipment for ships, known as ship's stores.