Naval Anecdotes
Coolness in Adversity
This story is taken
from Charles M’Pherson’s recollections of his life at sea, Life on Board
a Man-of-War. The action took place at the Battle of Navarino in 1827.
‘Some of the crew of the French frigate Alcyone had picked up a Turk, who by his dress appeared to be a person of rank in their navy. When he was brought aboard, he found his arm so shattered that it would need to undergo amputation; so he made his way down the cockpit ladder with as much ease as if he had not been hurt, and as much dignity as if he had made a prize of the frigate. He pointed to his shattered arm, and made signs to the surgeon that he wanted it off. The surgeon obliged him so far, and having bound up the stump and bandaged it properly, the Turk made his way to the deck, and plunging into the water, swam to his own vessel that was opposed along with another to the very frigate he had been aboard of. He was seen climbing the side with his one arm, but had not been aboard many minutes, when it blew up, and he, among with others of the crew, in all probability perished in the explosion.’
“Bungs
for ever!”
This anecdote is taken from
John Nichol’s (he was the cooper on board HMS Surprise) account of the
encounter between HMS Surprise and the American frigate Jason
during the Anglo-American war of 1812-1814.
‘I was serving powder as busy as I could, the shot and splinters flying in all directions when I heard the Irishman call from one of the guns (they fought like devils and the captain was fond of them on that account) “Halloo bungs, where are you?”
I looked to their gun and saw the two horns of my study [the cooper’s anvil] across its mouth; the next moment it was through the Jason’s side. The rogues thus disposed of my study which I had been using just before the action commenced and had placed in a secure place, as I thought out of their reach. “Bungs for ever!” they shouted when they saw the dreadful hole it made in the Jason’s side. Bungs is the name they always give the cooper.’