Published in Warships IFR magazine September 2010.

Abie and Os are relaxing on the starboard forechain, where the mast shrouds are attached to the hull – a popular hidey-hole on board, where privacy is rarer than a purser’s largesse.

‘Jimmy The One’ is the first lieutenant.  Seamen frequently gave ‘Jimmy’ nicknames to other crew members, such as ‘Jimmy Dust’ for the orderly in the breadroom and ‘Jimmy Ducks’ for whoever was looking after the animals (they were all ducks to seamen, if they weren’t something else).