This lad naturally became rather a hero in the eyes of his fellows, especially as he was already rather a favourite, being of the breezy type, which sailors call a “Jack-shilloo.” It must be said, however, that birchings were few and far between, at least in the days of Captain Powell.
In March, 1863, came the marriage of the Prince of Wales, the day being observed as a holiday, and white “favours,” with the portraits of the Prince and of Princess Alexandra on them, were distributed to the cadets, who were also allowed leave to go to Weymouth—though they found nothing particularly amusing to do there. Indeed, a more uninteresting town for a lad to spend some hours in could not well be imagined.
The numerous disabilities of Portland began about this period to be brought home to the Admiralty, chiefly through the representations of Captain Powell, who eventually received instructions to look round for a more suitable station. In recommending Dartmouth he probably made the best selection possible. The only objection that could be raised to it was that it might not be sufficiently bracing, and this was more or less of a “faddy” idea; in all other respects it appeared—and has proved to be—most admirably suited for the purpose.
Smooth water—for it would take something like a tropical cyclone to raise a sea at the head of the harbour—beautiful surroundings, easy access to the shore, land available for good playing fields. All these good things, as it were, going a-begging, while the gales howled round the ship in her exposed quarters at Portland.
And so, though she had been only eighteen months there, it was decided that it should see the last of her in September, 1863.
On the 28th all was in readiness, and 108 cadets—about half the full number—were sent on leave.
At 7.45 a.m. on the 29th the Britannia set out on another little voyage. This time, however, there was more towing power provided, the Geyser, an old paddle-wheel sloop, taking the hawsers, with the Prospero, Admiralty tug, ahead of her; and between them they pulled the old ship along at quite a respectable speed. The sails were available if required, but the Britannia was not destined again to spread her wings, though she and her escort had to remain at sea, off Dartmouth, for the night, entering the beautiful harbour at nine o’clock next morning, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the inhabitants, and to the extreme satisfaction, no doubt, of the cadets, as they realised the contrast of their future surroundings with what they had left. As it turned out, the day selected for the voyage was a lucky one, for that night it blew a fresh gale outside, and the handling of so large a vessel, in light trim, by the tugs would have been difficult, probably involving the parting of hawsers.
The spot selected was about half a mile above the town, and the ship was securely moored, head and stern, to four heavy anchors, so as to be absolutely stationary, and quite close to the western shore.
There was a busy time then for all hands: clearing away rocks abreast the ship, making a beach for the cadets’ boats, a landing place and cricket ground, with direct access up the steep bank, so as to avoid the town, and so on. A great deal of this work was done, more or less in the rough, by the ship’s company, under the boatswain, who, in huge sea-boots, superintended the engineering of zig-zag paths and steps and various other unaccustomed achievements. Tars take a delight in a job like this, outside their ordinary duties, and bring a remarkable amount of ingenuity and common sense to bear upon it.
Their ’prentice work has, of course, been long since superseded by that of contractors, the magnificent playing fields, etc., being now approached by flights of concrete steps of great solidity; pier, boatsheds, bathing place, etc., all in keeping.