In 1956 Patrick Nairne was “head of the Middle Eastern and international law section of what was, rather quaintly, known as Military Branch of the Admiralty secretariat“. He found himself “though relatively junior, in a front-line administrative post during the Suez affair”.
This description, in The Coincidence of Novembers, shows Nairne’s attention to detail and humility – just two qualities apparent in his son’s book. As a reward for the long hours he put in dealing with Suez he was chosen to go on a freebie – a cruise on HMS Tyne on a NATO communications exercise and her visits to Oslo and Rotterdam in March 1957. He kept a diary in which it becomes clear that “Pat” Nairne used the trip to understand more about how the Royal Navy works. Patrick O’Brian’s novels describing the RN 150 years earlier hadn’t been written but Nairne’s observations show how little things had changed.
”No more than a steady swell on the North Sea and there is not much wind today. All around there is an impression of vast emptiness, and my life is pleasantly empty too. The Captain lives alone in his sea cabin on the bridge.”
The steward to the Captain whinges as much as Preserved Killick. Which there ain’t no stern-gallery, sir, now we been degraded to a sixth-rate,’ cried Killick with malignant triumph. ‘Stern-galleries is for our betters, and I must toil and moil away in the dark.’ (The Ionian Mission)
He shares an early morning watch from 4.00 am to 7.00 am – O’Brian would have put it in bells. There is a detachment of Royal Marines on board as in Nelson’s navy. The padre complains that the officers don’t take time to get to know their men. There is no mention of splicing the mainbrace but he drinks ‘bandmasters’ of sherry at dinner. He muses on the pros and cons of a few ratings slinging their hammocks and messing together versus bunks and cafeteria messing. Pay and pensions are not as attractive as in the private sector. Motivation is important. “All ships should work their men hard on jobs relating to the fighting task in war.” I can hear Jack Aubrey’s loudly expressed agreement. As in Nelson’s navy Nairne records “we shall fire our salutes on reaching the Hook of Holland.”
Sixty years on the Navy has changed. A new HMS Tyne is a fishery protection vessel and officers and men mess together onboard in a canteen.
If you form the impression that I am thoroughly enjoying the quirky twists and turns in The Coincidence you are absolutely right.