By Guess and By God

In the introductory note to his account of British submarine actions in World War I, William Guy Carr explained the title as follows: 

““By Guess and By God” was a phrase coined during the war by navigating officers of British submarines to describe the manner of their navigating. A surface ship in peace time proceeding on her way without celestial or other aids to navigation goes “by dead reckoning.” A submarine in war time, with all artificial aids to navigation removed, with no chance to take a sight for days on end, harassed by the enemy, with compasses often acting queerly, went “by guess and by God.” Blind as bats, we guessed and prayed inwardly that we guessed right: the rest was in the hands of Providence.”

During my own time in submarines, fifty years after the events described by Carr, there were many occasions when I “prayed inwardly.” Needless to say, a predicted landfall or confirming change in the depth of the ocean below us allowed us to breathe a little easier.

Tools of The Trade (2)

 This Tool of The Trade is of course a pair of dividers, always to be found on or near the chart table in a submarine's control room. This handsome example is a replica of the style used by the Ships Master on board HMS Association, which was wrecked off the Scilly Isles on October 22nd, 1707.

The dividers in this photo are resting on a battered chart of the North Pacific,used during a cruise to Hawaii in 1980. The ketch Wise Eye made a safe but prolonged passage, but that's a longer story for another time.
Below, the dividers are used to measure the distance between two point on the chart; one minute of latitude equals one nautical mile.

Tools of the Trade (1)

 This rather odd-looking item is a wheelspanner. Ships' engineers and all submariners will be familiar with wheelspanners, as they are extremely useful for turning stubborn or jammed valve control wheels. (Think oversized garden faucet outlets.)
This particular one is somewhat unique. It is chromed--most were workaday hard steel tools. Also, the non-spanner end is shaped into a coarse screwdriver, perfect for screwing down deck fittings on an O-class submarine.


Each of the officers in the commissioning crew of HMC Submarine Okanagan was presented with one of these handy keepsakes by Her Majesty's Dockyard Chatham in 1968. Mine is on a shelf in front of me as I write, a constant reminder of those long-gone days.

British Submarines at the Western Front

I'm happy to report that I presented a short discussion on the topic "British Submarine Operations in the Great War" yesterday, March 9th. The occasion was the 14th annual AGM and conference of the Western Front Association-Pacific Coast Branch.
Given the advanced spot I had in the program--ie last on the list--I'm very appreciative of the large number of attendees that stayed after the official close, and of the organizers, who let me run over my allotted time!
Bravo Zulu to the Branch and their officers, who had an excellent turnout and put on a terrific program. More about that soon.
And a reminder to others who couldn't make the event, I'd be only too pleased to arrange to bring the topic to other groups.

My email: bob.mackay@hotmail.com.

When Cavalry and Submarines Collide (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this 2-part series, I described an upcoming "collision" between cavalry and submarines at the Western Front Association AGM and Seminar, March 7-9. That will be a brush between the two military/naval arms in a figurative sense.

But the real thing did happen. In World War I, during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, British and Australian submarines forced their way through the Dardanelles, wreaking havoc with Turkish naval shipping and transports. On one occasion E-14, under the command of LCdr M. E. Nasmith, drove a steamer aground. While preparing to land a boarding party to blow up the ship, E-14 came under fire from a party of Turkish cavalry. To quote By Guess and By God, "Bullets rained down from above and Nasmith felt for once that discretion was the better part of valour".

Part 1 can be seen here.

When Cavalry and Submarines Collide (Part 1)

The Western Front Association, Pacific Coast Branch's annual general meeting and conference is scheduled for the Bay Street Armoury in Victoria. It will run from March 7th to 9th this year. President Peter Broznisky will welcome attendees to the festivities which will include speakers, a mess dinner, and a welcome on the evening of the 7th. Details can be found here.
I first joined the WFA because of my interest in WW I's Canadian Cavalry Brigade, which resulted in my first novel, Soldier of the Horse. Since that book was published, I have been working on my second, which is set in a Cold War Canadian submarine. The research for the submarine novel has included WW I material, and at this year's WFA conference I will be presenting on "British Submarine Operations in the Great War". So this "collision" between horsemen and boats will not involve flying shells and ricocheting bullets.
But--stay tuned for Part 2.

Western Front Association Seminar March 7-9

The annual WFA seminar and AGM is scheduled for Victoria on March 7-9 2014 at the Bay Street Armoury. For the program, click here. There are a couple of naval topics to be covered this year: one on WWI naval aviation, and one (presented by myself) on British submarine operations in the Great War.
My research is going well, and I am sure the program will live up to previous excellent events.

Submarines From Early Days to Modern (2)

In World War I, British submariners referred to themselves as being in "the Trade". I recently read an explanation: Hidebound, spic and span surface navy officers thought their brethren in the submarine business sloppy and scruffily dressed. In fact, indistinguishable from plumber's apprentices in appearance. Hence "the trade".

I doubt if Max Horton, one of the earliest and most successful WW I submarine commanders, would have liked the comparison. Here he is in later life as Sir Max Horton, Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches, the man most responsible for Atlantic convoys and the eventual triumph over the U-boats in WW II.