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CHAPTER 1 Part 2: England Expects More....

TWO

“Come in Mr. MacDougall. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, sirr.”

“I expect Captain Green told you that I am considering Lieutenant Walke for a new assignment. It's a special job and I do need to understand as much as I can before I decide to offer him the job. Please feel free to tell me what you can. Nothing you tell me will be held against him in any way – I just need to know who I am asking to join me.”

“Yes, sirr. I will try to answer whateverr questions you have.”

“Thank you, Mr. MacDougall.” Smithy smiled, “now before I start asking dumb questions about all the wrong things, what would you like to say? I know it is not usual for a Warrant Officer to be asked for an opinion of an officer, but I assure you this is a special situation, and I've been told that you're his mentor. How have you found him?”

“Sirr, the short answer is that he is as good a young officer as I have worked with in my four decades in the navy. He looks, listens, and learns, asks questions and when he needs to he can make up his mind right quick. He'll tackle any situation you give him. And sirr, I should say that he passes one of the best tests for any young officer – his men like him and they work hard for him and with him.”

“That's indeed a ringing endorsement of any officer. Thank you. What gives him his magic touch with the men?”

“He is just himself, sirr. He is not one of the herredit'ry officers, 'rristocratic RN family and all that, some of them what who regard themselves as better than the men.” His mouth crinkled almost invisibly as he said that, a clear sign of what he thought. “ He's a genuine person and treats them like they matter. They know that, and that he will do what he can for them. Like when.... Ha'hmm.... One of the lads lost his father missing and his brother killed, first day at the Somme. Another brother had gone missing at sea – later rescued – the month before. Lieutenant Walke got him a two week leave, and then sent a telegram to his mother that he was on the way. He also wrote a letter to her and posted it himself. He felt the man's loss himself.”

“Very good.” Smithy paused, thought of his own views, and went on. “He sees different ranks and jobs, but all working together.”

“Aye, sirr, that's just it.” MacDougall nodded as he spoke.

“If I may ask, does he have a weak spot that might trip him up?”

“Commander, I can't speak for how he gets along with the other officers, but otherwise he's solid. And if he doesn't feel solid about something, he finds out what he needs to know.”

“Mr. MacDougall, you are describing the man I want to have, thank you. I can see in your face that you like him, and from what you have said I do too. I can tell you that my team will face challenges in many ways. We will need to learn and adapt, and unlearn what is wrong, and sometimes persuade others. I need him.”

Smithy paused again as Mr. MacDougall waited for him to continue. “I am going too far here, but, I recognize that you have more years in the RN than I have on earth and I seek your help. He gets along well with seniors, and with the men. What happens with his peers, with other junior officers?”

“Sirr.... Sirr, I know he doesn't have bad relations with them, it's just different. Sirr, I raised six kids of my own – or mostly Mrs. MacDougall did, with me away so much.” He smiled faintly as he thought of his family. “They're all older than him and I have seen young folks like him...”

“And me?” Smithy interjected with a wide and genuine smile.

“...yes, sirr.” Mr. MacDougall responded with what was for his serious demeanor a similarly warm expression. “And, I have seen them trying to figure out where they are in the world. Lieutenant Walke needs to know where he stands. He can talk with the Captain and the Admiral, and just like with the men he knows where he stands. With other officers it's fine on working matters, but if it's social and the rules aren't there, he's nervous.” Mr. MacDougall looked thoughtful for a moment and continued.

“Sirr, even within gunnery, if he knows the limits of what he can do he will, but if it isn't in the KR&AI, or written down, or in his orders, he gets tied up in thinking about the rules. That's his odd spot: he needs rules, at least to know what they are or...or if there are none and he is free to act. If you have some special group where he doesn't have to worry about fitting into some unwritten set of rules then he is...he is as good as you can get. Sirr.”

“Wonderful descriptions Mr. MacDougall. Your descriptions not only ensure that he will have the job, but may help me in how I organize it. I am a lot like that myself on the business of rules: unwritten or unclear rules are frustrating, and unfair. At the same time, a lack of rules can be an invitation to get on with the job.” Smithy stood to shake hands. “Thank you for your help, and for all you have done for him.”

“Thank you, sirr,” Mr. MacDougall said as he went to the door. There he paused, and relaxed. “You're right, Commander, he has been like an extra son to me,” he said as he turned and left.

Smithy sat for a moment to think about what he had learned. Yes, probably a very good fit. The problem would be in finding others who could help them. After a few minutes he got up and opened the door to speak to the sentry outside, “Please pass the word for....”

“Lieutenant Walke, sir? The Gunner, ah, Mr. MacDougall, said you wanted to see me right away.”
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