alternatehistory.com
Don't Give Up The Ship!
August 4, 1911. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
First Lieutenant Edward Atcherley Nixon, alongside the cadets, had spent the majority of the morning marching briskly through the surrounding area of Halifax. The specific route today had been around Bedford Basin and out into Dartmouth proper. The cadets were more than familiar with this route by this point in their tenure at the Naval College but none of them expected a stop at the dockyard’s armory. The old Lee-Enfield Mark I* rifles, fondly termed as "emily", were handed out to the eager hands of the young boys. While lacking live ammunition to the dismay of the lads, their glistening bayonets bobbling up and down surely made a similar impression to the citizens of Dartmouth as they looked on with bemused stares. The march itself was rather enjoyable but Lieutenant Nixon had something else sitting in his mind, a personal favorite event that he insisted was hosted every Friday. Training staff for the college itself had always been hard to come by and being one of the main instructors, Nixon had used his connections to bring aboard any teachers, civilian or otherwise, to assist his students. One of those civilians was Archibald MacMechan, a local university professor who had graciously volunteered each Friday to teach naval history to the cadets. Nixon had helped MacMechan prepare today's lecture and as a stand out moment in Halifax's history, the Lieutenant was fairly excited himself. The lecture itself was to take place in its usual spot, the large annex present alongside the college itself. Nixon checked his pocket watch which displayed 2 pm, he could almost hear the steps of the cadets making their way from the mess room. As all 26 cadets poured in and eventually tapered off, MacMechan began his lesson. The topic of the day was 1813 Naval Battle between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake, a somewhat famous naval engagement around Halifax. MacMechan was a rather skilled professor and as his lesson flew on by at dictation speed, each cadet struggled to write verbatim what their instructor was teaching. Prompt reporting under stress was a valuable skill and Nixon would take personal responsibility afterwards to ensure his cadets showed such skills.
Painting of HMS Shannon leading the former USS Chesapeake into Halifax harbor.
MacMechan’s riveting retelling of the engagement itself was something to behold. Not a single detail was left untouched as he faithfully sundered on about the captains of each vessel, descriptions of the ships, the quick and deadly engagement itself and capped the entire lesson off with an almost eyewateringly patriotic narration of Shannon escorting the captured Chesapeake into Halifax harbor. While the Canadians did not have a direct influence on the battle, it was very much a closely held engagement for the citizens of Halifax in general. Following a show of gratitude from Nixon and the cadets alike, the Lieutenant took the stage in the professor’s place.
He stared out into the faces of the young men in front of him, “Cadets, what do you think was the most important factor in deciding the battle in Shannon’s favor?”
Cadet Percy Nelles stood from the crowd, “The difference in the crews sir?"
“Correct.” Nixon stated, “This is the most important distinction I want all of the cadets here today to take to heart. While war on the sea has changed dramatically since the days of sail, the importance of the crew has not. How you conduct yourself as navigators, engineers, gunnery officers and leaders will dictate the success of both day to day operation and engagements with the enemy. Stick to your craft or duty with the utmost dedication. Your instrument or conduct may very well be the reason for victory or defeat. Take to heart the qualities of a man who can steel himself against enemy fire and stay cool in the face of adversities. Battles are decided at anytime, be it the peak of their intensity or before they even begin.”
“Another fact as well." He paused for a moment, "Commander James Lawrence may have lost his ship and his life but his action during the battle was something to also consider. His cry of Don’t Give Up the Ship was a valiant final action to his fellow crew. Later United States Naval officers would later make this cry something to be remembered, a classic example how a small action can have even larger results. Even in death and defeat, an individual can make a lasting difference upon their ship, crew members and the fate of their country. While I do not want to impart onto you such pessimism, know that your duty extends to even when you depart this Earth. No matter how dire or hopeless a situation, keep your head level and your demeanor cool. I wish to see the day that one of you cadets merrily sail your implement of war through this great harbor of Halifax and repeat the deed of Broke so many years before.”
With that, Nixon released the cadets for their next training session. With their journals in hand, headway was made towards his office. Sitting behind his desk, his eyes reached the letter he had received earlier that morning. Lieutenant Stephens had addressed him a rather worrying rumor. Ever since Prime Minister Laurier and his underlings had made their way to London for the recently concluded Imperial Conference, the Conservative party head Robert Borden had been aggressively growing his sphere of influence against Laurier. While this was mainly regarding the trade agreement with the United States, the shipbuilding plan, and the Royal Canadian Navy itself had come under heavy fire politically. While speculation at this point, there was considerable talk that Laurier very well might be ousted following the September election. Nixon suppressed a shiver at the thought of what the Conservative Party would do to the very recently founded Canadian Navy. They had issues with equipment, personnel, and funding as it of now and if what he had heard was correct, the Navy might simply be abolished under a new administration. Regardless of that though, Nixon broke the thought from his mind and thumbed the first journal on his desk. Regardless of what the politicians decided, he would teach his cadets until they dragged him from this building, kicking, and screaming.
Commander Nixon after his promotion and alongside a dog at the naval college.
en.wikipedia.org
www.history.navy.mil
First Lieutenant Edward Atcherley Nixon, alongside the cadets, had spent the majority of the morning marching briskly through the surrounding area of Halifax. The specific route today had been around Bedford Basin and out into Dartmouth proper. The cadets were more than familiar with this route by this point in their tenure at the Naval College but none of them expected a stop at the dockyard’s armory. The old Lee-Enfield Mark I* rifles, fondly termed as "emily", were handed out to the eager hands of the young boys. While lacking live ammunition to the dismay of the lads, their glistening bayonets bobbling up and down surely made a similar impression to the citizens of Dartmouth as they looked on with bemused stares. The march itself was rather enjoyable but Lieutenant Nixon had something else sitting in his mind, a personal favorite event that he insisted was hosted every Friday. Training staff for the college itself had always been hard to come by and being one of the main instructors, Nixon had used his connections to bring aboard any teachers, civilian or otherwise, to assist his students. One of those civilians was Archibald MacMechan, a local university professor who had graciously volunteered each Friday to teach naval history to the cadets. Nixon had helped MacMechan prepare today's lecture and as a stand out moment in Halifax's history, the Lieutenant was fairly excited himself. The lecture itself was to take place in its usual spot, the large annex present alongside the college itself. Nixon checked his pocket watch which displayed 2 pm, he could almost hear the steps of the cadets making their way from the mess room. As all 26 cadets poured in and eventually tapered off, MacMechan began his lesson. The topic of the day was 1813 Naval Battle between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake, a somewhat famous naval engagement around Halifax. MacMechan was a rather skilled professor and as his lesson flew on by at dictation speed, each cadet struggled to write verbatim what their instructor was teaching. Prompt reporting under stress was a valuable skill and Nixon would take personal responsibility afterwards to ensure his cadets showed such skills.
Painting of HMS Shannon leading the former USS Chesapeake into Halifax harbor.
MacMechan’s riveting retelling of the engagement itself was something to behold. Not a single detail was left untouched as he faithfully sundered on about the captains of each vessel, descriptions of the ships, the quick and deadly engagement itself and capped the entire lesson off with an almost eyewateringly patriotic narration of Shannon escorting the captured Chesapeake into Halifax harbor. While the Canadians did not have a direct influence on the battle, it was very much a closely held engagement for the citizens of Halifax in general. Following a show of gratitude from Nixon and the cadets alike, the Lieutenant took the stage in the professor’s place.
He stared out into the faces of the young men in front of him, “Cadets, what do you think was the most important factor in deciding the battle in Shannon’s favor?”
Cadet Percy Nelles stood from the crowd, “The difference in the crews sir?"
“Correct.” Nixon stated, “This is the most important distinction I want all of the cadets here today to take to heart. While war on the sea has changed dramatically since the days of sail, the importance of the crew has not. How you conduct yourself as navigators, engineers, gunnery officers and leaders will dictate the success of both day to day operation and engagements with the enemy. Stick to your craft or duty with the utmost dedication. Your instrument or conduct may very well be the reason for victory or defeat. Take to heart the qualities of a man who can steel himself against enemy fire and stay cool in the face of adversities. Battles are decided at anytime, be it the peak of their intensity or before they even begin.”
“Another fact as well." He paused for a moment, "Commander James Lawrence may have lost his ship and his life but his action during the battle was something to also consider. His cry of Don’t Give Up the Ship was a valiant final action to his fellow crew. Later United States Naval officers would later make this cry something to be remembered, a classic example how a small action can have even larger results. Even in death and defeat, an individual can make a lasting difference upon their ship, crew members and the fate of their country. While I do not want to impart onto you such pessimism, know that your duty extends to even when you depart this Earth. No matter how dire or hopeless a situation, keep your head level and your demeanor cool. I wish to see the day that one of you cadets merrily sail your implement of war through this great harbor of Halifax and repeat the deed of Broke so many years before.”
With that, Nixon released the cadets for their next training session. With their journals in hand, headway was made towards his office. Sitting behind his desk, his eyes reached the letter he had received earlier that morning. Lieutenant Stephens had addressed him a rather worrying rumor. Ever since Prime Minister Laurier and his underlings had made their way to London for the recently concluded Imperial Conference, the Conservative party head Robert Borden had been aggressively growing his sphere of influence against Laurier. While this was mainly regarding the trade agreement with the United States, the shipbuilding plan, and the Royal Canadian Navy itself had come under heavy fire politically. While speculation at this point, there was considerable talk that Laurier very well might be ousted following the September election. Nixon suppressed a shiver at the thought of what the Conservative Party would do to the very recently founded Canadian Navy. They had issues with equipment, personnel, and funding as it of now and if what he had heard was correct, the Navy might simply be abolished under a new administration. Regardless of that though, Nixon broke the thought from his mind and thumbed the first journal on his desk. Regardless of what the politicians decided, he would teach his cadets until they dragged him from this building, kicking, and screaming.
Commander Nixon after his promotion and alongside a dog at the naval college.
Capture of USS Chesapeake - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
The Capture of Chesapeake, 1 June 1813, and What It Meant
When HMS Shannon captured the U.S. Navy’s frigate Chesapeake in June 1813, the people of Halifax, Nova Scotia, rejoiced. Four hundred miles down the coast, the Bostonians, many of whom had witnessed the battle, wept in the streets. What had gone wrong? Immediately, the news of Chesapeake’s...
- RelativeGalaxy7
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