Despite a concerted effort by the establishment in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century to create an image of professional, respectable men, Jack’s licentious proclivities ashore have continued to form a key part of his popular image.[1] Yet what did sailors themselves record on the subject of sex? Christopher McKee has argued that ‘most […]
Studentship title: ‘Nipcheese’ the Bean Counter: The Implications of Royal Naval Pursery in the Development of Accounting Closing date: Tuesday 21st April 2015 Preliminary explorations of maritime and accounting archives and historical literature in the Royal Navy [RN] Dockyard Library, Portsmouth, have considered the role and significance of pursers on RN ships (1600 to 1850) […]
The Port Towns and Urban Cultures team embarked on their first outreach event aimed at children aged between 12 and 15 years. The event was run in conjunction with the University of Portsmouth’s UP for It Club which offers children in school years 7 to 11 a chance to engage in university-based subjects and get a […]
Following on in similar vein to my recent article on sailors in the Royal Navy during the First World War, this article will expand upon sailors’ attitudes to killing and death in the Great War by considering their diaries. At this juncture it is worth revisiting Joanna Bourke’s interesting study: An Intimate History of Killing.[i] […]
Registration is now open for the NMRN’s conference on the Anglo-German Naval Arms Race and the War At Sea up to the eve of the Battle of Jutland. The conference keynote addresses will be given by Professor Nicholas Rodger, Professor Norma Friedman and Rear-Admiral James Goldrick (RAN). Conference speakers will cover: The arms race and […]
Given the upcoming centenary of the Great War this year it is understandable that we find ourselves saturated with discussions of the tragedy that befell the European empires in 1914. Yet, despite this wide and encouraging engagement with the topic, the key focus of popular debate is centred on the many millions who died fighting […]
