The Britannia Naval Research
Association
To
Preserve, Promote, Research - From Drake to Dreadnought and Beyond
April 2010
Dear Members and Friends,
At Our last Study Meeting on Sunday 21st March at the Bear we had 'Victory's
Launch; A Study in Detail' - by Brian Hill and 'Manning the Royal Navy in the
French Revolutionary War 1793-1801' by Dr Jeremiah Dancy. Brian brought along
his super detailed and fitted model of Victory's launch and gave a knowledgeable
talk on the different types of anchors that were used and how they were set. In
addition the different types of ship's boats were described and how they were
used. Jeremiah gave a illuminating talk into how sailors ended up in the Navy
and what their experience and background was. I do not think his methods of
gathering this information has been done before and when one realises the huge
bulk of records that have been trawled through to gather it you may understand
why! I am sure this paper will often be sited in future publications. My biggest
regret is we are not able to publish in the Journal due to prior commitments by
Jeremiah.
Our Next Sunday Meeting is on Sunday April the 18th. 'Von Luckner and the See
Adler' - Dan Nolan and 'The First Royal Yacht' - Captain Scramm de Jong. Two
entertaining speakers that are sure to entertain and illuminate. This will be
the last meeting before the Symposium so it would be helpful to bring your
cheque book!
The venue is Bear Hotel at Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Please be there from 10.00
for a 10.30 start. The usual fee of £6.00 pp will just cover our costs,
Attendance is open to all who are interested.
Oxford Naval Symposium.
Friday May the 14th. Daytime field-trip to HMS Warrior at Portsmouth.
Evening. Literary event at Blackwell's Bookshop, Broad street, Oxford.
Saturday May the 15th. The 8th Oxford Naval Symposium. 'The Fighting Cochranes'
there will be our excellent range of speakers, good company and a cracking lunch
at a bargain price.
Evening. An informal dinner at the nearby venue of the Cotswold Lodge Hotel.
More details to follow. Contact John Wain, BNRA Secretary for more details and
reservations.
Wednesday September the 29th. 'The Alan Villiers Memorial Lecture' at St Edmund
Hall, Oxford.
This is the inaugural annual lecture organised jointly by The Naval Review, The
Society for Nautical Research and The Britannia Naval Research Association.
Professor Jeremy Black MA Cantab PhD Dunelm FRSA, Exeter University will be the
Speaker and lunch will be included in the cost. For all reservations contact
John Foreman, BNRA Treasurer.
Saturday November the 6th. The BNRA Annual Dinner. Details to follow.
Sunday September 19th. Study meeting. 'Naval Architecture of the Armoured
Man-o'-War' - Dr. Vaughan Michell and 'Cockatoo and The Vampire' - Lt. Cmdr.
Malcolm Lewis RN. We will also be holding our popular book bring and buy/sell
event.
Wednesday September the 29th. 'The Alan Villiers Memorial Lecture' at St Edmund
Hall, Oxford.
This is the inaugural annual lecture organised jointly by The Naval Review, The
Society for Nautical Research and The Britannia Naval Research Association.
Professor Jeremy Black MA Cantab PhD Dunelm FRSA, Exeter University will be the
Speaker and lunch will be included in the cost. For all reservations contact
John Foreman, BNRA Treasurer.
Sunday October the 17th. Study meeting. A show and tell or ask. Model ships you
have or the interesting bit of unknown nauticalia. Come and share. There will
also be a presentation.
Saturday November the 6th. The BNRA Annual Dinner. Details to follow.
Sunday November the 21st. Study meeting. 'The BNRA Mary Rose Fellowship:
Research Summary' - Justin Reay.
Sunday December the 19th. Study meeting. Our Christmas Sea, Poetry, Song and
Art. Attendees are invited to bring along their artwork so get the crayons out!
Our Web site has had a partial update but technical problems with incompatible
software prohibits us from bringing it up to the standard we wish so we are
looking for better software. If you know anyone who is able to help or advise in
this area please contact Vaughan, details below.
And finally, to see if any of you have managed to get this far, we have a
digitised copy of the complete O'Byrne's
'A naval biographical dictionary: comprising the life and services of every
living officer in Her Majesty's navy, from the rank of admiral of the fleet to
that of lieutenant, inclusive (1849)' on the club laptop along with numerous
years of the Navy List. All invaluable for the research you do. Bring along a
memory stick at the next meeting and we will download for you. Save yourself a
fortune! Perhaps some other treats as well.
Hope to see you soon,
the BNRA news.
Contacts:
Vaughan Michell at Chairman@britannia-naval-research-association.org
John Wain at Secretary@britannia-naval-research-association.org or on the 'phone
at 07790928825.
John Foreman at Treasurer@britannia-naval-research-association.org or on the
'phone at 01235 210598
Journal Editor at Journal@britannia-naval-research-association.org
Justin Reay justin.reay@bodley.ox.ac.uk
BNRA website: http://www.britannia-naval-research-association.org/
If you no longer wish to receive BNRA News, wish to change or delete an email
address or request something else, please send a message to BNRAnews@britannia-naval-research-association.org