And that loyalty and those ideals are always met with in the Navy and the Army, ay, and in the Merchant Service too--that Service who has found her worth and come into her own since this World War began. And why should these ideals remain in our Services when they have so long left the ranks of civilian life? For the reason that the men of the Services are trained in the same old way and live up to the same ideals as their fathers of centuries ago; only a few of the details have been altered. For on joining the colours, whether White Ensign or Red Ensign, or his regimental banner, the man whose father may be an agitator or a strike leader learns to forget himself and to work for his surroundings, for good work’s sake, and for the opinion of his superiors. Thank God that it is so, and that there were those among us who came forward in 1914 and in 1915 without having to be cajoled and eventually forced to do what was our obvious and common duty. May those who growl at the War and those who ask, as some have been asking, ‘What is the Navy doing?’ gather from these few pages a glimpse of the life of one small branch of the Service to which Britain owes her immunity. And if they are not silent afterwards, then will it be proof that the spirit of England is on the wane, and that her manhood is not what it was in the days of Trafalgar and of Waterloo. May that day never come, and may Englishmen, ay, and Irishmen, too, when striving to do their duty look to the Navy and her sister Services for their guide-star and example. AMEN. Call it a judgment ye who will, Call it a scourge to punish Man; Name it a curse that Man must kill, And suffer God’s eternal ban. Call it a scourge, a blasting breath, Borne on the wings of pain and death. So may it be and ye who think The Lord’s avenging hand is nigh, As ye draw near the Silent Brink, Pray to the Lord who reigns on high. All ye who use and fear the sword, Fall on thy knees and pray the Lord. ‘God! Grant the anguish and the blood, The corpses and the countless biers, The pain, the misery, the flood, Of broken hearts and mothers’ tears May wash away the damning stain, And cleanse from us the brand of Cain. ‘O God Almighty, Lord of All, Have mercy on Thy people’s stress; Hark to Thy people’s pleading call, Who look to Thee to guide and bless. Have mercy on us, we who live; And for our dead ... we pray, forgive.’ FOOTNOTES [1] When in parallel the batteries are said to be ‘grouped down’; when in series they are ‘grouped up.’ [2] Leading Torpedo Man. [3] Seaman Torpedo Man. [4] Engine Room Artificer. [5] Seamen. [6] T.I. Torpedo Instructor. [7] Periscope. [8] Torpedo or Mine. [9] Several submarines secured alongside each other to the depot ship. [10] Periscope. [11] Crossed anchor. The badge indicating the rating of Petty Officer.