IanA Posted 16 March , 2007 Share Posted 16 March , 2007 I have a copy of Christopher Craddock's wonderful 'Whispers from the Fleet'. Inside, it bears the legend 'Gunroom, HMS Liverpool'. Am I correct in thinking that this was the naval equivalent to a common-room or army mess? Would it be for officers or seamen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 16 March , 2007 Share Posted 16 March , 2007 a small area on a lower deck set aside for social use by midshipmen, often in the fo'cl'sle (bows of a ship). seems like the mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 16 March , 2007 Share Posted 16 March , 2007 Gunroom = a mess for the Midshipmen Wardroom = a mess for the senior officers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 16 March , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2007 Thanks muchly. Didn't know 'snotties' (hope I've got the terminology correct) had a mess of their own. I hope the ones in HMS Liverpool benefitted from the wisdom and humour contained therein. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 16 March , 2007 Share Posted 16 March , 2007 Ian, The Commisioned Warrant Officers and Warrant Officers also lived in the Gunroom, Im sure they had a sense of humour. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 17 March , 2007 Author Share Posted 17 March , 2007 Would the ship's ratings have agreed about the sense of humour?? Did this gunroom have any association with guns or was the terminology left over from sailing days? It obviously had a stocked library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 17 March , 2007 Share Posted 17 March , 2007 Ian, The origins are; it was were the Small Arms would be kept and be Aft on the Lower Gundeck. Presided over by the Chief Gunner, normally a fearsome creature who maybe didn't have a sence of humour. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 17 March , 2007 Author Share Posted 17 March , 2007 Many thanks Charles. Despite having ancestors who were lightship masters, schooner captains, lifeboat superintendants, fishermen, harpooners, branch pilots, bargemen and stewards, none of them were navy men! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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