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Thanks to Robert Park for indirectly suggesting this page.

Relevant naval seamanship manuals and other handbooks, illustrate examples of the different pipes and calls, that are made aboard HM Vessels, using the boatswains whistle, bugle or drum.

The principle reference used here for the tunes, is The Gunnery Drill Book for HM Fleet 1889. which illustrate many of the principle calls, used to call the ships cpmpany or part of watch to action etc. - For more modern or unusual items, these have either been added from memory, or from the assistance of an ex RM bugler collegue.

However the point of this page is not to illustrate all the various tunes used to send us scurrying about the ship, but to record the rhymes and ditties, which sailors used to help them remember what each bugle call meant.

In fact the author has been led by observation to consider that most if not all the bugle calls (tunes) do have have ditties and rhymes associated with them. Indeed so essential was this aide memoir that the author suspects, that when the music, itself was written in the first place, the composer simply followed the typical vocal call patterns of earlier days.

Saddly, with the run down of RM bands, only major ships are able to use their services, and thus for the majority of current sailors, many of these calls have faded from memory. - UNLESS you know different - Please send in your memories or fragments to assist in completing this page.

WANTED

• Words to all bugle calls or even Boatswains Calls if they exist
• Particularly Action Stations - Boarders etc.
• Does anyone recall words to the Last Post
  

Illustrated below are some examples, many of which were commonly used in jest or derision to remark on the daily situation. In particular it was common for the PO stokers on HMS Ark Royal in the mid 1970’s to sing out the words to an unexpected call to Flying Stations, and watch the chaps who had come into the mess for stand easy, scuttle away to their duties.

 

PLEASE if you remember alternate words or recall any other fragments or rhymes please get in touch -

Daylight

In 1889 this was called Daylight but later it was known as Reville, or referred to by the men as ‘Charlie, Charlie’

It appears there are various sets of words for the second part, but these are mostly unknown today.

Charlie, Charlie, lash up and stow, me lads; Charlie, Charlie, lash up and stow.
Cocoa and biscuits, cocoa and biscuits, Cocoa and biscuits, lash up and stow.
Wakey, wakey, lash up and stow, me lads, Wakey, wakey, lash up and stow!

 

Hands to Flying Stations

A dit commonly sung aboard aircraft carriers by general service off watch men in a derisory fashion (1960-1990).

‘Airy fairy,‘airy fairy , to the flight deck you must go.
‘Airy fairy, ‘airy fairy, to the flight deck go!

Grog

An addittional 'G' played at the end of the tune, indicates the pipe is for Limers

Lucy, Lucy, don’t say no,
Under the bedclothes we must go.
Up with your petty coat, down with your drawers,
My little winkle just fit yours.

Officers Dinner Call

The following words are known in use from at least the Edwardian era to modern day.

Officers wives eat puddings and pies, But sailors wives eat skilly.

Second Line - ????? Can you Please Help with a Naval Version

Thanks to Ldg Tel John Marsdon, who notes the The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot uses the following as a second couplet-

Our old cook she fell in the soup, and burnt a hole in her pinny

Standeasy

If you wanna have a Shit! Go now. (Thanks to H.A. (Tug) Wilson)

Sunset

LAST POST

Only played at sea for a funeral.

________

ALL Other Words Gratefully receivied