Paddy Wester is a traditional Royal Navy term for a young or inexperienced seaman.[1] It might also refer to a "new-boy" in a mess; in times of stability, the "Junior Hand" might remain as such for some years until someone newer is posted.
It was also used in Manchester City Fire Brigade and possibly other fire brigades with naval traditions to designate a man (as it was until recently a male only profession)[2] drafted or seconded onto a shift to cover a temporary shortage. At the Roll Call beginning the shift, as names were called, the stranger would be addressed as "Paddy Wester".
Following the children's cartoon from Trumpton,[3] Cap'n Flack might call the roll "Pugh, Pugh, (they were twins) Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Paddy Wester and Grub."
The origin of the term is a popular sea shanty about an infamous Liverpool boarding house master named Paddy West who would shanghai recruits and pass them off as experienced sailors to captains looking for crewmen.[4] According to folklore, he would make the new recruits jump over a piece of rope and walk around a table with a cowhorn on it in order to say with a straight face to the captains that they all "crossed the line" and went "ten times round the horn."[5] His other methods of teaching them about seafaring include having the recruits fold his window blinds like a Main Royal and having his wife pour buckets of water on them to simulate the sea conditions during a storm. The recruits were quickly demoted at sea when it became clear they had little seafaring knowledge and thus originates the term's use of derision.
The historical accuracy of this tale is uncertain and the earliest known date of recording appears to be 1951.[6]
Referencesedit
^An inefficient or novice seaman. (1892 — 1938). "W. E. Dexter They had a pack of fake seamen sailing on dead men's discharges—a crew of 'Paddy Westers' (1938)".
^. London-fire.gov.uk. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
^"Trumpton Firemen. Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew". YouTube. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
^. Archive.org. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022.
paddy, wester, paddy, wester, traditional, royal, navy, term, young, inexperienced, seaman, might, also, refer, mess, times, stability, junior, hand, might, remain, such, some, years, until, someone, newer, posted, also, used, manchester, city, fire, brigade, . Paddy Wester is a traditional Royal Navy term for a young or inexperienced seaman 1 It might also refer to a new boy in a mess in times of stability the Junior Hand might remain as such for some years until someone newer is posted It was also used in Manchester City Fire Brigade and possibly other fire brigades with naval traditions to designate a man as it was until recently a male only profession 2 drafted or seconded onto a shift to cover a temporary shortage At the Roll Call beginning the shift as names were called the stranger would be addressed as Paddy Wester Following the children s cartoon from Trumpton 3 Cap n Flack might call the roll Pugh Pugh they were twins Barney McGrew Cuthbert Paddy Wester and Grub The origin of the term is a popular sea shanty about an infamous Liverpool boarding house master named Paddy West who would shanghai recruits and pass them off as experienced sailors to captains looking for crewmen 4 According to folklore he would make the new recruits jump over a piece of rope and walk around a table with a cowhorn on it in order to say with a straight face to the captains that they all crossed the line and went ten times round the horn 5 His other methods of teaching them about seafaring include having the recruits fold his window blinds like a Main Royal and having his wife pour buckets of water on them to simulate the sea conditions during a storm The recruits were quickly demoted at sea when it became clear they had little seafaring knowledge and thus originates the term s use of derision The historical accuracy of this tale is uncertain and the earliest known date of recording appears to be 1951 6 References edit An inefficient or novice seaman 1892 1938 W E Dexter They had a pack of fake seamen sailing on dead men s discharges a crew of Paddy Westers 1938 London Fire Brigade Women in the Brigade London fire gov uk 28 February 2010 Archived from the original on 12 April 2013 Retrieved 5 October 2012 Trumpton Firemen Pugh Pugh Barney McGrew YouTube 7 September 2010 Retrieved 5 October 2012 Paddy West Archive org Archived from the original on 25 June 2022 Paddy West Paddy West External links editPaddy West Ballad Paddy West performed by Timothy Walsh nbsp This United Kingdom navy related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paddy wester amp oldid 1173467375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
