It was Sunday, and father was in the bathroom getting ready for divisions, this was when the whole of the naval station at Manoel Island got together and smartly marched and paraded in front of the captain. It was also the first Sunday changing from winter uniform to summer uniform.
In England, sailors wear the same uniform all year round, in summer, they leave off there jackets and collars when the weather is warm. However, in hotter countries, the summer uniform changes into white, either trousers or shorts. With the trousers, white shoes, and with the shorts dark blue knee length socks and black shoes, or sandals. All outfits look very smart, but for divisions, it has to be white suits and white shoes.
At school, they also did a uniform change, from grey trousers and blue jackets to brown shorts and short sleeved shirts and sandals, and the girls into a brown summer dress or gymslip with either a yellow, green, blue or red sash.
It was a mad rush in the flat, all the family trying to get ready for dads divisions , Mike and Kelvin were kept out of the way by there mother, while father checked his shoes for dirt spots, then his cap for sweaty finger marks, and finally his medals. Dads medals were his pride and joy he had eight altogether including the B.E.M being his best loved. He stood in front of the full length mirror opposite the kitchen for one final check, and then it was Mike and Kelvin's turn for inspection, no don't laugh, Mike's dad was senior chief at H.M.S. Phoenicia, and it was his idea that if he had to play his part, then the whole family had to play there parts as well, both wife and sons.
The family climbed into the family car and headed for Manoel Island, father parked the car in the car park and the family headed for the chief's mess, past the church and around the side of the parade ground. In the mess there was time for a quick drink before divisions, both Mike and Kelvin were told not to get coke down there shirts.
After about fifteen minutes the call came over the tannoy system. Ships company, fall in for divisions, all the sailors, senior rates and officers made their way onto the parade ground and lined up in there different divisions, cooks and stewards, seamen, electricians and stokers, the chiefs and petty officers and the officers also took their places at the head of each different group. Each group was inspected by the divisional officer with the senior chief, and when that was over, all divisions had to stand at ease and wait.
Ken Palmer was in charge of the S and S branch and was happy to stand behind his men, while the officer in charge of the branch stood in front of his men, and like all the divisions on parade, everyone looked very smart.
All the wives and children stood around the parade ground to await what was to happen next, most had never seen Sunday divisions before so were a little bewildered by the whole thing. Then from the corner of the parade ground came a voice so loud you could hear it all over the Island.
Divisions, divisions ho, march on the guard and band, everyone stood in silence, as from the corner of the parade ground came the sound of bugles and drums, and onto the parade ground came the honour guard and the band of the Royal Marines Mediterranean Fleet. They marched in formation down through the centra of the parade ground, the guard splitting from the band marched down the left hand side of the parade ground, past the different divisions. As the band got to the rostrum, it turned and marched back up, at the top of the parade ground they turned again and marched back down, and as if by magic both honour guard and band ended up in front of the rostrum. The guard was halted and after a lot of shuffling around was facing the rostrum ready for the captain's arrival.
The captain arrived and was hailed with, ships company ho, and then as the captain stepped onto the rostrum the honour guard saluted, the captain returned the salute, then inspected the honour guard, and then with senior officers in tow, he went and inspected the full ship's company, during this time the Royal Marine band played some well know marches for the spectator's enjoyment.
As this was going on, Kelvin and Mike made their way quickly and quietly around the parade ground and up to the church.At the side door they entered, going into the vestry, they proceeded to get ready for the church service, they were both in the choir, with Mike being a chief choir boy, , he had to sing the descant for the Tedium. Whilst Kelvin Mike and the other choir boys got ready for the service they could hear things going on, on the parade ground, then a loud voice called out, march off the guard, at that moment, they in the church knew that divisions were over and that the church would fill up and the service would begin.
once the church was full and the captain and his wife were seated, the organ started to play and with the vicar and the verger, plus two lines of choir boys in tow all singing the first hymn they all moved ut the central isle of the church to the choir stalls. The service went on for a good hour, some twenty minutes taken up with the vicar doing his bit, usually, a couple of verses from the bible turned into modern times, Mike listened, but most of it went over his head, and looking around the church, he noticed a lot of heads bowed and eyes closed. Once the final hymn had been sung and the final blessing given, the choir returned to the vestry, Mike and Kelvin removed there cassocks and surplusses and headed back to the chiefs mess where their parents were waiting for them.
The Chief's mess was a room with tables and easy chairs all around and at the far end was a small bar that sold wines and spirits, plus soft drinks like coke and 7up. As with every chiefs mess, there were different groups who worked together and became firm friends, so at these gatherings, the families did the same thing. But as Mike's father was the mess president, he had to be or seen to be a friend to everyone. While the family were sat around talking, there was a knock at the door and on being opened the captain and his wife were stood there, Ken Mike's dad went to the door and invited them both in for a drink, and for the next half an hour or so the captain and his wife were introduced to senior members, there wives and families. As Ken was also the captain's writer, it seemed the right thing to do, and with Dorothy's help, who seemed to know everyone in the mess including the names of children, the captain and his wife were soon chatting to everyone as if they were old friends, even though everyone knew his or her place and naval rules of rank were upheld. After making the rounds and speaking to everyone in the room, the captain and his wife said there goodbyes and left. The mess then became noisier and it was decided that the Palmer's would make tracks
In the car mum said she was doing a salad for dinner with boiled potatoes in butter and cold meat, "now boys, what are your plans for the afternoon". Mike looked at Kelvin and they both smiled, "we thought we would take the canoe over to Manoel Island and maybe swim". Dad looked at Mike in the rearview mirror, "ok," he said, "but do not go outside the breakwater, Oh and I wasnt you both back by 17-30 at the latest, its film night tonight." Mike looked at dad and smiled, "Ok dad, we will be back by 17-30, can we have some money for a drink and an ice cream.
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