Fullbore Friday

young men who were gifted with old age

Allow me a little self indulgence (again) this Friday. USNI triggered me this AM:

U.S. Naval Institute @NavalInstitute

#OTD in 1918, British Grand Fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth celebrated Armistice Day by signaling to "Splice the mainbrace. Negative 6th B.S." The order meant that all sailors could have a drink except the Americans of the 6th Battle Squadron because U.S Navy ships were dry.

It made me grin a bit because my paternal grandfather was a Sailor on the USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) with the 6th Battle Squadron that day.

The Germans never made their last thunder run in 1918 as that horrible and useless war ground to a halt, so they never saw action - which for my grandfather and much of his shipmates I am sure was quite fine.

I could only imagine him looking at his Royal Navy neighbors that day thinking things along the lines his grandson would think.

Anyway, to the Sailors in 1918 of what would become an old warhorse USS ARKANSAS (BB-33) - when she and you were young and the war done; fullbore.