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Two letters from Arthur Pringle from HMS BRITANNIA to his mother
Two letters from Arthur Pringle from HMS BRITANNIA to his mother

Two letters from Arthur Pringle from HMS BRITANNIA to his mother

Maker (1877 - 1902)
DateFebruary 1892
Object number00028326
NameLetter
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 180 × 113 mm, 0.008 kg
Overall (Second Letter): 175 × 113 mm
Overall (Envelope): 92 × 119 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionTwo handwritten letters from Royal Navy cadet Arthur Pringle aboard HMS BRITANNIA to his mother, dated 1st and 6th February, 1892. In the letters Arthur discusses at length the results of his recent examinations and his competition with Alfred Dudley Pound (who went on to be become Admiral of the Fleet in 1939) and William Rawdon Napier (who was promoted to Admiral in 1933). Arthur did extremely well in the examinations and although did not win the coveted term prize, he was counted as first in many subjects and personally congratulated by Captain Noel Digby. Arthur Pringle went onto to have a promising naval career, reaching the rank of Lieutenant in 1897. He was regrettably killed in an accident on board HMS FORMIDABLE in 1902. HistoryIn 1869 the PRINCE OF WALES, a first rate, 120-gun naval sailing vessel was renamed BRITANNIA and began service as a cadet training ship at Dartmouth, moored on the River Dart. This vessel replaced the previous BRITANNIA in that role. As BRITANNIA, the ship was a hulk, and only had foremast and was linked to another hulk, the HINDOSTAN, bow to stern, by a covered gangway that increased the cadets learning and accommodation space. Cadets joining the Royal Navy were entered into a "term" in BRITANNIA, which they remained in for two years after which, depending on their results, they were passed out as midshipmen. SignificanceThis letter is part of a series in the Australian National Maritime Museums collection relating to the life and experiences of Arthur Pringle in his early days as cadet and midshipman in the Royal Navy. They provide an insight into the life of these legions of young men who passed their training on HMS BRITANNIA and Pringle's log (00028329) illustrates how they initially put this training to use.