Boy's Manual Of Seamanship And Gunnery - Salutes


 
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Boy's Manual of Seamanship and Gunnery

Salutes

SALUTES may be classed under two heads-namely, those purely Naval, and those which are both Naval and Military. The former are used when not in formation or when in boats, the latter when in any formation or when under arms.

The purely Naval Salute is taking the hat or cap off.

When not in formation, and addressing an Officer, take the hat off.

When in a boat, and unoccupied with oars or boat-hook, stand up, if an Officer is passing within sight, and take off hats, remaining so till salute is returned.

When coming on the quarter-deck, either from below or forward, when passing the mainmast, touch your hat with your right hand, taking edge between your finger and thumb, as if about to take it off.

When passing an Officer between decks, touch your hat as before directed, only using the off hand when doing so, looking him direct in the face.

If standing about between decks or sitting in your messes, stand up and salute, if with hat on, at attention, if it is off, until ordered to sit down, always fronting towards the person saluted.

When on shore passing an Officer, salute with off hand, looking him in the face, and keeping hand to hat till you are well past him. The salute should begin five or six paces before reaching the Officer.

Should an Officer be passing at a distance, so long as you can make out that he is either a Naval or Military Officer, he is to be saluted whether he is looking towards you or not.

Naval and Military Salutes are used when under arms, or when acting in formation under the orders of some superior, when no individual has a right to move unless the order is given by such superior ; thus, when marching, orders are given on passing an Officer "Eyes right," or "Eyes left," the order being "Eyes front," when past him.

A company of men passing an Officer, "Shoulder arms;" they also do so on passing a sentry or guard, who in their turn present arms to any body of armed men, passing their post.

No body of men have a right to move from the position they are placed m, unless ordered to do so by some superior authority ; thus, if a squad are standing at ease by order, they should remain so, even if the Admiral were passing them.

In saluting, it should never be forgotten that in paying respect to a superior a man is paying respect to himself ; for if he is ashamed of his duty, he must be so of his profession, and therefore should not be in it.

Never salute with a hand in your pocket.

Never salute with a cigar or pipe in your mouth.

Always front and stand attention when saluting, unless when moving on.

Lastly, let it be remembered that there is no excuse for passing an Officer unseen; your duty is to see; eyes are put into people's heads to see; you are bound to look about yon and allow no Officer, either Naval or Military, to pass without being saluted, whether he sees you or not.

Any want of attention to these instructions will be severely punished; if neglected, they show a want of proper discipline, which it is necessary should at once be corrected.

All Officers, from Midshipmen and Warrant Officers upwards, are invariably to be saluted, and the boys, whilst under training, are to salute both the Schoolmasters and Instructors belonging to their own ship.

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