Life on the Aisne in 67 was pretty good, it was the last commission and we all thought it was a shame as everything worked Ok, at least in the Stokers departments that is.
The only problem for the stokers and the rest of the engineering branch was the Engineering Officer, a jumped up Mechanician who liked to lord it over us all. He soon acquired the nickname 'The king'. He never quite earned the respect of us all with his attitude but I was to appreciate what he did for those of us who wanted to better ourselves, as he was a stickler for exam questions. Those of us facing promotion exams were faced with a daily question which we were required to answer to his satisfaction. He pushed us hard and when we pulled into Rosyth Dockyard I was prepared to sit the POME exam the following day.
I sat the exam accompanied by other matelotes from other ships and as I turned the page I saw the exact same questions that the King had been setting me for the last month or so. Unknown to me he had set the paper. I passed the written part with ease although I wasn't to know it until the afternoon promotion Boards. I was last in and sat nervously waiting for the low ballers that never came. Instead I was congratulated on my 100% result and told I had passed.
I was elated and returned to the ship to find a new Irish stoker had joined and was waiting for me as killick of the mess. I sorted out his bed space and locker and was then told the Engineer officer would see him.
"What's his name?" said Paddy".
"Oh its the king", was the reply.
Paddy duly went up to the Engineers office where the Chief Tiffy was also there. "Who have you come to see?"
"Lt King" was the reply.
The Engineer officer exploded and I was sent for and confined to the ship for a week - so much for my celebrations.