Navy Signals

Whom to blame? Originator of signal or Communicators who received signal without ED?by Admiral Ravindra C WijegunaratnePassing messages among ship and ship -to- shore is vital way of communication. These messages are known as "Signals" in Naval jargon.

Some of these signals are secret messages like enemy ship positions. Others very much routine signals such as ship's victualling requirements and personnel transfers.

Signal men or present day "Communicators" are proud set of people in the Navy who work closely with Commanding Officer and other officers. As old Navy mostly communicated in English and in Morse code in English, their English knowledge was always impeccable.

Further communicators dressed very smartly. The famous writer late Kalakeerthi Karl Muller, in his novel "Spit and Polish", a Novel mixed with vulgar, history and his naval life up to Chief Petty Officer in Signal branch, vividly amplified the job of Communicators in the Navy.

Well before the radio technology and telecommunications was invented, sailing ships Communicated each other by flags. Those ships required to get close to harbours communicate with shore.

There are numerical and alphabetical flags of various colours and shapes in the Navy. These flags were hoisted in various methods in "signal mast" of sailing ship so that other ships understood once's intentions.

One of such flag signal hoisted by Lt James Pasco, the Signal officer of Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson just before engaging Franco- Spanish Fleet in Trafalgar Sea Battle on 21st October 1805 on board his flag ship "HMS Victory" was "England expects every man to do his Duty". Most of the Admirals who command these sailing ships has weak eyesight due to their age, all were passing 40 years ! So, a young, smart and bright Naval officer was appointed as assistant to Admiral to assist him in reading flags and always remain close proximity to Admiral.

He was known as a "Flag Lieutenant ", immaterial of his rank. That's why Aide to Admiral is known as Flag Lieutenant.

When I explained the "history of Flag Lieutenants" to my wife Yamuna, very rightly said, " Present day flag Lieutenants do all work of Admiral other than reading the flags". How true !table " " 0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto class="tr-caption" Battle of TrafalgarWhen radio technology and telecommunication was found, ships started to communicate in "Morse Code".

, in series of Dids and Dahs. Did-means dot (.

) and Dah- means...