Page 34 - Chiron Calling Autum 2021/Spring 2022

The tradition of animals in the Navy
It is only recently that cultural institutions around the world have begun to pay attention
to the history of animals at sea. In 2019 papers were called for from the National Maritime Museum to recognise the history of animals at sea. It is difficult to know
when humans first went to sea an important process from migration and commerce to exploration and, of course, war. But we did not become a seafaring species alone. Alongside these brave seafarers were often animals.
It has been a relatively unknown subject apart from a common knowledge of Navy ships having cats. In fact, ships once carried,
all kinds of animals. Apart from combative animals such as horses, mules, donkeys used on the battlefields, while cattle, pigs, goats, and chickens on board provided a source of fresh milk, eggs and meat. Livestock were if not eaten on-board during the voyage could be used as mobile rations once on campaign.
Considering the livestock that
was carried to provide fresh food during a voyage, some of which roamed freely through the ship, to which were added sailors’ pets of all descriptions, warships must at times have resembled floating menageries. A ship sounded and smelled like
a farmyard, with animals stowed
in odd corners of the decks and
their fodder crammed in every available space and they had to be looked after and fed and the decks scrubbed clean every morning. Heading into battle, the ship would be cleared for action. Goats, sheep, chickens, pigs and even cows were stowed in boats towed behind the warships, but if time was short
the animals might be thrown overboard to fend for themselves.
At the Battle of the Nile, when the British Fleet sailed straight into
the attack as soon as the French ships were sighted, the logbook of
HMS Zealous records: ‘Cleared ship for action and hove overboard ten bullocks’.”
Sailors also kept animal companions, ranging widely from cats and parrots to ferrets and monkeys. History has demonstrated that pets and animal mascots, affectionately regarded as shipmates, played a significant
role in bringing a ship’s human community together.
NAVAL MASCOT CATS
If you ask the average person what animal do they associate with naval ships and inevitably they will reply
a cat. It is true that one of the most popular and iconic animal species on ships was the mascot cat. The Royal Navy even stated regulations that all its ships were to have a cat for the prevention of rodent infestation and moral. After all, having your food stocks destroyed by rats when in the middle of the ocean is not something to be taken lightly.
However around forty years ago the Navy banned the practice of taking animal mascots to sea. The rationale was health and safety. Orders were issued to ships to
“land your warm-blooded animals forthwith”. All mascots had to be removed from naval ships that year. The list of animals issued at the time included: Otters, hyenas, lions, armadillos, elephants, apes, dogs and of course ships cats. Naval shore establishments were able to keep their mascots.
Traditionally members of the maritime forces have been away from home for long periods of time. Even by WWI sea travel across the globe still took months and prior
to the 20th century expeditions sometimes took years to complete. It is hardly surprising that the navy allowed the use of mascots and unofficial pets onboard ships since early times if for nothing else than companionship.
Historically sailors and cats
32 / Chiron Calling
British sailors with a mascot from the surrendered German fleet, November 1918. national archive/45511031