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Some calls require a sharp finish; this can be Salute/ Respect to the flag
achieved by putting your tongue over the end Pipe a Side Officer, Commanders and
of the mouth piece. This practice should not Foreign Officers’
be used for natural breaks in calls (where a
breath is taken) as the result will be a popping Pipe Down Lights Out
sound at each break.
SIDE
A boatswain, pronounced as “bosun”, refers
to the mate, warrant officer or petty officer.
In old English the word “swain” meant
servant of keeper. The later English term was
boatswain. The boatswain is in charge of
rigging, sails and sail equipment. In the
modern day RSN, the boatswain refers to the
buffer. This is the warrant officer or petty
officer who is in charge of all the seamen,
ropes, anchors and general husbandry of the
ship.

In the olden days, men were rigidly trained
sheepdogs to respond immediately to the
piping of the call. It was easier to hear the
high pitched tones of the call as a shouted
order could not be heard in a storm. Piping the side descends from the tradition
Here is a selection of pipes used on board of hoisting officers on board ship in a chair.
Navy ships, together with the commands This call remains in use on board the ship as
they represent. a mark of respect to officers when
embarking or disembarking.
The pipes used on board are the following:
Side, Still, Carry On, General Call, Wakey The side is piped when the officer arrives
Wakey and Pipe Down. and again when he leave. If the officer
arrives or departs by a brow, he is piped
once only as he crosses the bow. Prior to
Type of Pipe Purpose piping the side, the “still” might be piped to
alert all hands on deck to stand to attention,
Used to call all hands
General until the “Carry On” is piped.
(ship’s crew)

Wakey Used to wake the ship’s The side is to be piped for the following
Wakey crew between Colours and Sunset.
1. The President of Singapore
Call for ‘Attention’ as
Still 2. Cabinet Ministers
mark of respect
3. Chief of Defence Force
Supersedes the ‘Still’ pipe 4. Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and
Carry On
(stand at ease) Chief of Air Force