The near-inevitable loss to the U.S. Navy of the signalman rating represents much in the culture and lore of all naval services. The accomplishments, triumphs, and failures of signal personnel and systems have been recorded for history by a number of dedicated naval officers. Among them are Admiral P. H. Columb, Royal Navy (as a lieutenant); Admiral S. B. Luce, U.S. Navy (as a captain); Captain L. S. Howeth, U.S. Navy; Edward W. Very, U.S. Navy (at various ranks); Vice Admiral A. P. Niblack, U.S. Navy (as a lieutenant [junior grade]); Captain Jack Broome, Royal Navy; myself; and most notably, Commander Hilary P. Mead, Royal Navy.
Perhaps the finest tribute to the signal breed and the often mysterious "systems" these "skivvywavers" mastered is a poem found in the annals of the British tabloid, The Army and Navy Illustrated, popular in the last decade of the 20th century and first several decades of the 21st. This lengthy poem was written anonymously by a British signalman under the pen name "Flag-wagger." Somewhere in my files, I have the entire poem, but I fear it was shipped last summer with other papers to a collection of signal memorabilia gathering in my name at the new library of San Jose State University, my alma mater. Meanwhile, I cite the final two stanzas as an appropriate written memorial for this sad occasion. It is the conclusion of "The Lay of the Last Signalman."
To delete the human error, to erase a noble breed,
We rely upon a relay, and we pin our faith to Creed.
So we press a button, make a switch, and spin a little wheel,
And it's cent per cent efficient—when we're on an even keel.
But again I may be needed, for the time will surely come
When we have to talk in silence, and the modern stuff is dumb.
When the signal lantern's flashing or the flags are flying free—
It was good enough for Nelson, and it's good enough for me.
In memory of the many glories of signals and signalmen!
Captain Woods is the author of several books and articles on signals.