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A little #festive thread about life aboard the forts at #Christmas 
For those unlucky enough to be on duty for the festive season, the job was not put on hold. A watch still had to be kept for enemy raiders, regardless of time, day or weather - as here on army fort U7 which in 1/7
For those unlucky enough to be on duty for the festive season, the job was not put on hold. A watch still had to be kept for enemy raiders, regardless of time, day or weather - as here on army fort U7 which in 1/7
...wintertime truly lived up to its name of Shivering Sands! Off watch, #Christmas gave no respite from the on-going battle against tedium & loneliness. Fort crew numbers fluctuated, but usually stood at around 120. It was crowded. There was little privacy. Thoughts turned... 2/7
gave no respite from the on-going battle against tedium & loneliness. Fort crew numbers fluctuated, but usually stood at around 120. It was crowded. There was little privacy. Thoughts turned... 2/7
...to home. Mail deliveries were always very important to lift morale - as seen here at HM Naval Fort U1 Roughs - & at Christmas they brought the promise of cards, presents &, as far as rationing permitted, home-made treats to supplement the fairly dull fort food. At the... 3/7
...discretion of the fort commander an extra rum ration might be issued on #Christmas Day. But generally the men were simply encouraged to make the best of it. They would decorate the messes & sleeping quarters & work on handicrafts & hobbies. Here, crew of Knock John Naval 4/7
Day. But generally the men were simply encouraged to make the best of it. They would decorate the messes & sleeping quarters & work on handicrafts & hobbies. Here, crew of Knock John Naval 4/7
...Fort U4 are seen building models, perhaps as gifts to go home (previous tweet). If someone could bash out a tune on the 'joanna' there might be communal carols (here a singalong on Knock John), the strains of 'Silent Night' drifting from fort-to-fort across a still sea... 5/7
And there were games too. The forts set up a darts league, for example. Matches (again, we see Knock John Naval Fort U4 here) were played between forts across an open telephone line, with an officer adjudicating at each end to ensure festive fair play! So there you have it... 6/7
...some idea of what life aboard a Maunsell fort might have been like at #Christmas - and most of the rest of the time too, come to that! It can't have been easy. It only remains for we, the forts, to wish you all a very #HAPPYCHRISTMAS and a peaceful and prosperous New Year! 7/7
- and most of the rest of the time too, come to that! It can't have been easy. It only remains for we, the forts, to wish you all a very #HAPPYCHRISTMAS and a peaceful and prosperous New Year! 7/7
