8 of 12 August 2023 The 1805 Dispatches #23.04 THE VICTOR OF ST. GEORGE’S CAY: Commander John Ralph Moss, R.N. (1759-99) By Michael Harris This is the other item sent in by Mark West. Extract from an article from the Transactions Volume XIX 2014 of the Memorial Brass Society, from which images are also lifted, with thanks: An inscription in a private collection commemorates Commander John Ralph Moss, Royal Navy, who was buried in the Cayman Islands, where he died shortly after his victory over the Spanish in the Battle of St. George’s Cay. This article reconstructs the career of a little-known naval officer whose actions were significant in securing the independence of Belize. SACRED/To the Memory of/JOHN RALPH MOSS Esq/ Commander/of/His Majesty’s Sloop/MERLIN/Who Died the 24 of Augt, 1799,/Aged 40 Years./On Board the said Sloop/in this Bay/Upon his Return to JAMAICA,/after having Defeated/a Spanish Armament/of Sloops, Schooners & Gun Boats/with 2000 Land Forces/Destin’d for the Reduction of/The Logwood Cutters in the/BAY of HONDURAS ~ For the complete article, in fact document, go to : https://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/public/files/2014transactions-volume-xix-part-1-19313123527.pdf His Majesty’s Sloop MERLIN. Built by John Dudman, Deptford; launched 25 March 1796. Broken up at Deptford in January 1803. Dimensions & tons: 106ft x 28ft x 13ft 9in. 365 tons. Men: 121. Commemorative stamp, Belize, 1998. (© Belize Post Office Department) Technique, chutnee, quinche, chenet, cheque, chinee, ethnic, quench, quetch, quethe, quiche, quitch, techie, theine, thence, chine, chute, ethic, hence, niche, nicht, quick, tench, teuch, theic, thein, thine, uneth, chin, chit, chut, eche, echt, eech, etch, hent, hete, hint, huic, hunt, inch, itch, tech, thee, then, thin, thun, tich. SHIP’S WORD WHEEL ANSWERS NAVAL TERMS THAT HAVE ‘COME ASHORE’ Whistle up a wind –To indulge in vain hopes, from seamen’s superstition that they could whistle and a wind would arise, or strengthen. From this it can be seen why whistling was encouraged in a calm and discouraged in a storm. In fact whistling was officially banned at sea in the RN, in case of confusion with the bosun’s calls.
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