Posted by Pam Adams on November 29, 2006 at 18:56:16 from 134.71.192.243 user PamAdams.
In Reply to: Re: Captain Flint's box/trunk posted by Ed Kiser on November 29, 2006 at 16:27:39:
In PD, Gibber's sleeping "container" was both a trunk and box, as:
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Roger's things had all gone into his kitbag, but Gibber had a box of his
own, with his blanket in it and a tin mug he particularly liked. Nancy
had taken charge of it and was laughing at seeing the monkey's name
in capital letters on the outside of his trunk.
Clearly Gibber is following naval tradition here. In at least one of Patrick O'Brian's novels, Stephen Maturin has his name painted on his sea-chest, along with all of the ships that he has served in. (A thin red line was drawn through each ship name when the commission ended) Can't recall which book right now- but he's back on the Leopard, and his previous service is discovered when someone looks at his sea-chest.
pam