Posted by Geraint Lewis on July 06, 2007 at 08:24:14 from 194.164.38.65 user Geraint_Lewis.
In Reply to: Re: Seamanship in the Royal Navy posted by K Thomson on July 06, 2007 at 00:46:15:
Hi. Thanks for your reply. As you say, that is a lengthy list of parallels, with ABCs post WW1 service in the Baltic providing the most intriguing crossing point to Ransome's. Maybe there's scope for some research on whether they ever met, or whether Ransome met any of the other RN destroyer officers serving in that area.
Incidentally, I'm not suggesting that Ransome modelled Commander Walker entirely on a single, specific officer, as I'd tend to ascribe to the idea that good authors create and develop their characters from a range of initial inspirations. Nonetheless, Commander Walker does come across as a very believable representation of Cunningham's "little ship" man (or, as you say, "salt horse"). I'm simply intrigued as to where Ransome gained the knowledge and inspiration to create and flesh out his character in this way.
Thanks for mentioning ABC's autobiography as well - I must look that up when I get the chance.
Geraint