From Jack Tar to Union Jack : representing naval manhood in the British Empire, 1870-1918

The later nineteenth century was a time of regulation and codification, which was part of the Victorian search for reliability and respectability. This book examines the intersection between empire, navy, and manhood in British society from 1870 to 1918. It sheds light upon social and cultural constructions of working-class rather than elite masculinities by focusing on portrayals of non-commissioned naval men, the 'lower deck', rather than naval officers. Through an analysis of sources that include courts-martial cases, sailors' own writings, and the HMS Pinafore, the book charts new depictions of naval manhood during the Age of Empire. It was a period of radical transformation of the navy, intensification of imperial competition, democratisation of British society, and advent of mass culture. The book argues that popular representations of naval men increasingly reflected and informed imperial masculine ideals in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. It explains how imperial challenges, technological changes and domestic pressures transformed the navy and naval service from the wake of the Crimean War to the First World War. How female-run naval philanthropic organisations domesticated the reputation of naval men by refashioning the imagery of the drunken debauched sailor through temperance and evangelical campaigns is explained. The naval temperance movement was not singular in revealing the clear class dimensions in the portrayal of naval manhood. The book unveils how the British Bluejacket as both patriotic defender and dutiful husband and father stood in sharp contrast to the stereotypic image of the brave but bawdy tar of the Georgian navy. Jack Tar To Union Jack Examines The Intersection Between Empire, Navy, And Manhood In British Society From 1870 To 1918. Through Analysis Of Sources That Include Courts-martial Cases, Sailors’ Own Writings, And The Hms Pinafore, Conley Charts New Depictions Of Naval Manhood During The Age Of Empire, A Period Which Witnessed The Radical Transformation Of The Navy, The Intensification Of Imperial Competition, The Democratisation Of British Society, And The Advent Of Mass Culture. Jack Tar To Union Jack Argues That Popular Representations Of Naval Men Increasingly Reflected And Informed Imperial Masculine Ideals In Victorian And Edwardian Britain. Conley Shows How The British Bluejacket As Both Patriotic Defender And Dutiful Husband And Father Stood In Sharp Contrast To The Stereotypic Image Of The Brave But Bawdy Tar Of The Georgian Navy. This Book Will Be Essential Reading For Students Of British Imperial History, Naval And Military History, And Gender Studies. Front matter Dedication Contents General editor's introduction Acknowledgements List of figures List of abbreviations Introduction: Gender, navy and empire Imperial challenges and the modernisation of the fleet For the good of the boys in blue: philanthropy, Agnes Weston and contested manhood From powder monkey to admiral: social mobility, heroism and naval manhood Strong men for a strong navy: naval scares, imperial anxieties and naval manhood Lessons in manhood: boyhood, duty and war Conclusion Select bibliography Index In this pioneering study, Conley examines the intersection between empire, navy, and manhood in British society from 1870 to 1918. Jack Tar to Union Jack is indispensable reading as it reminds us of the navy's long-standing influence upon British domestic and imperial culture. -- .