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"Swallow The Anchor"

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  • 17-04-2012 2:03pm
    #1
    telecaster
    Registered Users Posts: 528 ✭✭✭


    My late grandfather's military history is something of a mystery. He would occasionally say "I was a fool, I swallowed the anchor".

    Anyone care to have a pop at what this means?

    He had 2 anchor tattoos which suggests some naval involvement. It seems he enlisted with the British Army in Ballykelly in WW2 where presumably he was involved with RAF Coastal Command. What's the best path to go about getting more information please? I've registered for the free trial with familylink.com but there's no info about this period that I can find.

    Thanks


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    #2
    Aenaes
    Registered Users Posts: 1,677 ✭✭✭Aenaes


    Googled it and I got: " 'Swallowing The Anchor’ is an old maritime term that infers an irrevocable move back ashore from the sea."


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    #3
    BigDuffman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭BigDuffman


    I'd be terrified to google that term particularly when sailors are involved ;)

    No disrespect to the grandfather.


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    #4
    KickstartHeart
    Registered Users Posts: 311 ✭✭KickstartHeart


    My best guess would be, he's referring to it being like swallowing a hook for a fish. Swallow the bate and your'e caught for good. By changing hook to anchor he must mean its like swallowing a hook but in reference to service in the navy.

    Have a look here to try and find his name. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service.asp

    Put a post on this thread and let us know how you get on. I just finished a history degree and I'm big into this stuff :D


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    #5
    KickstartHeart
    Registered Users Posts: 311 ✭✭KickstartHeart


    Did a bit of research there. Actually, research is too fancy a word. I just strategically googled.

    Turns out your Grandfather regretted leaving the Navy.
    Swallow the Anchor means to retire from the sea.


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    #6
    mathepac
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭mathepac


    Apparently it means to surrender to the [military?] police. Did he go AWOL (in the Free State) and go home again or was he involved in some nefarious affair that got him a spell in the glass-house?


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    #7
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,692 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    It's a common parlance still in use today, it simply means leaving the sea and taking up a job/life ashore.


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    #8
    telecaster
    Registered Users Posts: 528 ✭✭✭telecaster


    thanks all.

    There was a few different interpretations of the phrase on google.

    I'm going to send his death cert to the British Ministry of Defence and they will release details of his time with them. This will hopefully help put a few more pieces in to what is a rather incomplete jigsaw. WW2 documents are not due to be released to those other than kin until 2020.

    His is a strange story in that he was 38 when he enlisted. I expect for economic reasons.


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