Reply To: God bless this ship and all that sail in it

[Malcolm Lewis]

During World War I an Admiral had invited a friend–Lady A–to lunch the following day. In the morning his Squadron went to sea and he made the following signal to the captain of another ship which was remaining in harbour:
I HAD INVITED LADY A TO LUNCH TODAY BUT AS WE ARE SAILING UNEXPECTEDLY, I WOULD BE GLAD IF YOU WOULD GIVE HER LUNCHEON INSTEAD. I AM LEAVING MY BARGE BEHIND WITH ORDERS TO REPORT TO YOU. THIS MAY MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO LOOK AFTER LADY A. PLEASE MAKE WHATEVER USE OF HER YOU LIKE.
Extract from Make Another Signal 1973 by Captain Jack Broome.
Ships, boats and Admirals’ barges will always be “She/her”!