Ship's boy

Ship's boy

John Saunders (Boy)

Saunders, John. Rank:Boy, ship’s book number B311, age 16, nationality British. He was born in London. At Trafalgar he was dangerously wounded and received a Government grant of £4-12-6 and prize money of £1-17-6. He joined Victory from the Marine Society (Boys school) on the 27th April 1803. After Trafalgar he was invalided out of the Royal navy on 2nd January 1806.

In battle Saunders would have helped to bring the bags of gun-powder from the hanging magazines to the guns on the gun decks. Because of this job he could get one of the nicknames - the boys were called - “Powder Monkeys”.

In his normal daily duties he looked after the Master and was known as the Master’s servant. At meal times he would wait on the Master and the other officers who lived in the wardroom.

When weighing anchor Saunders would tie the anchor cable to an other rope known as a messenger which was used to pull the anchor cable back into the Victory. The length of rope which was used to tie the two ropes together would have called a nipper, hence another nickname of small boys – “Little nippers”.

Read a Powder Monkey's story

Back to people on board