The Cook

The Cook

Ship's cook

The Cook: this was usually a man who had been disabled during battle and who had recovered from his injuries sufficiently to return to service as a cook.

The cook was a warrant officer not because of his cooking skills but his responsibility of the galley fire. He lit the galley fire early each morning and after lunch made sure it was completely extinguished - fire in a wooden ship was the most feared event for all seamen.

If the ship went into battle he would make sure that the fire was extinguished immediately for the vessel's safety.

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