Scene in a mess deck of a battleship at sea
Commentary
This official Admiralty photograph, though perhaps appearing a little staged, demonstrates the informal entertainment and sociability that often characterised life on a lower ranks messdeck. In many ways, the space contained and reflected the modes of working-class masculine sociability present in the civilian workplace and pub.
Themes
Consumer Practices
Gender / Sexualities
Human Relationships
Labour
Leisure
Physical / Emotional States
Social Position
Identities
Dominant Representational Strategies
Elements
Context
Dwelling
- Type
-
Institutional
Residential - Detail
-
Other / Unknown
Other / Unknown - Historical Terminology
- Specified Social Level
- Unspecified
Activities
- Type
-
Eating and Drinking
Intellectual, Cultural and Spritual
Physical States and Actions - Detail
-
Drinking
Entertaining
Music-making
Singing
Sitting
Standing
Relaxing
Rooms
- Type
-
Bedroom
Dining Room
Leisure / Games Room
Multifunctional Living Space
Social and Sitting Spaces
Other / Unknown - Historical Terminology
- Mess Deck
Inhabitants
- Type
- People
- Detail
- Adults
- Male
Objects
- Type
-
Coverings and Hangings
Furniture
Equipment
The Arts, Recreation and Ceremony - Detail
-
Supporting, Storage and Display
Seating
Tools, Utensils and Appliances
Bibliography
Direct Cross-References
Indirect Cross-References
Leading seaman becomes captain - for Christmas day only
1942
Photograph, QC1002
1943
Photograph, QC1006
On board a battleship: tea-time in one of the mess decks below
1939-1945
Photograph, QC1007
1944
Photograph, QC1011
Submarine HMS Tribune: seamen's mess
1945
Photograph, QC1013
Admiral Russell in Royal Marines mess of HMS Ladybird
Admiral the Hon. Sir Guy H.E. Russell 1945-1955
Photograph, QC1018
First Sea Lord visits Chief Petty Officers' mess, HMS Victorious
Lord Mountbatten 1958
Photograph, QC1021
First Sea Lord visits ratings' mess, HMS Victorious
Lord Mountbatten 1958
Photograph, QC1022
View of the mess deck of a minesweeper
1942
Photograph, QC1025
Crew of the submarine HMS Sceptre playing cards in harbour
1944
Photograph, QC1038
An evening meal on the mess deck of a cruiser
1942
Photograph, QC1057
Meal time in the seamen's mess of an armed trawler
1943
Photograph, QC1058
A seamen's mess on board a battleship
1939-1945
Photograph, QC1060
Boiler cleaners at their midday meal on the messdeck of a destroyer
1939-1945
Photograph, QC1064
A card game on the mess deck of a cruiser
1942
Photograph, QC1065
Entertainment on board a naval trawler
1942
Photograph, QC1066
- Names
- Date(s)
- 1939-1949
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Historical Region
- Description
- Format
- Photograph
- Type
- Genre
- Interior View
- Publication
- Copyright
- by permission of The Imperial War Museum.
- Location
- Imperial War Museum, Photograph Collection, A. 2224
- Record ID
- QC1008
