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We Joined The Navy (Artful Bodger Naval Adventures Book 1) Kindle Edition

by John Winton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 199 ratings
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A classic, hilarious account of naval life in the 1950s! Perfect for fans of P.G.Wodehouse, Spike Milligan, Richard Gordon and R.F.Deldafield

Will the Special Entry cadets survive basic training and take to the high seas?

1952, Dartmouth, England

The Admiralty Interview Board, faced with another few weeks of trying work, are reminded of the recruitment policy by the Admiral, “We are not looking for ‘normal’ boys. We are looking for boys who will make naval officers”.

And soon 80 naval cadets in brand new uniform are plunged into a strange and uncomfortable world.

They meet the man responsible for whipping them into shape, Lieutenant Commander, Robert Bollinger Badger, known as ‘The Artful Bodger’ and a host of other eccentric characters - the destroyer captain ‘Poggles’ who anchors his ship with brewers’ signs; Captain Sir Douglas Mainwaring Gregson who breeds red setters and has no interest in cadets, and Able Seaman Froggins who lives hermit-like in the darkness of his locker.

Their training is more comprehensive than they expect – they scrub decks in the morning and repel the advances of amorous Spanish barmaids by night. One minute they are painting the ship’s side and the next they are playing cricket against a West Indies team. And once they set sail they are sent to quell a revolution in Central America.

Navigating a world of humour and hijinks the sea cadets need to quickly find their feet as they are thrown straight into the deep end…

WE JOINED THE NAVY is the first hilarious military adventure story in the Artful Bodger Naval Adventure Series: classic 20th century sea stories packed full of humour and authentic details of navy life.

‘If you do not mind being vastly amused and do not think it vulgar to laugh out loud, then buy this book’ — The Yorkshire Post

‘Extremely well written ... strongly recommended for an idle hour in your train or battleship’ — Manchester Guardian

‘Rare zest and humour — gay and amusing extravaganza’ — Sunday Times

‘Outstandingly funny’ — Sunday Dispatch

‘Vividly funny’ — Evening Standard

‘Hilariously funny’—Press and Journal

THE ARTFUL BODGER NAVAL ADVENTURE SERIES:
BOOK 1: We Joined The Navy
BOOK 2: We Saw The Sea
BOOK 3: Down The Hatch
BOOK 4: Never Go To Sea
BOOK 5: All The Nice Girls
BOOK 6: Good Enough For Nelson
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Artful Bodger Naval Adventures
  2. Print length
    298 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    July 13, 2023
  6. File size
    1940 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CBW2WNMZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books (July 13, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 13, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1940 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0854950990
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 199 ratings

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John Winton

John Winton

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
199 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tetsu
5.0 out of 5 stars A humerous and insightful view of the Royal Navy of the 1950s
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2010
Verified Purchase
John Winton, at the time a serving officer in the Royal Navy, offers a humerous overview of the Royal Navy in the 1950s. His humor is subtle but quite effective. The cast of characters are ones everyone who has been in the military, of any nation, have encountered. It is amusing as the young officer cadets sort themselves out and assume their roles as future leaders of the Royal Navy. Probably Winton is drawing on some of the people he met in his service in the Royal Navy so it is worthwhile to stop and think that some of the characters he is describing fictionally in this book, probably went on to have key roles in the Falklands War in 1982. They were the products of the system he is writing about.

Not only is Winton looking at the training of young naval officers but he is looking at the civilian sector who, at times, seem to get most of their news from the "daily disaster" style of tabloids. His view is at times, ironic and maybe just a bit cynical. None the less, it is quite enjoyable to read.

I read this book many years ago and lost track of it during my many moves over the years. I was extremely pleased to see it back into print and have now added it back into my library.

I recommend this book highly to anyone with an naval interest.
4 people found this helpful
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John P.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2013
Verified Purchase
The definitive tongue-in-cheek description of the "rigors" of the selection and training process for young officers in the Royal Navy. A veritable menagerie of larger than life and dysfunctional characters warmly portrayed. An endearing book with a chuckle on every page and no lack of laugh-out-load moments. For some bizarre reason "their Lordships" at the Admiralty strongly disapproved of this book when it was first published in the '60's - should have been required reading for incoming cadets and midshipmen.
4 people found this helpful
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Pickwick
5.0 out of 5 stars Navy Special
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2021
Verified Purchase
I was at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth (UK) in 1955. This 1959 book resonates, and it's humorous too!
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Top reviews from other countries

Dragon
5.0 out of 5 stars A rhyme about ancient mariners.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
I am unfortunately a little bit old and can remember The Bodger from the early 1960's. I loved him then and I still do.
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Graeme Keyes
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in Australia on March 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
something different. enjoyable light reading.
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Mike
4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous look at the after WW2 Navy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
Written by the the author of the Daily Telegraph naval obituaries it is best for its anecdotes about the Admiralty interview board. A good light read.
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Tell it like it is
3.0 out of 5 stars It's like watching a black and white film!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
Look, this book is a bit like watching a 1950's farce but it's so bad you just have to watch it to the end because it reminds you of how things used to be back then. It's a harmless romp around a group of young men joining the Royal Navy officer class - hopefully as it used to be, I'd hate to think it's still like it now. It's silly and it's just a pleasant read, lower your expectations and it should amuse you for a couple of hours. There is no hero, there are a number of characters that you engage with and it reminds me of sitcom meets the Navy Lark without any belly laughs. I enjoyed the Dartmouth training section and the author writes in a very authentic style so you can get immersed in the trainees world, the progression to the training ship is where the script gets a bit flaky, but each to their own you may enjoy it more than me. Good luck!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars So much humour
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
Having read all the Bodger books in the series
They are absolutely brilliant. So much humour and well written. Wish I could have joined the Navy back in sixties!!!
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