Reef Knot - July 1949

Known by cadets as “The Screaming Skull”

During a chronic shortage of toilet paper aboard St John he used to wait for an officer to enter the “heads”. He would then go out to the rail and watch to see how much paper came from the waste overflow.

Cadets being cadets we used to delight in feeding an entire roll down the pan whilst on continuous flush. Sid’s face would be a delight.

From then on we posted a notice over each roll holder:

“The ship’s company are limited to three pieces of paper per visit; one fore and aft, one athwartships and another polishing”

Review - August 1966