Down the Hatch

by John Winton

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Genres: Humor, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

A former officer in the Royal Navy, John Pratt was the author of a variety of fiction and non-fiction works published under the pen name John Winton. Pratt also served for 14 years as an obituarist for The Daily Telegraph.

Reviews

[Carro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing read, fiction set in the Royal Navy near the start of nuclear submarines, author was a naval officer. Down the Hatch is set on board a conventional submarine which has just been completed, and covers a good will visit to a UK port, taking part in a major fleet exercise and visiting a fictional south American port.
Having read several non-fiction books on submarines, the onboard life seems pretty realistic to me, the port visits may be a bit embroidered but overall an enjoyable read with a varied cast of characters and some sending up of naval bureaucracy and career politics.

[Timothy William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The further adventures of the Artful Bodger.

Following up on "We Joined The Navy" and "We Saw The Sea", "Down the Hatch" takes the Bodger onto a Royal Navy submarine. Another really great read. If you liked the first two, you'll like this one - simple as that.

[Jonathan Palfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I first read this as a boy in the 1960s, and I’m still fond of it; although I’m fond of it partly because it’s an old friend that’s been around for most of my life.

It’s a comic novel about the Royal Navy in general, and about submarines in particular. It’s fluently written, and there are plenty of funny moments, although there are also moments when the story and the humour are getting old: 1961 was a long time ago, before anyone had heard of the Beatles.

It’s not just a send-up: we also learn something about the Navy and more about submarines, and the information is served up quite palatably so that it doesn’t drag.

The story relates how Winton’s regular hero, nicknamed the Artful Bodger, is unexpectedly given command of a powerful brand-new submarine, and has a series of peacetime experiences with it: showing the flag in the town of Oozemouth, taking part in Exercise Lucky Alphonse, assisting in scientific research, and visiting South America, where the Bodger and his merry men are invited to take part in a motor race. Finally, they attend a reunion of serving and retired submariners in Portsmouth.

I like the motor race best and the fleet exercise second. I reckon the Oozemouth episode is the most dated part of the book, although it has some amusing moments. The reunion at the end is the dullest part, and could well have been cut, but apparently the author felt an inner compulsion to write about it.

To enjoy this book in the 21st century, I think you have to be aware that it was published in 1961, and make allowances. It’s become a period piece by now.

[Alaric · Rating 3 out of 5]

A genial romp in the post war Royal Navy; very well written, with absolute authority, and a wicked sense of humour.