Royal Naval College Greenwich Centenary 1873 - 1973
Post-War Role
With peace, it became clear that
Greenwich's role was to increase. War and technology demanded more military
study and more scientific knowledge. The War College re-opened, the Staff
College and WRNS OTC continued to develop and the Science Departments enlarged
their teaching and research. The main Scientific courses, providing the
specialised and advanced knowledge vital to the Navy's needs at a time of
unparallelled ship and weapon develop-ment, were:-
BSc (London) Degree
course in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering; Post-Degree courses in these
and in.Ordnance and Marine Engineering; General and Post-Degree courses in
Nuclear Science and Technology; Advanced (Dagger) Specialist courses-in
Gunnery, Torpedo and Anti-Submarine, and Communications; Pre-Specialist courses
in Gunnery and TAS; courses for Ordnance Inspectors, Instructor Officers,
Sub-Lieutenants (ex Upper Yardman) and Admiralty Overseers; and Degree and
Post-Degree standard courses in Naval Architecture for members of the Royal
Corps of Naval Constructors - a civilian body founded in 1883 that wore uniform
when working in Naval establishments. Over a hundred students came each year,
not only from the Royal Navy, but from Commonwealth and Western European
navies, Admiralty Civilian Engineering bodies, the Ministry of Public Works,
Defence Establishments and associated industries, and other civilians on
Greenwich or Local Authority Scholarships. Research work went on in related
fields - communications systems, ultrasonic investigations of atomic structure,
accustic thermomentry; mathematics of linear systems and control, theory
of.functions, data systems, elasticity; lubrication, water lubricated
plasticizers, stress corrosion, brittle fracture of steel, ship structures,
thermal stresses, fatigue in steels, damped vibrations, heat transfer, strain
measurement, damping in metals and the like. Many important published works,
influential treatises and contributions to naval manuals resulted.
The
Medical School did not return and the Tactical School moved to Woolwich, but
three new non-scientific courses were started: a Supply and Secretariat
Advanced Course (SSAC) - a one-term course for Lieutenant Commanders of the
Supply Branch; a New-Entry Instructor Officers' Course - a one-term
introduction to the Navy, navigation and teaching methods for graduates; and a
Junior Officers' General Education and War Course.
This JOWC was a
2-terms course set up in 1946 for all Sub-Lieutenants (including Many from the
Dominions) after their 3-year sea training as Midshipmen. As officer entry was
still mainly at age 13 through Dartmouth, it was felt that a wider education
would be needed to equip officers for a rapidly changing post-War world. Some
science was of necessity included but the main fields of study were Britain and
World Affairs. The staff of the History and English Department was increased
from 2 to 12 to deal with this and visits by distinguished lecturers, group
seminars, individual tutorials and private study time were prominent features.
There were no examinations but regular essay projects and a final thesis. Some
of these educational 'freedoms' were hard fought for and healthy breaks in
traditional practice. One period per week of 'voluntary study in private rooms'
had been tried between the wars but had been 'given up in 1936 presumably
because it was found of little value.' The Watson Report (1938) had noted that
educating seemed too much like instructing, and that the self-education
recommended was not 'leaving the young officer to his own devices but inspiring
him at Greenwich to continue study later.' The Commander of the College's
opinion of Sub-Lieutenants in 1945 was that 'they would not work unless
regimented and driven to it. They were incurably 'low brow' and therefore
evening societies would be a farce. Examinations were necessary to see who was
working, and as a sanction threat for the idle' - opinions not shared by all
fortunately. These hundred or so young students enjoyed and benefitted from a
broader curriculum and gave the College.not only its largest course but also a
lively and more typically undergraduate student tone. The arts, sport and
general Mess life was enhanced enormously, rivalry with Sandhurst reaching its
climax in night-time raid and counter-raid.
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