Americans React: Royal Navy HMS Daedalus Mast Manning Team | Incredible!

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In this video, we react to the HMS Daedalus Mast Manning Team from 1992 at the East of England Show-this was incredible! Watching them climb the mast with such skill and precision left us in awe. The bravery and teamwork it takes to pull off something like this is truly impressive, and we were excited to see the first-ever female Button Boy take part in this historic Royal Navy tradition. Do they still do displays like this today? Let us know!
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this Manning the Mast reaction, please give the video a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to subscribe as we continue exploring the UK and Ireland!
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👉 Original Video:
• HMS Daedalus Mast Mann...

[@2old4gamez]

I spent nine years in the British Army. I would happily crawl through claustrophobic tunnels, live in freezing, wet trenches for weeks and jump out of perfectly serviceable aircraft and walk for miles wearing almost body weight in equipment. I've also been shot at and I've been mortared several times. Throughout all the above there is no way you could have convinced me to switch places with the button boy, far too bloody scary! Much respect to Nicola and all others who have done this.

[@AnthonyScott-n4c]

same lol I was in the kings border regiment first of foot served in irlend folk lands and iraque brothers in arms yeh training was grusum excuse my spelling i am a worrier not a athemdemic lol

[@britpackdog4545]

I've never served but I'd rather be shot dead on the ground than die by falling from that height after slipping in my own shit

[@jamiemcguire3907]

​​​@@AnthonyScott-n4cI think you're a Walter Mitty, you can't even spell the places you apparently served.. also? What's an athemdemic?

[@jamiemcguire3907]

​@@AnthonyScott-n4ci think you're a Walter Mitty!!!

[@simsi-o2b]

Thank you for your service .

[@petergordon4525]

That was Nicola Howard climbing the 142 foot high mast, the first female button boy, in July 1992

[@heatherwilliams609]

I believe what she is stood on is called the button

[@timglennon6814]

@@heatherwilliams609That’s why they are called Button Boys.

[@grahamtravers4522]

@@heatherwilliams609 Probably the origin of the phrase "on the button", meaning spot-on.

[@neild2148]

the button is the round platform she is standing on.

[@uncoolmartin460]

If you look up "John Noakes", he was a TV presenter (Blue Peter) back in the 70's doing he would do crazy things for the show. He did the manning the mast ceremony (He was the button boy iirc), he also did the Cresta Run, Climbed Nelsons Column, Sidecar racing and a parachute jump with the Red Devils parachute display team. the videos are on youtube and very interesting. John was a national hero for kids my age, RIP John you legend.

[@davidcarter5038]

IIRC, John didn't make it to the top - which tell those of us old enough to have watched him on Blue Peter just how hard this is.

[@uncoolmartin460]

@@davidcarter5038 It has been a long time since I saw the video, so you could well be right, but yeah I couldn't do that. Thanks for mentioning that. I may just have to go back and watch it again just to see it. :)

[@ChrisShelley-v2g]

I know for the Nensons column climb the BBC didn't insure him, he almost resigned when he found out, I'm not sure how they got him to stay after that, I think also he revealed that "the Post Office Tower" is/was a secret listening post (spying facility) and didn't exist so far as the UK government was concerned, have to admit the best way to hide something of that nature and size is in plain sight, you just don't expect it to be anything top secret if it's there in front of you.

[@grahamstubbs4962]

@uncoolmartin460 Now that is a very reasonable set of recommendations. I'm not sure anyone nowadays could get the insurance cover to do what John did. Although, allegedly, he was a touch miffed to discover that the BBC didn't have him covered at the time.

[@janewalker3921]

The Nelson's Column climb was NERVE racking!!!

[@harryc8415]

I’ve watched this a few times now and I get a strong sense of pride each time I see it. Cannot imagine how proud her parents were that day and also the other naval servicemen’s families.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Yes, very much so! She did an amazing job.

[@vallee3140]

Proud? if she was mine I'd be worried sick.

[@jennigee51]

I'm sure someone has already answered you, the East of England show ended in May 2013 after 200 years. I'm having palpitations just watching her! What an amazing woman!

[@trailerman2]

This is why we had a Navy that literally 'ruled the waves' and helped create the greatest Empire ever known :-)

[@BobLouden-r9q]

No, the Roman Empire was the greatest. British Empire to Great Britain to Britain to Sharia Britian. No longer great by any means.

[@Whippy99]

@@BobLouden-r9q May I suggest you study history again. You are incredibly misinformed.

[@mothmagic1]

This goes back to the days of wooden ships and iron men.

[@huwbishop6995]

​@@BobLouden-r9q Ours was the largest empire in the history of the world. The Romans had no where near as much land. The sun never set on the British empire. How we got it, is a rather controversial matter and certainly not a proud moment by today's standard. We also had the most number of people under our subjugation ever. I don't think there will be another larger, maybe if Islam takes over and can operate as a single state.

[@RockyBobbieBuster]

Many years ago i was a self employed industrial roofer and got pretty used to heights BUT there's absolutely no chance you'd find me standing on that button on top of the mast, ABSOLUTELY NO F*****G CHANCE.

[@terencecarroll1812]

This would normally be performed on a ship at sea rocking in the water but because there are no naval tall ships anymore (except museum pieces) they stage it on land

[@Desertfox18]

Why don't they do it on HMS Victory?

[@08shunter]

@@Desertfox18 HMS Victory has had it's masts removed, it has been like that for some years. The whole ship is being restored at the moment. I hope they will put the masts back at the end of the restoration process.

[@PLuMUK54]

I remember years ago, seeing, on television, a sailing ship go under Tower Bridge. The masts were fully manned.

[@08shunter]

@@PLuMUK54 I remember that too.

[@andrewcoates6641]

The title Button Boy is given as an honour to the seaman who stands on the circular wooden platform that is used to cap the top of the mast. It is not just a flat wooden circle, it is actually curved in three dimensions, similar to the shape of a smooth tablet given by a doctor to be inserted into the body by either swallowing by mouth or by inserting it like a susposititory via the rectum. The actual flat part of the button is approximately only a third of the actual diameter of the button and it curves gently around the edges and underneath to where it is secured to the top of the mast. At one time there would be a small pulley inset on the underside of the button to allow a “sheet,( nautical name for a rope that goes around a pulley used to haul the ship’s colours to be raised to the top of the mast). The tune played by the Royal Marine Corps band as the seamen or ratings march to the mast and climb it in time to the beat of the base drum , is an old song extolling the men of the Royal Navy as the very best sailors in the country. It is called “Hearts of Oak”. It starts with the line “ Come cheer up my lads, Tis, to glory we go and goes on to describe that the ships are built from from good solid Oak and the crew are also made with the strength of the oak trees themselves, as the words go “ Hearts of oak have our ships, hearts of oak have our men, We always are ready. Steady Boys Steady. We will fight and We will fight until the battle is won.”

[@mattbentley9270]

She is BAD ASS !! wow... I have 2 friends who tried to join the Navy and only lasted 4 weeks in the initial training, 1 quit the other failed... its brutal

[@reactingtomyroots]

It takes guts to even try, if it's that hard to get in! Good for them for giving it a go.

[@seanfair1975]

I joined in 1991 aged 16 years 4 months I was so excited to join and follow my grandfather's service but it all went wrong in the final week and it spiralled and overwhelmed me and I quit and have regretted it ever since BUT I gave my cousin advice for her son who also wanted to join up it was wait until you are 18 and a little more mature he did and is still serving and loving it unfortunately it's not what my son is into he's doing tech work.

[@cornishmaid9138]

It’s to show discipline, courage and skill when aboard a navy sail ship at sea, when sailors must man the sails, regardless of the weather.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Well it definitely conveys that quite well!

[@paulcousins1168]

That is Royal Navy disapline, well done to the button girl your a credit to the navy.

[@stirlingmw]

I was in the RN for 34 Years, retiring just under 3 years ago. We have some amazing history and historical Customs, from Trafalgar Night, Pickle Night to Taranto Night (and many more), celebrating key events in the UK and RNs history. As the oldest of the 3 major arms of the UK Military the history it brings can even be seen today, with many of our daily sayings being attributed to life at sea. I am a strong supporter of all of our Armed Forces but the Senior Service is obviously the best lol. If you want to look at Naval History I strongly suggest a visit to the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth to tour around HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose as well as the many museums in the area.

[@Exsubmariners]

Hi skimmer you forgot to mention the royal Navy Submarine museum in Gosport I bet she had a fanny like a gutted fireplace after that rope descent take care ship mate and merry crimbo

[@alisonrandall3039]

Pickle night my mum loves going to that she’s 82 and she stayed all night waiting for breakfast at HMS Nelson.😂

[@christophercarr3755]

This is why were so proud of our Royal Navy. Massive respect 🇬🇧

[@rikmoran3963]

That was just childhood in the 70s, we all did this sort of stuff! 🤣😆🤣 Seriously though, that takes some courage to climb up that high. She was very impressive!

[@trevjen1000]

On the button are two metal loops for the person to put their feet into to prevent them falling

[@reactingtomyroots]

Oh okay! That would help a little but I still couldn't do it 😅

[@Whippy99]

And that, dear friends, is real Girl Power! I live round the road from HMS Daedalus. It’s now the Solent Airport. I see Spitfires daily! I also get to see other old aircraft, The Red Arrows and big military helicopters. My 92 year dad is an RAF veteran and loves sitting in our garden in the summer, to see them all. If you ever get to England, please visit Portsmouth and its towns. Hundreds (even thousands) of years of history to see. 😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Edit: Lyndsay, you cracked me up with your hitting them on the way down and butt cheek comments!!!!😂😂😂

[@reactingtomyroots]

😂

[@stephenkelly1887]

The tune that's played as they climb the ropes is 'Westering Home' a song about sailing home to Islay, an island in the Inner Hebrides off the Scottish west coast. It's pronounced 'Eye-la' and is famous for it's whisky distilleries. Beautiful Island.

[@lloydcollins6337]

It's also the Slow March of the Royal Navy

[@ste-oo5dt]

At the very top of the mast the thing they stand on is called a Button.

[@andreasimpson273]

All recruits going to HMS Ganges in basic training use to have to go up the mast when HMS Raleigh became the basic training school they no longer had to do it. It then became a volunteer display team. The Fleet Air Arm field gun crew use to train at Daedalus and also technical training for people going to do aircraft maintenance. Button boy is the 1 that goes to the top of the mast en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ganges_mast

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

The mast manning ceremony used to be performed at shows during the summer . I saw it a few times and it was always performed magnificently . The mast is equivalent to a tall sailing ship like HMS Victory . The sailors had to climb the ratlines ( the rope ladders) to change , curl or let go sails . You ought to try the Royal Marine band version of ' Gladiator ' - it's terrific .

[@margaretnicol3423]

She's a heckova brave girl on top.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

When I was a Sea Cadet at school - yonks ago - we'd spend a fortnight each summer at the Naval Training School, HMS Indefatigable. The pennant mast on the quad was the focus of a smaller scale version of what your video features. The 15-16 yr olds would man the lower yards, the 13-14 yr olds the top yards, and the 12-yr olds the top gallant yards. The button was the prize place we all competed for. Back then we wore old-style navy blue shorts, vests, academy caps, and were barefoot.

[@jasonshenton7680]

Me too, but I went to RNAS Culdrose

[@lesleyriseam1282]

You realise they move together to the beat . If they all went at their own pace, the rat lines would twist and spin ferociously . I had to go and free a sail on my boat its mast was 12 metres. I did it in a bosuns chair . And at sea although I could not fall and three big burly yotties were holding the lines . It still gives me the shivers to think about it . But my boat my problem . I can't imagine this but fair play to button Boys from times past .

[@swingingingerplums]

Marine Cadet T.S Forward. Some of the best days of My life ❤

[@reactingtomyroots]

Sounds like an experience! :)

[@russellfrancis6294]

I was 12 in 1992, wouldn't have appreciated this then, haven't seen this before, nowadays I truly appreciate the British affinity for tradition and ceremony. I just remembered as I speak that my stepfather was a skipper, a yachtsman.

[@w0033944]

We're the same age, then.

[@susansmiles2242]

My hands were sweating just watching this and how she managed to run after she got down I will never know

[@moretus2270]

My stomach was going over and over 😱😱😱

[@mattblackledge9068]

The show is a country fayre. So everything from arts and crafts, food and drink, showing livestock etc. Come to think of it, I walked a rarebreed cow around the showground when I was an army cadet.

[@chrissmith8773]

The things we do for a drink.

[@angelahawman4263]

😂

[@alistairbenson372]

Or after one!

[@reactingtomyroots]

haha!

[@floatswithgoats8807]

The song you liked, during the salute, was Sunset; the ceremony to put a ship's ensign to bed. Many counties in the UK have summer shows... they're a bit like a state fair but heavy on the agriculture. Normally there's a main arena and at least one show ring. Many shows have a police or military 'act', various horse things. There are stalls all around the arena, agricultural and other competitions... from baking to sheep!! Lots of traditional crafts and food stalls, too. Google the Great Yorkshire Show and hit images (I am sure there must be some videos to watch).

[@JohnDallaway]

Staggering. I can't even stand on a deep pile carpet without getting vertigo!

[@Kiz552]

Just think, when this was done out at sea, the captain would shout, haul in the sales, it would have been done in crazy weather conditions to save the sales, the guys would have been up there pulling the sales in and securing them.

[@StephMcAlea]

The sailor's name is Nicola Howard. Im afraid I couldn't find out any information on her further career. She did the navy and our country proud. While the sight of women and non-binary people might be a common sight in our military, miss Howard helped blaze the way for many.

[@lloydcollins6337]

This was just before the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS, commonly known as the Wrens) was disbanded and female sailors were integrated into the main body of the Royal Navy. The first Wrens went to sea on warships in 1990 - before that the Wrens could only have shore jobs and couldn't go to sea in any fighting capacity (I believe they provided some nurses for hospital ships).

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thank you for sharing her name!

[@jacquieclapperton9758]

​@@lloydcollins6337 That would have been Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.

[@batkinssmart4273]

Yes, it's rum. The Royal Navy is said to sail on a sea of rum.

[@lloydcollins6337]

"Rum, sodomy, and the lash" as the old saying goes.

[@wessexdruid7598]

The Royal Navy stopped issuing rum to sailors on July 31, 1970, which became known as Black Tot Day.

[@orwellboy1958]

The East of England Show is a Largely though not exclusively an agricultural show, as a farmers son in Cambridgeshire we went every year. The 'Button' is the little platform that the girl stood on at the top of the mast.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Okay, that clarifies things a bit! :) Thanks

[@BrendaSmyth-i9o]

Wow that was amazing,very brave girl good on her ❤❤❤❤

[@PLuMUK54]

"Manning the Mast" recreates how sails had to be furled and unfurled on sailing ships. The sailors would climb out onto the yard (the cross pieces) to furl the sail and tie it in place. Often, this was done during stormy weather. They also had to untie and unfurl the sail when the ship was to move. Generally, it would have been done barefoot. The Button Boy climbed up to the lightning conductor at the top of the mast. They held onto it solely with their legs! All young apprentice sailors used to be called button boys as a nickname.

[@Defender200tdi]

The tot of rum was traditionally given to sailors who carried out courageous acts, the most famous being the splicing of the main brace which was the rope used to steer the rudder of a ship. Sometimes in battle this rope was severed and the ship could not be manoeuvred. The order would go out to "splice the main brace!!" And any man who succeeded would be rewarded with a tot of rum. It is still used as a toast today.

[@jamielee9350]

Obviously you are not a naval or nautical person .. The mainbrace ran from the main yard to the deck and was used to position the yard to which was attached the main sail of a square-rigged sailing warship.

[@Defender200tdi]

@jamielee9350 your correct, I concede to your knowledge

[@jamielee9350]

@@Defender200tdi No problem Sir , there are many things that crop up on KZbin where you can probably educate me.

[@PeterDay81]

I have seen this on a tall ship.My dad took me to see this as a kid.A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel.

[@richardjames3022]

You would never get me up there, I used to get vertigo in the 1970's wearing platform shoes.

[@reactingtomyroots]

haha, sounds about like me 😂

[@vaudevillian7]

A chap I sailed with had been the button boy then he did this in the Navy, although that was at sea. And he did climb to the top of the mast in fairly rough seas when we were sailing a tall ship - he didn’t stand on the top though

[@angelawalker8615]

Like you said its very impressive. We attended the the Field Gun competition with the R/Navy and the R/Marines July 24, it also was amazing. I like that its all done for charity.

[@johnlaws3904]

The East of England Show is a regional Agricultural show

[@CeleWolf]

Was.....sadly

[@knowledge-seeker-x7u]

The main tune in 'Hearts of Oak'....the famous song for the Royal Navy. The British ships were made of solid English Oak. The song is saying our sailors have hearts as strong as the oak. Lovely!!!!

[@angeladormer6659]

That display used to happen on board the masted navy vessels. It would be done as they returned to port. The band was from The Royal Marines. This shows why our navy was the best in the world. All our armed forces are incredible. They are disciplined and brave and as the song says, "we will never be slaves" because we have them. The East of England Show, is one of the big farming shows we have. It allows our farmers to get together, bring their best animals to pit against the other farmers to see which are the best etc. It is like your Country Fairs. ❤❤❤

[@Yesser-Thistle73]

They played "Hearts of Oak" as well - "Hearts of oak are our ships, Jolly Tars are the men. We always are ready. Steady boys, steady. We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!"

[@angeladormer6659]

@Yesser-Thistle73 I was singing along, we were taught it in Infants school 😆

[@mattblackledge9068]

I lived in a house built on the land there at the showground. My grandfather also spent time at HMS Ganges in Shotley and topped that same mast in basic training.

[@KGardner01010]

Mast heights varied with the size of these ship involved, S & L - from the much smaller and speedier schooners right up to the 1st rate wooden ships of the line - (Some of these having 100+ cannons on board) - but each one of them also required the right number of manpower in order to sail them. The main mast, usually the central one on a ship is normally the tallest of them. And they are starting from below decks near the keel - up through any decks above until they head for the sky . . . HMS Victory is stil classed as a 1st Rate ship of the line (Warship) . . . not sure abut this now, but either its main mast was once about 230 feet tall from its keel - or 230 feet tall from the upper deck? And the sailors were constantly up and down the masts many times a day just to check the trim of the sails to get the best wind on them they could for better speed . . . Even during rough weather and sea battles, sails would always need changing to help the ship perform better . . .

[@johnritter6864]

If you haven't seen it before, have a look at British military mascots. Some regiments have their own animal mascots, which are given a rank, etc.

[@gaiaiulia]

Isn't one of them an Irish wolfhound (an Irish regiment)?

[@deb4762]

​@@gaiaiulia I believe his name is Seamus.

[@johnritter6864]

@@gaiaiulia I think there is. There are quite a variety, including a goat and pony.

[@Chris_GY1]

I saw this twice once at The Lincolnshire Show on the Lincolnshire showground outside the city of Lincoln the only city in Lincolnshire, I can’t remember the other location. She is given rum in the tankard. The Royal Navy is the number one military force in Britain 🇬🇧 followed by The Army then The Royal Airforce.

[@lloydcollins6337]

Songs in this video: 1:22-1:50 Trafalgar 1:58-2:39 Aranjuez Mon Amour (The Royal Marines take on Concierto de Aranjuez) 2:40-3:45 Washington Grey 3:45-4:22 Heart of Oak (The Quick March of the Royal Navy) 4:45-7:19 Westering Home (The Slow March of the Royal Navy) 7:29-7:38 Rule Britannia (Chorus only) 7:51-9:21 "Eternal Father" - a well known hymn 9:21-10:00 This is a bugle call known as "Sunset" - it was supposed to signal the end of the military day when on campaign but the current arrangement was composed in 1932 for the Band of the Royal Marines as a "big show" piece - something which could be played whilst the Colours were hauled down for the night near the end of a performance. This is usally preceded with a hymn and followed with Rule Britannia 10:03-10:38 Superman theme 12:52-13:20 Heart of Oak (again) NB: A "quick" march is played whilst troops are marching in "quick" time (I.E. at walking pace, usually this is 120 beats per minute (bpm) (aka paces per minute), although it's 140 bpm in rifle regiments and 112 for Scottish regiments). Each regiment of the British Army, the whole Royal Navy, and the whole Royal Air Force (except for the RAF Regiment which has it's own quick march), and the whole Royal Marines have a quick march which is played as they march past a reviewing stand to exchange salutes with the senior officer on parade. Where no reviewing stand is present the march is played either as they march on to parade or march off (in this case they play it for both on and off). In contrast a "slow" march is played when the troops are marching slowly - in the British military this is a halting step where the foot is held for a second off the ground and the leg is kept straight with the foot horizontal to the ground. Slow marches are played at 65 bpm. All units which have a quick march will also have a slow march.

[@nigeldewallens1115]

In the late seventies! I had the chance to go up a thames barge marst and it was only up to the middle height that I went up to in a dock and that was scary! But it is an experience I have never forgotten at st.katherines dock in London near to tower Bridge and the tower of London! Well done to that young lady! Bravo!

[@stephenblain4465]

Imagine climbing a mast of approximately 140ft and then climbing a further 15ft up a pole to the top of the mast where a ‘button’ shaped platform awaits you. The ‘button’ platform is not a vast amount of space, so imagine your feet gingerly ensuring that they do not topple off the edge! Now - imagine only having a lightning conductor to hold onto for balance! Now - imagine letting go of the lightning conductor to salute your audience! I have just described the journey and the final gesture of the Button Boy. Truly the star of the mast display. The award for the Button Boy’s daredevil ascent and, indeed, descent!? A shilling, according to the Royal Naval Museum

[@sibbo-v6n]

If you go to the HMS Ganges museum at Shotley Gate there is a replica of the button (or top of the mast) on the floor so you can see what the Button boy or in this case button girl stands on. HMS Ganges has shut down but the main mast and the wireless mast above where the sick quartes staff mess was is still there. they are a navigation aid to ships entering the port of Harwich, when the two masts are lined up together they ship is on the correct course to avoid the sandbanks. another intersting point is that is that they estuary mouth of the River Thames finishes on its northern most bank at Harwich, making it one of the widest river estuaries in the world. I was gobsmacked when I learnt that cos as a Londoner I always thought it was Southend, that well known pub Beano destination for Londoners.

[@michaelfoster5577]

HMS Daedalus is a training establishment. Such places are known as “stone frigates” and treated as ships (you go on board and disembark!) This is a practice left over from the days of sail, when sailors had to climb the rigging to adjust the sails. It remains as a tradition in the modern navy.

[@markdevonshire6052]

This was fantastic 👏, love the little tot of rum at the end. She definitely earned that drink 😊, I have a former Navy dockyard nearby which is now a tourist attraction and I think they still sell there own navy strength rum 😋

[@reactingtomyroots]

Yeah, I'm not a big drinker but after that...I definitely would have had a drink 😂 I bet the navy strength is an acquired taste haha

[@JaxL-ob5xg]

My husband lived on a boat close to training ship HMS Arathusa that had a mast like this, it was on the river Medway, south of London a school for boys up to 15 years old who were either from naval families or intending to enlist. He often climbed with them for fun. He joined the R N at 15 as an apprentice engineer and mast climbing was part of normal training to get them used to working at height at sea. He was used to it and was button boy in front of HM Queen. The top platform is called the button.

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

The East of England showground has been sold for mainly house building.

[@cgln8760]

Rodriques Concerto D'Orange Juice in the background there 🤣

[@grahamstubbs4962]

Apparently the East of England show folded about 11 or 12 years ago. Mostly an agricultural show, but with participation from the military. BBC article: East of England Show ends after 200 years

[@brianrees3697]

Thankyou for accepting my recommendation

[@davidhyams2769]

All Royal Navy training establishments are called HMS (His/Her Majesty's Ship) even when they're actually on land. The "button boy" is usually the smallest and lightest person in the team.m, who stands in the "button" at the top of the mast.

[@reluctantheist5224]

Isn't there a slang too. Concrete frigate or something, not sure..

[@davidcronan4072]

@@reluctantheist5224 Brick Battleship. Even Butlin's camp at Skegness, when taken over by the Navy in WW2, was named HMS Royal Arthur.

[@Markus117d]

Because at one point the navy wasn't supposed to have land bases.Hense the HMS title being bestowed to support the loophole of considering them ships..

[@jacquieclapperton9758]

​​​@@reluctantheist5224 Stone frigate. It's not just training establishments, it's all RN establishments, including Fleet Air Arm establishments (which are normally named after sea birds). They will all have a mast, surrounded by the quarterdeck, on which the ensign is flown. Because of the way that the regulations were written in the past, every sailor had to be carried on the books of an actual vessel, so shore bases used to have some small craft named HMS [whatever] (sometimes even a rowing boat, I've heard) that sailors would officially crew. This changed in time and now shore establishments are commissioned and decommissioned fully as naval vessels and carry a ship's name.

[@msf60khz]

The original button boy did not have a stick behind him.

[@jackchisnall9316]

Imagine doing this on board a ship tossing from side to side on the sea.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Yeah, that makes it even more shocking of a feat!

[@lyndarichardson4744]

Steve & Lindsey. Did you notice they marched on to Hearts of Oak ? Which they played at the Field Gun Competition. Also after the salute, they played the sailors and fisherman's hymn " Eternal Father Strong to Save " The East of England Show is still going, I think it includes Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.Iit's partly agricultural, and show jumping ,but also has lots of general stalls, crafts etc

[@reactingtomyroots]

We didn't notice it was the same song! Thank you for pointing that out :)

[@lyndarichardson4744]

@@reactingtomyroots No problem. Hearts of Oak is a Royal Navy song. It must be at least a couple of centuries old. If you have a moment, look up the words.

[@jacquieclapperton9758]

​​​@@reactingtomyrootsIt's the official march of the Royal Navy, as well as of the Royal Canadian and Royal New Zealand Navies. You'll hear it most places where the RN appears. It's actually Heart of Oak. The RN's official slow march, Westering Home, was played as the matelots - and one Wren! - climbed the rigging.

[@wozzab9136]

I served 14 years in the Royal Navy and always so proud of our people and the things they did. God bless the Roger Nigel

[@gigsnsht]

HMS Daedalus was a shore training establishment for the Royal Navy's Fleet air arm. It is located in Lee on the Solent in Gosport Hampshire

[@BrianBrown-f9i]

I’ve never seen this before, I am so moved I’m in tears now.

[@moonshayde]

You guys should check out the King's Troop Artillery ride ...it's about 30 mins in on 'Royal Tournament Last Run' video. The entire Last Run video is worth watching but it's 2 hours long but you could always clip a part to react to!!!

[@stephenhodgson3506]

The East of England show is primarily an agricultural show. It also hosts one of the major Dog shows in the UK that awards Championship certificates to winners of breeds. If a dog wins three Championship certificates in its life it can be classed as a Champion. So for dog breeders it is a pretty big event.

[@CeleWolf]

It was. It stopped a while ago, sadly.

[@sallyedwards2400]

I couldn’t breathe watching this!

[@SuzieQ-z6h]

H.M. Daedalus just up the road from where i live

[@catchcarpcarter]

People wonder why we were such a force to reckon with just gotta watch our military ❤❤

[@catherineharrison9441]

These are all naval cadets, just very young men and women. This is a right to passage a test of skill and endurance 😊

[@victoriabodenham6736]

My home town of Gosport so I grew up watching this. at St Vincent and most navel bases had open days in the summer . HMS Daedalus was in Lee on the Solent .

[@PedroConejo1939]

Many years ago now, I was down on the quay at Milford Haven when one of the tall ships departed - it may have been the STS Lord Nelson, but I just can't remember now. Anyway, it was a foggy day and the trainees lined the masts, singing as the ship disappeared into the thick gloom. Moving.

[@tamsinp7711]

Another one in a similar vein to check out is the Royal Navy Window Ladder Display Team.

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thank you!

[@steven54511]

Newcastle and Sunderland have both hosted several Tall Ship events. Basically, it's a conglomeration of wooden vessels from all over the world, and they meet up in the host city as a lay over on their journey elsewhere. Not sure if this is part of a race or not though.

[@Yandarval]

No. The mast manning is not part of the Tall Ships Race.

[@steven54511]

@Yandarval I never said it was. I was commenting about the fact that the Tall Ships had visited my home city on several occasions.

[@brynjones5361]

You asked why they are called ‘button boy’. The button is the little round platform that she was stood on.

[@joegill3612]

May I suggest that you watch the oringinal mast manning at HMS Ganges. The one featuring John Noakes is particularly entertaining.

[@geoffpoole483]

The HMS Ganges mast fell into disrepair. John Noakes nearly mad it to the top; the actual button boy made it look effortless.

[@RobertCretanhero]

Now imagine, if you can, being high in the rigging in a British " man o war " in a freezing gale, swaying 30° to left and right. Haul in the sheets, lower the sheets. For hour after hour. Thrilling though this exhibition was it's merely a representation of a sailor's life in the Royal Navy of old. 😎🇬🇷

[@thomasbrownriggholden3395]

My dad climbed the mast at H.M.S Ganges a training establishment for boy seaman which closed some years ago. He never went all the way to the top though.

[@geoffpoole483]

The button boy was a volunteer.

[@MrBobDobaline]

I remember going to Daedalus for the airshows in the past, and I certainly remember this from when I was younger, but it may have been Navy Days in Portsmouth.

[@scottybruce4302]

I was at Daedalus in 1992 doing my trade training as an aircraft engineer, i never did the mast manning but wanted to, the mast manning was done by the new artificer apprentice entry. I had a few mates on the team. The team did a lot of shows around the UK, the shows were normally a mix of displays and agricultural events.

[@histrionics4207]

The band is the Band of the Royal Marines, which plays at all major significant events in the UK and elsewhere.

[@martinbootneck]

The Bands of HM Royal Marines. I spent 10yrs in the corp, serving between 42&45 Cmdo and on many occasions had the honour of marching behind the 'Bandies' HOOFIN'. You marched with pride and felt 20 feet tall. I'm 72 now and barely reach 5'8" LOL

[@Yesser-Thistle73]

@@martinbootneck My friend's husband was in 45 Commando.

[@sparkyprojects]

Look for 'HMS Ganges mast' on wiki, the mast is 142 ft high, the platform at the top is known as the button, and is 12 inches diameter One person has fallen and died when they missed the safety net Sailors would have done this at sea when handling sails

[@Ukhome-s4p]

I am so proud of you

[@jacquieclapperton9758]

I remember following TS Royalist, the 'tall ship' of the Sea Cadets, upriver past all the RN ships at Devonport. The cadets were all out on the yards. As she passed, I could see crew members in the naval vessels rushing out on deck to see her passing with all masts manned. Unlike the days of old, the cadets do wear safety lines; some years ago, one fell and died but he had unclipped himself against orders - in order to manoeuvre more easily, I believe. My father went to sea as a Merchant Navy officer in 1935. When he went to sit either his Second or First Mate's oral examination, he was given a situation where a sailing vessel was gaining on his vessel - and steam gives way to sail. He exclaimed that there was no way a sailing ship could gain on a steamship in that day and age, only to be faced with a long lecture and history of sail and famous clippers like the Thermopylae and Cutty Sark which set records.

[@VeritySnatch]

easy to forget when you see the Royal Marine band they are some of the best trained soldiers on the planet

[@booker0110]

She is so strong and courageous.

[@janneroz-photographyonabudget]

Seen this many, many times. All I can say is, if it was me, I'd not be able to wear white trousers!

[@w0033944]

This show is the equivalent of a State Fair.

[@Carol-hj4km]

Those “balloons” are good old British clouds!😂

[@lindakirk698]

Button boy received a tot of rum! These are all cadets. HMS Ganges was the only training ship that had a mast like that. This was all put on for show at these type of events/shows. It replicates the masts from old sailing ships like those on HMS Victory (still in dry dock in Portsmouth Harbour Naval Museum) - Admiral Lord Horatio Nelsons ship from the Battle of Trafalgar 1805 (hes the one on top of the tall column in the middle of Trafalgar Square in London). The ladders would have been made from rope in olden days making it so much more wobbly! . Its the intricasies & skills & accuracy of dropping the sails on an old sailing ship.

[@bonnyvonny5182]

You should look into HMS Ganges it's higher

[@JoeThornhill]

I love that they played the '78 Superman theme on the way down.

[@tdurb0]

8:00. I didn’t know that either. Very well spotted 👏🏻

[@GrahamWilson-t3z]

The button is what she is standing on.

[@gmdhargreaves]

This “they” on the “button” is freaking fearless

[@knowledge-seeker-x7u]

Amazing to think that in due course, we would see them pulling the late Queen's coffin is such an amazingly beautiful way. Well Done!

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

*Good morning my lovelies!* 😘 I've been to the East of England show a couple of times, but not when this was happening. It's a country type of show, agriculture etc, it's huge. I can barely type this, that made me feel sick and my palms are sweating! Especially when she was taking super deep breaths at the top and licking her lips, you can tell her mouth was bone dry with nerves! Ugh, I feel quite giddy. When I was really little I wanted to be one of those dancers on the wings of a plane, even as a child I was f√cking mental! 🤪 Why on Earth I thought I'd ever be able to do it I have no idea, going up my loft ladder makes my arse cheeks clench hard enough to crack walnuts! 🤣 It's not just the "height" thing, it's the lack of stability that freaks me out. Those rope bridges you see across huge rivers and forests...yeah, nope, wouldn't care if starved lions were chasing me. There's a KZbin video of a massive glass bridge in China or Japan and one woman is crying on her hands and knees, and I cried watching her. Ugh my palms are still sweating. 😵 Love you all lots! 😘😘😘 xxxxx

[@reactingtomyroots]

😂

[@Creolehuman]

A button boy was a boy in the Royal Navy who climbed to the top of a ship's mast and stood on a button-shaped platform, balancing on a lightning conductor and saluting the audience

[@michaelhicks2599]

East of England Show was at Peterborough, an agricultural show that was on for a week.

[@Carol-hj4km]

There are international competions for naval trainees worldwide. There is usually a demo at Tall Ships festivals.

[@catherinewilkins2760]

The music the Navel Ratings entered into was "Heart of Oak" the anthem of the Royal Navy. The lyrics are interesting, it dates back centuries. Yes the East of England show still exists, its held in Peterborough and started life as an Agricultural show. The button is the top of the mast, hence the name button boy.