'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎181] (200/622)

history of the indian nayy.
181
6 Emily,' Acting-Master Litchfield in command, was lost in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by running at night on the west side of the
island of Kenn.
Sir Robert Oliver is certainly entitled to credit for having
encouraged the young officers of the Service to perfect their
scientific attainments as regards the study of steam, and to
keep themselves up to the level of an age, when this new agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
had revolutionized the motive power of ships, and improvements
were so rapidly introduced that, to this day, we appear to be
entering upon some new phase of the ever-changing problem of
nautical warfare. He also did more than any of his prede
cessors to encourage gunnery, that most important part of a
naval officer's education, and which, since the introduction of
steam, has become of even more vital importance than in those
days, when Sir John Jervis taught the British Navy that it
conduced to success in maritime war, in a degree not less than
seamanship itself. The Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. , at the request of
Sir R. Oliver, obtained permission from the Admiralty for some
of their officers to study gunnery # on board H.M.S. 4 Excellent'
at Portsmouth, and the first to take advantage of this boon
were Lieutenant Griffith Jenkins (who had returned to England
on sick leave from Aden, where he was Assistant Political
Resident) and Lieutenant A. H. Gordon. At a later date other
officers of the Service studied on board the 'Excellent,' in
cluding Lieutenants Grounds, Robinson, and Mitcheson.
Lieutenant Jenkins, during the twenty months he served in the
4 Excellent,' went through the entire course, and obtained a first-
class certificate. On his return to India, he was appointed
Gunnery Officer on board the receiving-ship 4 Hastings,' and, in
1850, when the gunnery establishment was removed to Butcher's
Island, in Bombay Harbour, he proceeded thither with his staff.
Between the years 1843 and 1854, when Lieutenant Jenkins
returned on sick leave to England, and was succeeded by Lieu
tenant Grounds, every officer passing for lieutenant and hun
dreds, of seamen, training for the grades of warrant and petty
officer, served under his orders. The good effects of the system
were apparent at the time of the second Burmese War in 1852,
when three hundred seamen-gunners, trained by Lieutenant
Jenkins and his instructors, were drafted on board the ships
forming the Expedition, and the accuracy of the fire of the
the ' Irrawaddy' steamer, and in 1844 resigned that vessel to take the command
of the war-steamer ' Phlegethon,' to which he was specially appointed by Lord
Ellenborough, who rightly appreciated Captain Scott's character and talents. Up
to the time of his death, he rendered conspicuous service in the suppression of
piracy and the destruction of numerous proas in the Straits. His remains were
followed to the grave by the G-overnor of Singapore and all the officers of H.M .'s
and the Hon. Company's services on the station.
* Acting-Lieutenant G-. N. Adams was appointed gunnery officer of the
4 MedusaMr. Midshipman An experienced sailor, but not a commissioned officer. W. Gr. Pengelley of the 'Auckland,' and other
officers, of the ' Sesostris' and other ships.