Whiskey Charlie

HIGHLY COMMENDED

2023

oil on canvas

90 x 90 cm

Prior to sailing for the Persian Gulf, our ship rendezvoused with a New Zealand ship to practice boarding party techniques. Due to the New Zealand crew removing the Jacob’s ladder, we had to disembark by lowering ourselves over the side of the ship, holding onto the gunwale with our fingertips, and dropping into the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) when signalled by the coxswain. When I dropped on the coxswain’s command, he moved the RIB away from the ship’s side and I dropped into the ocean. He then manoeuvred the RIB over me so I couldn’t surface. I was trapped under the hull, unable to breach the water’s surface, I started to sink as the 77 set [radio set] on my back started to drag me down. I felt someone grab me and pull me into the RIB. When we got back to our ship, the coxswain lied and told everyone I fell as I was too weak to hang on. My nickname on the ship became Whiskey Charlie, which is navy lingo for “weak c**t”. I did not fall. I released when the coxswain told me to. I was not and am not a WC.