Barbados Landship

Introduction

The Barbados Landship, up to now has been an oral tradition. Within the last decade much has been written about the Landship but the first book on the Landship was published in September 2013 by Dr. Editha (Nancy) Fergusson-Jacobs, entitled, "Full Steam Ahead - Locating the Barbados Landship". It is a cultural organization which was declared unique to Barbados and was recognised for its contribution to Barbados' intangible heritage by the Government of Barbados. It engages in social activities and is also said to mimic the British navy in its organization and structure. It is also said that the Landship was founded in Britton's Hill in Seamen's Village, Barbados. This is not correct as it was more likely developed on the plantations in the countryside, since its members were plantation workers.

The Landship was said to have been formed by Moses Wood, a retired Barbadian seaman who had served in the British Royal Navy and then lived in Cardiff and Southampton. According to Louis Lynch, as far back as 1879, the sight of the white uniformed crew was a familiar one to the inhabitants of the colony. It is reckoned that the Landship as it is known today, started in October 1863, but it is not feasible that Moses Wood was the originator, since his records show his birth as 21 January 1860.. It is more likely that Wood joined the Landship and started a branch of the Landship (which is known as a Ship) when he returned to Barbados. However, his fame may have come because the Landship had become low keyed (almost underground) by the time Wood returned and the then Governor Hodgson, had previously issued an edict forbidding "the wearing of quazi-military uniforms". Hence Wood was being openly defiant in starting a Ship because he wanted to continue wearing his naval uniform and the Landship provided that perfect opportunity.

Early Landship

The Barbados Landship was established in 1863. It was formed by Africans living on the plantations tenantries in Barbados after they were emancipated from slavery. The organisation provided a safe haven for them to progress out of poverty. Unlike the plantation owners who were compensated for each African that was freed, our African forefathers received nothing. They were kicked off the plantation and assigned to infertile lands called tenantries. They then had to build their own huts and find work to earn money as they endeavoured to start from scratch.

Many of the benefits which workers receive today were not available to them. There was no pension after working and toiling all their lives on a plantation. There were no welfare services which would allow them some relief. They had no health or life insurance and did not even have the money to bury their dead.

It is out of these conditions that the Barbados Landship was born. Some say it is the benevolence of the African which our forefathers brought with them that they employed to support themselves. The Barbados Landship is therefore a system of benevolence and cooperation which is based on a small contribution from each member. When pooled together these small contributions became significant and allowed the organisation to develop the resources to help each member in times of need.

The Organisation

The structure of the Landship organization mirrors the structure of the British navy, with each unit known as a "ship", which is based at its own "dock" (a wooden house similar to a chattel house), and leaders known as Lord High Admiral, Admiral, Captain, Boatswain, Quarter Master, Commander, Doctor, Matron, Engineer and other navy ranks. Each unit is named after an actual British ship. Landship performances symbolize and reflect the experience of the Middle Passage, where Africans were brought from the West Coast of Africa by ships to be slaves in the Caribbean and Americas. Landship performances are made up of manoeuvres done to commands. These manoeuvres are unique to the Landship and every movement is of historical significance as if coded in a manner not to be forgotten for generations.

Duties & Descriptions of Officers.

HIGH COMMAND

The Chief Executive Officer of all Barbados Landships These are the executive ranks. The highest existing rank assumes command of all the landships. Collectively these officers make up the executive authority of the Barbados Landship Association

1. Lord High Admiral

2. Admiral Second in Command

3. Rear Admiral Third in Command

SHIP’S OFFICERS

Captain: Commanding Officer of a Ship.

Vice Captain: Second in command of the Ship.

Commander: Prepares the ship to sail.

No.1 Officer: Senior Officer on a ship under the Captain and Vice Captain.

Botswain: In charge of the Deck. The boatswain works in a ship's deck department as the foreman of the deck crew.

Quarter Master: The Quarter Master is the keeper of property. Each ship has a Quarter Master responsible for uniforms, badges, etc.

Master of Arms #1, #2: The security of the ship and ensures that there are no civilians within a specified distance of the Ship.

Captain’s Valet: Personal Assistant to a Captain.

Admiral’s Valet: Personal Assistant to an Admiral.

Head Nurse: Senior Nurse.

Lord Doctor/ Surgery Nurse: Senior Doctor.

Doctor/ Matron: Medical Staff.

Nurse: Medical Staff.

Engineer: Senior Engineer.

Navigator #1, #2, #3: Navigates the ship.

Sailing Master#1, #2, #3: Operates the sails.

LOWEST RANKS

Captain of the Blues / Deck Girl Captain: Equivalent to a Lance Corporal. Organises the Blue Jackets.

Blue Jackets (males) Deck Girls (females): 1st Rank. Equivalent to a private in the navy.

Skylight Boy / Skylight Girl Recruits: Carry torches to give light at night; other duties concerning the maintenance of the ship.

Lord High Admiral Watson

The present leader of the Landship is former Captain Vernon Watson, who was promoted to Lord High Admiral when the BLA celebrated its 145th anniversary in 2008. Admiral Watson, who was also awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 1998 and is a Justice of the Peace, was a keen follower of the landship movement as a young child. His father was Lord High Admiral Nathaniel Watson.

Lord High Admiral Watson recalls in the early days that there was a Landship organisation in every parish of Barbados, with great interest among young Barbadians. The Landship was a popular form of merriment and entertainment for villagers and workers on the plantations. He became actively involved in the movement in 1972 when he noticed a state of growing lawlessness among young people in his district and felt there was a need to keep the children active. He approached his father with the idea of forming a Landship in his community as a means of engaging these youths. His father approved of the idea which led to the formation of the Director I, based in Highlands, St. Thomas. Admiral Watson was sworn in as an official member of the Barbados Landship Association on March 24, 1972.

During that period, there were five existing Landships: the Rodney, Cornwall, Iron Duke, Queen Mary II, and the Vanguard. When Admiral Watson refloated Director I and became an active member of the Landship, he assisted with forming the Queen Victoria in Rose Hill, St Peter, the Director II in Carrington Village, St Michael and then the Indefatigable in Back Ivy, St Michael.

There were some 700 members among these ships, but since that period the vessels have floundered and the Admiral brought all members together to form one ship under one Association, callet, the Barbados Landship Association. At present there are 30 active members in the BLA who parade, and overall there are 40 persons involved in the movement, with the original crew of the Director forming the core of the group.

Landship Activities

The Barbados Landship has performed across the 'length and breadth' of Barbados especially during the heyday of the 1970s and 1980s. They have been on stage at Government House, Ilaro Court, Harrison's Cave and more recently De Heart uh Barbados. They have represented Barbados culture in the region's CARIFESTA in countries such as Trinidad, Cuba, Suriname and Guyana, to participate in cultural festivals.

The Barbados Landship also participates in all local festivals including Crop-Over, Holetown Festival, Oistins Fish Festival, Independence Day parades and NIFCA. It also participates in the Barbados Workers' Union's (BWU) Labour Day celebrations since its inception and is an associate member of the BWU.

This dedication has led to awards from both organisations, along with honours from the Ministry of Tourism for its significant contribution to Barbados’ cultural and historical landscape. Admiral Watson opines that the Landship, "is the best thing in Barbados". He believes that the cultural group has done more than any other for culture in Barbados, noting that during and after the days of slavery, the movement was "the one cultural event that black persons could look forward to on Sundays, Bank Holidays and at Christmas."

Dock Gatherings

The headquarters of a Landship is called the Dock. It is usually a small chattel house and would have the painting of a ship on it. Traditionally, every Friday night is Dock night. It is a time when all the members get together and have short meetings, during which they pay dues and conduct Landship business. Afterwards, members socialise until an appointed hour after which they depart the Dock.

There is nothing in the rules preventing ships or clubs from designating a convenient day and time for Dock gatherings. Drills and rehearsals are also arranged to the convenience of members and members are required to attend all parades.

Parades & Performances

The Landship takes part in the Independence Day Parade annually. It also participates in other national parades when called upon to do so. Members are required to present themselves for national parades. This rule is less strict for performances and the Ship may decide how many members will take part in a performance.

Benefits

The Landship represents not simply a cultural icon but an institution which strives to be relevant to the very existence of its members. The Landship to the lives of Barbadians was a Credit Union, a Bank, a Welfare Department, a Counsellor, Entertainment on special occasions, a coordinator of training and apprenticeship and, in general, a friend and family when one is needed.

Every end of the year, members who performed at the various events are given a bonus. Your bonus will depend on the frequency of attending performances and members are judged according to decorum

Objectives

The main objective of the Landship is to provide support for its less fortunate members and incentives for all its members to assist them in achieving their stated potential. However, the Landship is also very much concerned with the general development of its members and endeavours to remain relevant to its members bearing in mind the struggles of the People and their effort to attain economic empowerment.

Future of the Barbados Landship

--Barbados Landship (talk) 03:01, 24 May 2014 (UTC)

The Admiral has been instrumental in getting the Landship into the schools and teaching the craft to other groups including the Yoruba Dancers, Pinelands Creative Workshop and Dancing Africa. He welcomes other groups who wish to learn the craft of the Landship.

The Barbados Landship remains a vital part of the cultural landscape of Barbados and as the organisation celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2013, persons such as Lord High Admiral Watson who continue to "fly the flag" for Barbadian indigenous folk culture must be saluted. The Landship is a testimony to Barbados’ unique history and culture and every effort must be made to ensure that its contribution to this nation is never forgotten.

See also

Barbados Landship Website

Barbados Landship Page on Facebook

Notes

Created --Barbados Landship (talk) 04:41, 24 May 2014 (UTC)

External links

Category:Organisations based in Barbados