Gardner says in his Recollections
Quote:
I have heard many say that a signal station was an easy berth, and only fit for old and worn-out officers. This I flatly deny; and without fear of contradiction, can safely say that I suffered more from anxiety at this station than ever I did on board of a man of war.
Despite Gardner's protestations, my impression is that it was indeed a cushy number given to those with sufficient interest or connections who where unfit or unwilling for active service. Gardner's friend, who appealed to St Vincent, was unfit for active service, having suffered 'a paralytic stroke which affected his arm and one of his eyes'. St Vincent did indeed appoint him to a signal station despite his own comment about the need for two good eyes. Before Gardner's own appointment to the Fairlight signal station, he had been employed as an agent of transports, but had resigned on learning that his destination was the West Indies. He obtained his signal station appointment with the help of Lord Garlies, one of the Lords of the Admiralty.
Monins Hollingbery seems to have been made Superannuated Commander in 1810, before the end of the war, which also suggests to me perhaps both that he may have been unfit and also that he may have had influential connections, but I guess he was getting on a bit by then.
I imagine too, that he may have needed powerful connections to get any employment at all after the sinking of the
Royal George!