Sylvia wrote:
In the sequel Hornblower, captain Pelluw puts him up for a lieutenant exam, saying if you fail, you will be back with the midshipmen for at least six months.
If a midshipman failed his lieutenant exam, could he try to pass it as many times as he needed to do so, or was there a maximum put on the times he could try to pass the exams?
I remember a letter from Collingwood, about a midshipman, who was, according to Collingwood better in hunting foxes then being at sea. Would these “hopeless” cases be dismissed out of the navy, or where they forced to keep trying again.
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia, well no they were not forced out of the Navy and I have heard of some reaching the ripe old age of 30+, but they really should have resigned at this point because if they had not passed their LT's exam by then they would probably never do it!
Robbie