Alphabetical Glossary of Naval Terms and Abbreviations (1955), a record of naval slang
CommanderAlwyn Thomas Lavender Covey-Crump (19 February 1907 – 19 May 1991) was a British officer of the Royal Navy. An assistant to the Chief of Naval Information, he was responsible in the mid-1950s for compiling a record of Jack-speak (naval slang) and other historical marine linguistic details. The first edition appeared on 17 May 1955. The compilation, now continually updated, has led to the term Covey-Crump itself entering into Royal Navy slang.
On 11 August 1939, Covey-Crump was appointed to the shore establishment HMS Boscawen.[1][27] In that year, he was assistant to the Chief of Naval Information.[28] He was promoted to commander on 1 June 1943.[29][30] In 1944, he was serving on the cruiser HMS Ceylon.[31]
After the war
In 1946, Covey-Crump was serving at HMS St George shore training establishment, finishing in January 1948.[32] In February 1948, he was appointed to HMS St Vincent, a shore training establishment.[33] He was appointed to HMS Liverpool from 15 March 1948 until at least August 1950.[34][35] On 22 January 1950, while Covey-Crump was serving in the Mediterranean under Vice Admiral Louis Mountbatten on HMS Liverpool, King Farouk visited the ship,[36] and was presented with a special matchbox when lighting his cigar. "From the ship's Father Christmas one of the officers, Commander A. T. L. Covey-Crump, had received the present of six boxes of matches. The specially-printed label bears the legend Commander Covey's Crumptious Matches beneath a horseshoe". Farouk was a collector and belonged to the British Matchbox Labels Society (BMLS); the gift was described as a "great rarity". The president of the BMLS also owned one of the six labels.[34]
Alphabetical Glossary of Naval Terms and Abbreviations (1955)
Covey-Crump privately published, within the Royal Navy, his first-edition typescript of Alphabetical Glossary of Naval Terms and Abbreviations on 17 May 1955. It contains "a collection of Naval slang, abbreviations, legends and historical tit-bits", and a list of Naval nicknames. The National Archives website has an online transcription of it, commenting that it "provides a valuable resource for researchers looking for answers to many historical questions about the Royal Navy".[38] The historical reenactment company HMS Richmond suggests that the collection of Jack-speak in this compilation is centred on the period around 1775.[39] It is "mainly aimed at those with a background in the senior service",[40] and was "the first official collection of naval slang".[41] The compilation itself became known in the Royal Navy as Covey-Crump and the phrase thus entered the list of naval slang.[38][42] One example from the compilation is: "Blazer: The name for this coloured coat comes from HMS Blazer, whose Captain (Captain J. W. Washington) in 1845 had his boat's crew dressed in blue and white-striped jackets. This was, of course, before the days of authorised uniform for Naval ratings".[43]
Reviews
"So richly endowed is our language with the patois of the sea that it is surprising that so few glossaries of nautical terms and their origins have found their way into print. One excellent example that never got that far is the one compiled by Cdr. A. T. L. Covey-Crump for the Chief of Naval Information in the 1950s – Navy News still has its own well-thumbed copy of the type-script". [It has an] "idiosyncratic appeal".[44]
Updated and modern versions of the Alphabetical Glossary
Jackspeak continues to evolve: Covey-Crump's 1955 edition marks a moment in time, and there was an updated edition in 1967.[45] Surgeon Captain Rick Jolly, who as a surgeon commander with the Commando Logistic Regiment commanded the field hospital at Ajax Bay during the Falklands War produced his own dictionary of "Jackspeak" in aid of the South Atlantic Medal Association, in 2000.[46][47]
^Hilda Sophia née Porter (1879–1968).GRO index: Births Sep 1879 Porter Hilda Sophia Ely (which includes Haddenham) 3b 539. Deaths Jun 1968 Covey-Crump Hilda S. 88 Ely 4A 306.
^GRO index: Marriages Jun 1903 Crump Walter William C. and Porter Hilda Sophia, Ely 3b 1213
^Lewis Charles Leslie (1904–1962). GRO index: Births Jun 1904 Covey-Crump Lewis C. L. Luton 3b 395. Deaths Sep 1962 Covey-Crump Lewis C.L. 58 Marylebone 5d 253.
^Leo William Rolf (1910–2001). GRO index: Births Jun 1910 Covey-Crump Leo William R. Luton 3b 364.
^Joyce Blackstone (4 May 1904 – Watford December 1991). GRO index: Deaths 1991 Covey-Crump Joyce Elizabeth 04 MY 1904 Watford 12.91 10 0775
^GRO index: Marriages Jun 1938 Covey-Crump Alwyn T.L., and Blackstone Joyce, Westminster 1a 1236
^GRO index: Marriages Sep 1961 Covey-Crump David J. Wife was Thompson. Father was A.T.L. Covey-Crump. Place of marriage was Sidcup. 5b 1819
^GRO index: Deaths 1991 Covey-Crump Alwyn Thomas L 19 Fe 1907 St Albans May 1991 10 562. Probate 1991.
^"The engagement is announced". Lynn Advertiser. British Newspaper Archive. 10 December 1937. p. 8 col.6. Retrieved 12 July 2022. (This source confirms that A. T. L. Covey-Crump was the second son of W. W. Covey-Crump.)
^"Westminster marriages: St James Picadilly". findmypast.co.uk. H.M. Government and City of Westminster Archive Centre. Retrieved 9 July 2022. (Note: This document gives an incorrect birth year and age for Joyce Blackstone – she was 35, born in 1904)
^"The engagement is announced". Lynn News & County Press. British Newspaper Archive. 14 December 1937. p. 7 col.7. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^Sundaram, Mark. ""Gimlet" transcript". alliterative.net. The Endless Knot. Retrieved 6 July 2022. the Royal Navy's own dictionary of naval slang, known as Covey Crump
^"Covey Crump: Back - Brass". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives. 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
.JPG)
