- description
- # Warrant or Forward Officers
## Overview
This section, titled "Warrant or Forward officers," is a segment of text extracted from the file `white_jacket.txt`. It details the roles and social standing of warrant officers on a man-of-war. The text was extracted on January 30, 2026.
## Context
This section is part of [Chapter VI](arke:01KG8AJPBQJ0Q2SB2WPXFS2KHD) of the work, which discusses the various officers and crew members aboard a man-of-war, their living arrangements, and social hierarchy. The chapter itself is contained within the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection, sourced from the file `white_jacket.txt`. This section follows the discussion of [The Ward-room Officers](arke:01KG8AKTGA4VX7AG8CWDZ2DDZN) and precedes the section on [Midshipmen](arke:01KG8AKTGRXEPX8ZHR4XRFKHTE).
## Contents
The text describes the "Warrant or Forward officers" as consisting of the Boatswain, Gunner, Carpenter, and Sailmaker. Despite wearing long coats and anchor-buttons, they are not considered "gentlemen" in the same way as Ward-room officers. The text notes that they have practical knowledge of their duties, mess separately, and are typically four in number. It highlights their distinct social position, separate from the commissioned officers, and their hands-on approach to their responsibilities.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:49:48.485Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Warrant or Forward Officers
- end_line
- 1040
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:16.646Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1030
- text
- Next in order come the Warrant or Forward officers, consisting of the
Boatswain, Gunner, Carpenter, and Sailmaker. Though these worthies
sport long coats and wear the anchor-button; yet, in the estimation of
the Ward-room officers, they are not, technically speaking, rated
gentlemen. The First Lieutenant, Chaplain, or Surgeon, for example,
would never dream of inviting them to dinner, In sea parlance, “they
come in at the hawse holes;” they have hard hands; and the carpenter
and sail-maker practically understand the duties which they are called
upon to superintend. They mess by themselves. Invariably four in
number, they never have need to play whist with a dummy.
- title
- Warrant or Forward officers