Help
Add this page to your book
Show book (0 pages)
Suggest pagesHMS Friday
HMS Friday is an urban myth concerning a disastrous attempt by the Royal Navy to dispel the superstition against sailing on a Friday. While widely circulated, the story is in fact untrue; moreover, there was never a ship named HMS Friday.[1]
The details of the story vary, but it usually follows this form:
Sometime in the 19th century, the Royal Navy attempted to finally dispel the old superstition among sailors that beginning a voyage on a Friday was certain to bring bad luck. To demonstrate the falseness of this belief, they decided to commission a ship named HMS Friday. Her keel was laid on a Friday, she was launched on a Friday, and she set sail on her maiden voyage on a Friday, under the command of a Captain James Friday. She was never seen or heard from again.
This story, in numerous variations, is frequently recounted, often as fact.[2][3][4][5][6]
In fact, there has never been any Royal Navy ship of that name.[6][7][8] It is unclear where the story originated; however, it seems to have gained in popularity after its recounting by comedian Dave Allen on his BBC television show Dave Allen at Large, first broadcast in the 1970s.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ Eyers, Jonathan (2011). Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical Myths and Superstitions. A&C Black, London, UK. ISBN 978-1-4081-3131-2.
- ^ "Nautical Folklore: Superstition of Friday". http://geekswithblogs.net/mtreadwell/archive/2004/04/16/3995.aspx. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ Lennox, Doug (2003). Now You Know: The Book of Answers. Dundurn Press Ltd.. p. 110. ISBN 1-55002-461-2. http://books.google.com/?id=ea_2cNCGmfIC&pg=PA109-IA1&dq=hms+friday.
- ^ "Why Friday the 13th Is Unlucky". about.com. http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Friday the 13th". Infoplease. http://www.infoplease.com/spot/friday13th.html. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ a b Vigor, John (2004). The Practical Encyclopedia of Boating. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0-07-137885-5. http://books.google.com/?id=VLg6Lx5yRP0C&pg=RA1-PA258&lpg=RA1-PA258&dq=hms+friday.
- ^ "RNM News, 13th July 2007: No truth in 'HMS Friday' story". Royal Naval Museum. http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/new_whatsnew.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Naval Friday 13th myth unfounded". BBC News Online. 2007-07-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6896203.stm. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ "Myth of the Day 01 - HMS Friday". Trancefixed. http://trancefixed.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/myth-of-the-day-01/. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
Story published in The Reader's Digest book of strange stories, amazing facts : stories that are bizarre, unusual, odd, astonishing, incredible ... but true around 1975.
