Silver boatswain's call used by Commander C. Crichton Maitland (1877-1958).

Plain spherical buoy and three reeded bands on the gun and another at the mouthpiece. The plain keel terminates in a scroll and has a ring for attachment to a lanyard. The keel is inscribed: 'C.CRICHTON MAITLAND R.N.'

Commander Maitland retired from the Navy after World War I, and his son donated this call to the Museum together with four of his other calls and his two silver prize oars.

The boatswain's call has a long history both as a symbol of office and as a practical instrument for conveying orders at sea. Its distinctive shape has remained practically unchanged from medieval times to the present day. The call's shrill whistle can be varied in pitch to convey a variety of information, and can be heard above the sound of wind and sea. Such instruments were private possessions rather than official equipment and silver calls like this one made suitable gifts and presentation pieces.