02/12/2023
Edited and reposted...
Captain Greaves, Admiral
Author: Marcia Burrowes, PhD. BSS. Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, UWI Cave Hill Campus
Date: 1 December 2021 (edited 1 December 2023)
Captain Elton Greaves: Admiral: BLSA
“He is Landship!” “He is everything Landship!” These were the words of the eldest of the three children of Captain Elton Greaves: his siblings in full agreement. On Sunday 28 November, I conducted an interview with Captain Greaves. Having previously spoken with then Quarter Master, now Captain Greaves over the years, this was indeed a special occasion. The Barbados Landship Association (BLSA) bestowed upon Captain Greaves the honour, the title of Admiral of the Fleet.
Born in 1942 and hailing from the parish of St. Thomas, Captain Greaves is best suited to take command as Lord High Admiral. He has over seventy (70) years of experience of Landship culture having sailed with at least three (3) Landships through the years. These are the HMS New Gold, the BLS Director and the Barbados Landship Association: B.L.S.A.
As a young boy and man, Captain Greaves was a member of the HMS New Gold whose crew came from Dunscombe, St. Thomas. Docked in Canefield, he recalls that the manoeuvres of the HMS New Gold were performed circa 100 yards from his family home. As a boy he “loved Landship” and remembers the sounds of the kettle drum and tuk band echoing through the air. As a young man he became an active member of the crew, sailing with the HMS New Gold through Dunscombe up to Sturges corner, performing their manoeuvres.
When the HMS New Gold floundered, several of its crew sought membership with other Landships. It was around that period that the BLS Director of Highland, St. Thomas was relaunched. After independence, Commander Leon Marshall, then Lord High Admiral of the Fleet, encouraged the relaunching of Landships. Vernon Watson, son of Admiral Nathaniel Watson, agreed to relaunch his father’s Landship.
In need of an engine/tuk band to create the drumming rhythms, Captain Watson appealed to Commander Clarke of the recently floundered HMS New Gold. Clarke agreed to bring his engine /tuk band over to Highland, providing the rhythms for the Director. Relaunched during the period of independence, this Landship was recognised as the BLS (Barbados Landship) Director.
Subsequently in 1972, Elton Greaves formerly of the HMS New Gold, became the seventy-second (72nd) member of the relaunched BLS Director. He paid the membership fee of $3.00 and was officially sworn in. A critical Landship ritual undertaken by all members, swearing an oath of loyalty to your Landship confirmed allegiance to both ship and country. Greaves was soon made a Senior Officer of the BLS Director, serving in the integral role of Quarter Master.
Yet Quarter Master Greaves also served as Drill Master, taking the lead in preparing the crew to perform their manoeuvres. Between the 1970s - 1990s, as the BLS Director performed at several events, Drill Master Greaves continuously rehearsed the crew. They performed on national occasions such as the Crop Over Festival and the opening of other celebrations. They also performed within spaces of tourism at dinner theatre shows and in hotels. And they held route marches, visiting other Landships throughout the island, performing their manoeuvres in their communities.
When Captain Watson relaunched the Barbados Landship Association B.L.S.A. circa 1990s, Quarter Master Greaves was at his side, serving as de facto First Officer. Many an image of the B.L.S.A. reflects these two Landship men walking, or standing, side by side. During a performance at Dover, Captain Watson noted that when he was unavailable to lead the BLSA, Quarter Master Greaves was in charge.
In 2008, Captain Watson was elevated to the rank of Lord High Admiral of the Fleet. And he in turn promoted Quarter Master Greaves to Captain. Together, they sailed and performed with the BLSA in Barbados and the Caribbean. In 2003 and 2008, they represented Barbados at the CARIFESTA celebrations held in Suriname and Guyana respectively. They also travelled to Trinidad and Tobago on three occasions with the BLSA. In 2014, they performed at the ceremony for the revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Port-of Spain, Trinidad.
In 2015, the culture of Landships served as the central motif for Barbados at CARIFESTA, held in Haiti. And Captain Greaves sailed again. Donning his hat as Drill Master, it was his responsibility to teach Landship manoeuvres to the entire Barbadian contingent. And as few had performed Landship before, it was quite a challenge to teach this disparate crew. Yet Captain Greaves accomplished this feat, creating many a spectacular moment when Landship Barbados danced through the streets of Port-au-Prince during th Opening Ceremony; tuk band/engine resounding. And/or danced the Maypole, wangle lo and rough seas at several venues throughout Haiti before hundreds of onlookers.
And on 17 November 2019, it was his responsibility to ensure that the BLSA performed at their best for their ailing Lord High Admiral Vernon Watson. They danced for their Admiral outside his home at Mansion Road, Bush Hall. Calling each routine with familiar clarity, the tukband/engine drummed African- Barbadian rhythms; Captain Greaves encouraging them though the occasion was grim. And in January 2020, they danced again at the funeral of their Admiral. They were led by Vice Captain Shereen Broomes who in turn had been trained by Captain Greaves.
As Admiral, Captain Elton Greaves is well-equipped for the job. He has an immediate understanding of the journey ahead and will conquer all, whether rough seas or calm. He has been on deck when there were twenty-five (25) Landships throughout the island, some sailing with circa one hundred (100) crew each. He brings aboard several decades of experience and is eager to guide the BLSA into the future.
On 29 November 2021, Captain Elton Greaves was among the chosen few who were officially invited to attend the ceremony proclaiming the Republic of Barbados. Then. as Admiral designate, he sat in Heroes Square on behalf of thousands of Landship men and women who sailed in Barbados against all odds. He will ensure the continuation of this rich African-Barbadian cultural legacy.
Marcia Burrowes, PhD. BSS. @ 1 December 2021
Circa 999 words
Works Cited
Marcia Burrowes, Personal Interview with Captain Elton Greaves, Green Hill, Barbados. 28 November 2021.
Marcia Burrowes, Allison Ramsay and Kathrine Murrell, eds., How Stands the Weather? Many Landships, Many Stories, Many Identities. National Exhibition, sixteen (16) panels with images/artifacts. Barbados. Oct 2015- May 2016.
