Figure 3. Sailors from torpedo school ship Marceau pose for professional portrait sitting in Toulon, December 1913 (photograph in author’s possession)
Subsequent letters recapped Brucelle’s activities during the week and progress on the course toward the examinations. Twelve days before Christmas, sailors received opportunity to get off the ship: “Yesterday we had a military march with the crews of the other school ships. We did field service which is very interesting. It changes life aboard a little. We went to Fréjus at 16 kilometers around Les Salins on the road to Nice with music in the lead and across a splendid country. So, I am delighted with our outing, although a little tired!”11Letter, 14 December 1913. Marceau sailors picked wild flowers along the way, which they wore in their lapels (Figure 3). Meanwhile, course studies continued. Brucelle saw an end in sight: “I am starting to be tired of this intellectual overwork, but these 6 months will not be for nothing because once rated, I will be calmer in all respects. Frequent leaves and higher pay, these are appreciable things in the service. For example, I do not know where I will be but I will do my best to be closer to Paris.”22Letter, 21 December 1913 Reconnecting with his family was a priority. Although he went to Digne at the end of December to see Marie Louise, Brucelle sent best wishes for the New Year to his mother and Louise.33Letter, 30 December 1913. A varied routine on the Marceau and in the squadron awaited him upon return.
The month of January 1914 was busy for Brucelle in the last stretch to the torpedo speciality qualification examinations. He rejoined the same armoured cruiser from his earlier apprentice sailor days:
Last Saturday that is to say the 4th we went on theJules Michelet to spend 8 days to launch torpedoes by submerged tubes and the squadron just appeared. Total we were at sea for 10 days. First we passed in front of Cannes, Nice, Monaco, and Menton where we stayed for 2 days. From there we went to Corsica to the bay of Porto-Vecchio with a 22-hour crossing, then to Ajaccio, return to Golfe-Juan with inspection by Admiral Boué de Lapeyrére…As my health is fine, I’m starting to put on a little weight. It’s not too soon because I was very skinny.’44Letter, 14 January 1914.
Brucelle complained about shortness of money after expenditures during the trip, and an unfortunate turn in the weather that uncharacteristically brought a snowstorm to usually sunny, warm Toulon. He counted down days to the ranking competition first week of February to determine placement and the individual oral examination in March, and then returning to Paris for some rest. Brucelle consulted his mother about the next stage:
Say I want to have your opinion on my posting, because we are asked where we want to go after finishing the course. There is not much hope for Cherbourg unless by a little stroke of luck. There remains therefore the Toulon squadron, torpedo boats, or a campaign and the Bizerte submarines. The squadron means nothing to me at all because it’s the real life of the barracks and then we only leave Toulon very infrequently. The only place where these warships go is Villefranche from time to time. It is not very interesting to stay there for 3 consecutive years. Couldn’t you send something to my cousin Naulot whether through his relations a posting at Brest or Cherbourg might be arranged. Otherwise, I’m asking for a campaign because I’m bored staying in Toulon - it’s a dirty hole if not for the nice surroundings, but for leave it’s too far. Staying out of the country for a long time might not be the safest, but at least when we come back one can have a long leave and life is much more pleasant. So you will give me your opinion on this subject because I really do not know where to ask.55Letter, 18 January 1914.
Reality was that Brucelle would go where the navy decided. The likelihood was Toulon and the naval army, despite Brucelle’s growing disillusionment with the place. Submarines, another option, were still relatively new and novel, with some concerns about safety:
I did a dive for the first time on the submarine Argonaute, which has been attached to Marceau for the past month to teach us how to launch torpedoes aboard these boats. I assure you that I am delighted because it’s something that you don’t do every day. At first I was just a little impressed, as were my friends, because we had just learned of the English submarine 87 disaster, but once diving we were completely cold-blooded. We stayed 3 hours sailing at 15 meters depth. I can comfortably say it was not too bad and certainly not inconvenient, to be denied the open air. We only appreciated the dive right at the start because the boat tilts lower; otherwise when everything is closed up we did not know if we were on the surface or underwater. Anyway, I’m not unhappy about it and assure you, we don’t go there anymore during class. I didn’t tell you before because you would have been pissed off, wouldn’t you little Mother.66Letter, 25 January 1914.
The Argonaute , an experimental submarine commissioned under pennant designation Q-40 in January 1911, possessed two tubes able to fire 450 mm torpedoes, a total of six carried aboard.77Henri Le Masson, Les sous-marins français: des origines (1863) à nos jours (Brest and Paris: Éditions de la Cité, 1980), 282. Brucelle found this experience in a submarine to be cramped and damp. And his mother disapproved so his choices narrowed.
Brucelle successfully completed examinations to become a rated sailor in the torpedo speciality. He learned that his cousin André was now in the navy and serving in cruisers at Toulon, although which one was not specifically mentioned. The course’s last week in early February covered taught materials from previous months: “We have started the review of all our studies. I am starting to have a little rest. In a month the exam will be finished and then the awaited crowning of 6 months of work, and leave which in any case cannot be taken away.”88Letter, 1 February 1914. The first examination, written by the group as a whole, took a full morning. Congratulating his mother on moving into a more spacious “luxury” apartment, Brucelle asked for the new address: “Hey Mama about 38 days and you can kiss your son now that it’s over. You can’t imagine how long that seems to me. Yesterday’s ranking competition is already done, a good step towards the end. The final examination, as I have already told you is from 8 to 12 and after, departure and fine Paris. I might stop at Digne. It will delay me for a day, but I see myself having one more day, as everything will be for the best since my 2 affections will be satisfied.”99Letter, 7 February 1914. Brucelle was equally successful in March fielding questions from the examining officers. Understandably, he was eager to leave Toulon immediately and did not send any letters, instead preferring to tell Marie Louise and his family about the achievement in person.