Richard Fidler

Many sailors just lived from day to day.

It was a very existential life.

But Dexter was ambitious, and so he literally learnt the ropes.

He wasn't taught by his captains, but he taught himself seamanship.

He learnt from the older sailors.

And then he took up the study of the necessary qualifications to become a mate, which is an officer on a ship, and eventually a master, the captain of a ship.

He taught himself mathematics, quite complex mathematics, to be able to deal with the navigation needed.

And he found...

that he was not only good at it, but he actually loved it.

Yes, yes.

For a young man, his self-awareness is extremely high.

His ability to work with people is outstanding and he has a very fine mind.

1900.

1900.

I think it's a cluster of things, so definitely patriotism.

He was always a British Empire man and that was not unusual for his era.

He joins an Indian, a British Indian horse unit in India...

I think it demonstrates his gift of the gab.

How a sailor learnt to ride a horse well and the requirement was you had to be an excellent horseman and a fine shot.

He talks his way into this unit and becomes one of its leading members.