 Johnny Newcome (a generic term for new recruits) is a clergyman's son who is forced to leave school and join the navy when his clergyman father loses all his money in a banking crash.He embarks on HMS "Capricorn" at Sheerness and, under the good Captain Dale his career prospers, but in Jamaica yellow fever strikes the ship, Captain Dale dies and is replaced by the bullying Captain Teak, and Johnny regretfully leaves the navy.Another edition of Johnny Newcome appeared the following year, and the poem was reprinted by Methuen in 1905.