Somerville entered sea service in HMS Royal Arthur and was judged energetic, helpful, and technically able. An early anecdote says that he did not repeat verbal messages word for word, but preserved their content and emphasis while making them more succinct. The detail appears in one older book and could not be corroborated elsewhere. It may be the first sign of Somerville's communications aptitude, but it also shows the evidentiary limits surrounding an officer's early career.
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Early aptitude for clear, concise messages
A cautiously presented anecdote from HMS Royal Arthur credits the young Somerville with preserving a message's meaning while making it more concise.