Folklore: Shantying on Military Ships

Subject: RE: Folklore: Shanteying On Military Ships
From: Teribus
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 03:48 AM

"This was when a senior Post Captain was towing his big frigate by personally taking to the oars (despite the fact that he had at least 10 replacement boat crews available aboard the ship that he had no business leaving). What an example to set to your crew - that of an idiot."

Sir Edward Pellew the role played by Lindsay, was quite a character and such an act would not have been as ridiculous, or as strange as you'd think, Naval Officers did tend to lead from the front.

A real-life example of this with Pellew concerned the rescue from a wreck of hundreds of soldiers. In the middle of a gale with the troop transport on the rocks Pellew, an extremely capable swimmer, brought his ship in as close as he dared then jumped into the sea with a rope tied around his waist, swam to the stricken ship and established the rope that enabled the soldiers to be rescued. "What an example to set to your crew - that of an idiot.", but as a result wherever he led his men followed, their trust and faith in him was astounding - Nelson was also a naval commander renowned for "leading from the front", and no-one can doubt that both Nelson and Pellew were effective and successful leaders of men.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Shanteying On Military Ships
From: Les from Hull
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 09:18 AM

I'm not disputing leading from the front in action, people like Nelson, Broke (of the Shannon) and many others leading boarding parties was quite the normal thing and often costly. Also in saving life, examples abound.

What I am saying is it is quite ridiculous for a captain to do an ordinary seaman's job. He loses dignity in the eyes of the crew, and if a wind does spring up he is in the wrong place. I have read extensively about this period and I have never encountered such a case. If anyone can point me in that direction, I would certainly be interested.