The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45988   Message #680707
Posted By: Gareth
01-Apr-02 - 11:09 AM
Thread Name: Origin: The Colours (Men They Couldn't Hang)
Subject: RE: The Colours: Men they couldn't hang.
Yes jimlad, several.

The most important of such being the Great Mutinies of "Spithead" and "The Nore"

Spithead was the traditional anchorage between Pourtsmouth and the Isle of White for the Chanel Fleet.

The Nore was a semisheltered anchorage in the Thames Estuary of the Mouth of the Medway wheere again since Pepys days the Navey had moored ships rather than take them up to the Naval Dockyards at Deptford (London) Sheerness ( Isle of Sheppy) or Chatham dockyard.

If you put "Spithead and the Nore" into Google you will come upon 60 odd references. Also worth searching "Admiral Richard Howe" "Lord St Vincent"

Interestingly these Grand Mutinies were more in the nature of industrial actions, rather than outright mutinies. - The cause poor rations, no increase in pay for over 100 years, no shore leave, and some represive officers.

Spithead was settled by negotiation. Admiral Howe (aka Black Dick to his crews) was called out of retirement to negotiate as an Admiral well respected for his seamanship and fairness. Legislation was introduced to raise pay and pardon the mutineers - Lord Howe, and his wife, dining with the mutineers representatives., at the conclusion of the mutiny. (BTW possibly to ensure that Lord Howe was seen to be associated with the 'Mutiny' and prevent possible retailiation.

The Nore Mutiny was a bloodier matter. The mutineers tried to blockade London ( remember much of Londons food etc. cam in by sea) - And was put down by force. 30 or so 'ringleaders' were hung from yardarm.

The North Sea fleet then blockading The Netherlands under the flag of Admiral Duncan suffered a mutiny at the same time, with many ships returning to the Nore, or to Yarmouth Roads.

Admiral Duncan surpressed any mutiny on his own flagship by outfacing the mutineers, and reputedly ( Duncan was a big man physically ) by picking up the chief Spokesman for the mutineers and holding him out over the ships rail by the scruff of the neck until he had appologised.

The blockad of the Dutch ports continued with Duncan making flag signals to his non existant fleet over the horizen.

Other minor mutinies were not uncomon. The Mutiny on "Hermoine" and murder of her officers is well recorded in the Novels of Patrick O'Brian, and Dudley Pope.

Here is a "Blicky" about the Northumberland and Lord Saint Vincent.

Other quick "Blickys" Nelsons Navy

And the lgeneral historical context

For a fictional look at a minor mutiny, and the causes, and St Vincents attitude C S Forester's, a naval historian as well as a damn fine author "Lord Hornblower" is worth reading.

Sorry to be so long, but this is a facinating subject.

Gareth