The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45988   Message #680892
Posted By: Gareth
01-Apr-02 - 03:16 PM
Thread Name: Origin: The Colours (Men They Couldn't Hang)
Subject: RE: The Colours: Men they couldn't hang.
Ouch - That last post was cut short !

I have done a search of the DT, and can find nothing that remotly resembles anything specific to the Great Mutinies.

That is not surprising as any Seaman, or Marine singing about it would likely find himself Courtmartialled, or if ashore taken, up for sedition.

One verse or Stanza does come to mind although, it dates from an earlier war against the French, and Admiral Hawke's victory in Quiberon Bay :-

When we did bang Monsewer Conflan,
You sent us beef and beer,
Now the French are beat, we've nothing to eat,
For you have nothing to fear !

NB One of the complaints at Spihead was the practice of issuing rations at the "pursers" pound weight, 14 ounces to the pound.

Gareth