Volume 9, Issue 1 February 2020
The Rum Tub or Norrie’s Editorial Nocturnal and Nautical By Shipmate Norrie Millen Natter Hi! Shipmates, Well another new year and new decade. I wonder In this issue what this year will bring. I know a lot of our Editorial ...... 1 shipmates have suffered health problems as indeed The Island of Herm ...... 2 A unique ‘Z’ Class destroyer ...... 3 I have. Also a few of us have had family Chinese carrier sails in Taiwan Strait . 4 experiencing serious medical issues too. I sincerely Replacement for the Bergan? ...... 5-6 trust and pray that is behind us all now or at least well on Capt. Charles Nixon-Eckersall Obit .... 7-8 Plymouths Dirty Secret ...... 9-11 way to recovery. I guess a lot of us are getting a bit long in Branch photo & Humour ...... 12 the tooth, so naturally health will manifest or other A bit of Canada in Devon ...... 13-14 conditions deteriorate. Having just celebrated my 78th birthday I feel my age physically, although mentally I am still around 55! Mind you I am one of the ‘younger;’ Older Men Scam members of the group! Women often receive warnings about protecting themselves at the mall and in dark This year sees my local RNA Torbay Branch celebrate its parking lots, etc. This is the first warning I th have seen for men. A 'heads up' for those 75 anniversary, quite a record when so many Branches men who may be regular customers at have folded due to lack of recruits. Added to the fact that Tesco, Home Base, Sainsbury’s, or even the modern matelot shows little interest in joining the ASDA RNA and if they do appear once or twice during their free This one caught me totally by surprise. Over the last month I became a victim of a clever membership year on leaving Royal Navy, we rarely see scam while out shopping. Simply going out to them anymore. This inspires me to think that maybe we get supplies has turned out to be quite have it wrong. We are looked upon as an ‘Old Boys’ club. traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends Maybe we should be thinking about events and meetings Here's how the scam works; that will appeal to the younger ex sailor and Royal Marine. Two very beautiful, college-age girls will Many thanks to those of you that have submitted quite few come over to your car or truck as you are packing your purchases into your vehicle. articles, suggestions and links for the newsletter. I now They both start wiping your windshield with a have quite a bit of material, so if your article does not rag and Windex, with their breasts almost appear in this issue, it certainly warrants space in future falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. (It's impossible not to look). When you thank editions. them and offer them a tip, they say 'No' but instead ask for a ride to McDonald's. For those of you that attended 2013, 14 & 15 reunions, you You agree and they climb into the vehicle on will know doubt recall with warmth Captain ‘Basher’ Jas the way, they start undressing. Then one of Briggs. Never did find out how he acquired nickname of them starts crawling all over you, while the ‘Basher’ as he was one of the finest ships handlers in the other one steals your wallet. RN, never needing a tug even on Ark Royal! His dear wife I had my wallet stolen November 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, again on the 17th, Rosemary submitted a poem she had written about him 20th, 24th, and the 28th. Also December 1st, which I have included in this issue. 2nd, 8th, twice on the 9th & 10th, and very likely again tomorrow and Friday Well it has been some winter, the only time I recall rain So tell your friends to be careful. What a like this was out the Far East during monsoon season. horrible way to take advantage of us older However I guess we cannot complain too much, we had men some brilliant weather last year and the bottom line is we are still the right side of the grass with our wooden overcoats in the layapart store. The way I see it anyway! Volume 9 Issue 1 February 2020
The Island Of Herm By Rosemary Briggs July 2019 Eds Note: I have a pair Does his spirit roam there still? The boat dried out beside the harbour. of socks just like those Walking up the hill to Sunday service in picture! In St Tugual’s Chapel, where He liked to read the lesson, if invited. The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey. Veteran’s railcard for cheaper train fares We walked together round the island, to launch on Armistice Day Watched the puffins flying off the cliffs, Stopped at Belvoir Bay for some refreshment, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51201885 And spoke of former days. The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey. For once, at Herm, he took a warship there and Anchored off the beach at Belvoir Bay. He’d asked to come ashore and shoot some pheasants. The Tenant’s reply, with a ‘typo’, “No more than two peasants per gun.” The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey.
He loved to navigate the rocky shores
Around the Channel Isles.
He knew the tides, and understood the wind.
His crew were always safe with him,
The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey.
The voyage across via Alderney, precise the time to Take the tide, and ride “The Swinge” to Braye. To see old friends and eat seafood, And take the dogs ashore. The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey. From there the trip across to Herm. Familiar beacons sighted on the way, The Grand Amfroque, the Noire Pute, And Sark on the horizon – Rosaire Steps and then the harbour. Check the leading marks to take us in And scrunch upon the beach. So, does his spirit roam there still?
The man who took a warship in to Mevagissey
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A Unique ‘Z’ Class Destroyer By Shipmate Norrie Millen
I first came across but no stern, you can this unusual probably work out what snippet whilst was done…. aboard my last ship, In July of 1917, HMS Zubian HMS Zulu. It came up as a (a portmanteau of the original two names) quiz question sometime after and became a member of the Tribal class her participants were amazed when I knew two sisters had been a part of before her. the answer. Due to the very loose requirements of the There’s nothing particularly odd about the class, every single ship was unique, so ship itself - a standard Tribal Class with Zubian fit in perfectly, although odd quirks one U boat sunk during WW1. were her two different sizes of What is odd is how the smokestack (the hulls had ship was constructed. been combined between the The story begins on third and fourth, hence the 27 October 1916 difference) and slight with HMS Nubian, inexplicable bulge of whose bow was badly damaged in a torpedo attack, and was severed 89mm - in a storm that evening. one of either Zulu In November of that year, another ship of or Nubian was the same class, HMS Zulu, hit a mine laid wider than the by a German submarine that completely other… blew off the stern. Only the close proximity of a The odd birth French destroyer didn’t hinder meant the rest of Zubian, the ship survived. sinking UC-50 Now, normally in February 1918, and these two performing well throughout the accidents would remainder of the war. Another be the end of odd fact about the ship is that two warships, it is believed to be the only but with WW1 in Royal Navy ship to have no full swing, the casualties caused by the Royal Navy was Spanish Flu epidemic in 1919. desperate for Sadly, due to the stresses of anything that would be wartime, HMS Zubian was scrapped capable of keeping the on the 9th December 1919, her job Channel clear of any German ships. Upon completed. looking at one ship with a perfect stern,
but no bow, and one with a perfect bow,
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China confirms aircraft carrier sailed through Taiwan Strait From the Internet BEIJING - China confirmed on Tsai -- who has voiced support for Monday that its first Hong Kong's pro-democracy domestically built movement -- has aircraft carrier had described the elections sailed through the as a fight for Taiwan's Taiwan Strait for freedom and "routine" training democracy. and tests after Her challenger Taipei accused favours much Beijing of warmer relations with intimidation around China. upcoming elections. On the same day as the sail- The ship, which has yet by, Tsai announced that The ship, which has yet to be named, is former premier William to be named, is Beijing's Beijing's second carrier and will add massive second carrier and will firepower to its navy Lai, who has styled himself add massive firepower as a "Taiwan independence to its navy once it is officially put into worker," would be her running mate in a service as it faces tensions with self-ruled move likely to irritate Beijing. Taiwan and regional neighbours around The "Type 001A" carrier was launched in the disputed South China Sea. 2017 and sea trials began the following year, The carrier crossed the sensitive waters on but it has yet to be officially put into service. Sunday before entering the South China Sea The state-run Global Times, a nationalist for "scientific research tests and routine tabloid, cited an anonymous military expert training", navy spokesman Cheng Dewei as saying the ship likely sailed through the said on an official social media account. strait to dock at its possible home base in Cheng said it was "normal practice" for south China's Hainan Island. carriers that are under testing to conduct Hainan province is in the South China Sea, cross-regional trials. east of Vietnam, which has competing "It is not aimed at any specific target and claims in the waterway along with China, has nothing to do with the current Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and situation," Cheng said without elaborating. Brunei. The sail-by comes as Taiwan gears up for China has one other carrier, the Liaoning, a presidential elections in January. repurposed Soviet carrier bought from Ukraine that went into service in 2012. Taipei's foreign minister Joseph Wu tweeted on Sunday that China "intends to A US think-tank reported in May that recent intervene in #Taiwan's elections", adding: satellite photographs indicated that "Voters won't be intimidated!" construction of a third Chinese aircraft carrier was well under way. Taiwan's defence ministry said it had dispatched ships and planes to track and closely monitor the carrier's movements, and that US and Japanese vessels trailed it in the strait. China, which sees self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up military drills around the island since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen, who is seeking re-election, came to power in 2016. Rum Tub Page - 4 Volume 9 Issue 1 February 2020
Could This New Way Of Carrying Kit Replace The Bergen? Submitted by Shipmate Kevin Maguire
The Wild Goose - How useful could it be?
Reducing weight and having to A wheeled pack could rely on a better resupply help to negate a chain has been the soldier’s risk of answer to the age-old being injured, as it issue of reducing an could reduce their infanteer’s load in which burden down to they have to carry. basic combat equipment, body Having that as an only option armour, helmet and can create challenges if supply rifle. chains fall through. This particular design is made by Israeli Reducing the weight a soldier carries manufacturer, Marom Dolphin, which while on operations is seen as a priority in develops, manufactures and markets the Armed Forces but this is an issue that personal military supplies such as is yet to be fully solved. tactical and bulletproof vests for Could the Wild Goose – a police units, armed forces and motorised vehicle be the answer to security services worldwide. the infantry’s ‘fight light’ dilemma? The company is also an Go with more, but carry less. authorised supplier to the Israeli military. Yariv Sagi, CEO of Israeli defence manufacturers Marom The Wild Goose is battery- Dolphin which produces the Wild operated and designed to Goose, said: “The Wild Goose is carry heavy equipment over a game changer in the battlefield - uneven terrain. by reducing the weight carried on It is available in two variants, the soldier's back we are expanding a 2x2 and 4x4. The 2x2’s the survivability of the soldier and the maximum payload is 60kg and entire unit.” Wild Goose - Picture Marom Dolphin the 4x4 can carry up Soldiers worldwide to 120kg in weight. risk muscular and skeletal injuries as they They can even be adapted to attach a carry heavy weights on their backs for stretcher for casualty evacuation. years. This hybrid electric vehicle has been tested and can haul equipment over some of the toughest terrain and through rough weather conditions. Soldiers are able to have both hands free for operating their weapon and in case of emergency, the Wild Goose has a quick-release function.
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The aim is that dismounted soldiers would regular members of the ship’s crew become less fatigued and able to carry whenever food needed protection from the more equipment - improving their rats which would scurry onboard and hide performance. in the bilges waiting to sneak out and steal Being able to deploy with more, could also the crew’s rations. reduce the demand on re-supply of vital This tradition carried on into the Second equipment such as water, ammunition and World War and some cats received fame, medical supplies. or notoriety, for their exploits. The tyres are made from highly durable Perhaps the most famous Royal Navy cat rubber, so there’s no worries in getting a was 'Able Seaman Simon’. In 1948 the ‘flatty’. frigate HMS Amethyst was storing ship at ‘Stonecutters’ Island' in Hong Kong when a The manufacturers say that batteries can black and white cat called Simon was be quickly and easily changed. Under one smuggled onboard by a young sailor. full charge the batteries can cover a Fortunately the Captain took a liking to distance of about 20 kilometres. Simon and, as the ship had a vacancy for a The Wild Goose is made from body good rat-catcher, Simon was pressed into flexible polymer and alloy aluminium, so it service. could even be ‘squaddie proof’. Simon quickly settled into naval life and, Features when not catching rats, spent his time sleeping on the Captain’s bunk, on the Dual motor chart table, or even in the Captain’s Hat! Electronic differential lock However, Simon’s idyllic life was about to be upset by a turn of events. HMS Hill-decent setting Amethyst was ordered to sail to Nanking to Lightweight aluminium with polymer take up the role of guard ship in April 1949. flexible body As history records, the Amethyst came under fire on passage up the Yangtze Adjustable suspension River. The Captain was killed and Simon Patented elastic goose-neck wounded when a Chinese shell struck the Near-silent operation ship. Three pieces of shrapnel were removed from Simon’s back, but he The Wild Goose is currently in operational survived and, according to the crew, lifted use with the Special Forces of the Israeli their spirits during the four months the Defence Force (IDF). A non-disclosure Amethyst was held captive by the People’s agreement prohibits naming other specific Liberation Army. units. In July 1949, the Amethyst made a daring escape and was The Ship’s Cat able to return home, Submitted by Shipmate Alan Port together with the brave Able Note. Although I ran a similar article Seaman Simon. back in 2016, this has a slightly Tragically, different twist and involves not one however, Simon but two cats. succumbed to his As far back as ancient Egypt wounds, but not families storing grain over winter before he had realised the value of the been awarded the domesticated cat for keeping vermin Amethyst Campaign away from their valuable crops. It was Medal, the Blue Cross therefore no surprise that cats became Medal for animal bravery and Rum Tub Page - 6 Volume 9 Issue 1 February 2020 heroism, and the Dickin Medal - the animal later. Oscar, however, having survived version of the Victoria Cross (he remains one sinking, knew the drill and again the only cat to have received this award). made it onto a piece of floating debris Other feline casualties of war occurred and, in a bizarre twist of fate, was picked across the Navy deemed ‘missing in action’ up by HMS Ark Royal - the ship that had were ‘Ginger’ and ‘Fishcakes’, inhabitants sent Oskar into the water only a few of HMS Hood. They were not however the months earlier. only animals lost when the Bismarck sunk Oscar, now re-named ‘Unsinkable Sam’ the Hood. The Hood, which was called by was not finished with the war just yet. The some ‘Noah’s Ark’, is reported to have gone following year it was HMS Ark Royal’s turn down with a goat, a possum, a squirrel, a to be sunk in enemy action (this led to monkey, a marmoset, a beaver, a some believe that Oscar, or Oskar, was variety of birds, a wallaby and revenging the memory of his first a dog! masters onboard the Bismarck). Two notable cats This time Seaman Tom Blundell saved Oscar’s life and both of Finally, there is the tale of them were picked up by HMS the luckiest (or un- Legion. However, Oscar’s luckiest) cat in the Royal reputation as a cat that sank Navy - Oscar, also known ships resulted in him being as ‘Unsinkable Sam’ handed over to the Harbour Master It is recorded that the in Gibraltar. Oscar’s sea time was Bismarck had, amongst its over. His last posting was to an crew, a black cat called Old Sailors’ Home in Belfast ‘Oskar’ who was onboard when the where he saw out his days, dying Bismarck’s gunners sent Ginger and in 1955 at the age of 15. Fishcakes to a watery grave. PS: Despite HMS Legion landing the However, revenge came quickly, when a ‘jinxed’ Oscar she did not escape the torpedo from a Swordfish aircraft from ‘curse of the Bismarck’, for she too was HMS Ark Royal disabled the Bismarck. sunk in March 1942. The Royal Navy closed in and carried out Eds. Notes: As for Sam’s legacy, it goes to Winston Churchill’s order to ‘Sink the show that even in the most dire of Bismarck’. circumstances, even as everything around you is crumbling down, you can still cling on to Oskar, however, was not done for and a piece of wood, get rescued, and move on to was spotted (and painted for posterity) another ship and start over again. Or it goes floating on a piece of wood in the middle to show that cats really do have 9 lives — all of the ocean. He was picked up by HMS of which are absolutely worth living. Cossack and re-named ‘Oscar’.
Unfortunately, his rescue was not to prove an entirely lucky break as the Cossack was herself sunk five months Rum Tub Page - 7 Volume 9 Issue 1 February 2020
Captain Charles Nixon-Eckersall Charismatic submariner whose calmness averted catastrophe when his vessel suffered an explosion off Gibraltar – obituary . 4 DECEMBER 2019 Captain Charles Nixon-Eckersall, In March the following year, Nixon- who has died aged 81, was one Eckersall took commanded of the of the most experienced and Royal Australian Navy charismatic submariners submarine Onslow, which of the post-war era, and was then building at commanded three Scott Lithgow’s yard generations of boats. on the Clyde. Onslow, In 1968 Nixon- the fourth of six boats Eckersall was ordered by Australia, promoted lieutenant- was a diesel-powered commander and boat encompassing the passed his “perisher”; latest technologies. the fierce, make-or- After finishing work-up break course for would- at Faslane, Onslow visited be submarine commanders Plymouth, London and under Commander Sandy Portsmouth before commencing Woodward, before taking command of a 92-day voyage to Australia via the the submarine Alliance. Panama Canal and across the Pacific. He proved a knowledgeable and She spent two weeks in Pearl Harbour, inspirational captain with a special skill in exercising at sea with the US Navy, before leadership and the ability to energise his arriving at Brisbane. There, Vice-Admiral people. A normal tour would have Sir Victor Smith, Chief of Naval Staff, included operations in British waters and joined Onslow for a two-day voyage to in the Mediterranean, but his command Sydney. was foreshortened when, in November Nixon-Eckersall made a dramatic that year, while diving at 450ft off submerged entry into the harbour, Gibraltar, Alliance suffered an passing through the Heads at explosion and fire in the periscope depth early on the motor-room which destroyed morning of July 4 1970. Smith the boat’s electrical was surprised at how many switchboards and small boats and ferries were propulsion. already enjoying the day as All Nixon-Eckersall’s Onslow surfaced just inside qualities were brought South Head without incident into play as he calmly and, to the crew’s ordered air to be blown disappointment, without into all buoyancy tanks creating a fuss. and brought the Nixon-Eckersall submarine to the surface. After making first-aid Promoted to commander in repairs, he returned to 1975, Nixon-Eckersall harbour on the surface using one commanded the nuclear-powered shaft and one diesel engine. At hunter-killer submarine Courageous in Gibraltar more work was done and 1977-79, deploying to the Mediterranean Alliance was able to make a slow return to and in the Atlantic, including major fleet Chatham for further repairs. exercises and trials of the Tigerfish Rum Tub Page - 8 Volume 9 Issue 1 February 2020
torpedo. Every boat Nixon-Eckersall 1st Submarine Squadron at Gosport, and, commanded was well reported upon and, after Courageous, on the Defence Policy uniquely, all three can be visited as Staff in Whitehall. museum ships, in Gosport, Devonport and Promoted to captain in 1981, Nixon- Sydney. Eckersall was a student at the Royal Charles Andrew Barkly Nixon-Eckersall College of Defence Studies, where time was born on December 19 1937 at Datchet spent with him was always a delightful in Berkshire. His mother taught at a mix of challenge, stimulation and fun. He private school, Commonweal Lodge in relished debate, but there was always an Surrey, and he boarded there from the age inner core of empathy. of three, firstly at its wartime home at In 1985-86 he commanded the frigate Lewdown in Devon, and then at Hydneye Boxer before holding senior NATO staff House in Hastings; his father, a Royal appointments at Norfolk, Virginia (1987- Marine, was taken prisoner at Tobruk. 89), and at Northwood in Middlesex in Young Charles attended Westerleigh 1989-90. Although regarded as one of the School at St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex, outstanding officers of his generation, from where he won a scholarship to Kelly Nixon-Eckersall was not selected for flag College at Tavistock in Devon, and, in rank, and retired in the 1990s to Hanwell 1954, a place at Britannia Royal Naval in Oxfordshire. College, Dartmouth. There he took up charity work, including Aged 16 Nixon-Eckersall flew solo in one for the RNLI, the sea cadets, Banbury of the naval college’s Tiger Moths, but Community Transport and St Peter’s after academic and professional training, church, and served on the parish council. and seatime in the cruiser Birmingham, When his elderly mother did not want to then flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, attend his second wedding because she he opted for submarine service. could not manage to climb over two other In 1957 he joined the submarine Sea Scout submarines to attend the reception held in as sixth hand: many of the diesel-powered Courageous, Nixon-Eckersall arranged a boats which he served in the 1950s and crane to lift her over and down a hatch to early 1960s, including Sentinel, Scorcher, the reception. When it returned her to Tactician, Anchorite, Ambush and shore later that afternoon in a merry Artemis, were little changed from their mood, his sailors were ordered to avert wartime configuration. He also stood by their gaze with an “Eyes in the boat!” the more modern submarine, Osiris, while In 1959 Charles Nixon-Eckersall married she was building at Barrow-in-Furness, Sally Evans. They divorced in 1977, and in and in 1967 he became first lieutenant of 1978 he married a South African, Susie Oberon. Syfret, who survives him with a daughter Nixon-Eckersall was also second-in- and a son from the first marriage. command of the anti-submarine frigates Captain Charles Nixon-Eckersall, Naiad and Euryalus in 1971-73, and a born December 19 1937, died successful staff operations officer in the November 11 2019
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Plymouth's dirty secret: The Royal Marines executed on the Hoe Source: Derek Tait Plymouth local history: Execution on Plymouth Hoe with a coffin before each, proceeded by the Execution on Plymouth Hoe band of that corps playing the Dead March in If you look around on Plymouth Hoe you will Saul. come across this on the floor The former was attended by the Rev. Dr. Between the Naval Memorial and the Hoe Hawker; and the two latter by a Roman Catholic Lodge Gardens, there is a cross with the priest, who after praying with them near an hour, number '3' embedded in the quitted them, and they all three knelt pavement. This marks the spot on their coffins for a few minutes, where three Royal Marines when an officer of marines were executed by firing came and drew the caps squad on 6 July, 1797. over their faces, and a Their names were Lee, party of twenty marines Coffy and Branning and immediately came down they were found guilty of and put a period to their attempting to excite a existence by discharging mutiny at Stonehouse the contents of their Barracks. Another Marine, muskets through their M Gennis was convicted of a bodies, after which all the similar crime and sentenced to regiments marched round them 1000 lashes and transported to Botany in solemn procession, the whole Bay for life. forming, perhaps, one of the most awful scenes that the human eye ever witnessed. They all The incident was reported in the Sherborne and behaved in a manner becoming their Yeovil Mercury on Monday 10th July, 1797. It melancholy situation, and apparently very read: resigned and penitent. About thirty thousand 'PLYMOUTH, July 8 - On Wednesday morning people were supposed to be present at the an express arrived here from the War-Office, execution'. with a warrant for the execution of Lee, Coffy, There was more to the execution than and Branning, three marines who were last mentioned in the newspaper though. Ten week tried by a General Court-Martial, and thousand men of the Fleet and garrison were found guilty of an attempt to excite a mutiny there to watch them die and most of Plymouth among the marine corps at Stone-house appeared to have turned out too. When the Barracks and on Thursday at 12 o'clock the three men faced the firing squad and the shots troops at this place and in the neighbourhood, were fired, Coffy and Branning fell forward, consisting of the Sussex fencible cavalry, four dead, into their coffins. However, Lee was not companies of the royal artillery, the Lancashire, hit and had to go through the whole procedure East Devon and Essex regiments of militia, the again. The reserve firing squad lined up, took 25th regiment of foot, royal independent aim and fired but again Lee was untouched. invalids, and Plymouth volunteers, assembled Once more, they loaded up, took aim but again on the Hoe, and formed in a half circle in order missed Lee. In the end, a sergeant came up to witness the execution. M Gennis, another behind him and shot him dead at close range. It marine tried for a similar crime, and sentenced seems odd that the firing squad missed Lee to receive 1000 lashes, and to be afterwards three times and perhaps there was some transported to Botany Bay for life, was brought sympathy with him amongst the troops. on the ground soon after twelve o'clock, and received 500 lashes, and then conveyed back to Earlier fourteen seamen had been hanged at Stone-house Barracks. At half past one o'clock, the yardarm on their ships in the Sound. Lee, Coffy and Branning were marched from the This was to be Plymouth's last public execution. Citadel under the escort of a party of marines, Another part of the tale:
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The public execution - by firing squad - was Robert Lee, who is thought to have been shot at witnessed by some 50,000 people It was 220 least eight times before he finally died, was the years ago that three men were marched out from main culprit in the whole affair. their Citadel cells on to the Hoe – carrying the Lee, who moved from Dublin to England to join coffins they would be taken away in again. the Marines after his brothers allegedly stopped The last public execution of its kind to be held in him from seeing his sweetheart, wrote a Plymouth, it was attended by about 10,000 distressing letter from his lonely prison cell on military personnel and 40,000 civilians. the morning of his execution to one of these Supposedly shot by the men that provided same siblings. evidence against them, the three Marines from Beginning, ‘My Dear Brother‘, it continues: ‘Your Stonehouse Barracks had all been found guilty of exertions to save my life cannot now avail, mutiny – traitors to the admiralty. yesterday the order for my execution this day With a full procession and military band, the men arrived. I have but a few short moments to live, were lined up and shot in ways designed to and, I trust, that, therefore, what I wish to impart cause them maximum pain before they died – to you, will be received by you with that with gaping holes left in their bodies. seriousness with which it must come from the heart of a dying man. The gruesome execution was watched by thousands ‘Like you l have been misled by the sophistications of those who deny the truths of A fourth perpetrator, whose sentence was the Gospel, and deride the evidence of God’s lessened, was given 450 lashings on the same word. Like you I gave them implicit confidence; day, until he passed out. The final 50 lashings but, the awfulness of my present were given when he regained state has induced a candid consciousness. examination of them; But it is the view of some and the arguments that the men were not of the enemies of traitors at all, merely Devine “scapegoats” for a much Revelation, larger group – who weren’t appear now to me planning anything in the vilest colours. particularly malicious. ‘I have thought it Keith Black of Plymouth Ocean necessary to City Tours has been exploring The cross marks the spot where they seek the aid of a and researching this exact story were killed Minister of the for four years, and has Gospel, who, I described the execution as “Plymouth’s dirty little trust, as a witness to my conversion – to my secret”. regeneration – and will testify it – as far as he And Wesley Ashton, a local military historian with can be supposed to place a confidence in the Hidden Heritage, who has spent time sincerity of it. transcribing the original court documents from ‘On this subject I have no time to add more, than the hearings more than two centuries ago, said it to exhort you to avail yourself of the opportunity is only now the truth has emerged. you have, to renounce those opinions, which “I think opinions are changing now about the were near proving fatal to my external happiness execution,” said Mr Ashton. “There was really no here after, through the merits of his dear son malice [in their mutiny plot] at all.” Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind. Mr Black added: “I do not identify the executed ‘The Gentleman who has been considerably men as anything other than scapegoats of a far instrumental in producing my conversion, will I larger group involved in behaviour against presume at my request, take up the pen to offer appalling and delayed wages paid to sailors and you such arguments as his superior abilities and Marines at the time. experience will dictate; and, I have no doubt, if “In this year of 1797 there had been numerous you investigate the truth with a due impartiality, acts of mutiny along the south coast of England. your mind will soon acknowledge that conviction The demands of the sailors had been met for the I do, and your soul will be filled with it. ‘shilling a day‘, but unfortunately this news had ‘Whatever family claims I have, I transfer to my not reached the sailors and Marines by May 28, sister Aldridge, and request you will do all in your when the Marines were detained.” power to render the evening of her days as comfortable as possible.
Rum Tub Page - 11 Volume 8 Issue 4 September 2019
‘For ever, Farewell dear brother, – remember my blowing up the barracks and freeing French last, dying advice, and consult your eternal prisoners. welfare – recommend my affection to my sisters It took eight balls to kill Lee and brothers, and all friends. Your sincere “All they were really guilty of was planning to refuse brother, Robert Lee.’ to take orders because their friend was going to get Mr Ashton believes this was simply a last-ditched a flogging. However, back then a new law said attempt at saving his own life by pretending he anyone that took an oath faced the death sentence, had converted from Roman-Catholicism to the which is where they went wrong.” Church of England, but Mr Black believes On the execution day itself – which different. was to act as a brutal example “You could not join the Marines for all of the other Marines, if you were Roman Catholic,” seamen and soldiers, explained Mr Black. “It was saw the whole of the against the rules, but when Hoe – then just a bare taken on, they would never cliff – awash with these ask if you were or not. The military personnel and Marines were therefore riddled members of the public. with Roman Catholics. First came John Maginnis, the “When he came to At annual commemoration some people man who was to receive Plymouth Lee’s faith cover their hands and arms in fake blood. 500 lashings, followed waned, and when he by the other three men arrived at Stonehouse Barracks he was a bit later in the day, who were to meet their untimely indifferent, which is when he ends up in deaths. communication with Reverend Robert Hawker, “It is one of the most disgraceful things that has who took Lee under his wing. ever taken place in our city,” said Mr Black. “It is “When Lee was executed, he had converted to Plymouth’s dirty little secret.” being a Protestant, and wrote to his brother Although there is some disagreement about who suggesting he did the same. the three ‘traitors’ were shot by, Mr Ashton, who has been posting a snippet of the sordid tale every “He asked in the letter that anything he had left day on the Hidden History Facebook account, be given to his sister, although she probably believes they were shot by the very same men who would not have got anything, and he was gave evidence against them in court – men who subsequently wiped out the family history.” they had taken the oath with. Keith is writing a novel of the events based on Describing the execution, he said: “They say one of the facts known – and his imagination of the them missed Lee’s head on purpose, to cause him unknown. more pain. From the research he has conducted, including “The three killed were all under 30 years old. But sifting through the National Archives, Irish and Maginnis was allowed to live, and was sent to live Australian historical records and numerous other in Australia in 1799. He received 450 lashings on sources, he believes he has enough of an that day before he passed out. understanding of the events and circumstances “By law you had to be conscious, so he was taken leading to the public execution and beyond. back to Stonehouse Barracks where I expect he got He said: “I do not see these men as traitors at all some rest and recovered, before the other 50 and hopefully will be able to persuade otherwise lashings took place. in due course. I think this is Plymouth’s worst “The real twist in the plot is the executioners were event in history with the Government and made up of co-accused guys who were spared the Admiralty of the time intent on making an death penalty. example of a few men, all Irish and all Catholic. “There were 12 shots altogether in the first round. “Some of the witness testimony was at least Lee didn’t appear to have been hit, as they were all dubious with financial reward and advancement through his belly, which winded him and he offered as inducement to provide testimony slumped forwards. The other two died instantly. where none was forthcoming.” “The reserve line of men moved forwards and shot, Elaborating, Mr Ashton said: “The local myth is and one of these shots hit Lee in the head. He fell that the group was overheard plotting by a onto his coffin, still writhing in pain and twitching, drummer boy, but only one out of 22 witnesses and it was then the officer in charge quickly put a pistol to his head. suggested a callous side to the plotting, including “It took eight balls to kill Lee. It was a proper bloody execution.” Rum Tub Page - 12