Yes, it's true. Just like our prisons today, the gun decks of Nelson's frigates and ships of the line were hotbeds of depravity, in spite of every effort by the officers to control it.
A sailing man-of-war was capable of independent operations for three months before it needed to provision, and it could go for about two years before it had to refit. These ships could stay on patrol or blockade duty for months, often re-supplying while underway. In wartime, there was great fear the crews would desert, so they were often forced to remain aboard for months at a time, even while at anchor within sight of their homes. Married crewmen could be visited by their wives and children, they could even live on the gun decks while the ship was in port, but the crews were often denied the right to go ashore until the war ended.
Flame » in reply to " A history of British royalty reads like the Conservative members of the US Congress"
Ye mariners of England...
The whole thread (77 posts)
- "Diana’s family recalls 'best mother in the world'"
- Who really cares?
- It's all a matter of prespective
- Gee Bowser "Prince" Charles wasn't exactly the greatest father OR husband
- The whole famn damily is "off".
- A *Night* of passage?
- " A history of British royalty reads like the Conservative members of the US Congress"
- Ye mariners of England...
- re: " A history of British royalty reads like the Conservative members of the US Congress"
- I disagree with your opinion. but I support your right to hold an opinion
- You couldn't be any further off, oh sheltered Techster
- re: You couldn't be any further off, oh sheltered Techster
- Romantic love is as old as humanity
- It ain't just sex with some.
- "Sex without love is civilized man's natural state"
- The whole famn damily is "off".
- I think Harry is entitled to say that about his dead mother. (n/t)
- Blood's thicker than water....and logic (n/t)