A Record Unsurpassed

A Record Unsurpassed"

Written by Godfrey Dykes

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

In 1946, he was the boss of an organisation which created a naval record, a record never surpassed, at least from my researches dating back to November 1918.

Have a look here to find out what it was. (The following file has been transcribed from a newspaper article written at the time.)

When the Captain of HMS Mercury causes 15 officers to be dismissed the service Western Morning News, Thursday, April 25, 1946.

In 1946, many reductions in our navy were called for, chiefly met by the demobilisation of HO's and reservist officers, but many regulars were not exactly encouraged to sign-on. Thus Captain Firth did the Admiralty a favour and got rid of fifteen wage packets.

In the 1970's, several in the navy lost their jobs, their pensions and gratuities, and some were actually imprisoned. This was the great victualling scandal involving the S&S Branch with a Portsmouth-based civilian supplier of food stuffs and provisions. The naval personnel involved had accepted bribes of money, gifts and loans to favour the company as the preferred prime-contractor putting them ahead of their peer-competitors. However, the number of officers sacked was considerably lower than fifteen. I do not recall the number of senior rates sacked but I know of two of their names. The scandal and corruption affected the whole of the Portsmouth command and area, and in addition to the punishments mentioned, badges, rates and LSGC's were liberally collected by the pusser. For the innocent, it was a good time to be a Caterer or a Jack-Dusty (V]) with a higher proportion than normal of B13's being issued!

Other mass sackings of so-called wrong doers were the declared communist stokers of HMS Rodney before WW2 in 1931:

HANSARD - Commons Sitting - ROYAL NAVY.
His MAJESTY'S SHIP "RODNEY (STOKER's DISCHARGE).
HC Deb 24 February 1932 vol 262 cc364-5364

Mr. G. HALL - asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why Leading-stoker J. W. H. Lee, His Majesty's Ship "Rodney," was dismissed from the service, after 19 years' service, without trial and without pension; and whether, in view of his service, it is possible to grant a modified pension?

Lord STANLEY - This man was one of 24 men discharged "Services no longer required" by order of the Board of Admiralty. The reasons for discharge were stated in this House in the reply which was given to a question by the hon. Member for Plaistow (Mr. Thorne) on 12th November, 1931. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. THORNE - Is it not the case that the late First Lord of the Admiralty said that there would be no penalisation of men at all in connection with this matter?

Lord STANLEY - That is true; and there has been no penalisation.

Mr. HALL - Will my Noble Friend and the Board take into account the special circumstances of these men, and their long service, 19 and 20 years?

Viscountess ASTOR - Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us why certain hon. Members will not allow Communists in their own party, but want them in the Navy?

Mr. THORNE - Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that we do not allow Communists in our organisation?

and this one - Maltese Dockyard Workers (Dismissals)

HANSARD - Commons Sitting - ROYAL NAVY.
DOCKYARD WORKERS, MALTA (DISMISSALS). HC Deb 15 November 1933 vol 281 cc903-5904

Mr. T. WILLIAMS - asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the dockyard workers in Malta who were suspended pending an appeal in the High Court have now been reinstated?

Sir B. EYRES MONSELL - The appeal of the men referred to has been dismissed and they have now been discharged from the dockyard.

Mr. WILLIAMS - Are we to understand the First Lord to imply that these workmen, whose sentence has been remitted by the Colonial Secretary, or by the Governor on the Colonial Secretary's behalf, who were prosecuted for reading books written by Lord Passfield, George Bernard Shaw and others, are to be suspended permanently from their employment in the dockyard?

Sir B. EYRES MONSELL - Yes, Sir. The Governor remitted their sentences because their appeal was dismissed on purely technical grounds and exercised his right of clemency because of that fact; but these men were convicted of seditious propaganda in the dockyard, and they are dismissed and will remain dismissed.

Mr. WILLIAMS - Does the right hon. Gentleman regard it as a crime for any Maltese person.

Mr. SPEAKER - That is quite another question to the one on the Order Paper.

Mr. WILLIAMS - On a point of Order. Might I not suggest that as the First Lord of the Admiralty is indirectly responsible for the employment of these men in Malta, questions such as these are permissible as to whether men can lose their work permanently for having committed an alleged crime, for which they have been dismissed?

Mr. SPEAKER - It is not in order to ask on a Supplementary question what the First Lord thinks. The question on the Order Paper asks whether the men who were suspended have been reinstated. The First Lord has replied. The hon. Member cannot raise the whole question. If he wants further information he had better put down another question.

Colonel WEDGWOOD - Would it be possible for the First Lord to ascertain exactly what was the crime alleged?

Viscountess ASTOR - Will the First Lord make it quite clear——

Mr. SPEAKER - The First Lord has given his reply.