Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The Loyal Appeal

• The characters of change

• The Brock Committee

• World War One
  

• The Jerram Committee

The Loyal Appeal

The only means of drawing attention to dissatisfaction was through the making of a 'Loyal Appeal' which was collective and anonymous and a measure usually confined to the Warrant and Petty Officers of the Navy. A group of Petty Officers in Devonport drew up the first important 'Loyal Appeal' in 1904 by making 20 suggestions for improvements. The Petty Officers' appeals related to catering and cooking and also clothing. They asked to receive their first kit of clothing free of charge as other services like the police did. Royal Navy's command felt Victorian morals and values of temperance could only be achieved through repression and harsh punishment. Sailors making complaints could receive punishment.

To discover the characters who implemented changes in the treatment of sailors, select Next