Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The spark

• The order

• Miscommunication

• Aftermath

The order

The duty officer, a young Gunnery Lieutenant by the name of Collard, could not allow this breach of discipline. He consequently gave the order to re-assemble in the Gymnasium. The younger Stoker rates obeyed the order with reluctance - many had not had the experience of naval discipline for any length of time.

Lieutenant Collard dismissed the seamen and signallers, leaving the Stokers behind to receive a lecture on their behaviour. Unfortunately, the Lieutenant prefaced his address with the short curt order 'On the knee'. This order was common practice in the gunnery branch at the time as it enabled the voice of the officer to reach the men in the rear ranks. Both the order and the tone in which it was given caused significant indignation to the Stokers who responded with an emphatic 'NO!'. The officer insisted the sailors obey the order. Two men didn't obey the order and the guard arrested them immediately.

Contemporary postcard about the 'On the Knee' Mutiny (RNM)

When the canteen opened that evening, Seamen and Stokers kept apart. The Seamen thought the whole affair a huge joke, whilst the Stokers were sullen and discontented. Near canteen closing time, a small group of men had agreed to present a formal complaint to the Commodore when someone in the canteen shouted 'On Your Knee'. The disgruntled men then reached breaking point and around two dozen of them stormed to the barracks' main gate with the intent of going to the officers' quarters to demand an immediate apology for the Lieutenant's earlier order. The Guard prevented them from reaching this destination but loud unrest continued among the men for a further hour. They returned to their quarters following an address from the Commodore.

To learn about the miscommunication that triggered the mutiny, select Next