Themes

The Navy's People

• Naval Lives

• In Focus: Women in the Navy

• In Focus: Recreation and Time off

• In Focus: Discipline and Punishment

  • Regulating Branch History

  • Lower Deck Reforms 1900-1919

  • The 'On the Knee' Mutiny, 1906

  • Newport Mutiny 1921

  • The Invergordon Mutiny, 1931

Learning

• How To: Understand Naval Medals

The Newport Mutiny of 1921

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The growing discontent of No.2 Battalion

• Personal experience of Captain Kennedy

• Summary of major complaints

• Aftermath

Summary of major complaints

The majority of the sailors' complaints can be summarised in 5 main points.

1. Objection of the RFR being used in Industrial strife.

2. Resentment at being billeted [housed] in the Box factory so far from the town

3. Individual financial loss due to being called up.

4. Restriction of leave and recreation facilities.

5. General discomfort and limited cooking and victualling facilities since mobilisation.

The men stated other minor grievances which were mainly to do with their pay and allowances in comparison to what other battalions and the Army were receiving. The majority of men were active Trade Unionists and stated that they did not intend to take action against the striking miners.

To learn about the aftermath of the mutiny, select Next

Related External Links

• Royal Naval Museum Collection Catalogue Online