brian wrote:
And it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There is at least one example of protocolary consternation when one of HM ships forgot to take the ball out of the signalling gun.
Brian
Saluting could be a very dangerous business. In 1777 Duckworth was court martialled when first lieutenant of the frigate
Diamond, after 5 men in a transport ship were killed by a salute:
Quote:
In firing a salute on the Queen's birth-day from the Diamond frigate, five men were unfortunately killed, and two wounded, on board the Grand Duke of Russia transport, lying very near the Diamond. In consequence of this a court-martial was held on the first-lieutenant, J. T. Duckworth, the gunner, gunner's mates, and gunner's crew, for neglect of duty ; but as it appeared on the trial that one shot had been drawn from the guns that were fired, and that none of the party accused knew they had been double-shotted, the court acquitted them of any neglect of duty.
Howe decided the court martial was unsatisfactory as none of the accused had been named, and the captain of the Diamond, Charles Feilding (sic), sat on the panel, and so ordered another court martial. However, this was more to ensure that Duckworth and the others did not fall foul of a civil court, rather than to ensure justice was done.
Feilding seems to have been unlucky with salutes. Earlier, sailing out of Plymouth in the 74-gun
Kent in 1774, when saluting the port admiral, wadding from one of the guns caused a powder chest to explode on the poop, killing 10 men, wounding 39, setting fire to the ship and causing much damage. Duckworth was a lieutenant on board on that occasion too, and my ancestor was on board on both occasions.