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SAILORS IN DOCK; A history of Naval Courts Martial down the ages.
In Preparation
This is the first detailed history of Naval Courts Martial for over a century. The examination of not only the court cases, but of the battles and decisions that led to the trials in the first place makes a unique and fascinating pieces of Royal Navy history over several centuries, from Francis Drake to this modern-day sex-aboard-ship cases brought about by the decision to encourage mixed crewing. Not only is this book a very different look at how naval customs changed down the years, but is, in itself, a slice of British Social History as well.
The book is divided into several parts; there is a detailed history of the origins and developments of Naval Courts Martial; there follows examination of many of the most famous, or notorious, cases, including such cause celebre as Torrington's trial; Mathews and Lestock; Keppel and Palliser; the execution of Byng; the Bounty mutiny; Calder's dilemma; the Portsmouth Barracks mutiny; the Troubridge trial and the Royal Oak affair, among many others. The third part of the book is devoted to a kind of "scrap log", with stories and snippets from famous and forgotten cases, including sections on Mutiny and Desertion; Collision and Wreck; Losses in Battle; Murder (and worse); Unusual Cases and Strange Verdicts; Peacetime Mishaps and finally, and not least, Humour in Court.
There is a detailed Bibliography from the authors extensive Library of Courts Martial proceedings and published works dating back almost three hundred years. This is a very different historical record.
Publisher enquiries welcome.