The Royal Navy wasn't the only navy to press gang. It was common practise in many navies. In the Battle of Trafalgar a Spanish sailor was rescued still wearing his court jester outfit. He had been an actor in a Seville theatre and was press ganged by Spanish sailors on his way home from this theatre late at night.
Thanks for watching! And thanks for the added information, very interesting… I can’t imagine people grabbed the night before that have had no training would be very useful in a battle.
I was visting the market In Totnes, in south Devon last year, and at one market stall there was a big wooden club, ... quite hefty and very basic in appearance ... like something you'd imagine an orc or giant using, supposedly an antique, ... it had tally marks ... quite alot of them, engraved/carved on the side. The stallholder was saying it was from Bristol and was used in press-ganging people into the navy.
Hey thank for watching! Very true, the draft has been used by many countries. This is a similar concept to the draft/conscription in that you’re forced into the military, but the difference is that with a press gang you were grabbed by force and immediately sent off without time to organize/see family etc. Another difference here is that it was specifically targeted at those with sea faring experience, but my understanding of the more modern draft is that it is (or at least supposed to be) more randomized.
@@Random.Knowledge.Official Yep, draft is more civilized. However, the random part really doesnt matter unless your country is big. Even with that, my country has conscription during peacetime :D but yeah, im not arguing with you because i agree with you ;)
When I hear "Rule, Britannia! rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves." .......... Then realize the reality of the tactics used to help 'rule the waves' - it is not that far off from Britons forced in to slavery by their own country.
The country needed defending. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Why should some men sit at home in comfort while others die to keep them free of invaders ?
@@CorePathwayThat's beside the point. And you can cut out the pithy sarcasm; I'm perfectly well aware why they avoided fighting. And it wasn't just because of money (many of them were poor). It was because it was a hard, dangerous life. But the point stands; the Royal Navy needed grist for the mill. And if scared men at home with or without comfortable lives won't volunteer, they will be forced.
@@michaelpielorz9283I did serve, pal. And I'd have served then too. My entire family have been in the Army, RAF or Navy for generations. Not hiding at home and letting others do the dirty work.
The Royal Navy wasn't the only navy to press gang. It was common practise in many navies. In the Battle of Trafalgar a Spanish sailor was rescued still wearing his court jester outfit. He had been an actor in a Seville theatre and was press ganged by Spanish sailors on his way home from this theatre late at night.
Thanks for watching! And thanks for the added information, very interesting… I can’t imagine people grabbed the night before that have had no training would be very useful in a battle.
I was visting the market In Totnes, in south Devon last year, and at one market stall there was a big wooden club, ... quite hefty and very basic in appearance ... like something you'd imagine an orc or giant using, supposedly an antique, ... it had tally marks ... quite alot of them, engraved/carved on the side. The stallholder was saying it was from Bristol and was used in press-ganging people into the navy.
That’s interesting, definitely a lot of the imagery I found of press gangs involved clubs/sticks. Thanks for the information!
I mean, most countries have a draft during a war. More civilized for sure, but the principle is the same.
Hey thank for watching! Very true, the draft has been used by many countries. This is a similar concept to the draft/conscription in that you’re forced into the military, but the difference is that with a press gang you were grabbed by force and immediately sent off without time to organize/see family etc. Another difference here is that it was specifically targeted at those with sea faring experience, but my understanding of the more modern draft is that it is (or at least supposed to be) more randomized.
@@Random.Knowledge.Official Yep, draft is more civilized. However, the random part really doesnt matter unless your country is big. Even with that, my country has conscription during peacetime :D but yeah, im not arguing with you because i agree with you ;)
When I hear "Rule, Britannia! rule the waves: Britons never will be slaves." .......... Then realize the reality of the tactics used to help 'rule the waves' - it is not that far off from Britons forced in to slavery by their own country.
A Necessary Evil in order to serve a Greater Good.
I’m shocked! 😮
Lots of misinformation in this video.
Like wot?
There is sooo much BS in this video it is unreal!!!
Wot BS?????
The country needed defending. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Why should some men sit at home in comfort while others die to keep them free of invaders ?
Why should some men sit at home? Ummmm…because they have money? Are you new on this planet?
@@CorePathwayThat's beside the point. And you can cut out the pithy sarcasm; I'm perfectly well aware why they avoided fighting. And it wasn't just because of money (many of them were poor). It was because it was a hard, dangerous life. But the point stands; the Royal Navy needed grist for the mill. And if scared men at home with or without comfortable lives won't volunteer, they will be forced.
ofcourse you would have volunteered singing "Rule Brtitannia"
@@michaelpielorz9283I did serve, pal. And I'd have served then too. My entire family have been in the Army, RAF or Navy for generations. Not hiding at home and letting others do the dirty work.