Impression sketch
of Captain Stayman attcking Gunner Gifford by Jamie
With two days to
1916's close,
A Saturday’s magistrate’s
court
Took place in
Plymouth - Captain
Of a merchant
ship was charged,
For grievous
bodily harm and
Attempted murder
of a crewman.
The merchant ship, Ciaverley,
In November and
December
1916, had been on
a trading
Tour from Asian
city, Rangoon -
For defence the
boat equipped
By a naval gun
and gunners.
An initial event
took place
On Thursday
November 30th,
During maneuvering
between
Other vessels - Captain Stayman
On the bridge of
the Ciaverley
Gave an order to
the helmsman.
Yet Chief Officer, John Edward
Jackson, stepped forward
and
Countermanded the
given order;
To turn about in
order to avoid
Colliding with
another vessel.
Result; Captain Stayman
fumed.
By refusal to
listen to reason,
Chief officer
Jackson was then
Viciously attacked
by the fists
Of the drunk Captain
- this act
Being witnessed
by the crew;
Stayman's frequent
behaviour.
On Friday
December 8 1916,
Captain Stayman was
again
Very drunk, while
they sailed
Across the
Mediterranean sea -
Then at a
distance, within range
Of their guns was seen a ship.
Captain Stayman
was informed
That this vessel
was a hospital
Ship - despite
this fact he gave
Instructions to
the gunner to fire
On the vessel,
which sailed in
Range of their
defensive guns.
Amid the Royal Naval Reserve
Gunner John
Lloyd Gifford
Refused; he stated
that the boat
Was not an enemy
but hospital
Ship. Stayman
said 'I don't give
A damn. Open fire
on that boat.'
Reply; 'I will
not open fire on
That hospital
ship.' Gunner
Gifford turned to
the other
Crew who he defied
to try
And touch any gunnery -
The incident then
passed.
Having not been
forgotten
By Captain
Stayman, time
Passed until the Boxing
Day.
Stayman confronted gunner
Gifford, whom he then
asked
If he would
report his order.
Would he tell authorities,
That he had
ordered Gifford
To fire on the
hospital ship?
The 33-year-old
Seaman
Said nothing; he turned away
Suggesting that he would.
Stayman had
brooded all
Day - both stood
on deck.
When Gifford turned
about
Walk aft, Stayman launched
At him - fuelled
by drink
The captain
siezed him.
They struggled
and Gifford
Was pushed against
the rail.
Stayman was ready to send
Him overboard, as ship
lurched
Starboard -
Gifford broke free
And ran, hiding on
the boat.
Captain Stayman
did not
Give in so easily - convinced
The gunner would
inform
Authorities of his
intent to
Destroy a
hospital ship,
He searched high
and low,
Until he found
the man.
Stayman rushed at
Gifford,
Grabbing him with
damned
Threats of murder
- other
Crew members
restrained the
Captain - the
strongest had
To lock him up in his cabin.
With hands
handcuffed
Behind his back, Stayman
Declared the crew's
mutiny -
The Captain was locked
away
To be fed via a
porthole, while
Ciaverley
continued passage.
With the Plymouth
magistrates
Hearing the story of witnesses
To number nine
crew, who said
Stayman had been frequently
And dangerously
drunk - they
All decided to put him in irons.
Gifford confirmed
Stayman was
Drunk, when ordering to
fire at the
Hospital ship -
Captain Stayman
Declared 'not
guilty' - with all bail
Withheld, he was charged under
Defence of realm's naval authority.
Withheld, he was charged under
Defence of realm's naval authority.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1917. Sea Captain Charged. The Daily Telegraph,
[online] 01 January 1917.
P.5. Col.5. Available at:
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214057/Daily-Telegraph-January-1-1917.html>
[Accessed: 06 January 2017].
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 06 January 2017).
http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Plymouth
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Plymouth
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