sudoku - Historical RFA

The Guard remained on Prestol to protect the Officers and those of the crew who were
still working.
On 19 November 1920 Captain Cecil Pilcher Royal Navy convened a Naval Court under
the provisions of Section 430 Merchant Shipping Act 1894 onboard HMS Dauntless.
Captain Pilsher nominated and appointed to be members of the Court: -
Cecil Horace Pilcher, Esquire, Captain, Royal Navy
B H Fry, Esquire, His Britannic Majesties Consul at Danzig
John Henderson, Master of RFA Burma
All the defendants contested the charges that they had: -
1. Quit the ship without leave
2. Combined to disobey the lawful command of the Master of RFA Prestol
both on or about 15 November 1920
The prosecution called the Master, the Chief Officer, the Third Officer and the Chief
Engineer Officer
The defendants, as well as giving evidence on their own behalf also called the Bosun, the
Second Cook, the Donkeyman, a Greaser, Lieutenant B Sim Royal Navy the Officer
commanding the Guard, Acting Lieutenant William A D Twysden Royal Navy and also
finally Leading Seaman Hume of HMS Woolston – the fleet postman, who had arrived
onboard on the 15 November just as things were becoming rather heated. His evidence
provided little support for the defendants as he reported he had heard the threats to shoot
the Chief Engineer Officer and that at least one of the defendants was under the influence
of alcohol at 0915hrs
Able Seaman McFarlane while denying the charges corrected the Fleet Postman as he
advised the Court two of the defendants were drunk, not one.
At the end of the evidence the Court adjudged that all of the defendants were guilty of
quitting the ship without leave and all the defendants were guilty of disobeying the lawful
command of the Master with the exception of Ordinary Seaman J Bain who was found
not guilty of that offence.
The Court sentenced the men to:-
Stoker C Curd – that he forfeit one month and two days pay and to
be imprisoned for twelve weeks
Stoker John Duthie – that he forfeit twenty three days pay and be
imprisoned for eight weeks
Stoker P Cullin - Stoker J Newlands - Able Seaman W F Ibitson -
Able Seaman D J McFarlane - Able Seaman A Cameron - Able
Published by James R. Smith, RFA Historical Society - © 2011 RFA Historical Society