Mariners-L Archives

Archiver > Mariners > 2005-08 > 1123024155


From: "Cameron" <>
Subject: RE: [Mar] Marines and the press gang
Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 09:09:15 +1000
In-Reply-To: <213.5f76ead.30208169@aol.com>


David,
A very interesting account. Thankyou very much.
All the best
Sybil

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, 2 August 2005 5:57 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [Mar] Marines and the press gang

Sybil

Marines were not subject to the press gang. They were recruited in the
same
way the army raised men; the country was divided into districts and
officers
and recruiting sergeants sent out to the local towns to recruit men.
This
would involve putting up posters (usually stressing the wonderful
life...the
money...the far away places); and setting up a 'rendezvous' (often a
public
house) where the recruiting party could establish themselves. According
to
Brian Lavery "this brought in a steady flow of recruits, probably
driven by
unemployment or poor prospects in their own trade"
The main recruiting tool was apparently the offer of money - a bounty to
be
paid on signing on. This apparently varied, but could be a substantial

amount. Finally it was not unusual to recruit foreigners (Malta provided
many -
but during the Napoleonic wars, Poles, Swiss, Italians and Dutch all
served...)
When this was insufficient, soldiers from other regiments were offered
bounties to transfer to the marines. On occasion army regiments were
used as
marines onboard ships.

David H


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