Naval floggings: the girls take their turn

One could enjoy the thought of a press-gang, roaming a port in search of fit young men for the navy, making the mistake of rounding up a boyish young woman in a new batch of unwilling recruits. Her protests would be ignored, and once at sea, self-preservation would be the order of the day amidst so many sailors far from home comforts.

Condemned, though, to a caning for failing to strip at wash time, the truth would then be discovered. To maintain discipline on board, the captain would decree that her whipping should continue “as if she were one of the men”, before taking her to the supposed safety of his private cabin.

An alternative naval scenario presented itself in a report of a Parliamentary Petition from 1659 describing the conditions facing “white slaves” transported to the colonies:

Elizabeth Dudgeon, had dared to talk back to a guard. She was trussed up to a ship’s grating and mercilessly whipped.

One of the ship’s officers relished watching her whipped: “The corporal did not play with her, but laid it home, which I was very glad to see…she has long been fishing for it, which she has at last got to her heart’s content.”

Time for a trip to the seaside. I wonder if any friendly captains would take us to sea for a day, and look the other way politely whilst Haron was stripped and tied to a mast?

7 thoughts on “Naval floggings: the girls take their turn

  • 13 December, 2006 at 11:12 am
    Permalink

    Our little Sabre wouldn’t make it across the stretch of water between us unfortunately, but if you are desperate I’ve a cousin who could assist. Now how to explain our association??

    Reply
  • 13 December, 2006 at 10:06 pm
    Permalink

    LOL it may have to be a rowing boat on the Serpentine in Hyde Park, over my knee, unless I get any better offers… Mind you, it could be a tad cold at this time of year…

    Reply
  • 13 December, 2006 at 10:46 pm
    Permalink

    I thought Hyde Park was a neighbourhood in Chicago, kind of the U of C campus area.

    Reply
  • 14 December, 2006 at 6:38 am
    Permalink

    That’s at least three Hyde Parks I know of then. I meant the London one, and there’s also one in Sydney. Plus Chicago. I should make in an ambition to spank a girl in each.

    Reply
  • 14 December, 2006 at 7:58 am
    Permalink

    So should we take that to mean that you have abandoned the spank a girl at sea idea for the notion of spanking a girl in every port??

    Reply
  • 14 December, 2006 at 12:42 pm
    Permalink

    Abel: Thought that you would appreciate an update on the cricket score at the WACA -(pronounced wacker) – 2/51 chasing 244. Oh! – looks like 244 isn’t too bad after all!! By the way, that little Hyde Park sojourn you’re planning – which direction around the world might you be heading???

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *