The Cat o’ Nine tails
by Mike Pennell
Chatting with visitors is an enjoyable experience, but observing visual expressions can be interesting too - usually friendly, sometimes amusing or surprised, interest & disinterest - but recently I have added 'serious concern'!!!!
I was in Cornwall Gallery talking to a man & his wife about the Cat o’Nine Tails (changed to a bunch of Birch (Hazel) twigs in the 1860s) displayed there, and they were amazed when I recounted my Policeman father’s stories of the Birch being used (for petty larceny offences) in the 1920s & 30s; (it ceased to be legal in the UK for judicial punishment in 1948, but use by former Colonies extended to 2002). Apparently it really did discourage re-offending, as flogging was still given on the bare back.
When used to punish on-board theft, deemed to be a very serious crime, the historical seafaring version of the Cat often had three overhand knots tied in each 'tail' to increase the pain. The Cat was kept in a red baize bag until punishment was imminent, when the Bo’suns Mate would 'Let the Cat out of the Bag'.
Maybe foolishly, I then went on to mention to the visitors that a similar form of corporal punishment existed at my Sea School (HMS Conway) in 1950 and sensed, rather than saw, the male visitor step back slightly. The instrument of torture was 'The Teaser' – an 18” back-spliced piece of ¾” cordage with an eye for the hand - and this was administered 'astern' (covered!) by seniors, for many 'crimes'. It could be given whilst the miscreant stood, or made to kneel and present a smoother target. 'Steeping' the backspliced end in salt water (for stiffness) was not unknown.
The Teaser was worn by Seniors, hanging through their belt as a visible deterrent to all.
Corporal punishment could not be enforced, but it was far easier than the alternative of vast amounts of extra work, unloading coal and other such unpleasant tasks.
Every evening we mustered all hands on the Lower deck to hoist four large boats onto davits and as we tramped along with the falls, talking was a heinous crime worth two strokes.
As a senior in charge of sports, one of my lesser responsibilities was the nightly treatment of Athlete's foot (a common occurrence on wet wooden decks) and failure to attend my 'clinic' of a permanganate of potash foot bath earned the absentee two strokes!!
In the Royal Navy, punishments used to be given in front of the entire crew, and at School, very serious misdemeanors were administered by an Officer, after lights out with a cane, on the Quarter Deck, accompanied by a roll on a side drum. Very moving to hear as one lay in a warm hammock!!
I am not sure with what impression my visitors departed, nor how that sort of discipline would be viewed nowadays by the PC brigade!!
The pictured working replica is inappropriate as a Museum exhibit, but could be loaned to Waterfront during School Holidays.
