HISTORICAL NAVAL CHARACTERS IN FICTIONAL FILM (4 and last)

[mylodon]

One main part of Justin Reay's talk was given to the portrayal of Captain Bligh in the numerous film, TV and radio depictions of events surrounding the mutiny on the Bounty.

• The first of these, Bligh and the Bounty, dates back to 1916 and is now lost.
• In the Wake of the Bounty dates from 1933 and stars a young Errol Flynn (his first role) as

Comments

[vespican]

I read the book years ago. Also read it several times via the "Classics Illustrated" comic book version. Interestingly, the illustrations seemed to have been based upon the Laughton/Gable film.

I had always understood that "Captain Bligh" was actually a lieutenant while commanding Bounty, but had never heard that he was ranked as master and commander. I'd think Bounty a bit too small/too few guns to warrant a master and commander. As I understand it, master and commander was a temporary rank for lieutenants, particularly those especially deserving or who had served under a captain having a great deal of success. I also did not realize that one could actually be ranked as "first lieutenant." I understood that a lieutenant was a lieutenant, and that seniority aboard a particular vessel determined who was first, second, third, etc. Standing amongst one's fellow lieutenants on one vessel would have naught to do with one's standing service-wide or if transfered to another vessel. That is, if one were first in his current vessel, he might report aboard another and find that he is third or fourth, depending upon the senority of those already there.

Interesting to learn that Bligh was not the "flogger" he has been made out to be.
Dave

[mylodon]

It was the flogging thing which got me. Especially when you consider that Hardy of the Victory was a notorious flogger but that doesn't seem to have stuck.

I refered to my notes about the ranks - Reay definitely said Bligh was rated M&C for Bounty (which had been a collier, previously, I think, although my notes aren't clear on this). I take your point about first, etc lieutenants. Maybe first had been his rank on his previous ship.

What Reay also said was that there's some 'received' information on naval history which isn't accurate and that some myths keep being perpetuated. Notably the one about middies being rated Able, as if that was evidence they came through the hawse hole.

[vespican]

Quite possibly Bligh was rated M & C aboard Bounty. Strange, though that it is never mentioned. We always hear him referred to as "Captain Bligh," which would be correct because he had command of the vessel. And his actual rank was lieutenant, so that is correct as well. Perhaps the Bounty did rate an M&C, or the voyage/mission was of enough importance to allow a commander as captain. (Again, as I understand it, M&C was an honored temporary rank, such as commodore was for captains.)
Dave

[mylodon]

I really have no idea. Reay was adament that lots of naval historians get it wrong so I don't know how much of the confusion is errors passed down, reay's mistakes or me making the wrong notes!

[vespican]

Regarding "first lieutenant," I wonder if once a person had served as such, perhaps they would have been assigned to where they would always be the senior lieutenant. I do seem to recall that Bligh came by his lieutenancy via the masters mate/sailing master route. He had been master on one or more of Cook's voyages. If my memory is correct, Cook as well came into his commissioned status via the masters mate/sailing master route.
Dave

[mylodon]

Bligh certainly came via that route, but progressing via master's mate was quite usual (see previous post about middies' progression).

Thanks for all the comments - great fun.