HC Deb 05 April 1881 vol 260 cc758-9
MR. LABOUCHERE

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If his attention has been called to a court martial held on board H.M.S. "Wolverine" on the 20th December last, when a chief petty officer was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment; whether Captain Purvis, of H.M.S. "Danae," sat as President of the Court after he had been objected to, on the ground that he had, in reply to a memorial from the petty officers of his ship, stated his intention of doing all he could against the accused; whether the proceedings of this and of two other courts martial held on board the same vessel have been severely criticized in the Sydney press; and, whether Her Majesty's Government intend to take any action in the matter?

MR. TREVELYAN

I replied at length some six weeks ago to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Macdonald) about the court martial of the Wolverine. My hon. Friend will find the details in Hansard of the 22nd of February. The prisoner has not yet arrived in England; but when he has arrived, his case will be considered. Captain Purvis sat as President; but no objection was made to his acting, and the prisoner pleaded guilty. Nothing is known as to the Memorial from the petty officers, nor as to the proceedings of this or any other court martial having been criticized by the Sydney Press. The fact is that the courts martial on the station have not been exceptionally numerous, and most certainly their sentences, which have been carefully examined at the Admiralty, have not been exceptionally severe. The last court martial on the Wolverine was held on a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery, who, when on shore for rifle practice, got drunk, knocked off the helmet of his superior officer, and kicked it along the road, resisted the escort which was sent to arrest him, tried to jump overboard from the boat, and, when rebuked by the lieutenant in command, said—well, I had rather not tell the House what that gunner said—and for all this, the man only got 14 days' imprisonment. I must say that if Her Majesty's Government took any action in the matter it would not be to the advantage of the gunner.