Thought you might like this ...my townie Griff was a greenie on the Iveston at the time of the Mutiny, he has since crossed the bar Rip
(Court Martial - HMS Cochrane, Rosyth, Scotland – August 18th 1970)
A court martial here today was told of “hilarious” happenings on board the minehunter HMS Iveston at Ullapool, Wester Ross, on July 6. Five naval ratings charged with talking part in a mutiny were said to have acted out a pirate scene with the name of characters from Mutiny on the Bounty being mentioned and Irish rebel songs sung outside the officers’ wardroom.
The court martial is the first of its kind in the Navy since 1954.
Witnesses stated that the alleged mutiny ended after four hours with four of the men being led peacefully from the ship by three Ross-shire policemen.
Charged with taking part in a mutiny on board HMS Iveston at Ullapool are Edward Griffiths etc etc
Able Seamen Griffiths is also charged with assaulting Chief Petty Officer Stanley Templeton, and with the four others is accused of disobeying orders. All five have pleaded Not Guilty.
In a circumstantial letter read to the court it was stated that AB Griffiths complained about the condition of the bacon! on the ship and was told that the galley was locked.
He was told by CPO Templeton, the coxswain that any request would have to be put through proper channels He was ordered to go below.
AB Griffiths, it was alleged, then grabbed the coxswain with one hand and struck him with the other.
At midnight Petty Officer Quinn went to the mess deck with orders from the first lieutenant that the men should turn in.
Griffiths, Kirkbride, Smith, O’Malley and Bowers were talking together in groups” , the circumstantial letter continued “Suddenly one of them said: “Let’s have a mutiny”
The name Fletcher Christian and Captain Bligh were mentioned in a hilarious way, and the five men then acted humorous mutinous pirate scene for almost two minutes.
According to the letter, the five men organised a sit-in protest. After some time police arrived at the request of the ship’s officers.
When a Petty Officer went in the pantry to make coffee for the police and himself, Griffiths said: - “You’ll find the milk in the hat”. The petty officer then noticed that milk have been poured into an officer’s cap which was sitting in the sink!