BBC Sailor Series Clips on Youtube

[sketchy74]

Hi All,

I am sure many of you have seen this, but a good chap has put up some clips of the BBC "Sailor" Episodes on YouTube in High Resolution.

If you fancy a little flash back to some 1970's RN cappers then click away.....

http://uk.youtube.com/user/tvfilmglamdirector

[Garry Russell]

Thanks sketchy

I never saw that series at the time :-(

Can one of you ex Navy chaps tell me what a #9 is....... as in four days #9?

Garry

[SkippyBing]

It's a form of punishment for ratings, I think it involves mustering at inconvenient times in your best uniform, stoppage of leave etc. someone else can probably clarify the details. Until recently there was no equivalent for officers so if we got caught drunk on-board etc. (perish the thought) the XO could either come up with a creative punishment (off the record) or a court-martial.
Of course some how I managed to get a logging which isn't any form of punishment anymore but my CO was a bit mad...

[Garry Russell]

Cheera Skippy

Sounds like a lost of privialages and a strict regime for the duration.

Garry

[DaveB]

Hi Garry..

Yes indeed.. No.9's is the Navy's way of being creative with your time. Never had em as it happens but that was more by luck than judgement As Skip said.. it involves musters at all hours of the day.. extra work (and you can imagine what garbage jobs were handed out!!).. kit musters as well as stoppage of shore leave. It also went on your record to be used against you at some point in the future I don't think you were allowed your beer ration either :think: I can't remember if there's a maximum time you can get the punishment but certainly, 7 days is not unheard of. All in all.. No.9's is the PIT'S which is exactly what it's supposed to be.. a deterant. It's about the most cr@p you can get in without going for a stay in one of Her Majesty's Prisons

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

sounds a bit like bootcamp regime

Would 9 be the number in a list of standard punishments?

Garry

[sketchy74]

Of course some how I managed to get a logging which isn't any form of punishment anymore but my CO was a bit mad...

I know the details....so make cheques for Bribes payable too...... lol

[DaveB]

Hello Mate..

Yes, I think it probably would though for the life of me, I couldn't tell you where that list might be. What I CAN say is the lower the number, the greater the severity of the punishment. Therefore.. No.1's could be either finding yourself executed or more likely, having a spell 'inside'.

I couldn't say I've ever heard of No.8's or No'10's mind you.. other than the fact they're both types of uniform. No.8's is daily working rig up until sunset/or the last Dog (6pm to 8pm) when night clothing is to be worn. No.10's is a tropical rig/uniform if I remember right but it's been too many years now and the old grey stuff is failing :roll: I HAVE had No.14's before and this is stoppage of leave

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

Cheers Dave

Sounds a bit severe but I suppose when you have hundreds of men who have to work as one with the ship at anytime discipline is vital.

The one where the seaman was told he was lucky the helicopter could bring him to the ship as it would have been a long time before he got to the right ship and he would have lost a lot of pay.......did that mean he was not paid until he was back on the right ship.

Also if you do miss a ship do you sign on the next one you come across and serve there until you can rejoin your own ship?

Garrry

[SkippyBing]

The scale of punishments is in a book called the green guide, there's undoubtedly a more official title like BR123 but it comes in a green folder and we're simple folk! The XO on board normally holds a copy and it does detail the max/min punishment for specific crimes to ensure commonality across the fleet, I've only ever heard of Number 9s, stoppage of pay or Colchester as punishments but the others are probably still available.

I'm not sure how to break it to you Dave but the renumbered the uniforms about ten years ago, 8s are now 4s, 12s are 3s, specialist rig is 5s and I'm not sure what the rest of the conversion is. It does however cause mass confusion spinning dits to my old man!

Reference missing your ship, generally don't! However if you do, as long as you get to a naval establishment/ship you can't be done for being absent from your place of work (the RN) so you'll still get paid but there's still some sort of punishment for missing the boat so to speak. Obviously these days if you're at a foreign port waiting for another RN ship to turn up probably isn't a winner.