“IMPRESSMENT” – “PRESS GANG” – “SHANGHAI”
Navy Customs and Traditions –
Part 1
By
VIKRAM KARVE
IMPRESSMENT – “PRESSING” MEN INTO NAVAL
SERVICE
Impressment
means forcing men into Naval Service by compulsion.
Colloquially
– Impressment – the practice of “pressing” men into Naval Service – was also called
“Press Gang” or “Shanghai”.
In
the 16th 17th and 18th Centuries (the era of
Sailing Ships) – in order to explore the world and create colonies all over the
world – European Nations developed powerful Navies with large number of Ships.
Those
days – on age of sail – working conditions for Sailors were harsh and life was dangerous.
So – most
citizens were unwilling to work on ships as sailors – resulting in a shortage
of crew on ships.
Navies
of several nations used forced recruitment by various means.
The
large size of the British Royal Navy in the Age of Sail resulted in impressment
being most commonly associated with Britain.
Impressment
practices included kidnapping and abducting men and putting them on board ships
to serve as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, violence,
drugging, or by getting them drunk.
Impressment
was used by the Royal Navy since 1664 and during the 18th and early 19th
centuries as a means of crewing warships.
In
the early 18th century – impressment was given legal sanction.
Impressment
– wherein the British Crown had the right to capture men and force them into
Naval Service – was passed by Acts of British Parliament in 1703 – and later in
1705, 1740 and 1779.
All “eligible”
men of between the ages of 18 and 55 years were liable to impressment to serve
on ships.
Impressment
relied on the legal power of the King to call men to Naval/Military Service –
and – as far as citizens were concerned – the failure to allow oneself to be “pressed”
into service was punishable by hanging – although the punishment became less
severe over time.
IMPRESSMENT PROCEDURE – THE “IMPRESS
SERVICE” aka “PRESS GANGS”
Impressment
was implemented by the “Impress Service” (colloquially called the “Press Gang”).
Gangs
of Thugs – called “Press Gangs” – were engaged to enforce impressment.
“Press
Gangs” were paid handsomely.
These
“Press Gangs” physically rounded up and captured men from Pubs, Markets and
other public places – often at night. They also trapped unwilling people by
defrauding them or getting them drunk.
The “captured”
men were taken on board ship and locked up until the ship sailed out to sea.
These
“captured” men who were “pressed” into service would be on the high seas by the
time their absence was noticed ashore.
Some
of these “pressed” sailors later died due to worsening of the injuries sustained
during their capture while others succumbed to the dreaded disease “scurvy”.
Appearance
of the dreaded “Press Gangs” in an area could force men to flee from there.
“Press
Gangs” were most active in the 17th and 18th centuries –
in fact – laws were passed as late as 1835 to uphold impressment.
Of
course – all Naval Officers were “volunteers” – and – so were “key” Seamen like
Warrant Officers, Boatswains (Bosuns), Ratings etc. – and – there were a few “volunteer” Sailors too
(who were paid a bounty upon joining) – but – most of the “lower deck”
comprised “pressed” men.
At
the time of the Battle of Trafalgar more than half the Royal Navy’s 120,000
sailors were “pressed” men.
The
Royal Navy also impressed seamen from Merchant Ships at sea.
However
– this was done by individual warships – rather than by the “Impress Service”.
The
impressment of seamen from American Merchant Ships by Royal Navy Warships caused
serious tensions between Britain and the United States in the years leading up
to the War of 1812.
Though
the public opposed “Impressment” – the practice of impressment was repeatedly
upheld by the courts as it was deemed vital to the strength of the Navy – and –
by extension – to the survival of the British influence and realm.
Although
no Foreigner could normally be “pressed” into Naval Service – they lost their
protection if they married a British woman – or had worked on a Merchant ship.
In
some exceptional cases – the British Government protected certain men from “impressment”–
by issuing “Protections” against impressment – which the “protected” men had to
carry on their person at all times.
But –
in times of crisis – the Admiralty would order a “Hot Press” – which meant that
no-one remained exempt from “impressment”.
In
due course – the practice of “Impressment” became increasingly unpopular with the
British Public.
On
occasions – local officials acted against “Press Gangs” – sometimes – to the
point of imprisoning officers from the Impressment Service – or – opposing them
by force of arms.
However
– the practice of “impressment” continued.
At
the time of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) more than half the Royal Navy’s
120,000 sailors were “pressed” men.
After
the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 – Britain ended the practice the practice of
“Impressment”.
However – in lieu of “Impressment” –
they started the practice of “conscription”.
And –
the practice of “conscription” was not limited to the Royal Navy – but covered
all Armed Forces.
SHANGHAIING
Whereas
“Press Gang” refers specifically to impressment practices adopted by the
British Royal Navy – the term “Shanghai” is more generic in nature applying to the
Merchant Navy and Foreign Navies.
“Shanghaiing”
means to take someone against his will for compulsory service – especially on
board a ship.
To “Shanghai”
someone is to kidnap or trick them into working for you.
The
traditional way to “Shanghai” someone is to drug him and put him on a ship.
When
the person wakes up – the ship is at sea – and he has no choice but to get to
work.
The
practice of “Shanghaiing” dates back to the 1800’s when all ships were Sailing
Ships.
In
Nautical Parlance – “Shanghai” means to enroll or obtain (a sailor) for the
crew of a ship by unscrupulous means – as by force or the use of liquor or
drugs.
The
nautical term “To Shanghai” may have its origins in view of the fact that
Shanghai (China) was the most common destination of merchant ships for which
such abducted sailors were forcibly conscripted by unscrupulous methods to
collect crews for ships sailing from England/America to Shanghai which was
considered the most long, risky and difficult sea voyage for which it was
difficult to assemble crews since sailors were not willing to sail for such and
long, hard and dangerous voyage.
Ships
needed crews – but working conditions on ships were so bad that crews were
often obtained by trickery, bribery, force and outright kidnapping – or by
getting a man drunk till he passed out or by drugging him to sleep – and then –
abducting him on board the ship. When the man woke up after a few hours the
ship would be sailing on the high seas – and the hapless “Shanghaied” sailor
could do nothing except complete the voyage.
The
Captain of a ship would “shanghai” people when his ship was short of sailors.
The “shanghaied”
person would wake up and find himself at sea – often on a long trip like to
Shanghai, China.
“Shanghaiing”
was made possible by the existence of Boarding Masters (aka “Crimps”) – whose
job was to find crews for ships.
Boarding
Masters were paid “by the body”.
So –
Boarding Masters had a strong incentive to place as many “Sailors” on ships as
possible.
This “Pay”
was called “Blood Money”.
The
most straightforward method for a “Crimp” to “shanghai” a sailor – was – to render
him unconscious by getting him drunk – forge his signature on the ship’s papers
– put the “shanghaied” sailor on the ship – and – pick up his “Blood Money”.
Though
nautical in origin – over the years – the meaning of the term “shanghai” has
since become more generic.
Today
– in broad terms – the word “Shanghai” means to induce or compel someone to do
something by trickery.
The
term “Shanghai” is also used for Non-Naval “abductions”.
For
example – if you trick your best friend into coming home with you so she can do
your chores – you “Shanghai” her.
EPILOGUE
In countries
like India – due to huge population and rampant unemployment – you will always
have plenty of “volunteers” seeking jobs as sailors in the Navy – so – there will
be no need for stratagems like “impressment”, “press gang” and “shanghaiing”.
On the other hand – those nations
which face a shortage of “volunteers” for military/naval service – these nations
may have to resort to “conscription” – albeit – not the “Press Gang” type of “Impressment”
which may not be acceptable in the “Human Rights” standards of today.
VIKRAM KARVE
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1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story is a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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