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What if - A British Revolt

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Disgruntled_Renegade (U530059) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  I remember reading that during one of the large worker strikes early in the 20th century in Britain, the government was absolutely panic stricken that the strike could turn into some sort of Workers Rebellion, but more importantly they were even more terrified that were this to happen that they could NOT rely on the British Army to put down a revolt, fearing that the squaddies would have joined with their "brothers" at one point I believe, Warships were deployed around the country into places like the Thames and the Mersey, presumably with every intention of opening fire on city centres much like they were later to do with gunships in the river liffey during the 1916 dublin rising.
  
  So, what could our learned posters imagine happening had this revolt taken place, and of course would the rank and file of the british armed services have obeyed orders to march into citys and engage in warfare with their fellow working classes.

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• Message 2

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  Posted by Amphion (U3338999) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  I cannot think where the origin of this might be.
  
  Prior to the outnreak of the First World War there was a feeling that Civil War might break out here in Britain over the question of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Rule in Ireland. Government as well as the armed forces were said to be split down the middle over this issue. Ironically, the fact that German troops marched into Belgium kind of resolved the situation.
  
  further back in history, there was of course, the famous naval strike at Spithead. Where the badly treated naval ratings. 'most who had been shanghied to serve in the navy', refused to sail against the French until they got better treatment on board. Other ships crews joined the 'mutiny' tearing the red ensign into strips and nailing these strips to the mast to show solidarity with each other. Which is supposed to be, where the song 'keep the red flag flying' comes from, and the expresion, nailing your colours to the mast. To be honest, my historical research doesn't go that far back. I think most the ring leaders were hanged.But its supposed to be the true origins of Socialism.

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  Posted by pop-picker (U1244478) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  wasn't there a huge general strike in 1926 that was only broken when students took over the running of the transport system and coal deliveries, funny how things have changed.

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  Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  AMPHION
  
  I think you will find that the "Red Flag Flying" owes its origin to the Merthyr Tydfil riots of 1831 when the rioters matched behind a red flag.
  This was then taken up as a symbol of revolutionaries
  
  Not quite sure why they chose a red flag - nearest curtains they could get their hands on maybe ??

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• Message 5

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  Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Tuesday, 21st March 2006

  and while i am at it - "Nailing ones colours to the mast" originates from before a naval engagement when a ships captain ordered the colours to be nailed to the mast so they could not be struck ie No Surrender
  
  not being picky - just for once i know something i can add
  
  the quality of the posts on these boards is of such a high quality i can usually only read and learn

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Jack Aubrey (U1198855) on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006

  And by the by isn't it facinating how many naval expressions are now part of the common language - 'gone by the board', 'making leeway' and 'letting the cat out of the bag' to name just a few!
  
  Jack

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  Posted by Sabre-Wulf (U2142937) on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006

  And isn't "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" an old naval expression? Or was someone winding me up?

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• Message 8

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  Posted by OUNUPA (U2078829) on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006

  And by the by isn't it facinating how many naval expressions are now part of the common language - 'gone by the board', 'making leeway' and 'letting the cat out of the bag' to name just a few!
  
  ΄³²Ή³¦°μΜύ
  
  Yes Jack,
  it is hardly surprising that this country has been for many centures a birthplace of seafarers.
  And about a third of its population lives within five miles of the sea or of some important river.Remote though some of British towns and villages seem,none of 'em is,in fact,more than about 70 miles from the ocean and its traffic.
  
  Keepe then the sea,about in special,
  Which of Englonde is the town wall:
  Keepe then the sea,that is the wall of Englonde,
  And then is Englonde kept by Goddes hand.
  
  That's why Brits don't find it strange to talk of a
  'double-decker' bus in the middle of a crowded city,something that is of high quality is often described as 'first-rate';when they replenish their
  wardrobes ,they can speak of a new 'rig-out',a small boy may be reffered to as a 'nipper' and a man without any money is 'on his beam-ends'.Hmm,even the centre aisle of a church is called the nave,from the Latin word for a ship.

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• Message 9

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  Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006

  And isn't "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" an old naval expression? Or was someone winding me up?Β 
  
  no apparently true - the brass monkey was the brass tiangle they stacked the cannon balls on - when it was so cold the seawater on the balls froze and tipped the cannon balls off (or something like that)
  
  another
  
  not enough room to swing a cat
  
  and shake a leg

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Jack Aubrey (U1198855) on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006

  My understanding was that as the weather got colder the brass contracted thereby tipping the balls off! I have heard since though that this may be a bit of an urban myth.
  
  and another one for the list
  
  the bitter end!
  
  Jack

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