... who became lashes?

I mean, was there just one cat o' nine tails on board a british man o' war?


i hope you can understand my English for wannabes

To my understanding, a cat was used only once, for one seaman. If two seamen were to be flogged, each had an individual cat made up. The reason the bosun's mates were detailed to do the punishment was because they - as custodians of the rigging - were master knotters, and made the cats before each flogging.

-clash

I'll back that up Clash, I overheard a conversation on board Victory last year with a guide.

Wikipedia also states one "cat" to each sailor flogged. The whole article is interesting but I am having trouble posting the link here. Just search there for "cat o' nine tails"

I had read (in several sources) that having a boy or young midshipman lay across a gun to be whipped by a cane was called "kissing the gunner's daughter" but I did not realize that the "cat" was called the "captain's daughter." Interesting connection in the two terms!

Don

I was recently given a cat by one of the FOC volunteers. (I guess he's trying to tell me something? ) I thought it would be fun to make up a baize bag for it, but then it occurred to me that I had no idea what the bag was really supposed to look like!

I did some Googling and found some photos, but who knows if they are based on an actual historic pattern (if there was one).

Does anyone have an authentic description of one? Or know where there is a good illustration or photograph?

Civvy dont listen to Victoryguides--they once told me/us that all floggings took place on the gun decks,ie strapped on.
dave