Captain Charles Fryatt

 Another fascinating rabbit hole.

While looking at information on Cap Badges, I ended up looking at information on the introduction of a standardised uniform for merchant seamen.

The 19th Century saw many new merchant shipping companies all with their own uniforms and identities, different rank systems and different uniforms.

The first world war saw a need for the introduction of a standardised uniform, this was in part due to Captain Charles Fryatt.

In March 1915 Captain Fryatt's ship the SS Wrexham was attacked by a German Imperial Navy U-Boat. His ship managed to outrun the Uboat with deckhand helping stockers to load the boilers.

Three weeks later while captain of the SS Brussels he was ordered to stop by the U-Boat U33, Captain Fryatt was not planning to take orders from a U-Boat and tried to ram it as it dived. 

In June 1916 the SS Brussels left the Hook of Holland, a passenger appears to have signalled to the shore, and in minutes 5 destroyers surrounded the Brussels. Official papers were destroyed and passengers were put into lifeboats. The ship was taken by the Germans.

Once in Bruges Capt Fryatt was arrested and charged with sinking a German U-Boat illegally. The U33 was in fact still on active service, but the gold pocket watch that had been presented and inscribed to Capt Fryatt by the admiralty was used as evidence. On the 27th July 1916, he was sentenced to death by a naval firing squad. 

The Mercantile Marine Uniform Act 1919

Capt Fryatt

Nautilist - MN uniforms