The Invergordon Mutiny, 1931: The Sailors' Strike That Shook the Pound
Contents
In September 1931, sailors of the Royal Navy's Atlantic Fleet, anchored in the Cromarty Firth at Invergordon, refused to put to sea. They were protesting against pay cuts imposed by the new National Government, which for some ratings amounted to a quarter of their wages. The action was peaceful and lasted two days, but news that the Royal Navy had mutinied shocked the world, contributed to a run on the pound and helped push Britain off the gold standard. This card tells the story of one of the most significant protests in British naval history.
TL;DR
- established In August 1931, facing a financial crisis, the National Government announced public spending cuts, including cuts to armed forces pay.
- established For some naval ratings, particularly those on the older rate of pay, the cut was around 25 per cent, while officers' pay was cut by much less.
- established On 15 and 16 September 1931, crews of ships of the Atlantic Fleet at Invergordon refused orders to sail for exercises, holding meetings and cheering from ship to ship.
- established The government quickly limited the cuts to no more than 10 per cent. The fleet dispersed, and some sailors were later discharged.
- shared News of the mutiny contributed to a run on sterling, and Britain left the gold standard on 21 September 1931. Historians debate how much the mutiny itself caused this.
Key Facts
- Dates
- 15–16 September 1931
- Place
- Invergordon, Cromarty Firth
- Ships
- Atlantic Fleet
- Cause
- Pay cuts of up to about 25% for some ratings
- Action
- Refusal to put to sea; peaceful
- Outcome
- Cuts limited to 10%
- Aftermath
- Some sailors discharged
- Economic effect
- Britain left the gold standard on 21 September 1931
- Prominent sailor
- Len Wincott
A Note on Claims and Evidence
Each major claim carries one of three labels. established means supported by primary records, official bodies or several independent reliable sources. shared means the core fact is sound but sources disagree on details, dates or interpretation. traditional means widely repeated but not traceable to a primary or independent source.
The events at Invergordon are well documented by Admiralty records and participants' accounts. The extent to which the mutiny caused the departure from the gold standard is debated by economic historians.
Timeline
Formation of the National Government; spending cuts announced.
Sailors learn of pay cuts, some from newspapers.
Crews refuse to sail.
Protest continues; Admiralty cancels exercises.
Britain leaves the gold standard.
Some sailors discharged.
Details
The cuts
established In 1931 the world economic crisis and a run on sterling led to the formation of a National Government under Ramsay MacDonald, which introduced public spending cuts recommended by the May Committee. Pay in the armed forces was cut. Sailors who had joined before 1925 were moved to a lower rate, meaning cuts of around 25 per cent for some able seamen, far more than for officers.
Invergordon
established The Atlantic Fleet was anchored at Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth for autumn exercises. Many sailors learned of the cuts from newspapers before official notification. Meetings were held ashore, and on 15 September crews on several ships refused orders to put to sea, gathering on deck and cheering in unison from ship to ship. Officers were not attacked, and essential duties continued.
Response
established The Admiralty cancelled the exercises and ordered the ships back to their home ports. The government announced that no pay cut would exceed 10 per cent. In the following months, some sailors identified as leaders were discharged. Len Wincott, one of the most prominent, later emigrated to the Soviet Union.
The pound
shared Reports that the Royal Navy had mutinied alarmed financial markets, adding to pressure on sterling. On 21 September 1931 Britain abandoned the gold standard. The mutiny was one factor among several in a deepening crisis.
Did You Know?
- The mutiny took place at Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth.
- Some sailors faced pay cuts of about 25 per cent.
- The sailors' protest was peaceful.
- The government limited cuts to 10 per cent.
- Britain left the gold standard days later.
FAQ
1What was the Invergordon Mutiny?
A refusal by Royal Navy sailors to put to sea in September 1931, protesting pay cuts.
2Was it violent?
No, it was peaceful.
3Did it succeed?
The government limited the cuts to 10 per cent.
4What happened to the leaders?
Some were discharged.
5Did it cause Britain to leave the gold standard?
It contributed, along with other pressures.
Sources and Further Reading
Scholarly/Critical
- Alan Ereira, The Invergordon Mutiny (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981)
Further reading
- Len Wincott, Invergordon Mutineer (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1974)
Caveats: Myths and Disputed Claims
- Myth: the mutiny was violent. It was not.
- Myth: the mutiny alone caused Britain to leave the gold standard. It was not the sole cause.
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