'Farewell to thee, Heywood! a truer one never
|
It was 27th August 1787, when, resplendent in his new uniform, fifteen year old Peter Heywood climbed the gangway and boarded the HMS 'Bounty' at Deptford Yard. The ship was being refitted for her journey to Tahiti, where she was to take on board a cargo of breadfruit plants, then deliver them to Jamaica where they were to cultivated as food for the slaves on the plantations. |
The infamous mutiny took place as dawn broke on the 29th April 1789. The 'Bounty' was only a few days out from Tahiti on her journey to Jamaica. |
Before Bligh and eighteen loyal sailors who accompanied him were cast adrift in an open boat, he appealed to Peter Heywood to raise a party in his favour and retake the vessel. Peter Heywood laughed at the absurdity of the request, and it was that laugh that sealed his fate. While the 'Bounty' sailed back to Tahiti - and eventually on to Pitcairn Island - Bligh survived a harrowing crossing of some 3000 miles, and eventually returned to England safely. The Admirality immediatley dispatched HMS Pandora to Tahiti to arrest the mutineers and the ship rounded the point and anchored in the shallows off Tahiti on 26th March 1791. |
Peter Heywood, and the nine other surviving crew members of the 'Bounty', returned to England aboard HMS 'Gorgon' on 19th June 1792. They had been away for almost five and a half years and had spent the last year of that in chains. Their Court-martial, on board His Majesty's ship 'Duke' in Portsmouth Habour, commenced three months later on 12th August 1792, with the Vice Admiral of the Blue, the Right Honourable Lord Hood presiding.Though protesting his innocence, Midshipman Peter Heywood, was found guilty of mutiny under article 19 clause 1 of the Naval Article of War, and sentenced to death. Five weeks later, a Royal Warrant giving him a full and free pardon was granted, just in the nick of time. |
'MUTINY, MR HEYWOOD?'
Airdate: