"Naval mutineer", Memoirs

Fonds

Reference Code: GBR/0014/LWIN

Scope and Contents

Memoir of the "Invergordon mutiny" in September 1931 when the British Atlantic Fleet, anchored at Invergordon in the Cromerty Firth in Scotland, mutinied in the face of a pay cut

Dates

Creation: 1931

Creator

Wincott, Leonard, fl1931 (naval mutineer) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers wishing to publish excerpts from the papers must obtain prior permission from the copyright holders and should seek advice from Archives Centre staff.

Biographical / Historical

Wincott was born in 1908, joined the Navy in 1922 and saw action fighting in the China Sea. In 1931 he became the spokesman for the crew of the cruiser "HMS Norfolk" who were protesting in the face of a heavy cut in the pay for ordinary ratings.

He joined the Communist Party and in 1934 went to Russia and toured the Soviet Union delivering propaganda speeches. He settled in Leningrad and ran a hostel for foreign seamen. In 1946 he was arrested as an alleged British spy and spent the next 10 years in Labour camps.

He published "Invergordon Mutineer" (1974). He died in 1983.

Extent

1 item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

A copy of this catalogue is available for consultation at Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge and the National Register of Archives, London.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The memoir was deposited at Churchill Archives Centre by Wincott in March 1972

General

This collection (fonds) level description and catalogue was prepared by Andrew Riley of Churchill Archives Centre in June 2003 using information from a "Daily Telegraph" obituary (January 1983)