Boy In Tears at Portland Court-Martial

Two youths, both with the rank of “boy” aboard H.M.S. Nelson, were at a court-martial on H.M.S. Titania at Portland yesterday ordered 12 strokes with the birch. They were accused of an offence aboard H.M.S. Nelson. The Rev. D. Bunt, chaplain, said one boy’s character deteriorated after he found his mother was in a mental hospital. He had also been “ragged” because he was seen in chapel a lot and saying his prayers. This boy wept when he told the court that people laughed at him because of his smallness. At times he found himself not caring what he did. He never had letters like other boys, and said he seemed to have no one to think of.