Encyclopedia.com > Encyclopedias, Almanacs, Transcripts, and Maps > The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea > January 2006

men-in-lieu

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | 700+ words | Copyright

men-in-lieu, seamen put on board a merchant vessel by the British naval impressment service after its prime seamen had been removed at sea, in order that the vessel could reach port in safety. It was legal in wartime for naval ships at sea to stop homeward-bound merchant ships and press seamen out of them, though there were regulations which made it unlawful to take so many men that the ship could not be sailed properly. But trained seamen were so valuable in the navy that many warships would wish to take more than they were allowed under the regulations; when this occurred they made up the merchant ship's crew by transferring some of their own men. It was a good way, from the naval point of view, of getting rid of some of their worst characters and untrained men.

See also macaroni mate.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"men-in-lieu." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"men-in-lieu." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-meninlieu.html

"men-in-lieu." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-meninlieu.html

Learn more about citation styles

Find thousands of answers for hundreds of subjects at Answers Encyclopedia .

All answers verified by trusted sources at Encyclopedia.com

Try Answers Encyclopedia now!

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including: