Is there any truth to the rumour about the RN and the RSPCA?

[Shakey]

Have heard a rumour that the RSPCA have started an investigation about an alleged incident aboard a RN warship.

Story is this:

Bunch of matelots have run ashore in Gib and capture a Barbary ape, which is then smuggled onboard in a cage.

By a process of rewards the ape was taught to masturbate and to smoke cigarettes for the sailors' amusement.

On eventual return to Portsmouth the matelots, realising that being caught with the monkey would not be good news, threw the ape overboard whilst still in its cage to get rid of any evidence.

Someone please tell me that this is another urban myth (Or maritime myth even).

 

[Stingo]

I did a BBC search and came up with nothing. So there's a good chance that it's a myth

 

[john_morris_uk]

I can make some enquiries if you want.

At one level nothing would suprise me.

At another level, we spend a lot of time trying to get sailors to behave themselves and it sometimes feels like Canute and the tide...

 

[BlueChip]

I think that ape is now working behind the bar at the Castle Tavern

 

[Shakey]

They were probably stokers...

 

[Vara]

No it's rubbish.But hey in the words of the sun don't let the facts stand in the way of a good story.