36216: The Press Gangs

The Impress Service or the Press as it was known was at the centre of Royal Navy recruitment. One third of a ship’s crew had to be made up of trained sailors. These men came from recruitment, merchants ships and from the ‘Press Gangs’, mostly made up of criminals and petty thieves who would be offered a choice – either sign up to the Navy and receive a pension at the end of service or receive a harsh prison sentence for a minor crime.