Ouch.... seems a Harsh sentence

[Union Jack]

Commanders ordered each man in turn to stand up but were ignored.

Irrespective of what led to the sad situation described, I can't help feeling that there's something very wrong about exacerbating it in this way. It always used to be drummed into naval officers that any order which appeared to have been ignored or disobeyed should not be repeated in order to avoid aggravating the situation, which is exactly what appears to have happened here.

That said, and curiously enough, I cannot remember ever having to give what I would describe as a direct order, other of course than a helm or engine order .....

Jack