Bloody Orkney? A comparison of the perceptions held by sailors and the reality of leisure and recreational opportunities at Scapa Flow during the First World War

Abstract

Scapa Flow became the primary naval base for the main Royal Navy fleet during the First World War. The ‘newness’ of Scapa as a naval base meant that it lacked any of the leisure and recreational opportunities that the ‘home’ naval ports, such as Portsmouth, offered. This led to Scapa gaining a reputation as being a poor location for sailors to be stationed. This article examines whether Scapa Flow’s poor reputation with sailors was justified. It demonstrates that at Scapa Flow, the Royal Navy, for the first time, became the lead provider of leisure and recreational opportunities, while actively re-enforcing societal class distinctions. It establishes that while engagement by seamen in leisure opportunities was widespread, the continuing perception of a lack of recreational and leisure opportunities was the primary reason behind Scapa Flow’s poor reputation.