How Did This Man Invade the British Navy Using a Wig? Horace de Vere Cole and the Dreadnought Hoax

We all love a good prank. There's nothing quite like the mix of physical and psychological torment we inflict on our friends for a light bit of entertainment. From cling film over the toilet seat to the perfect jump scare that sends your girlfriend into cardiac arrest, pranking is an age-old pastime that never fails to amuse. But did you know that one of history's greatest pranksters didn't come from the age of social media or viral videos? In fact, the legendary prankster I'm talking about was born almost 150 years ago and was a member of Britain's elite social circles!

Imagine impersonating an African prince infiltrating a British warship with one of England's most famous female authors, all while dressed as a man. Wait, what? Yes, the art of pranking has deep roots, and while it may seem like a thoroughly modern phenomenon, it has its origins in the past. So sit back, grab a snack, and prepare to dive into the wildly entertaining life of Horace de Vere Cole.

A Prankster from Privilege

Horace de Vere Cole was no ordinary trickster; he was born into a world of privilege. His family was so influential that they made the Rothschilds look like the Simpsons! His father served as a major in the British Army, while his mother was an heiress connected to the Earl of Oxford. With such a background, you'd think Cole would be content with the pomp and circumstance of his upbringing. However, he had one mission in life: to prank the living daylights out of everything that moved!

Cole received his education at the prestigious Eton College, followed by the esteemed halls of Cambridge University. But instead of immersing himself in academia, he became infatuated with the idea of pranking. It all began when he was an undergraduate at Cambridge in 1905. One fateful morning, while reading the paper, he learned that the Sultan of Zanzibar would soon be visiting London on official business. Most students would have shrugged it off, but not Cole—he saw it as an opportunity!

The Sultan's Uncle and the Art of Disguise

After concocting a plan, Cole telegrammed the mayor of Cambridge, claiming that the Sultan's uncle would be visiting the city the following week. He rallied his friends, including Adrian Stephen, and headed to renowned theatrical costume maker Willie Clarkson. With makeup darkening their skin and costumes fit for royalty, Cole and his friends disguised themselves as Zanzibari princes.

Imagine the audacity! They pulled off their ruse so convincingly that not only did the mayor and local officials take them around Cambridge, but they also received a private tour of their own university. The sheer brilliance of this prank left even their friends and professors bewildered. How could they not recognize their own classmates?

The Prankster's Playground: Public Figures Beware!

Cole's pranks were not limited to his peers; he had a knack for bringing down the pompous and arrogant. One of his most infamous escapades involved a challenge he made to his old school friend, Conservative MP Oliver Locker-Lampson. Cole offered a foot race with a 10-yard head start. Locker-Lampson, confident in his abilities, took the bait and sprinted off, only to be tackled by a passing policeman who shouted, “Stop thief!”

The twist? The officer found Cole's solid gold pocket watch in Locker-Lampson’s pocket, neatly planted there as part of the prank. Can you imagine the humiliation? Though Locker-Lampson was released without charges, the sheer audacity of Cole's scheme left everyone in disbelief.

Not content with merely challenging authority, Cole once dressed as a workman and closed off Piccadilly Circus with barriers. He and his crew proceeded to dig trenches in the road, causing traffic chaos at one of London’s busiest intersections. Local police, believing them to be legitimate workers, even assisted in rerouting traffic!

The Cow Udder Incident

In a move that would make any prankster proud, Cole strolled the streets of London with a teat from a cow's udder hanging out of his trousers, resembling something entirely inappropriate. When a crowd gathered, berating him for his indecency, Cole pulled out a pair of scissors, smiled mischievously, and cut the udder clean off! The screams that followed could reportedly be heard halfway across the capital.

The Dreadnought Hoax: A Prank for the Ages

Despite the mixed opinions surrounding Cole's antics, one thing is certain: he had a style and a flair that made him unforgettable. His most famous prank, however, was yet to come—the Dreadnought Hoax.

How Did This Man Invade the British Navy Using a Wig? You'll definitely enjoy this!

This legendary hoax began with a request from a friend in the navy, who wanted Cole to prank the officers on HMS Dreadnought, the most advanced warship of its time. Inspired by his earlier experience with the Sultan's uncle, Cole devised an elaborate plan. He sent a telegram to the commander of the British home fleet, announcing the imminent arrival of several Abyssinian princes eager to tour the Dreadnought.

Cole recruited a group of friends, including Virginia Woolf and renowned artist Duncan Grant, and once again visited Willie Clarkson for their costumes. Armed with fake beards and regal attire, they were ready to take on the British Navy!

The Master of Deception

On the day of the hoax, Cole and his friends arrived at Paddington Station, where he claimed to be a member of the British Foreign Office demanding a train for the "princes." To everyone's astonishment, the station master complied, and an opulent private train was prepared.

Upon arriving in Weymouth, they were welcomed aboard HMS Dreadnought with full honors, treated like the royalty they were pretending to be. The absurdity of the situation reached its peak when the group, speaking a nonsensical language cobbled together from Swahili, Latin, and Greek phrases, was shown around the ship.

Even more ridiculous was the fact that one of the senior officers, Commander Willie Fisher, was Cole's cousin and failed to recognize his own family members! The entire group managed to fool the British Navy for hours, all while donning fake beards and costumes, speaking gibberish, and muttering “bunga bunga” in excitement.

The Aftermath of the Hoax

The hoax finally came to light when the story appeared in the Daily Mail. The Navy, furious at being duped, sought to have Cole and his accomplices arrested. However, they hadn't broken any laws, and instead, in a rather British turn of events, they received a symbolic punishment—a spanking on the buttocks from Royal Navy officers! Virginia Woolf was spared this peculiar form of punishment, while the others took their lashes with a grin.

Despite his antics, Cole's life was not without its troubles. His first wife left him after he lost their fortune in a failed real estate venture, and although he had a son with his second wife, it turned out the child was not his but that of a close friend. Talk about an ironic twist!

Cole passed away at the young age of 55 from a heart attack. As for HMS Dreadnought, she became the first and only warship to ram and sink a German submarine during World War I, earning a flood of congratulatory telegrams. But perhaps the best telegram of all read simply: “Bunga Bunga.”

The Legacy of Horace de Vere Cole

Horace de Vere Cole may have left this world, but his legacy as the ultimate prankster lives on. From impersonating African royalty to challenging authority figures with unmatched audacity, he embodied the spirit of mischief. Today, as we scroll through social media and watch viral pranks, let us not forget the man who paved the way for modern pranksters—one who did it all with a touch of elegance, charm, and an unapologetic flair for the dramatic.

So the next time you’re thinking of pulling a prank, remember the great Horace de Vere Cole and the legacy he left behind. After all, if you're going to prank, you might as well do it in style!