I don't see how you can call the West Africa Squadron just a gesture, Conny.
To quote from Wikipedia:
"Between 1808 and 1860 the West Africa Squadron captured 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans. It is considered the most costly international moral action in modern history."
At the height of its operations it employed a sixth of the Royal Navy fleet.
About 1,600 British sailors died in service.
The compensation paid to slaveowners was a huge financial commitment by the British Government. Without it, emancipation would not have been approved by Parliament.
It would never have been suggested or thought in those days that the slaves themselves should be compensated. President Lincoln is considered a hero for freeing American slaves 30 years later but did not compensate them.
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