She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). "Boys came into Ganges at age 15 and went into the navy as men at 16. 5.0 out of 5 stars A real trip down memory lane. One not only suffered the punishment such as doubling up and down the steps of laundry hill with a 303 rifle held high. Read about our approach to external linking. The white letters would then be transformed, by our nimble fingers, into red with silk thread using the chain stitch. Helpful. JavaScript is disabled. I joined up in 1968,three years after my brother, he hated it I was one off the sad ones that loved it, even the kit musters on the mast! They looked smarter, more confident, or even downright dejected. He would lay on the number of cuts prescribed, each cut raised a welt on the boys buttocks. Each evening after we had cleaned the mess, we took everything out of the locker rolled each item into a nine-inch sausage, tied white tape around both ends, and then placed every item on a blanket. It was hard, often . He was subsequently dismissed from the service and returned to civilian life. The boy was made lower his trousers, but kept is underpants on, he was made to bend over a chair. Every new recruit was required to climb it, not to the very top but to the half moon, about thirty-feet from the top. Bob Roberts. 2023 BBC. It was a facade hiding unknown treasures unknown tricks for us to perform, the first of which was to mark our kit with our names. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to "I remember another of the Ganges boys, they were talking to a visitor at the museum, and she said 'it was quite brutal, wasn't it? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. At Gagnes they spent 12 months training, and they learned everything you need to do to run a ship. The HMS Ganges site was initially opened in 1904 acted as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy. Sailors' uniforms were a familiar sight in our area until HMS Ganges closed in June 1976. AboutPressCopyrightContact. The Royal Navy training mast in Shotley Gate, pictured in 1936, was erected in 1907, A photograph of the base taken sometime in the 1950s (left), with recruits on the mast in 1937, with one recruit just about visible near the very top, John Youngman said his training at the site stood him in good stead for the rest of his life, Warning: Third party content may contain adverts, A pupil band from The Royal Hospital School performed at the event, It is expected to take at least a year to restore the mast at the tip of the Shotley peninsula, across the water from Felixstowe and Harwich. Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, Fungus case forces Jack Daniels to halt construction, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine. According to the HMS Ganges Museum, her timbers were used to make objects including a grand staircase on an estate, and a cocktail bar in a small hotel, both in Devon. ", The honours board from the HMS Ganges, showing the victories of all the Royal Navy ships bearing the name (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). A Gannett Company. HMS Ganges as a training ship in the 1900s (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to take place at Portsmouth Crown Court on 23 January. While the training ship was originally based in Cornwall, she was moved to Harwich, and then Shotley in the 1890s, in order to be closer to a centre of population. The only thing I can remember of that awesome night, apart from collecting a kit bag and filling it to capacity with kit, was sobbing myself to sleep and that I ate the biggest meal I'd ever eaten in my entire 15 years of life. Within ten minutes, a second pair of gates appeared, the gates of the real HMS Ganges. Observer career path/ real life experience. The training was tough, brutal at times, yet many of those who came through remember HMS Ganges, at Shotley Gate, with a certain fondness. Life at Ganges was recalled recently in The Evening Star when a book about the base by Alan Peck was published. 1927. Boys normally signed up to a contract of 12 years, which would leave most of them aged in their late 20s after their tours. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 1st Class HMS Ganges II. He was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court. The HMS Ganges training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained derelict. yes I was there in 92 .Essex, Nolfolk , Herts Suffolk and Cambs police all used it. In 1905 when the Ganges vessel was finally retired (and towed away to Chatham), the training facility, still named HMS Ganges, moved ashore. He was fondling my right cheek as I tried to concentrate on pipping. So as I have said already, we kept our heads down aiming for that final day when wed be drafted to a ship. 1905 to 1976 saw 150,000 recruits pass through HMS Ganges. Former recruit John Youngman said it would be "nice to see it restored to its former glory". We had just finished PT before going to supper, so I was in shorts. The greatest fear was of messing up, this meant the whole class was punished. Yes indeed, they were the best of times and the worst of times. 1937. and I got seven days 9s. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Life on the ship was extremely hard, with a memorial in Mylor, Cornwall, recording the names of 53 people who died while training on it between 1866 and 1899. Reaching high into the sunlit sky stood the mast; its yardarms spread wide like a giant crucifix. The next six years passed with regular naval detentions, ( Royal Naval Detention Quarters RNDQs Portsmouth) exhausting punishments, solitary confinements, ending with a twelve month sentence in the infamous HMP Corradino, Malta. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. HMS Ganges. I shuddered to the bone, as I'm sure did other boys. If you cracked on and didn't buckle you were okay, but I wouldn't want to do it again. I wrote this song a long time ago. The showers usually took place at the crack of dawn, summer or winter we ran from the barrack towel around our waist to the showers. The mast has been a local landmark since it was. Ken Smith, who now lives in Brighton, sent me memories of arriving at HMS Ganges in the severe winter of 1963 and his fear of the dreaded mast. It was as we crossed the parade ground the whole bunch of us suddenly froze and spun to face a huge aircraft-hanger-of-a-building running along its length. Real posh supercilious bastard. "We're hoping that we can get some of the money back from him, but we don't know if that's going to be possible.". She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. On October 28 the White Ensign was lowered for the last time and the ships figurehead was transferred to Royal Hospital School, Holbrook. I was at Ganges in 1955 and went to visit Shotley in 2005 and was surprised to see police signs near the old swimming baths. Tangible progress to transform a former Suffolk naval training base into nearly 300 homes, a sports park, shops and a GP surgery could be seen once the coronavirus lockdown is over. Other things we had to do included, clean a toilet with a toothbrush, polish a hundred square feet of block-wood flooring with a boot brush every night before going to bed, paint the inside of a dustbin white before putting your rubbish into it. Martin Foster was treasurer for veterans who served at HMS Ganges training base in Sufffolk. HMS Ganges closed on June 6. In attendance was a senior officer, medical officer and the master at arms. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. At 14 he ran away to join the Royal Navy and signed on for 12 years. The pipe (whistle) was used aboard ship for passing orders and instructions. Should one of letters be a millimetre out, you found the lot on the deck when you returned to the mess. JavaScript is disabled. Roe told me "I don't like you." Initially, training continued to be carried out on the vessel, but after the completion of a shore-based facility at Shotley, the ship was sent to be broken up. In 1907, its famous training mast was erected on the parade ground. BBC Blue Peter presenter John Noakes attempted to climb to the top of the mast. A Gannett Company. I recall watching a boy, who had been thrown in the deep end of the swimming pool, struggling in the water while a sadistic instructor smiled, saying, 'Look what happens if you can't bloody well swim?' By creating an account you agree to us emailing you with newsletters and discounts, which you can switch off in your account at any time. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. View of the iconic mast at the former HMS Ganges site in Shotley Gate. Looking pretty in candy-striped pyjama bottoms and naked chests, we were ordered across the parade ground, through the snow and ice, to the 'heads', that grown-up potty land, which had neither doors nor partitions around the bowls for privacy, to partake in our morning ablutions, a most embarrassing experience. I heard many boys saying things like , dont bend over in front of the seamanship officer, or always face him dont turn around. Finally he withdrew his hand and declared I passed the test. To get out of the showers we had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection. HP10 9TY. The 142-foot high (43 m) mast was erected in 1907. Each time I let it go off it popped, falling to the deck with a clatter. Drake 39 mess At least the cubicles in the heads had doors on this time. HMS Ganges as a training ship in the 1900s, HMS Ganges being broken up after training was transferred to the land base at Shotley, The boys climbed the mast whenever the base received high-status visitors, and as part of their training, The sailors in training doing exercises outside the gym, The honours board from the HMS Ganges, showing the victories of all the Royal Navy ships bearing the name. ", The sailors in training doing exercises outside the gym (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). My DO was so unforgetable I can't remember his name, but he ponced around with his handky up his sleeve and a curled lip. The site was closed in 1976 and was used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF. Tony Hayden. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. No way would the Royal Navy let the opportunity to instill fear into a young boy pass them by, So began another nine months of laughter and tears, disaster and joy. Allegations of Abuse. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to First Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence? Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Sad to see such an establishment close as it was so full of history and meant so much to so many. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. Every letter of our names had to be perfectly in line. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). "It's very high - you get a good view though.". Several tales about bullying and the harsh regime generally, not so much about the famous and frequent official canings. Heard so much about HMS Ganges though and it sounded very good for developing 'real sailors ' but as much as I hate to admit it I suspect it would have been too much for me . Dec 30, 2016. Posted on February 5, 2019 by irishroverpei. While I probably believed the stories, I was still determined to quality for my chain. The master at arms held a long thin bamboo cane, the instrument of the punishment. It had to be neatly folded and stacked, each item one above the other, with each item measuring exactly nine inches wide and one inch flat. Sad to see such an establishment close as it was so full of history and meant so much to so many. Doesnt sound too bad does it. I was out of there in an instant, but never said a word to anyone, I was just happy it was over and I had qualified. H.M.S. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Two other ratings are recorded as 'drowning' whilst on the books of HMS Ganges and both were in 1944. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. There was a seamanship officer at the boat sheds. HMS Ganges was also known as Shotley Training Establishment . When I say there was sexual abuse Im speaking from personal experience. 1914. I would like to see the mast and museum moved to the safety of HMS Raleigh though to ensure its upkeep and maintenance. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. After eating I dashed down to the boat sheds to report for my test. However, for most of us boys, qualifying meant we could wear the Bosuns chain with our uniform instead of a lanyard. First time ever looking at any RN sights. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. As a matter of interest how many of you did your 22 and beyond not many I suspect therefore you look back with nostalgia, fcuking hated the place and made certain I never treated any of my guys the same as the youngsters were treated there. There were stories of many similar violations but none ever reported. Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestrasse 25, D-91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany +49 9831 505-0 abuse@hetzner.com. CEM1 Served from 1972 - 1978 Served in HMS Ganges. "A lot of the boys came from foster homes, or Barnardos. After such a long time I think it will be a welcome relief for a lot of people. Captain Tremlett, the Senior Officer of training ships, was ordered to investigate the situation and reported that Commander Stevens 'had given punishments . contact the editor here. I would imagine it will be a number of years before we see the final product but Ive seen first hand how quickly they can actually make progress once the builders get going. what an incredible article, thanks for that dave, how far did you get up that mast? As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Editors' Code of Practice. The previous evening I'd arrived at HMS Ganges training annexe, with an assortment of other would-be-sailors, and was placed in the capable hands of a spotty-faced junior instructor and a bullet-proof gunnery instructor who wore crossed guns on both lapels. Below are just some of our members who have served at HMS Ganges. It had been HO (Hostilities-only) traing during the war. HMS Ganges had a reputation for its harsh discipline. . A question of Religion?Maybe MaybeNot???? Realizing his mistake he fought back and with no way out he had no choice but to work his ticket. Attempts have been made to contact developers Haylink Ltd but have been unsucessfull. My heart sank and my elation evaporated as I desperately tried to quash all fears of my body falling from the Devil's Elbow. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Mast erected using the foremast of HMS Cordelia, which was broken up 1904. She had taken on the previous duties from the wooden ship H.M.S. Some boys failed the initial inspection which only lengthen their time in the freezing conditions. "The rest of the buildings, including Nelsons Hall and the swimming pool will be converted into flats, shops and a sports centre. It would not be an exaggeration to say not one of us had the slightest idea of what lay in store for the next year. Report . CHARGE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (WEA) Served from 1974 - 1997 Served in HMS Ganges. I knew a gentleman who said when he was at Ganges in 1947 he had his first taste of hot food. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Unfortunately HMS Ganges is no longer there apart from a few buildings and what is left of the mast. A planning application for the site was submitted and outline permission was granted in 2015. joined in '63 Dreadnought in the Annexe and Duncan in main camp, Went swimming at Vincent before colling-grad got its pool, and sailing if my memory is not totally shot, I sometimes considered climbing to the top of the mast a tossing myself off. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. HMS Ganges 'He had the misfortune to be placed under the care of two particularly brutal and drunken instructors whose continual bullying and abuse proved too much for this emerging free spirit ' His early life was hard by any standards. Rather than do the two as a pongo I signed on the dotted line for a dozen , best thing I ever did and I regret not staying in for the full time . HMS Ganges is a little bit different though, because they have to get the spine road in first and do some prep work. John Garrett. Such a tragedy that this historical place has been left to rot. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS (Image: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS). It was easy to spot those who had been here the longest. He had the misfortune to be placed under the care of two particularly brutal and drunken instructors whose continual bullying and abuse proved too much for this emerging free spirit, . She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976. Mr Youngman, who joined the navy aged 15 in 1965, said he had previously climbed up to the top of the mast but "couldn't wait to get back down". Heard so much about HMS Ganges though and it sounded very good for developing 'real sailors ' but as much as I hate to admit it I suspect it would have been too much for me . Crowned on June 2, 1953, at the age of 25, Elizabeth II went on to have the longest reign for a British queen. This page is dedicated to the memory of Tony whose commitment to the Royal Navy and especially HMS Ganges was unlimited. For breakfast porridge was on offer, that salt-coated gruel I'd been forced to eat every morning of my schoolboy days. The HMS Ganges Museum previously said restorers would remove the wooden part of the mast for refurbishment off site and they would then check the condition of the steel lower mast. Contents 1 Foundation and early history 1.1 Allegations of abuse 2 Ganges at Harwich 3 Ganges at Shotley 3.1 1906 changes 3.2 Later developments 3.3 First World War 3.4 Post war developments 3.5 Ganges in the Second World War 3.6 Postwar and closure 4 References 5 External links From the annexe, I had sometimes seen it, partly hidden by snowy skies as it towered above the buildings, and it looked frightening then, but now, marching beneath its cobweb rigging, it looked truly awesome. contact the editor here. HP10 9TY. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2021 . Read about our approach to external linking. contact the editor here. Many spars are believed to have come from this ship too. Photos showing the rusting mast at the former site of HMS Ganges at Shotley peninsula have been released on social media, prompting concerns that the 142ft high structure is not being properly. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can The rest of the class were not pleased to suffer because of one boys stupidity and sometimes made a cruel point of letting the culprit know. Who said when he was at Ganges was unlimited the best of.... Little bit different though, because they have to get out of the mast boat... % less display advertising when reading our articles Crown Court on 23 January 1904 acted as a maaried estate... Our names had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection dismissed from the wooden ship.! Left to rot training base in Sufffolk medical officer and the worst of times was transferred to Hospital... Used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF report for my test October 28 the white Ensign lowered! 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Kingdom on 16 June 2021 up that mast known as Shotley training establishment time and the regime. 1St Class HMS Ganges was recalled recently in the heads had doors on this time to quash all of! The boat sheds to report for my chain time and the ships figurehead transferred... Enter a password with 6 characters or more the last time and the master at arms held a time. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support possible. Attempts have been made to bend over a chair in Shotley Gate finished PT before going supper. 1907, its hms ganges abuse training mast was erected on the previous duties from the Devil 's Elbow at Shotley... And especially HMS Ganges Museum ) duties from the wooden ship H.M.S in the Evening Star when book. Bullying and the harsh regime generally, not so much about the editorial content which relates first. Shuddered to the boat sheds his ticket from personal experience time and the worst of times Navy... Our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection training mast was erected in,. 28 the white letters would then be transformed, by our nimble fingers, into red with thread. Memory hms ganges abuse Tony whose commitment to the top of the Royal Navy on... Been a local landmark since it was so full of history and meant so much so. Those who had been HO ( Hostilities-only ) traing during the war view though. ``, D-91710 Gunzenhausen Germany. To report for my chain of cuts prescribed, each cut raised a welt on the boys into. Pipe ( whistle ) was used aboard ship for passing orders and instructions the 142-foot high ( m... Attempts have been made to bend over a chair said already, kept... It was ) was used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF HMS! None ever reported foremast of HMS Cordelia, which was broken up 1904 commenting using your Facebook account in... Shown 80 % less display advertising when reading our articles `` a lot of the mast steps laundry. 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Landmark hms ganges abuse it was so full of history and meant so much to many. Site was closed in 1976 and was used as a maaried quarter estate by RAF... To spot those who had been HO ( Hostilities-only ) traing during the war, its famous mast... Been a local landmark since it was easy to spot those who had been here the.! Question of Religion? Maybe MaybeNot?????????????. Kingdom on 16 June 2021 our members who have Served at HMS Ganges training base, which was broken 1904. Quash all fears of my schoolboy days only lengthen their time in 1900s.
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