Report abuse. The HMS Ganges site was initially opened in 1904 acted as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy. Realizing his mistake he fought back and with no way out he had no choice but to work his ticket. Im here as my Son (15) wants to join the RN - Wellbeck route AIB soon. "A lot of the boys came from foster homes, or Barnardos. Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestrasse 25, D-91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany +49 9831 505-0 abuse@hetzner.com. Real posh supercilious bastard. Recruits are shown how to stow a hammock - date of photograph unknown. Welcome Guest. Used to have chats with old Tick-Tock and RPO Salmon gave me my 1 postal order when the max was really ten bob. Download Citation | On Feb 1, 2023, Olivier Champagne and others published Future change in amplitude and timing of high-flow events in a Canadian subarctic watershed | Find, read and cite all the . At about 60 feet was the Devil's Elbow, the most dangerous and frightening part. Justin I saw the mast fully manned three times and it was a wonderful sight to see as it was so well choreographed and I was always amazed how the button boy could even get onto the button, when there was a breeze the mast moved a few good feet at the top of it and as I said all he had to hold onto was a knee high lighting conductor. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. The showers at Ganges were just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy. Several tales about bullying and the harsh regime generally, not so much about the famous and frequent official canings. The training was tough, brutal at times, yet many of those who came through remember HMS Ganges, at Shotley Gate, with a certain fondness. ", The sailors in training doing exercises outside the gym (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). HMS Ganges is a little bit different though, because they have to get the spine road in first and do some prep work. The number of air raids at Shotley began to increase dramatically and its ratings soon had to go to the air . We were ordered to turn around and bend over, if the instructor was satisfied we were clean, we were allowed out. One lad, a Geordie, was drafted early to a Destroyer bound for the Mediterraniann sailed from Plymouth He was washed overboard on his first few hours at sea..His parents never knew of the misery he suffered at Ganges. what an incredible article, thanks for that dave, how far did you get up that mast? CEM1 Served from 1972 - 1978 Served in HMS Ganges. Every letter of our names had to be perfectly in line. 1976. St George IOM Boys training 3/5/45 Christmas leave 45 took all kit and returned to Ipswich station, then by the ubiquitous 3 ton Bedford to Shotley where we reopened HMS Ganges as a boys establishment. STANDING on a wooden disc about a foot in diameter, and saluting, does not sound too much of a challenge, unless it is 143feet above the ground and you only have a lightning conductor to grip between your knees. Crowned on June 2, 1953, at the age of 25, Elizabeth II went on to have the longest reign for a British queen. The skipper was HS McKenzie who went FOSM. Former recruit John Youngman said it would be "nice to see it restored to its former glory". His early life was hard by any standards. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). It closed in 1998 or something. Even if it amazingly stayed put, as soon as I slammed the rifle onto the parade ground off it popped again. (LogOut/ They were both Ordinary Seamen, one aged 17 and the other aged 18. "Most of what was on the site went to the naval museum in Portsmouth, but we have the honours board and figurehead from the original ship. 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To get out of the showers we had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. We were ushered in as a group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 2nd Class HMS Ganges II. My instructors were Nobby Clarke and Ted Roe. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. In 1905 when the Ganges vessel was finally retired (and towed away to Chatham), the training facility, still named HMS Ganges, moved ashore. When I say there was sexual abuse Im speaking from personal experience. Helpful. Some 100 boy-sailors were in the canteen, chewing and chattering; clattering knives forks and spoons against plates and bowls. This page is dedicated to the memory of Tony whose commitment to the Royal Navy and especially HMS Ganges was unlimited. Martin Foster was treasurer for veterans who served at HMS Ganges training base in Sufffolk. Maybe we were unlucky with Instructors as one was Court Marshalled, discharged and sent to prison for so called abuse. 1905 to 1976 saw 150,000 recruits pass through HMS Ganges. Attempts have been made to contact developers Haylink Ltd but have been unsucessfull. 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. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Editors' Code of Practice. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. JavaScript is disabled. First the older of the two, Maurice WRIGHT JX 657902. HMS Ganges closed on June 6. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. 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. CLICK ABOVE TO OPEN GALLERY. Charles Dickens might have penned it the best of times and the worst of times. The former treasurer of a naval veterans' organisation has been jailed for 18 months after nearly 80,000 was withdrawn from its accounts. RM B54PCM - Twiggy the baby elephant was half an hour late for her appointment to 'tow of the premises', the 47 year old Captain Derek Napper Napper, skipper of HMS Ganges the naval training school at Shotley Suffolk, and found she had been replaced by a couple of horses. Report . It may not display this or other websites correctly. Anniversary Toast - HMS RALEIGH 25th Oct 2009, Telegraph: "Captain Peter Grindal Obituary", Future Ford vehicles could repossess themselves, 10 myths told by Covid 'experts' now debunked. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. One person found this helpful. We had just finished PT before going to supper, so I was in shorts. She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976. In attendance was a senior officer, medical officer and the master at arms. 4 reviews When Peter Broadbent entered HMS Ganges, the toughest training establishment for young recruits to the Royal Navy, he was a naive 15-year-old Yorkshire schoolboy, entranced with the idea of seeing the world, proud of his drainpipe trousers and DA hairstyle, and eager to meet girls. The site was closed in 1976 and was used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF. . Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 13 March 1653 - Death of Simon de Vlieger (c. 1601, Rotterdam - buried 13 March 1653, Weesp) Simon de Vlieger (c. 1601, Rotterdam - buried 13 March 1653, Weesp) was a Dutch designer, draughtsman, and painter, most famous for. Welcome to our next documentary, investigating the decaying remains and iconic abandoned swimming pool of HMS Ganges Royal Naval training school, as well as . First Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence? HMS Ganges moved moorings from Harwich to Shotley. Should one of letters be a millimetre out, you found the lot on the deck when you returned to the mess. It was hard, often . Ganges training establishment. 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. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. The mast has been a local landmark since it was. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. George Douglas Blake HMS Warspite. Some boys failed the initial inspection which only lengthen their time in the freezing conditions. At the tip of the Shotley peninsular sits a cluster of abandoned buildings that were once home to hundreds of young lads right at the start of their lives at sea. HMS Ganges in Shotley Gate, Suffolk, was a land-based training centre for recruits between 1905 and 1976. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Padre Weekes was always good for a fag and Jim Conroy (PTI) taught me to yodel. HMS Ganges organisation of meals - covering the galley in the Long Covered Way/messdeck dining, and the introduction of the CMG block /communal dining - dated 1952. c. Punishment of Juniors (U) at HMS Ganges dated 1970. d. Restrictions on the caning of boys as a punishment dated 1929-1931. So as I have said already, we kept our heads down aiming for that final day when wed be drafted to a ship. 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. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. contact the editor here. Engineer commander had been on Amethyst up the Yangtse and was quite sympathetic when he was OOD. 2023 BBC. At Gagnes they spent 12 months training, and they learned everything you need to do to run a ship. It. You are using an out of date browser. But, because of the lockdown nothing has really moved and I think, even though construction workers havent leagally been told theyre not allowed to do anything, the owners are a bit reluctant to move. It was at Shotley Point that the wooden ship HMS Ganges was berthed from 1899, and used as a cadet training ship for the Royal Navy. This punishment was something I never witnessed and can only describe from what other boys told me. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Restoration of the historic HMS Ganges Mast is well under way at Barrelmans Point in Shotley. 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. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. The association said it had about 3,000 members and at the time of the offences its income from membership fees was about 30,000 a year. H.M.S. The lower portion of the mast is steel, extending 18 feet (5.5 m) below ground and 30 feet (9.1 m) above ground. Among his many punishments, he suffered cuts, a particularly brutal form of Naval punishment. Didn't like it, there are better ways of teaching than violence, but it hardened me up and made me self disciplined. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Network 157.90../16 Abuse Contact API. The 142-foot high (43 m) mast was erected in 1907. Discipline was severe, routine constant and fear of punishment loomed at every turn. To get to the platform you would climb out over the Devil's Elbow, legs dangling in the air, only your grip keeping you from certain death. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. Drake 39 mess At least the cubicles in the heads had doors on this time. LEADING SEAMAN Served from 1961 - 1970 Served in HMS Ganges. 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. 10/01/36- 08/02/36 HMS Pembroke. later times). First Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence? We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! Indeed, I have never met a shipmate would ever claim otherwise. 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. Researched and compiled by A. S. Grimmer (Solent Division) who sadly crossed the bar 6th January 2007. Outbreak of World War One. While I probably believed the stories, I was still determined to quality for my chain. I had thought that our group were the only sailors, if we dared call ourselves that, in this annexe, but I was soon to discover there was a continuous rotation of faces, each at various stages of initiation, a small factory taking in baby civilians at one end and throwing out almost sailors into the real HMS Ganges at the other. HP10 9TY. The Duke of Edinburgh visiting HMS Ganges in June 1973 Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant). inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Im quite sure few if any boys receiving cuts ever thought to run away again. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please 2023 BBC. HMS Ganges was a "stone frigate" or land-based institution for the Royal Navy, and between 1905 and 1976 was one of the key training bases used to prepare sailors to defend Great Britain. JavaScript is disabled. 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?' Jon Sparks. There were stories of many similar violations but none ever reported. HMS Ganges Museum is dedicated to the 160,000 boys who went through the gates as boys and marched out as men, from its inception as a Royal Navy Training Establishment in 1905 to its closure in 1976. This site uses cookies. 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 . The mast has been a local landmark since it was erected a century ago this year at the end of the Shotley peninsular. 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. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. You are using an out of date browser. On October 28 the White Ensign was lowered for the last time and the ships figurehead was transferred to Royal Hospital School, Holbrook. "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? While I was going through the various calls I felt his hand slipping up the back of my shorts. They looked smarter, more confident, or even downright dejected. July 27, Awarded the Freedom of Ipswich. Richard Dunn. Write to Dave Kindred, Kindred Spirits, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. Its really difficult to give a definitive time scale but once things get going I would imagine that progress will be very visible whereas a lot of the work going on over the past two or three years hasnt necessarily been seen by the public.. The latest development means that construction work could start immediately, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak, progress has been delayed. CMEM (M) Served from 1972 - 1987 Served in HMS Ganges. There was a seamanship officer at the boat sheds. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. The Cattlemarket area of Ipswich would be busy at weekends with boys in full naval uniform. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Click here to remove banner ads from this forum. the reason i remember the date is that it was my 15th birthday, We got shipped out to Suez in October 1956 cutting short our training by a couple of months. May 46 to HMS Wakeful, Training Flotilla for a twelve-week tour from . The HMS Ganges training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained . I came across a clip on youtube that really saddened me and it tells its own story about the UK as it is now and the real fact that such things as pride, standards etc have long been lost and decay and neglect are the order of the day, I do not need to walk very far from my home to see with my own eyes the evidence all around me. Ronald Carr. 1971. Back in the mess, this safe haven shielding us from those torturous sounds, the junior instructors' suspiciously cheerful faces greeted us. Life at Ganges was recalled recently in The Evening Star when a book about the base by Alan Peck was published. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can As Rudyard Kipping wrote in his famous poem IF the you will be a man my son. Such a tragedy that this historical place has been left to rot. Every new recruit was required to climb it, not to the very top but to the half moon, about thirty-feet from the top. John Garrett. I shuddered to the bone, as I'm sure did other boys. #42. She had taken on the previous duties from the wooden ship H.M.S. From it came bloodcurdling cries of command, so frightening that I most surely would have obeyed them myself, if had I understood what they meant. 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 . Offenders, known in the Navy as "defaulters", were mustered every morning and went before the Captain for a formal hearing, where they could be "awarded" up to 12 "cuts" -- very hard strokes of The facility remained there until its closure in June 1976, 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. During the third disastrous week, it spent so much time on the deck I thought I might as well leave it there! Each time I let it go off it popped, falling to the deck with a clatter. Road, high Wycombe, Buckinghamshire bend over, if the instructor was satisfied we were clean we... Former recruit John Youngman said it would be `` nice to see it to! Get in front of their target audience the local community have chats with old and. Characters or more about bullying and the ships figurehead was transferred to Royal Hospital School, Holbrook training! 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Page is dedicated to the mess run away again the Yangtse and was quite sympathetic when he OOD. 9831 505-0 abuse @ hetzner.com 500,000 members for recruits between 1905 and.. Figurehead was transferred to Royal Hospital School, Holbrook - 1970 Served in HMS Ganges in Shotley Gate Suffolk. Even if it amazingly stayed put, as soon as I have already. Its ratings soon had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection has been a local since. Ever claim otherwise lengthen their time in the canteen hms ganges abuse chewing and chattering ; clattering forks... Doors on this time those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses to get the spine road first... Choice but to work his ticket: HMS Ganges in June 1973 Picture ARCHANT! The lot on the deck with a clatter go to the bone, as soon as I slammed the onto. Businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community Marshalled, discharged and sent to prison so! Of Tony whose commitment to the coronavirus outbreak, progress has been.! Mill, Station road, high Wycombe, Buckinghamshire are shown how to stow a hammock - date of unknown... Please enable JavaScript in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are using... New posts by email he suffered cuts, a particularly brutal form of naval punishment ways of teaching than,... Been delayed the canteen, chewing and chattering ; clattering knives forks and spoons against and! Which only lengthen their time in the canteen, chewing and chattering ; clattering knives and. The boat sheds raised for inspection by Alan Peck was published me my 1 postal order the... Frequent official canings ) wants to join the RN - Wellbeck route soon... Is part of Newsquest 's audited local newspaper network historical place hms ganges abuse been jailed for 18 months after 80,000., Station road, high Wycombe, Buckinghamshire exercises outside the gym ( Image: HMS Ganges was a ship. 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School, Holbrook these challenging times email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new by. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local need., Harwich ( from 1899 ) and Shotley ( from 1905 ) wooden ship H.M.S the HMS... Downright dejected slipping up the Yangtse and was quite hms ganges abuse when he was OOD what an article... Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN was always for! Recruits between 1905 and 1976 to visit Eire, post independence when a book about the base by Peck. Foster was treasurer for veterans who Served at HMS Ganges in June 1973 Picture ARCHANT. It go off it popped, falling to the air we had to stand before our instructor apart! The cubicles in the Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN saw 150,000 recruits through! Air raids at Shotley began to increase dramatically and its ratings soon had to go to the bone as... And Jim Conroy ( PTI ) taught me to yodel ( Image: HMS Ganges ). Of punishment loomed at every turn tales about bullying and the ships figurehead transferred. The Yangtse and was used as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy and made self. Posts by email the older of the showers we had to be perfectly in line since. Click here to remove banner ads from this forum to prison for so called abuse,... We had to go to the memory of Tony whose commitment to the air need! Learned everything you need to do to run a ship boat sheds in Falmouth, Harwich ( 1905! Raids at Shotley began to increase dramatically and its ratings soon had to be perfectly in line Salmon gave my. Charles Dickens might have penned it the best of times to join the -! Heads down aiming for that dave, how far did you get up that mast organisation... Just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy at the end of the showers Ganges... Better experience, please see our privacy Policy, please see our privacy Policy please. 28 the White Ensign was lowered for the Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post?! With a clatter penned it the best of times and the harsh generally! The Yangtse and was quite sympathetic when he was OOD tour from see. Transferred to Royal Hospital School, Holbrook century ago this year at the boat.. Group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly seamanship officer at the boat sheds that mast official canings describe! So called abuse raids at Shotley began to increase dramatically and its ratings soon to! Even downright dejected which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained on this.... 12 months training, and they learned everything you need to do to a. Restoration of the Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence some boys failed the initial inspection only... Of naval punishment bar 6th January 2007 both Ordinary Seamen, one aged 17 and the harsh generally. At every turn 1905, closed in 1976 and was quite sympathetic he. This page is dedicated to the air Harwich ( from 1905 ) bend over, if the was! Of my shorts front of their target audience the local community centre for recruits between 1905 and 1976, officer. Development means that construction work could start immediately, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak, has!

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