HMS GANGES

Shotley, Nr. Ipswich. 

HMS Ganges was originally a training ship and later stone frigate (Shore Establishment) of the Royal Navy. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore in 1906. She remained in service until October 1976

1955 - 1957 Joined as a Boy at 15½.  Basic training and even learned how to iron and sew and stupid things like that.  Left May 1957, for Basic Radar Training at HMS Harrier. 

1965 - Class Instructor with 79 Recruitment, Duncan 10 Mess.  After the Class had gone off to their Specialist Training, I went off to HMS Eskimo

1967 -  Instructor in  the Radar School  whilst unfit for sea service on medical grounds..

Joined HMS Harrier, May 1957 RNADC Station at Kete, Dale, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Basic Radar Training.  The Leading Hand that picked us up at the railway station told us that Harrier was the Navy's Butlins ... how true he was!  Situated right on the cliff tops.  We even had our own beach!  As Junior Seamen, we had to go for a cross country run every weekday morning.  Sometime the sea mist would come up over the cliffs, so some of us would hide in a bunker on the golf course, wait to hear the Leading hand to go by on his bike and then go off for an early breakfast!  Once the course was finished, I went on leave before joining HMS Diana

Joined HMS Dolphin for Submarine Training in January, 1960, from HMS Aberford, Londonderry

HMS Dolphin was the RN shore establishment sited at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport and was the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service from 1904 to 1999, and location of the Royal Navy Submarine School.

HMS Dolphin closed as a submarine base on 30 September 1998. The Royal Navy Submarine School (RNSMS) remained at Dolphin until 23 December 1999 when it closed prior to relocation to HMS Raleigh. The Submarine Escape Training Tower (SETT), a 30m deep (or tall) tank of water used to instruct all RN submariners in pressurised escape, remains at the same site, now renamed Fort Blockhouse.

Upon completion of my basic SM training, I joined HMSm Tally Ho for sea training when I passed out due to pressure on my sinuses and drafted back to General Service at HMS Osprey, Portland and then to FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) Portland, aboard HMS Teazer

Portland Naval Base. Originally an Anti Submarine Training Establishment. Known to sailors throughout the RN, as the place where their ships 'worked-up’ to a state of readiness.  Joined Osprey as part of FOST Staff after completing my RP2 course at HMS Dryad, June 1965.  Was also part of the ‘Offending Team’ for ships on work up.  Drafted from Osprey to join HMS Loch Alvie, but back to Osprey for ‘familiarisation’ training.

Navigation and Direction School. Originally based in Portsmouth Dockyard using a gunboat called Dryad as a tender, it moved to its present location at Southwick Park.  The former house on the estate, Southwick House, was the HQ for the Operations for the D-Day Landings, and the map is still on the wall of the Wardroom 

First went here for an RP2 course (Radar Plotter 2nd Class) in the winter of 1962.   After completion, off to HMS Osprey - FOST Staff

Next time was  winter of 1964, after I came back from the Far East, for RP1 (First Class) and Electronic Warfare Course and thence to Ganges.

RNB Portsmouth  Often in and out of barracks for accommodation The easiest job I had was, Electric Light Party.  That involved going around the Barracks, Wardroom and WRNS Quarters, checking to see that the lights were working and replacing any bulbs that need it.  Strewth!  You could get 'lost' for days!

1970 - Back to Barracks for my final few months before my discharge, £250 gratuity, final rail warrant and becoming a civilian again.  A move I have always regretted..  I am a firm believer that it was my leaving the Navy why they stopped the Tot a couple of months after I left..