contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Ken said: It was a dreadful winter. Crowds of boys from HMS Ganges would visit Ipswich when they were given a day off from the harsh naval discipline at Shotley. Find out more about HMS Ganges at www.hmsgangesmuseum.com, or visit the museum, located at the end of King Edward VII Drive, in Shotley, IP9 1QJ. 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?' [1] Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS, Independent Babergh District councillor for Ganges, Derek Davis. Richard Dunn. There was a way to bypass it for cowards like me, but God help you if you tried using it. Abuse Details. 10/01/36- 08/02/36 HMS Pembroke. 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. Every letter, every strip of tape had to be in a perfect line. I shuddered to the bone, as I'm sure did other boys. On his 15th Birthday he was sent, with 2000 other boys, to the notorious HMS Ganges training establishment at Shotley Point where a harsh regime held sway. The facility remained there until its closure in June 1976, Within ten minutes, a second pair of gates appeared, the gates of the real HMS Ganges. Some 100 boy-sailors were in the canteen, chewing and chattering; clattering knives forks and spoons against plates and bowls. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 1st Class HMS Ganges II. Old men on the HMS Ganges Facebook page and it helps keep alive my time spent there. Restoration of the historic HMS Ganges Mast is well under way at Barrelmans Point in Shotley. Mast erected using the foremast of HMS Cordelia, which was broken up 1904. 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. A planning application for the site was submitted and outline permission was granted in 2015. I told him "I don't give a flying feck!" The HMS Ganges training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained derelict. Im quite sure few if any boys receiving cuts ever thought to run away again. 1959 and what a bugger Ganges turned out to be. Commander was Trick and a good egg. Each time I let it go off it popped, falling to the deck with a clatter. This was the job of the button boy at HMS Ganges who had to shin up the last fifteen feet or so to climb on the button during ceremonial parades. We were ushered in as a group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly. He was an Electricians Mate Class 1 and served in, 12/03/35-09/01/36 HMS Ganges. He was subsequently dismissed from the service and returned to civilian life. Today lots of those instructors (JIs and Badgeboys included) would be in front of the beak for various abuses, harassment and bullying. We can reunite you with your friends who served at HMS Ganges and we have a wealth of information on different units, bases and ships in the site. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Realizing his mistake he fought back and with no way out he had no choice but to work his ticket. Indeed, I have never met a shipmate would ever claim otherwise. Doesnt sound too bad does it. Read about our approach to external linking. www.amazon.co.uk/H-m-S-Ganges-Dozen/dp/0906418003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269273975&sr=1-1, www.navy-net.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/t=134/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=0.html, www.veterans-uk.info/vets_badge/vets_badge.htm. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. October, new Shore Establishment created and commissioned as Royal Navy Training Establishment, Shotley. His early life was hard by any standards. It closed in 1998 or something. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). The mast was erected in 1907 for boy entrant training purposes using the lower foremast (steel) from HMS Cordelia (1881) with other sections from the mizzen mast of HMS Agincourt (1865). Reaching high into the sunlit sky stood the mast; its yardarms spread wide like a giant crucifix. The former treasurer of a naval veterans' organisation has been jailed for 18 months after nearly 80,000 was withdrawn from its accounts. This was where the roped rigging jutted out some ten feet - above it, the platform. A Gannett Company. Most boys just wanted to complete their year and go to sea. He was sitting on a stool and told me to stand in front of him and begin. The noise was excruciating. 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. what an incredible article, thanks for that dave, how far did you get up that mast? Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. 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! His fellow recruit, Phil Bridge, said it was "a sad day, because it means a lot to us", but he was looking forward to a restored mast being returned. 11.00 to 17.00 Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between Easter and the end of October. I wondered, sewing, perhaps! The test consisted of two lengths of the pool while wearing a boiler suit, then floating for five minutes. HMS Ganges had a reputation for its harsh discipline. Well this seems a good time to see if this site works properly. Independent Babergh District councillor for Ganges, Derek Davis. July 5 The old HMS Ganges sails out of Harwich Harbour. Should one of letters be a millimetre out, you found the lot on the deck when you returned to the mess. 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. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's HMS GANGES 6th May 2009 - YouTube. The latest development means that construction work could start immediately, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak, progress has been delayed. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. It was easy to spot those who had been here the longest. 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. 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. It used to be a training camp for the Navy until 1976, and in later years it was a police training school. 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[1] The HMS Ganges training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained . Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Recruits used to climb the 143ft (44m)-high mast in formation, with the "button boy" standing on a small, circular platform at the very top, hands-free, but with his legs resting against a metal supporting bar. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. LEADING SEAMAN Served from 1961 - 1970 Served in HMS Ganges. The site was closed in 1976 and was used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF. Thanks again, D. R. WALTON the only O.E.M. The Cattlemarket area of Ipswich would be busy at weekends with boys in full naval uniform. Welcome Guest. It began snowing on Boxing Day. 1907. HMS GANGES MUSEUM. Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from HMS Ganges. Ganges Tales of the T.R.O.G.s Print length 264 pages Language English Publisher Second City Publishers, Penmarth, Cornwall Publication date 22 Nov. 1995 ISBN-10 090681605X ISBN-13 Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. Jim Gitsham, chairman of the Shotley branch of the HMS Ganges Association, said: "Members will be delighted that he's going down. He was the officer that tested us when we endeavoured to qualify with a bosuns pipe. It was hoped that Developers Haylink Ltd would start work early this year, but their plans were scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. There were stories of many similar violations but none ever reported. Tony Hayden. 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. During the third disastrous week, it spent so much time on the deck I thought I might as well leave it there! Engineer commander had been on Amethyst up the Yangtse and was quite sympathetic when he was OOD. The water was freezing cold, we never had hot water. If you cracked on and didn't buckle you were okay, but I wouldn't want to do it again. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 2nd Class HMS Ganges II. This was the job of the button boy at HMS Ganges who had to shin up the last fifteen feet or so to climb on the button during ceremonial parades. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to take place at Portsmouth Crown Court on 23 January. (LogOut/ HMS Ganges was the name given to several Royal Navy ships since from 1779, but in 1905 it was chosen as title for a new training base at Shotley Gate, near Ipswich where about 500 boy recruits were stationed. Observer career path/ real life experience. HMS Ganges (1821) This page summarises records created by this Organisation The summary includes a brief description of the collection (s) (usually including the covering dates of the. In 1907, its famous 143ft (44m)-high training . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Speaking about the current state of the site, Mr Jones said: "All of the messes have been demolished, as have the laundry and the generators. Peter Ohara. Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestrasse 25, D-91710 Gunzenhausen, Germany +49 9831 505-0 abuse@hetzner.com. In attendance was a senior officer, medical officer and the master at arms. The white letters would then be transformed, by our nimble fingers, into red with silk thread using the chain stitch. Read about our approach to external linking. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We were ordered to turn around and bend over, if the instructor was satisfied we were clean, we were allowed out. HP10 9TY. A Gannett Company. 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. Padre Weekes was always good for a fag and Jim Conroy (PTI) taught me to yodel. The kindly chef asked me whether I intended to eat the mountain of food I'd heaped on my plate or climb it! yes I was there in 92 .Essex, Nolfolk , Herts Suffolk and Cambs police all used it. He deserted on numerous occasions and willfully disobeyed orders . Report . I wrote this song a long time ago. LRO (G) Served from 1975 - 1998 Served in HMS Ganges. 1903. Mr W Im sure the surprise and very welcome CD that popped through my letter box today was from you dear sir, so thanks very much and Im looking forward to listening to it very soon. Dec 30, 2016. My heart sank and my elation evaporated as I desperately tried to quash all fears of my body falling from the Devil's Elbow. 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. Allegations of Abuse. contact the editor here. This was followed by a leap from the diving board, as high as any tree I'd ever climbed, wearing the waterlogged boiler suit and a lifejacket. George Blake joined the Navy in 1935 and served up to 1950. #42. 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. 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. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich and Shotley . HMS Ganges - part of front gate Having completed the New Entry training over at the Annex (I think it took six weeks), we then marched over to Drake 39 mess over in the Main Establishment. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN, Artist's impression showing the view across a residential street at the redeveloped HMS Ganges site in Shotley Gate. 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 HMS Ganges site was initially opened in 1904 acted as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy. 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". To get out of the showers we had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection. 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. Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS (Image: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS). This page is dedicated to the memory of Tony whose commitment to the Royal Navy and especially HMS Ganges was unlimited. During Ganges's time in Cornwall allegations of harsh and brutal treatment were reported to the Admiralty.One wardroom steward shot himself over the matter, and the reports aroused indignation in the local community. (LogOut/ 'Letters back to front, remember!' These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Several tales about bullying and the harsh regime generally, not so much about the famous and frequent official canings. Many spars are believed to have come from this ship too. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. We were ushered in as a group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly. Discussions between developers and Babergh District Council planning officers have been concluded five years after plans for the huge project were given outline planning permission in December 2015. Shotley Marina, Shotley Gate, Ipswich, IP9 1QJ. 2023 BBC. The master at arms held a long thin bamboo cane, the instrument of the punishment. It was hard, often . Im here as my Son (15) wants to join the RN - Wellbeck route AIB soon. There's something to be said for finding how finding out how good you are at living with other people, and finding respect for yourself. 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. Didn't like it, there are better ways of teaching than violence, but it hardened me up and made me self disciplined. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ", The honours board from the HMS Ganges, showing the victories of all the Royal Navy ships bearing the name (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). 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