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. "They had a hard life, but they were fed and looked after. Jim Gitsham, chairman of the Shotley branch of the HMS Ganges Association, said: "Members will be delighted that he's going down. It was named after a pre-existing training ship by the same name that was launched from Bombay and based 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. One not only suffered the punishment such as doubling up and down the steps of laundry hill with a 303 rifle held high. She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976. 1906. RO1 (T) Served from 1970 - 1975 Served in HMS Ganges. I wondered, sewing, perhaps! 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. 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". CHARGE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (WEA) Served from 1974 - 1997 Served in HMS Ganges. Real posh supercilious bastard. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He was sitting on a stool and told me to stand in front of him and begin. First Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence? GANGES was the shore training establishment for boy entrants into the Royal Navy from 1905 until 1976. 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. ", HMS Ganges as a warship (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 1st Class HMS Ganges II. I had already taught myself to swim. "The rest of the buildings, including Nelsons Hall and the swimming pool will be converted into flats, shops and a sports centre. The one chippy bugger who thought it good fun to make you spar with him in the wash room (Annexe) I met up with in the Far Flung and gave him more than he gave me. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. Peter Ohara. The Admiralty decided that the shore base should bear the name of the original training ship, HMS Ganges. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. She had taken on the previous duties from the wooden ship H.M.S. Dec 30, 2016. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. HMS Ganges was the name given to several Royal Navy ships from 1779 onwards, but in 1905 it was chosen for a new training base at Shotley Gate, near Ipswich, where about 500 boy recruits were. Even if it amazingly stayed put, as soon as I slammed the rifle onto the parade ground off it popped again. So as I have said already, we kept our heads down aiming for that final day when wed be drafted to a ship. The money belonged to the HMS Ganges Association for people who served at the former naval training base at Shotley Gate near Ipswich, Suffolk. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Sad to see such an establishment close as it was so full of history and meant so much to so many. It was easy to spot those who had been here the longest. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. You are using an out of date browser. 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. 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. contact the editor here. Review of a book of anecdotes about legendary UK boys' naval establishment HMS Ganges, which at any one time housed as many as 2,000 trainee sailors in their middle teens. Sailors' uniforms were a familiar sight in our area until HMS Ganges closed in June 1976. George Blake joined the Navy in 1935 and served up to 1950. After initial training we were marched from the training camp. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Once the situation eases a bit there will be tangible progress to be seen.. A planning application for the site was submitted and outline permission was granted in 2015. (LogOut/ If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Such a tragedy that this historical place has been left to rot. Jon Sparks. Sad to see such an establishment close as it was so full of history and meant so much to so many. The HMS Ganges site was initially opened in 1904 acted as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy. 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 . contact the editor here. Mr Davis added: They have had the last conditions, including the fire hydrants agreed. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. Ganges Museum is located at Shotley Gate near Ipswich, in what was the Enright Block, on the foreshore of the former H.M.S. CLICK ABOVE TO OPEN GALLERY. [1] 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. 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. 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. There was a seamanship officer at the boat sheds. You are using an out of date browser. It used to be a training camp for the Navy until 1976, and in later years it was a police training school. Reaching high into the sunlit sky stood the mast; its yardarms spread wide like a giant crucifix. We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 June 2021 . Work on the scheme, which would see 285 new homes, a 60-bed nursing home, a large retail space and areas for medical services, will not be started until a spine road through the site, which will take the bulk of construction traffic away from main roads, is built. GANGES; the ship had previously anchored out in the harbour below, at Shotley Gate, on the east coast opposite Harwich. The inquiry was carried out by Hampshire Police after debit card transactions of 4,200 and cash machine withdrawals totalling 74,000 were made from the association's bank accounts between August 2010 and June 2012. Early in 1940 Admiralty decided to close Ganges as a Boys Training Establishment and in April it became a Hostilities Only Training Establishment. 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. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. I knew only when it was over would I then be able to call myself a true Ganges Boy and, some years later, a real sailor. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Life at Ganges was recalled recently in The Evening Star when a book about the base by Alan Peck was published. 2023 BBC. However, for most of us boys, qualifying meant we could wear the Bosuns chain with our uniform instead of a lanyard. Mr Jones said: "There is a lot of truth to the statement that you entered as a boy, but left as a man. A historic Grade II listed former Royal Navy training mast has been taken down ahead of restoration work. Each of us was required to construct a printing block using letters carved in wood. There was also a degree of sexual abuse going on at Ganges, but we boys were too scared to ever complain or report such incidents. The lower portion of the mast is steel, extending 18 feet (5.5 m) below ground and 30 feet (9.1 m) above ground. This portion was taken from the foremast of the corvette Cordelia which was paid off . Roger Jones, chairman at the HMS Ganges Museum said: "HMS Ganges was originally a ship of the wooden wall, launched in 1821. Aerial artist's impression of one of the green spaces earmarked for the former HMS Ganges site in Shotley Gate. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Rumour had it many years ago a boy did fall, bouncing off the safety net and through the Post Office roof. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Standing at 143ft, the mast is made up of three main parts; the main 75ft mast came from HMS Cordelia, a steam corvette built in Portsmouth, the top mast of 47.5 ft wooden ruffle box from HMS Agincourt, which was renamed HMS Boscawen, and then Ganges II. Boys were permitted to march through the streets of Ipswich with bayonets fixed. I took a bowl and ate the lot. and for those of you who served at ganges and who have't joined the association go on..nothing to lose and you'll find a lot of old shipmates there!! Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS, Independent Babergh District councillor for Ganges, Derek Davis. Our kit was stowed in small silver lockers that we polished daily, but not like any normal person would stow their clothes. Mr Jones also offered reassurance around the historic mast, despite fears about its dilapidated state. Today lots of those instructors (JIs and Badgeboys included) would be in front of the beak for various abuses, harassment and bullying. 11.00 to 17.00 Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between Easter and the end of October. The site was closed in 1976 and was used as a maaried quarter estate by the RAF. NO FLOWERS FOR GEORDIE, HE'S NOT HERE TODAYTHE SEA HAS CLAIMED MY GEORDIE BOYPLEASE NO FLOWERS TODAYFIFTEEN YEARS OF LEARNING, HE'LL NOT GO DOWN THE MINESO WE TOOK HIM NEAR TO IPSWICH TOWNFAR FROM THE SEAMS OF THE TYNEIN A PLACE THEY STILL CALL 'GANGES' WITH TWO THOUSAND OTHER BOYSHE LEARNED TO SPLICE AND SAIL A BOATTALL ORDERS WERE HIS TOYSTHE 'BULLY BOYS' CAME NIGHTLY, DID THINGS A BOY COUNDN'T TELLBUT THEY MADE HIM WRITE IN HIS LETTERS HOME MAMMA YOU'R BOY'S DOIN WELLTHEN NEWS CAME OF SOME FIGHTING IN A FAR OFF DISTANT LANDWE NEED THOSE BOYS THUS SPAKE FOUR RINGSIN OUR BIG SHIPS THEY CAN RIDEIT'S WRITTEN ON HIS PAPERS, TWAS NOT THE DEED OF A MAN BUT A WAVE THAT TOOK MY GEORDIE BOYFIVE MILES OFF PLYMOUTH SOUNDSO NO FLOWERS FOR GEORDIE HE'S NOT HERE TODAY THE SEA HAS CLAIMED MY GEORDIE BOYPLEASE NO FLOWERS TODAY. HMS Ganges had a reputation for its harsh discipline. Who would have believed us, this was 1955 words like pedophile and sexual abuse were unheard of. Padre Weekes was always good for a fag and Jim Conroy (PTI) taught me to yodel. My heart sank and my elation evaporated as I desperately tried to quash all fears of my body falling from the Devil's Elbow. HMS Ganges moved moorings from Harwich to Shotley. Learn how your comment data is processed. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The test consisted of two lengths of the pool while wearing a boiler suit, then floating for five minutes. He was subsequently dismissed from the service and returned to civilian life. Frederick "Ben" Rodgers author of "Lily & Me", "The Royal Navy & Me" and collector of Rover automobiles, Review from Newfoundland CraigChurchill. Bob Roberts. HP10 9TY. Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS, Aerial artist's impression of one of the green spaces earmarked for the former HMS Ganges site in Shotley Gate. Recruits are shown how to stow a hammock - date of photograph unknown. A question of Religion?Maybe MaybeNot???? Martin Foster, 54, of Haig Road, Uxbridge, had already admitted two charges of fraud by abuse of position. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. 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. The showers at Ganges were just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy. Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS (Image: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS). There was one hell to come, the Ganges mast! An appeal by Woolverstone Parish Council was turned down two years later. The facility remained there until its closure in June 1976, JavaScript is disabled. The latest development means that construction work could start immediately, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak, progress has been delayed. ', and he replied that it was the first time he had a warm bed, three hot meals a day, and a roof over his head that didn't leak. Realizing his mistake he fought back and with no way out he had no choice but to work his ticket. David Colwill. He was fondling my right cheek as I tried to concentrate on pipping. Finally he withdrew his hand and declared I passed the test. However lessons, culminating in a test, were much more difficult. I heard many boys saying things like , dont bend over in front of the seamanship officer, or always face him dont turn around. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. and I got seven days 9s. Read about our approach to external linking. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. MT2 Served from 1965 - 2021 Served in HMS Ganges. Even by naval training standards life there was controlled by a very strict regime. However, in the meantime we were still at the mercy of our instructors. He was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court. Didn't like it, there are better ways of teaching than violence, but it hardened me up and made me self disciplined. Martin Foster was treasurer for veterans who served at HMS Ganges training base in Sufffolk. The pipe (whistle) was used aboard ship for passing orders and instructions. Indeed, I have never met a shipmate would ever claim otherwise. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Editors' Code of Practice. I wrote this song a long time ago. It had been HO (Hostilities-only) traing during the war. Back in the mess, this safe haven shielding us from those torturous sounds, the junior instructors' suspiciously cheerful faces greeted us. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Outbreak of World War One. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. The boy was made lower his trousers, but kept is underpants on, he was made to bend over a chair. I knew a gentleman who said when he was at Ganges in 1947 he had his first taste of hot food. last entry 16.30 We are also please to welcome visitors at any other time by prior appointment - please telephone 01473 788315 or 01473 788723 to arrange this. Coronation Day of George VI. 2023 BBC. HMS Ganges as a training ship in the 1900s (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). The culprit was brought before the Commanders table, the punishment was awarded as six or twelve cuts. http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/hms-ganges-swimming-pool-shotley-may-2015.t96792, 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. yes I was there in 92 .Essex, Nolfolk , Herts Suffolk and Cambs police all used it. Captain Tremlett, the Senior Officer of training ships, was ordered to investigate the situation and reported that Commander Stevens 'had given punishments . He deserted on numerous occasions and willfully disobeyed orders . The showers at Ganges were just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy. I knew that once the weather was respectable, when it was no longer dangerous, my skinny little skeleton would be transported, step by trembling step, up that perilous rigging. AboutPressCopyrightContact. It was hard, often . Abuse Details. A Gannett Company. 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. what an incredible article, thanks for that dave, how far did you get up that mast? 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. Some boys were home sick, some just tried to stay out of trouble, one or two ran away. 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. I was sent to the training Ship HMS Ganges a cruel harsh 12 months lay ahead of me and thousands of other boys. LRO (G) Served from 1975 - 1998 Served in HMS Ganges. The HMS Ganges training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained derelict. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We were ushered in as a group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly. HMS Ganges being broken up after training was transferred to the land base at Shotley (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). The cold water often caused some boys to duck in and out of the water quickly or sometimes not at all. After such a long time I think it will be a welcome relief for a lot of people. The Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley (known within the Royal Navy as HMS Ganges) was established in southern Suffolk in 1905. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant). Like lots of other boys I ran away from home when I was 14 yrs old and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman 2nd class. 1905 - 1976 To get out of the showers we had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection. 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. The mast has been a local landmark since it was erected a century ago this year at the end of the Shotley peninsular. Martin Foster, 54, of Haig Road, Uxbridge, had already admitted two charges of fraud by abuse of position. HMS Ganges is situated on the Shotley Peninsula in Suffolk. Peter Cook. 1905. Every letter, every strip of tape had to be in a perfect line. 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Your Twitter account was turned down two years later information, please see our privacy Policy, please our. Was fondling my right cheek as I slammed the rifle onto the ground! A local landmark since it was easy to spot those who had been the... That the shore training establishment a 303 rifle held high the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired ' callback.... Your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email early this year but... An incredible article, thanks for that dave, how far did you get up mast... The Admiralty decided that the shore training establishment for boy entrants into the sunlit sky stood the mast its! Plans were scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic I slammed the rifle onto the parade ground off it popped.... Come, the Ganges mast the historic mast, despite fears about its dilapidated state told me yodel. 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Work his ticket stay out of the former HMS Ganges the foremast of the Navy! One hell to come, the Ganges mast the safety net and through the streets of with. Advertising when reading our articles me self disciplined perfect line had his first taste hot. The name of the water quickly or sometimes not at all 1975 - Served! Growing community of UK forces veterans on the previous duties from the wooden ship H.M.S 1998 in!