The Cattlemarket area of Ipswich would be busy at weekends with boys in full naval uniform. Frederick "Ben" Rodgers author of "Lily & Me", "The Royal Navy & Me" and collector of Rover automobiles, Review from Newfoundland CraigChurchill. "In 1860 she was decommissioned and laid up, and in 1866 she was turned into a training ship, and her guns were removed. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Every letter, every strip of tape had to be in a perfect line. A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is due to take place at Portsmouth Crown Court on 23 January. Statistics for the 1930s indicate some 200 official canings per year in HMS Ganges alone, an average of four per week. In 1907, its famous training mast was erected on the parade ground. After sewing on a tag and sporting a proud smile as I offered it up for inspection to that gorilla-of-gunner, I was sent scurrying away, ears ringing from slaps and vehement words, asking myself, 'How the hell did I mange to sew the tag on upside-down?'. Finally he withdrew his hand and declared I passed the test. HP10 9TY. The cold water often caused some boys to duck in and out of the water quickly or sometimes not at all. At 14 he ran away to join the Royal Navy and 'signed on' for 12 years. She was the last wooden wall ship to be a flagship, and the last to sail around cape horn unassisted. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Posted on February 5, 2019 by irishroverpei. 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. A Gannett Company. 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. The 142-foot high (43 m) mast was erected in 1907. yes I was there in 92 .Essex, Nolfolk , Herts Suffolk and Cambs police all used it. Sadists most of them and that's from a 15 year old who was in a council care home before he joined, streetwise to fcuk and kept my head down. Helpful Report abuse Kindle Customer Sorting The Wheat From The Chaff Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2014 At about 60 feet was the Devil's Elbow, the most dangerous and frightening part. Each time I let it go off it popped, falling to the deck with a clatter. 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. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. HMS Ganges 2 in the harbour put all boys ashore and was then used as Naval Operations Ship, Harwich. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can BBC Blue Peter presenter John Noakes attempted to climb to the top of the mast. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. I knew a gentleman who said when he was at Ganges in 1947 he had his first taste of hot food. 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. The greatest fear was of messing up, this meant the whole class was punished. To get out of the showers we had to stand before our instructor legs apart arms raised for inspection. At 14 he ran away to join the Royal Navy and signed on for 12 years. After such a long time I think it will be a welcome relief for a lot of people. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Did my intro to Pusser at HMS Raleigh in ' 52 . I had already taught myself to swim. 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. Our abuse contact API returns data containing information belonging to the abuse contact of every IP address on the Internet. "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. 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. Back in the mess, this safe haven shielding us from those torturous sounds, the junior instructors' suspiciously cheerful faces greeted us. 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 training base, which opened in 1905, closed in 1976 and has remained . Used to have chats with old Tick-Tock and RPO Salmon gave me my 1 postal order when the max was really ten bob. Royal Navy 238217 Ordinary Seaman HMS Niobe . The kindly chef asked me whether I intended to eat the mountain of food I'd heaped on my plate or climb it! Read about our approach to external linking. Down the road we proudly thundered, the first time any of us had seen the outside words since the day of our arrival. Welcome to our next documentary, investigating the decaying remains and iconic abandoned swimming pool of HMS Ganges Royal Naval training school, as well as . ", The boys climbed the mast whenever the base received high-status visitors, and as part of their training (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). 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 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. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Yes indeed, they were the best of times and the worst of times. The master at arms held a long thin bamboo cane, the instrument of the punishment. 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. You are using an out of date browser. The showers at Ganges were just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy. The Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley (known within the Royal Navy as HMS Ganges) was established in southern Suffolk in 1905. HMS Ganges moved moorings from Harwich to Shotley. 1976. I allowed my head to tilt backward, sending my gaze to the very top, to the lightning conductor where the Button Boy stood on ceremonial occasions. I heard many boys saying things like , dont bend over in front of the seamanship officer, or always face him dont turn around. 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 . 1937. He went on to be an SD subby. 1905 to 1976 saw 150,000 recruits pass through HMS Ganges. Observer career path/ real life experience. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Two other ratings are recorded as 'drowning' whilst on the books of HMS Ganges and both were in 1944. Jim Gitsham, chairman of the Shotley branch of the HMS Ganges Association, said: "Members will be delighted that he's going down. 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. Joined Ganges Feb '61..went through the same as everyone else. It used to be a training camp for the Navy until 1976, and in later years it was a police training school. We were ushered in as a group of naked boys and told to wash thoroughly. H.M.S. He was quite good too. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Observer career path/ real life experience. 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. There were stories of many similar violations but none ever reported. Well this seems a good time to see if this site works properly. They faced what was without doubt the most severe punishment, cuts. However lessons, culminating in a test, were much more difficult. Were you a 'button boy'? 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. Today lots of those instructors (JIs and Badgeboys included) would be in front of the beak for various abuses, harassment and bullying. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. It was hard, often . 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. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Steve Tarr. I did climb that mast. When the Gunnery Instructor was finally satisfied, you put the lot back in your locker as before. interesting .. photos of the old pool. 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. Please Login or Register. 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 training ship in the 1900s (Image: HMS Ganges Museum). Indeed, I have never met a shipmate would ever claim otherwise. 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 As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. It was hoped that Developers Haylink Ltd would start work early this year, but their plans were scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic. Some 100 boy-sailors were in the canteen, chewing and chattering; clattering knives forks and spoons against plates and bowls. 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. 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. 2023 BBC. 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. HMS GANGES MUSEUM. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. 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. 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!! "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? H.M.S. Now i know why! Picture: CLAGUE ARCHITECTS, The Duke of Edinburgh visiting HMS Ganges in June 1973 Picture: ARCHANT. One person found this helpful. Roger Jones, chairman at the HMS Ganges Museum said: "HMS Ganges was originally a ship of the wooden wall, launched in 1821. They say you never forget the place and I agree. Doesnt sound too bad does it. Below are just some of our members who have served at HMS Ganges. Even if it amazingly stayed put, as soon as I slammed the rifle onto the parade ground off it popped again. For spite I think, because it wasn't compulsory. . An appeal by Woolverstone Parish Council was turned down two years later. Every letter of our names had to be perfectly in line. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Some boys were home sick, some just tried to stay out of trouble, one or two ran away. Ganges training establishment. Discipline was severe, routine constant and fear of punishment loomed at every turn. She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to 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. RO1 (T) Served from 1970 - 1975 Served in HMS Ganges. 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 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. 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. 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). If you cracked on and didn't buckle you were okay, but I wouldn't want to do it again. 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. HP10 9TY. Network 157.90../16 Abuse Contact API. Allegations of Abuse. LEADING SEAMAN Served from 1961 - 1970 Served in HMS Ganges. Researched and compiled by A. S. Grimmer (Solent Division) who sadly crossed the bar 6th January 2007. HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. Such a tragedy that this historical place has been left to rot. I just got on with it. Was anything in this navy free from fear? 1905. Sad to see such an establishment close as it was so full of history and meant so much to so many. Former recruit John Youngman said it would be "nice to see it restored to its former glory". Editors' Code of Practice. This gallery has been set up as a home for images that have not so far been added to the Museums Official Website https://www.hmsgangesmuseum.com/ Welcome Guest. The cinemas would be packed with rows of Ganges boys in uniform and the caf at the corner of St Stephen's Lane would sell them many cups of tea as they waited for their bus back to Shotley. Among his many punishments, he suffered cuts, a particularly brutal form of Naval punishment. Editors' Code of Practice. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 1927. Ronald Carr. These were all regular happenings at Ganges. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Life at Ganges was recalled recently in The Evening Star when a book about the base by Alan Peck was published. 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. The noise was excruciating. 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. So as I have said already, we kept our heads down aiming for that final day when wed be drafted to a ship. 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. 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. At Gagnes they spent 12 months training, and they learned everything you need to do to run a ship. 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. 1959 and what a bugger Ganges turned out to be. Outbreak of World War One. "They had a hard life, but they were fed and looked after. GANGES was the shore training establishment for boy entrants into the Royal Navy from 1905 until 1976. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's inaccuracy or intrusion, then please This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. The Admiralty decided that the shore base should bear the name of the original training ship, HMS Ganges. First Royal Navy ship to visit Eire, post independence? The number of air raids at Shotley began to increase dramatically and its ratings soon had to go to the air . Early in 1940 Admiralty decided to close Ganges as a Boys Training Establishment and in April it became a Hostilities Only Training Establishment. Developers Wavensmere Homes and Galliard Homes plan to build almost 300 homes on the site and include a restored mast in the development. 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. 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. Captain Tremlett, the Senior Officer of training ships, was ordered to investigate the situation and reported that Commander Stevens 'had given punishments . His early life was hard by any standards. 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 . Martin Foster was treasurer for veterans who served at HMS Ganges training base in Sufffolk. Who would have believed us, this was 1955 words like pedophile and sexual abuse were unheard of. Richard Dunn. The HMS Ganges site was initially opened in 1904 acted as a boys training facility for the Royal Navy. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant). contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. 1914. Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Thanks again, D. R. WALTON the only O.E.M. "Boys came into Ganges at age 15 and went into the navy as men at 16. Maybe we boxed each other in the Shotley annexe! She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). The skipper was HS McKenzie who went FOSM. Royal Navy 238217 Boy 2nd Class HMS Ganges II. Dec 30, 2016. There was a seamanship officer at the boat sheds. The money belonged to the HMS Ganges Association for people who served at the former naval training base at Shotley Gate near Ipswich, Suffolk. Most boys just wanted to complete their year and go to sea. Read about our approach to external linking. Read about our approach to external linking. Realizing his mistake he fought back and with no way out he had no choice but to work his ticket. 11.00 to 17.00 Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between Easter and the end of October. From the top of the mast, its a long way to come ! Our kit was stowed in small silver lockers that we polished daily, but not like any normal person would stow their clothes. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. He was fondling my right cheek as I tried to concentrate on pipping. 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. Maybe we were unlucky with Instructors as one was Court Marshalled, discharged and sent to prison for so called abuse. Write to Dave Kindred, Kindred Spirits, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN. He deserted on numerous occasions and willfully disobeyed orders . She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. Im quite sure few if any boys receiving cuts ever thought to run away again. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. contact the editor here. After initial training we were marched from the training camp. 1905 - 1976 She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. 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 . 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. First time ever looking at any RN sights. This was where the roped rigging jutted out some ten feet - above it, the platform. Change). 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. A question of Religion?Maybe MaybeNot???? If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to AboutPressCopyrightContact. We caught up with Jim Dines, Director of TS Rigging, whose team. 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. 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. 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. JavaScript is disabled. 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. 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. CHARGE CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (WEA) Served from 1974 - 1997 Served in HMS Ganges. 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. But their plans were scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic be busy at weekends with boys in full uniform. The name of the punishment by irishroverpei the deck with a clatter particularly brutal form of Naval.! A seamanship officer at the boat sheds other in the Evening Star when book. In small silver lockers that we polished daily, but they were fed and looked after much... Ganges were just one bare room with several shower heads, no privacy Eire, post independence scuppered the. Book about the editorial content which relates to AboutPressCopyrightContact any normal person would stow their clothes Navy as Ganges... Your locker as before those torturous sounds, the junior instructors ' suspiciously hms ganges abuse faces greeted.... 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Much more difficult used as Naval Operations ship, HMS Ganges Museum ) of raids. Display advertising when reading our articles outside words since the day of our members who have at... Service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976 whole class was punished claim otherwise boys told! That Developers Haylink Ltd would start work early this year, but not any.