A Brief History of HMS Ganges
 The
Royal Naval Training Establishment H.M.S. Ganges derived its name from a
sailing ship launched in Bombay in 1821. After nearly eighty years of
active service - during which time she became the last "Wooden Wall" to wear an
Admiral's Flag - she was converted into a training ship and stationed at Shotley
pier.
 In
1905 the boys were transferred ashore to an establishment on the Shotley
Peninsula and the old ship was towed away. From that time until the
establishment closed in 1976, thousands of boys passed through HMS Ganges where
they trained to become the backbone of the Seaman and Communications Branches of
the Royal Navy. Sometimes they went from the establishment to a Training
Squadron for a short period, but frequently went direct to take their place in
ships of the Fleet as trained Seaman and Communication Boys.
Boys entered the Royal Navy between the ages of 15½
and 16½ years of age spending in the region of 18 months at Ganges receiving a
thorough training in seamanship, gunnery, communications and other practical
applications. The boys also received school instruction as part of their
general education.
Joining up
It was a motley crew of in-disciplined boys that left on the night train from
Glasgow Central to London then on to Ipswich and Shotley. As we entered the
Annexe to identify ourselves, I remember the first words ever spoken to me in
the Navy by the Instructor Boy, himself only a couple of years older --"You
call everyone sir here!"
Thus commenced a period of rigorous training and character forming that stood me
in good stead and about which many of us I'm sure remain grateful.
Of course, 5.30 a.m. backward swimming in winter mornings was not something that
I relished, but I learned in two weeks swallowing a large proportion of Ganges
swimming pool in the process!
Here then are some of my photographic memories, some taken by official Navy
photographers, but many just my own snapshots of those memorable days over 50
years ago.
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