Dates: 1865 - 1976
HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate 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. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich and Shotley. She remained in service until October 1976.
The increasing professionalism of the Royal Navy and the reform of practices during the mid-nineteenth century led to the need to establish new training centres at which recruits could be inducted into navy life. The Admiralty decided to set aside five old laid up hulks in different ports around the country, and use them as bases at which volunteers aged between 15 and 17 could spend a year being educated for future service in the navy. The plan called for an annual intake of 3,500 boys. They were to be trained in seamanship and gunnery, as well as traditional aspects of sea life. One of the hulks chosen to be converted into a school was the old 84-gun second rate ship of the line HMS Ganges. Despite initial objections that her layout made her unsuitable for the task, the decision went ahead.
She put into Devonport on 5 May 1865 and underwent a refit. She took her first intake of 180 boys on 1 January 1866. They had been transferred from the training ship HMS Wellesley, then at Chatham. The Wellesley’s commander, Frederick H. Stevens also came with the boys and became the Ganges’s commanding officer. Having been refitted to provide accommodation for 500 boys, the Ganges was towed to Mylor by the paddle tug Gladiator. She arrived on 20 March 1866 and was anchored in the Carrick Roads.
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. Captain Tremlett, the Senior Officer of training ships, was ordered to investigate the situation and reported that Commander Stevens ’had given punishments which were not laid down in the Training Regulations and had also prevented his ship’s company from taking due leave.’ Stevens and his First Lieutenant were subsequently removed, and were replaced by Commander F.W. Wilson on 24 July 1866. By the end of 1866 there were 478 boys at the establishment.
Ganges was occasionally sailed to Devonport to undergo refits. The establishment had become an important part of local life, as in 1870 a rumour began to circulate that Ganges would not return after one such refit. The mayor was pressured to contact the local Member of Parliament, and also to ask questions of a Government minister. The rumour was then disproved. By 1899 the declining number of boys joining the Ganges led the Admiralty to decide to move her to a more populated area. Petitions were organised by the local councils, but were unable to sway the Admiralty. Ganges sailed from Mylor on 27 August 1899. She was refitted in Devonport, which involved her keel being scraped. The boys were quartered at HMS Lion and HMS Impregnable whilst this work was carried out. She then sailed to Sheerness in company with HMS Arrogant. She spent two months here before being towed to Harwich by the tug Alligator. She arrived on 11 November 1899. HMS Caroline had arrived shortly before Ganges and served as a temporary hospital ship.
Memories of HMS Ganges
HMS Ganges, Shotley, Suffolk in 1960Written by Paul Knapp (Andy)
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"15 March, cold as charity, arrived at the Annexe, hair cut and then supper, drew bedding, allocated mess, made up beds "pussers style", bath and dhobi, turned in, lights out! Crash! Bang! Wallop! Lights on, Tug Wilson in a heap, bed on it's side, tried to have a crafty drag by leaning out the window! Made to stand in the mess dustbin under the Annexe mast, shouting "I'm a ghost" for an hour. Dress, pyjamas and oilskin.
Collingwood 44, "Green Mansions" corregated walls, concrete floors! Cold as charity! Even the "drying room" was cold!
Chiefy West, "Seamanship." "Tinger Ling" PO.GI Parade Drill instructor. We hated them, but turned out they were the best friends we ever had, I still live by their standards today. Footwear cleaned everyday, laces removed, bath and dhobi, clean nicks and socks, sewing cable stitch, splicing rope, hospital corners,making "kai", standing up straight, swinging your arms, no hands in pockets, always looking as though you are going somewhere! Funny how things stick!
Climbing the Mast! The rigging shaking in tune with the climbers. Paul Drinkall having to go thro' the Lubbers Hole at the "elbow" because he was such a"short arsed " little devil, he couldn't reach up and over the elbow. Reaching the "half moon" through the hole and down the other side. Much later, Manning the Mast for the Queen's Birthday Parade, all done to the drum beat
Joining The Bugle Band as a drummer, spending hours under the instruction of the Royal Marine Drum Major. First "Divisions" as a drummer, never hitting the drumskin once!
Sailing cutters, pulling whalers, MFV week-end to Ipswich or Felixstowe,sea training on HMS Chaplet or Paladin, we're real "roughy toughy" sailors now! Evening classes to get you up to HET standard, seamanship classes, parade ground drill, "skylarking about" and meeting "Faith, Hope, and Charity" dressed for the occasion, oilskins back to front and wearing gas masks!
Guard Class, smart as a pin! Passing out Parade , Mums and Dads real proud, if you had them, some didn't, never mind "the Andrew" will look after you!
Saying goodbye to friends, and then on to your "specialist training" after a spot of leave. Victualing Allowance burning a hole in your pocket, going for a wet! Uniforms got you away with "murder". Once on that train at Ipswich you were "proper little Jack me Hearties!""
HMS Ganges, Earls court,London 1971 in 1971Written by Alan Renwick
Contact this person >> "Window ladder display,I would like to say I was one of the guys on the ladder,but no, I was one of the lads who carried out the poles that the ladder was suspended too.I can tell you they were heavy at first until you got used to the wait.At one point during training we carried the pole with our PO standing on top of it.I think we spent 3 weeks in London,living upstairs in Earls court quite an experience.Happy days."
HMS Ganges, in 1966Written by Barry O’Connell
Contact this person >> "I was a shore in Harwich with my oppos and to get back you had to get the liberty boat at 2330 from the Trinty pier. Well I was last on, but as I went down on the last step I slipped on the green slime and only just grabbed the side when some right wag bellowed cast off, and then the boat took off with me hanging on the side and the lads were either trying to tickle me or bite my hand for me to let go, the air was pretty blue from me and if I was rather rat arsed I was dead sober by then, but then the lads heaved me in laughing like mad and me still swearing I would rip off their most prized item.
At the quay on Shotley side we had to crossed over cutters and whalers I slipped in one yet again and the Joss said in his nice warm Cronish tones DQ’s to sober up young man, I said hold on Joss I am as sober as judge he replied things my Mother would never say. God who made cell blankets that rough I ask??? Great days "
HMS Ganges, in 1962Written by Christopher Howell
Contact this person >> "The two photographs attached to my profile are of Exmouth 251 & 356 Classes in 45 Mess, HMS Ganges (1962-63). I am hoping that all/some of those pictured will respond with a view to meeting up at Shotley (or thereabouts) in June 2012 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our joining the Royal Navy.
Do please get in touch!!"
HMS Ganges, in 1972Written by Stephen Dandilly
Contact this person >> "I was in the HMS GANGES HIGH BOX DISPLAY TEAM and i remember going sailing in a mirror dinghy with a ship mate called Steve Jarvis who said he could sail only to capsize in the oggin and us getting a rolleking for it Ithink steve was training as a steward."
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Ganges
" i’m vicki cross (nee andrews) searching for information on my grandfather who may have been on hms ganges or hms raleigh when he was 15 or over. I know he was on hms zulu in mombasa harbour in 1965 was announced lost in august 1966. My grandfather name is Edward Andrews and was known as Ted or ..."
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" I joined up at HMS GANGES in 1965..But I was known as Derek Hough then. Became a Badge Boy..then J.I....eventualy moved on with another recruitment to HMS Drake Navy Day display team..1966 world cup day. I have been trying to make contact with anyone who knows me ..but am not too successfull to ..."
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" HMS GANGES Looking for anyone from Frobisher Division. Instructors Chief ERA Clive Dorling and CPO Bill Stazaneker.36 Recruitment Feb.1961. In the Annexe Tiger Division "
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" Alan, my situation was the same as yours, I worked as a van boy with the Abbey Craig Laundry in Stirling, getting £9 a week while wating to join HMS Ganges where I got the princely sum of £15 a fortnight! "
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" For the last hour I have been sitting here thinking about this thread & about how I would react in a situation. I joined the Navy in 1964 at the tender age of 15yrs & 2mths, I did my training at HMS Ganges I climbed the mast even though I dont like hights, did that make me brave? No I ..."
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