Dates: 1927 - 1969
HMS St Vincent was a shore establishment of the Royal Navy, located in Gosport, Portsmouth.
The name was given to the barracks and training establishment in Portsmouth in 1927, after the one that been set up aboard the old first rate HMS St Vincent in 1862. The new HMS St Vincent was commissioned on 1 June 1927, originally like its predecessor as a training establishment for boys and juniors. On the outbreak of the Second World War, the boys were evacuated to the Isle of Man, where they merged with those evacuated from HMS Caledonia to form HMS St George, which was formally established in 1939. HMS St Vincent meanwhile became a training establishment for officers of the Fleet Air Arm and an overflow for the Royal Navy barracks. A signal school was also established. A torpedo training section was opened on 22 July 1940.
St Vincent reverted to being a boy’s training establishment after the end of the war, and reopened as such on 1 December 1945. It continued to function as such until 1968, when it was decided to close St Vincent. The official closing ceremony was held on 8 December 1968, with the white ensign being lowered for the last time on 2 April 1969. The base was then handed over to the land agent the following day, 3 April 1969.
Four ships and three shore establishments of the Royal Navy have been named HMS St Vincent:
HMS St Vincent was an 8-gun fireship captured from the French in 1692 and sold in 1698.
HMS St Vincent was a 14-gun sloop, previously the Spanish ship San Vicente. She was captured in 1780 and sold was sold in 1783.
HMS St Vincent was a 120-gun first-rate ship of the line launched in 1815, on harbour service from 1841, used as a training ship from 1862, and sold in 1906.
HMS St Vincent was a St Vincent class battleship launched in 1908 and sold in 1921.
HMS St Vincent was a boy/junior training establishment in Gosport from 1927 to 1966.
HMS St Vincent was the home of the Royal Navy section of the Royal Naval Reserve’s London centre, HMS President between 1983 and 1992.
HMS St Vincent was the Navy’s communication centre in Whitehall from 1992 to 1998. It then became known as ’MARCOMM COMCEN (St Vincent)’.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS St Vincent
" Gosh that took some typing as a boy seaman at HMS St Vincent "
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" Looking for old join up mates. Joined up at HMS St Vincent summer 68Would like to hear from anyone you was ther around that time "
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" Joined in 1961 at HMS St Vincent go to reunions each year in October weyhi this year it is on my 60th birthday "
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" Ian, Do a Google search for Maritime books,also the St Vincent Museum which opened yesterday 15-10-05. Their is a book called "Face the music 1956 Hms St Vincent" Their is a lot of info on Google. "
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" Hi all wendy keeps on to me to pop my head around the corner well here you are, dont be alarmed by the photo it was taken in 1961 HMS St Vincent "
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"Chris Towse where art thow? I would like to hear from you. I have just packed in smoking in fact 10 mnths. You were the guy who showed me how to roll a fag and set the ball rolling ha!!!"
