HMS Ganges. May 1965 to May 1966

A few of my photos and some from the HMS Ganges Museums photo galleries. Song the Long Covered Way - with kind permission from Shep Wooley.

[@GangesBoy]

See what else Shep has - kzbin.info?search_query=shep+woolley Also please like and subscribe so that more Ganges Boys get to see it.

[@068694]

Just stumbled upon this thanks Jim. Joined 1962 Drake mess short covered way. I live just over the river and can see Ganges with all the development going on. The refurbished mast looks great, hope Nelson Hall is going to be saved .

[@GangesBoy]

Nelson Hall along with the Gates, Swimming pool (building), the two towers and P.0.s Mess are all listed so staying

[@barriefieldgate2998]

Hi Jim, Yeah I was there in 1969 joined Sept 15th what memories even to this day.our COMMANDING officer was captain Button, appropriate as I finally made the Button on the main mast later on in training in the main establishment. Followed in my Grandfathers footprints as he also was a GANGES lad, didn't know this until I was 17 when we finally met up what a coincidence BAZ

[@alangregory4031]

Just stumbled on the movie. My dad was a boy seaman in 1928 there. He was taken there by his father, George Constable, at the age of 13. He never talked much about it and came to New Zealand on the survey ship HMS Endeavour to make maps of NZ's coastline. Awesome video! Thanks, Jim

[@michaelgreen6671]

Wow Jim, some good memories amongst these photos. The Annexe seemed a scarry place, I remember us all standing at attention, the wonderful marine band playing, it was a very hot day when one of the boys in my line fainted due to the heat, we weren't allowed to help him, I felt really bad about that, I'm sure one of the instructors was there very quickly. I was a little intimidated by the spin drier in your photos, I'd forgotten the thing until now, it was on those big springs and if a little out of balance it would shake and bang, I was sure it would fly off its concrete plinth one day. The drying racks were amazing they got so hot and dried clothes so quickly if you weren't careful they could scorch your clothes very easily. I can't imagine they would have a very good energy rating , at home my mum still was using a mangle and a clothes line.. HMS Ganges did give us the best start in life possible and what I learned in one year has had a bearing on my fifth five years since leaving in May 1966. Chiefs Eldred and Brown did a brilliant job with us. I do find it hard to look or think Ganges as a housing estate with a mast, even if the mast is returned to the state it was in 1976, I think youngsters should still double across the quarter deck. So much history.

[@phil-zz5hk]

brilliant film jim . i was a there 6 years later . 72 to 73 . frobisher 21 mess . half way down the long covered way , port side . it was bloody hard for a 15 year old but still great memories . £2 per week . 🤣🤣

[@georgeh1352]

Great to see the Annexe again. Joined up at Raleigh in 65 but had a week at the Annexe in 63 as a Sea Cadet on Easter or Summer Camp. Except for the Cinema, can't recall doing much there, we were drilled on that square quite alot especially when caught having a floor polish fight between the messes lol.

[@martindowner7554]

I was there from March 64 to March 65 fond memories good training for what to expect, Grenville division. CAPT. PLACE VC WAS the CO.

[@gusborg4651]

I was there in 52. Still tugged at my heart-strings. Good-on-ya Jim...

[@pavlos2851]

So many memories. I was a 1972 intake. Dreadnought mess in the annex. Liberty boat to Harwich to the only pub that serve you beer knowing you were underage. But a brutal place, I couldn’t imagine todays 15 year olds surviving it however streetwise they seem.

[@raytalbot5890]

My brother joined in 72 then was ships company at her end.🙏

[@stevesullivan233]

Joined same date Jan 1972, a snotty 15 year old. Benbow lane, Long Covered way to name a few. All long gone now🥲

[@wilco148]

Superb, Jim.. sadly, I was a Raleigh boy, joining at 16 in 77

[@Super8Rescue]

lovely reminder of days gone by

[@johntait491]

Thanks for these pics Jim. I was in Hawke 48 mess from May 1964 till 1965 and then went to HMS Mercury.

[@stormtossedsailor7961]

Excellent post Jim, so many memories , good and bad, but I would do it all over again, even knowing now what I didn't know then. 1965 seems like yesterday looking back through the photos, and can still remember CPO's Eldred and Brown I reckon we were lucky having those two. Those hard lessons have stood me in good stead throughout my life, and still do today. Take care mate be in touch soon, Ray Lavall .

[@philreading3836]

Superb post I was there nov 1962 Nov 63 then on to Arbroath.many mixed memories some good some bloody awful but has stood me in good stead Mind most of the instructors etc could well be charged with child abuse these days

[@josephbryanmitchell5938]

I was there April 27th 1965 to 1966 in Rodney 20 mess, born in Yorkshire made in the Royal Navy, enjoyed my service time

[@longhunter1951]

, 88 recruitment. 17th Oct 66. Benbow 27mess . Chief Stoker Perrin, class instructor. Thank for the Video Jim.

[@philipemery5503]

I joined GANGES on the 31st August 1965 entering the New Recruits section at approximately 14:30

[@pavlos2851]

The breakfasts were the best, I gained a lifelong love for fried bread 😁

[@anthonyandersen2958]

Baby stokes 1962 to 1963. Grenville Division 158 recruitment. My Navy. 😊

[@billk1627]

I joined on the 15th May 1967 93 recruitment Hawke Division in the then Red Mantions!

[@blaggerfiftysix]

Shep Wooley - Petty Officer seamen branch - was my PO of the watch in HQ1 on HMS Blake - 1973/74

[@patdunphy4714]

I joined Ganges 13November 65, great time

[@BillyKavanagh-tr9qu]

My grandad Terry Kavanagh was there November 58-59 Rodney 12 mess

[@GangesBoy]

If you have any of his photos the museum would love to add a copy to its galleries pbase.com/hms_ganges_museum

[@BillyKavanagh-tr9qu]

Yes he has photos. I will send them when I see him next

[@philipemery5503]

Remember Faith Hope and charity. Punishment for not paying attention in typing class was to run up and down them carrying type writer. Also remember climbing mast for the first time going over Devils Elbow

[@Super8Rescue]

We had spin dryers like that on Ark Royal

[@thetruthwillout3347]

I worked with a chap who was at HMS Ganges in the 1960's. He told me how he once received lashes for a minor indiscretion. He left shortly afterwards as he couldn't get over the trauma of it and the harsh regime. He joined the police force and went on to have a full and interesting career. Interesting video. Thanks.

[@rogerl7364]

0:08 Sorry, but you didn’t get lashings ( cuts) for “ minor indiscretions” !!

[@johnfisher7587]

I was there in the 70.s doing boys service

[@tamar5261]

I remember getting into that midget submarine. I didn't half get a bollocking for it. 72 hawke division

[@philipemery5503]

Joined August 1965

[@pmafire]

Been there great pal Ray lavall Frank Pyle class leader chop chop brown other officer

[@GangesBoy]

@pmafireI'm guessing you were in the mess, Benbow 27, with us. What's your name?

[@GangesBoy]

PM is that Pete Malcolm?

[@pmafire]

@@GangesBoy the very same

[@GangesBoy]

@@pmafire Hi Pete long time no see. 5 of us had a 59th anniversary reunion at the Ganges Museum last May and we are planning to do the same for the 60th next year and will be joined by a couple more of the old mess mates. Please email me at [e-mail] so that we can have a catch up and hopefully you will join us next May. Jim Worlding

[@michaelgreen6671]

Hi Pete, Jim told me he'd guessed who you were from your comment on Wednesday. Not sure if you'll remember me, Mick Green, I lost an eye when when one of the lads flicked a bit of paper from an elastic band. We went through a photo of the mess field gun crew John Winn sent it to us. I remember quite a few names but hard to link them to faces, Jim remembers much more than I can. Once we put names to faces some memories came back, great fun going through them. I'll let Jim tell you who came to the 59th reunion, it was amazing, the emotions were incredible a bunch of brothers meeting for the first time in 58 years. A brilliant day. Roughly where do you live I live in South Norfolk, Jim is in Godmanchester. Look forward to chatting soon. Jim and me have a virtual pub night every Wednesday on the phone, we talk about everything and anything, only about three hours.... one of the bonuiis I don't have to sit through Corrie and Emmerdale. Take care, Mick@@pmafire

[@NOTSOCOOLDUDE]

Did anyone out there visit Fingringhoe and use The Whalebone pub?

[@PeterMalcolm-h8g]

That should read dave swattan john winn

[@PeterMalcolm-h8g]

Mick sadly don't remember you more importantly don't remember your accident. I remember ray lavall we seemed to hit it off dave satanic and john winning we're posted with me to Raleigh in Plymouth for a short while before we all found ourselves on a plane from raf Brize Norton to Singapore to join the albino in the far east 1 took off not old enough to but a brink in the UK and a Virginia both of them were about to change big style in Singapore. I normally read for an hour in bed and sometimes scroll KZbin imaging my shock to see an officer inspecting a parade and dave groves is on the end ,tallest, and I'm next to him I also still have the field gun picture need to look at it again to try and remember names frank Pyle was class leader was there a Colin West, biffo bear, a guy from Manchester we all picked on called martin chop chop cpo brown speak soon

[@michaelgreen6671]

Hi Pete, I also went to Raleigh, due to my eye I had to wait for a large boat with medical facilities. I guess everyone bar me knew my time in the service was limited so I spent the summer of 66 at Jupiter point while waiting, Eagle was near the end of a refit, I joined her while she was in dry dock. I joined a little group of stokers paint spraying engineering compartments, when we were doing sea trials I was in damage control, another choice job, a boiler room caught fire, back she went to Plymouth for repairs. My time not being fit was up, spent a few weeks at Stonehouse RN hospital and medically discharged. As I hadn't seen the world, I was offered a trip to the States, was and still is the last place I want to go, I wanted to drink Tiger beer in the far east not Miller lite in the USA., I left with a pension and did an ONC course in engineering. Married 52 years this September, 2 sons, 5 grandkids 2 great grand kids, lifes not bad. I hope you live close enough to join us next May 24. Dave Grove turned out to be a really lovely gentle guy, not a trace of CPO left. It was a brilliant reunion, almost unbelievable that we hadn't seen each other for 58 years. I chat to Jim every week and met up a few times, great guy.

[@MrEaster619]

My father told me was at HMS Ganges but never learnt about his service as he passed away when I was a boy. If anyone knew a Paul Easter and could tell me some info that would be great.

[@GangesBoy]

Beard27 If you let me know when your Dad was born I will be able to work out roughly when he joined Ganges. I look after the Ganges Museums photo galleries so you can leave a private message for me at the bottom of the page in this link. Leave your email add and I'll get in touch. pbase.com/hms_ganges_museum/1960s

[@bigbird5303]

​@@GangesBoyHi, do you know anything about HMS Ganges being used as a football village in the early 1980s? I remember playing football tournaments at Ganges from 1981 for a few years and staying in the barracks for a week at a time. I'll never forget seeing the mast for the first time as an 11 year old. It was an awesome sight

[@GangesBoy]

@@bigbird5303 Yes in the early 80's the site was owned by Eurosports. If you look at this photo gallery you'll find the Eurosports brochure. pbase.com/hms_ganges_museum/post1976 If you have any photos of the teams etc; we would love to add them to the Museums gallery.

[@bigbird5303]

@@GangesBoy I've just had a quick look at my photos but I can't find any from Ganges. I do have a team photo with Euro Sports Village sponsoring us and playing under their name in a tournament in Sweden. This place has intrigued me from my first visit and I have so much respect to all of you that trained there and from reading all the history. I feel privileged to have spent time there and exploring the site whilst it was in such good condition.

[@GangesBoy]

@@bigbird5303 I've just found a clipping from a paper, showing Trevor Brooking with 3 young lads who were training at Eurosports. If you met Trevor at Shotley Let me know and I can get a copy to you.

[@dickensdickens3025]

I was the 65 to 66 in Duncan 10 mess in the long covered way. And this song reminds me very much Piotor Stockley and Clark both brutal bastards who have scars up and down my shins with the surreptitiously Corporal punishment. It was a dreadful time and a great time and disgraceful the way they treated the Ganges boys. I have to say though it instill discipline into me and the Navy made amount of me. I went back to visit my old mesh defined it was rubble so I took one of the parquet flooring blocks back, one that I had obviously polished on my hands and knees for a year of Purgatory. The mask was broken then and they hadn’t started the development. As it had finished as a police training school. Sad sad to see. I still have my number one and my C Jersey with my silk thread name stitched in with my kit bag, et cetera all stamped. I do not look back fondly. At the behaviour of the instructors but I’m sure they had the job cut out to get young mostly uneducated troubled teens to fit into the one size of the Navy required. It does not excuse they want and brutality and callousness.

[@davesimkins6701]

Hi Dick, I was also at Ganges (Oct 1965 - 66), JNAM in Anston 17 mess. Don't understand where you got the "surreptitiously Corporal punishment" bit from, or indeed the "uneducated troubled teens". Maybe you had some kind of bullying issues going on. All I can honestly say is that I thoroughly enjoyed all of my time in basic training at Ganges. Three square meals a day, plus snacks in between, sport/PT/swimming everyday, good basic technical training, continued general education, and learning the benefits of self discipline. Without going into too much detail, the RN prepared me very well for a future professional career in the defence industry post the RN! Not too bad for a council house lad. Cheers!

[@cobbler40]

Kids not men !

[@GangesBoy]

We may have been Kids when when joined but when we left we went on War Ships and did a Mans job !

[@blaggerfiftysix]

You have no idea...the training was brutal, most kids today would be bleating to their mummies that the nasty instructor wouldn't use the recruit's preferred pronoun

[@leehotspur9679]

Jim likes kids