HMS Ganges
Cyril Tripp
1939/40.

Boxing medal presented to Cyril Tripp 1939/40

Boy Sig. Cyril Tripp 1939/40

Boxing medal presented to Cyril Tripp 1939/40

My Dad Cyril Tripp who was at HMS Ganges from May 1939 until May 1940.

He served as a signalman aboard HMS Exeter and was a survivor when she was sunk in the Sundra Strait, Java Sea. He was a POW in Japan (Nagasaki) for three years. He died in 1974 aged 51 years.
He always told me that his HMS Ganges training helped him to survive appalling treatment by the Japanese, not only making you tough physically but also mentally. He nearly ran away from HMS Ganges when he first got there but later went on to be a Button Boy.
He was also a middleweight boxing champion at HMS St. George, Isle of Man, when aged 20 years which shows that HMS Ganges men were to be feared! I still have the medal.

<Philip Tripp tripcony@aol.com>

Cyril Tripp and Bill Wallace - oppos.

Cyril Tripp and
his oppo Brian Wallace

Cyril Tripp - Rugby kit 1939/40

Cyril Tripp in Rugby kit

Cyril Tripp

THE GANGES SPIRIT?

As told by W Penninger USS Pope 1942, Makassar POW Camp, Celebes, Indonesia.
The Japanese sent us down to the docks as a work party to unload a ship from Singapore.
She had on board, 25 Anti aircraft guns to be positioned around the Island.
As we considered ourselves still at war we made all work last as long as we could, with a few little "extras" thrown in. We met the British guy "Tripp" at the water barrel. We knew something was going to happen but did not know what.
Each gun that we unbolted from the hold of the ship. Somehow after the Jap guard checked it for ammo became un-breeched. Before the Jap officer could come aboard and tell us how stupid we were, The signalman "Tripp" put a shell into each gun. When the guards came below, Tripp opened the breech AND SHOWED THEM! No one could figure out "Tripp's" thinking, with that all guns were checked.
Each one of those guns that came ashore, Tripp, Tarquinio, and Bert Diggle (HMS Exeter Gun Crew), were throwing the firing pins down into the bilges, or over the side.
The guns stood in their splinter shields for 2 weeks with ammo and under camouflage canvas. And boy did the Japs have an awakening when they were uncovered on the next air raid and wouldn't fire!
We made it easier for the Japs to get killed and the bomber guys chalked up a little easier trip over Makassar.

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