Old Ships/Comments:- Have just joined the 'Cyber World' some 60 years after joining 'GANGES' Many 'Old Ships'
at the moment don't wish to appear too much of a 'LAMPSWINGER' I served from 1945 until 1969, final rank CPO/TASI.
After which I completed 13 years service in RNXS rising again to rank of Chief. Can proudly claim to have been awarded a LSGC medal for both efforts!
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Virago, HMS Franklin, HMS Neptune, HMS Royal Prince (Royal Naval Rhine Flotilla/Squadron),
HMS Neptune (Berry Head), HMS Wiay, HMS Constance, RNSS Chatham Dockyard, HMS Pembroke (numerous occasions for RN Signal School & Nore Command Rifle Team).
Old Ships/Comments:- (m) HMS Ganges (57-58), HMS Raleigh
(58-59), HMS Albion (59-61), HMS Dunkirk (61-63), HMS Agincourt (63-65), HMS
Dalyrimple (65-66), HMS Nelson (66-67).
Stoker (1st Class) After Coal/Before Gas Turbine.
Remember: Bobo (Ganges), Chris Matthews (Agincourt), Barry Irons (Agincourt),
Dave Hibbitt (Dunkirk), Topsy Turner (Dunkirk).
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges till Feb. 64, HMS Cambridge till Apr. 64,
HMS Ursa Apr 64 - Oct 66. HMS Excellent Oct 66 - Sept. 67, HMS Wakeful Sept
67 - Aug 69, HMS Excellent Aug.69 - May 70, HMS Forth May 70 - Sept 71, HMS
Excellent Sept 71 - Apr 72 (4 Months of which were aboard HMS Hampshire whilst
in refit), HMS Torquay Apr 72 - Oct 74. Then released into civvy street. Swapped
one uniform for another, still serving Queen and country due to retire in
18 months time. Would like to hear from any old shipmates who remember me.
A footnote to any old timers who recognise the name. I am the son of Bob Finch
who alas has crossed the bar. I would like to hear from any of them who have
some sea stories to tell about him.
Left Ganges as an Ord Sig and joined HMS Battleaxe. Several ships in next
22 years including, HMS Ranpura, HMS Aphrodite, HMS Phoenicia, HMS Cavendish,
HMS Forth, HMS Ocean, HMS Aurora, HMS Terror, HMS Caprice, HMS Adamant, HMS
Manxman, HMS Ariadne, HMS Yarmouth, HMS Eastbourne, HMS Tenby. Left the RN
as Communications Yeoman.
After leaving Ganges in Oct 1956, served in HMS Ocean, HMS Cavendish, HMS Vigilant,
HMS Loch Alvie, HMS Malcolm, HMS Lincoln and finally HMS Troubridge.
Left the RN in 1967 and joined the RFA. Medically retired from the RFA Feb 1995 with rheumatoid
arthritis and now disabled but manage to get around with the aid of a stick.
Old Ships:- HMS Ceylon, HMS Puma, HMS Tiger, HMS Ashanti, HMS Arethusa,
HMS Bulwark, HMS Lincoln and HMS Ghurka.
Shore Establishments:- HMS Excellent, HMS Cambridge, HMS Drake, RNB Chatham
and Rosyth.
Retired from the RN November 21st 1981 as CPOGI. Elder brother of Tony.
If there is anyone of 124 class or any old shipmates on the net who want to
contact me please do.
Old ships:- HMS Monkton, HMS Ark Royal(Old), HMS Urchin, HMS Verulam.
Submarines from 1969:- HMS Alaric, HMS Walrus, HMS Churchill, HMS Warspite
and HMS Olympus.
Shore Bases:- HMS Vernon, HMS Dolphin, HMS Collingwood and UN Cambodia 1992.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS King George V Jun 48 - Feb 49, HMS Superb Feb 49
- August 49, RML 495 Sept 49 - Mar 50, HMS Phoebe May 50 - May 51, HMS Widemouth
Bay Jun 51 - Sept 51, RNB for RNSS Prince Arthur Camp Sept 51 - Dec 51 (Killick`s
course), HMS Gabbard Jan 52 - Apr 52, Staff of FO2 Med Jun 52 - Sept 54, During
this time served (for varying periods of time) aboard HMS Glory, HMS Indomitable,
HMS Gambia, HMS Bermuda, HMS Glasgow, HMS Kenya, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Manxman,
HMS Surprise, HMS Chieftain, HMS Delight. HMS Truelove Jan 55 - Dec 55, Gaps
taken up by time in HMS Pembroke. After 20 months on a factory fire brigade,
joined the good old GPO in 57, retired at 60 after 33 years GPO/BT service.
I like to boast that I made a meteoric rise from Telephonist to Exchange Manager,
it only took me 30 of those 33 years! Married April 52, widowed May 02. Six
children, 12 grandchildren and still counting. Glad to hear from any members
of the above ships and establishments who may remember me.
11/07/1950 - C/JX889935 - 79 Class - 33 Mess - Benbow - Poole, Dorset,
England.
Old Ships/Comments:- Are you out there? George Doyle, Eddie Condon, Joe
Pollard, Tom Barrat, Sharky Ward, our instructor P.O. Tom Garnham or anybody
else from that time who may recall me. Would be great to hear from you.
Joined as a Cook and left as a POMA changing branch in 1971.
Old Ships:- HMS Eastbourne, Albion, Bacchante, Bulldog and Fox.
Stone Frigates:- HMS Royal Arthur, Dolphin, Victory barracks, Pembroke, Haslar,
Collingwood, Drake barracks, and RNH Plymouth.
Royal Marine Service:- HQ Cdo Forces, 42 Cdo RM, Cdo Log Regt, 128 Battery
RA and RMB Stonehouse.
Served with NP1830 in the Falklands conflict and also saw active service in
Belize, and Northern Ireland.
Now working at the Mount Vernon and Watford Hospitals NHS Trust, Northwood,
Middlesex. Work websitehttp://www.raft.ac.ukWork
Email address:webmaster@raft.ac.uk
Old ships:- HMS Hardy 1963, HMS Albion 64 - 65 (Far East), Joined submarine
service, 1st crew of HMS/M Resolution (Stbd), launched 1st polaris missile
on my 21st birthday. Last Ship HMS/M Warspite. Started boats newspaper in
Resolution called 'The Revolution' nickname Frugelheimer. Now working with
children with learning difficulties.
15/09/1936 - C/JX150127 - 255/6 Class - 15 Mess - Rodney - Hull, East Yorkshire, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS York (38), HMS Berwick(39), HMS Malabar(Admiralty house)(39-40), HMS Orion(40-41), HMS Bleasdale, HMS Collingwood, HMS Charlestown, HMS Argus (42-46).
Invalided out 1946. Boy Sig in Ganges to Lieut RN 1943.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Raleigh, HMS Duchess, HMS Excellent, HMS Grafton, HMS Blake, HMS Brighton,
HMS Fawn, HMS Dido, HMS Leander, HMS Andromeda, HMS Hermione, HMS Ariadne, HMS Apollo.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Gambia, HMS Reclaim, HMS Owen, HMS Dufton, HMS Wilkieston, HMS Tamar,
HMY Britannia, HMS Penelope, HMS Rooke, HMS Naiad, HMS Raleigh, Longroom.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Vigilant 58/59, HMS Belfast 59/61, HMS Mercury
61, Whitehall W/T 61/63, HMS Nubian 63, HMS Berwick 63/64, Fort Southwick
64/65, HMS Sheba 65/67, HMS Mercury 67/68.
Old ships:- HMS Mercury, HMS Leander (Twice), HMS Amazon, HMS Broadsword,
HMS Ardent, FO Gibraltar (Windy Hill + Comcen), FO Plymouth, FO Portsmouth
(Fort Southwick), HMS Drake and HMS Nelson.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Wizard, HMS Tintagel Castle,
HMS Cardigan Bay, Kranji Wireless,
HMS Alert, RNSS St Budeaux,
HMY Britannia, HMS Mercury,
HMS Royal Arthur, HMS Meon, HMS Forth,
HMS Dalrymple, HMS Ricasoli (Phoenicia
Malta), Whitehall W/T.
Left RN in 1958.
06/06/1957 - P/K 973629 - Rodney 61 - Cape Town, South Africa
HMS Ganges (JME), HMS Raleigh, HMS Delight 1958 - 1961, HMS Vernon 03/1961 - 11/1961, HMS Barrosa 09/1962, HMS Terror 05/63 - 11/63,
HMS Sultan 01/64 - 11/64, HMS Decoy 12/64 - 07/65, HMS Delight 07/65 - 09/66, HMS Sultan 04/66 - 10/66, HMS Troubridge 10/66 - 09/68.
I work cranes instead of ships but still lots of ropes and knots!
05/06/1956 - P/J956974 - 391 Class - 4 Mess - Blake - Willunga, South
Australia, Australia.
Old ships:- HMS St Vincent 1956, HMS Ganges 1956/57, HMS Defender 1957/58,
HMS Tyne 1958/59, HMS Crane 1959/60, HMS Exmouth 1960/61, HMS Dolphin 1961/62,
HMS Nubian 1962/64, HMS Cochrane (Pitreavie) 1964/65, HMS Terror 1965/67 and
HMS Victory 1967/68.
Now working in the oil and gas fields in the North of South Australia, after
having been here in Australia for 24 years.
Old Ships/Comments:- 1973 HMS Collingwood, 1974 HMS Drake, 1974 HMS Antrim, 1976 HMS Warrior (Northwood),
1977 HMS Rooke, 1978 HMS Mercury, 1978 HMS Collingwood (LREM course), 1979 HMS Kent, 1980 HMS Upton. Left RN April 1981.
Did the full whack, retired in 1985. Served in HMS Ark Royal (twice), Hermes
(twice) and Bulwark.
Since then carried on the calling as a carpenter and joiner. I have found
one old mate on the net so there must be more, give us a shout.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Implacable, HMS Crossbow, HMS Corunna, HMS Vigo, HMS Hermes, HMS Falmouth, HMS Vernon & HMS Osprey (Twice) for UC3 & UC2 Courses, HMS Neptune (Twice).
19/03/1938 - C/JX157698 - 281/2 Class - 33 Mess - Benbow - Eastwood,
New South Wales, Australia.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Caledon, HMS Capetown, HMS Euphrates, HMS Seabelle
II, HMS Ulster, HMS Kempenfelt and HMS Sussex.
Had a younger brother Sid Fullilove, who I have lost track of down the line,
he could have been in Ganges in the 49/50's. Would be delighted to hear from
any old ships. Beerio! Bill.
October 1945 - D/JX660328 - 202 Class - 40 Mess - Drake - Newbury, Berkshire,
England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Implacable 1947, HMS Cardigan Bay 47-50, HMS Royal
Albert (Hamburg) 50, HMS Veryan Bay 51-52, HMS Tamar 53-56, HMS Maidstone
(CincHF) 56-57, HMS Chichester 58-59.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Implacable 10/53, HMS Drake 12/53, HMS Warrior
2/54 (Far East), GUZ Dive school, HMS Loch Insh - Persian Gulf 55, HMS Kellington
- Cyprus 56, HMS Orion 56-57, HMS Ulster - West Indies/US 57, HMS Sea Eagle
- Londonderry, Northern Ireland 58, HMS Drake 59-60.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ark Royal, HMS Eagle, HMS Seahawk (RNAS Culdrose), HMS Heron (RNAS Yeovilton), HMS Condor (RNAS Arbroath), HMS Fulmar (RNAS Lossiemouth).
12 years walking around with a bucket "what are you doing lad? lift bucket, point, OK carry on" It worked every time.
January 1969 - D097679S - Ships Company - Towcester, Northamptonshire,
England.
Old Ships/Comments:- Joined RN June 1966.
Trained HMS Raleigh, then HMS Mercury, for Communicator training.
1967 HMS Zest, to Far East, return to UK and Paid Off. Returned to HMS Mercury
for sub-spec, left as RO2(G), arrived HMS Ganges, buffers party, guard duty
on New Entrants block. Short period as Wardroom/Senior Rates steward on HMS
Flintham (good use of resources that!). Returned to Ganges, awaiting draft
to any Leander going anywhere, get HMS Albion instead. Good commission, Far
East, Canada, Med etc. ship paid off, stayed on to destore her. Returned to
Mercury for LRO course. January 1974 HMS Rooke, Gibralter, two years there,
returned to UK and discharged June 1976.
The training at Ganges set me up for life. After training for the Royal
tournament (and failing), joined the fleet in the newly commissioned HMS Lion.
Other old ships include Excellent, Vernon (strange place for a gunnery rate),
Ark Royal, Sirius, Naiad, Warrior, Torquay and President from where I left
the Navy. I worked for Royal Mail for 25 years, took early retirement (the
offer was good). Got bored with retirement and now work as a training manager
for a computer training company in Watford. Would be glad to hear from anybody
who knows me.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Vernon, HMS Torquay, HMS Tyne, HMS Rothesay, HMS
Tiger, R.N.Display Team, HMS Bristol, HMS Arethusa, HMS Fisgard, HMS Euryalus,
HMS Nelson, HMS Antrim, HMS Cochrane.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Adamant, HMS Leopard, HMS Mercury, HMS Glasserton, HMS Drake, HMS Hartland Point, HMS Warrior (Northwood), HMS Fearless, HMS Victory.
05/05/1959 - P/J984862 - 342 Class - 2 Mess - Blake - Rowley, County
Durham, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- (m) I left Ganges as a boy sparker
and joined HMS LLandaff via a heaving MFV off Portland Nov 60, then off for
a stint in the Far East After a very interesting visit to a series of ports
in Japan (if my memory serves me right HMS Rocket who was with us broke down
and was left lanquishing in Japan whilst being repaired) LLandaff dropped
me off in Hong Kong and I flew home from Kai Tak airport. Next in line in
Nov 61 was HMS Palliser doing fisheryprotection patrols off Iceland and northern
Norway and into the Bearing Sea. It was around this time I found I actualy
liked rough weather and a heaving ship (strange) and could eat enormous amounts
of food and drink any spare rum!! It was a happy hard working ship. To have
50 to 60 British deep water trawlers working the fishing grounds at the that
time was normal. Whilst still serving on Dundas I was told that I was being
placed on Naval Party Alpha. Naval Party's come and go with no event this
one however did go. I was recalled from leave and took a flight to Singapore
where I was duly kitted out in army khaki (they had ran out of greens) given
a gun and put on a RAF Hastings transport plane with a load of Ghurkas for
Brunei. It was an interesting few months before I cadged a lift on HMS Maryton
back to Singapore and flew back home to HMS Lochinvar briefly before joinng
the brand new frigate HMS Dido at Scotstoun. Once commissioned we sailed where
else? but the far east. I went straight from ship to ship and joined the minehunter
HMS Bossington in Chatham June 65 and guess what? - yep we sailed her out
to Singapore Naval Base where we joined a lot of other minesweepers and patrolled
the Malacca Staits/Borneo whilst the 'confrontation' with Indonesia was on.
Another happy ship. I was accompanied by my wife and was lucky in obtaining
a ship swop and spent the last 18 months shore based working in Kranji W/T
and Singapore COMCEN. This was fantastic. June 68 saw me flying out to Gibraltar
where I recomissioned HMS Dundas and sailed back to the UK and became part
of the Portland training squadron. 2 Children by now and my last posting was
to Whitehall Wireless in Sept 69 which saw us living in a rather nice semi
in Chingford. Various shore bases I briefly passed through, HMS Mercury, HMS
Lochinvar, RNAS Abotsinch (though closed operationaly), HMS Terror, HMS Tamar,
HMS Rooke. I left the RN in March 71 as a Killick Sparker and returned to
Sunderland in the North East where I trained as a Television Engineer and
then worked for Granada TV for 25 years, initially on the tools and for the
last 20 years in Management before that job fizzled out and I was made redundant.
CH5 was then starting a new UK TV channel so I worked under contract to them
whilst the network was being set up. London Electricity was my next and current
stop and I work as one of the Managers within their Call Centre in Sunderland.
Housing and lifestyle changed 5 years ago when we sold up in suburbia and
bought a wreck of a barn and some land in County Durham countryside and converted
it into a des rez. Still happy and contented. Discovering the Ganges web sight
was nice, it re awoke memories of people and places long forgoten. Reading
other peoples potted history's shows what a diverse lot we ex Ganges boys
are.
Best wishes to you all. Mike
07/05/1953 - C/SSX 926045 - 303 Class - 38 Mess - Drake - Hailsham, East
Sussex, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Obdurate, HMS Centaur (Home/Med), HMS Fulmar (RNAS
Lossiemouth), HMS Afrikander (Capetown Radio Station), HMS Hound (Fishery
Protection Squadron), HMS Crossbow 2nd DS, HMS President (CINCEASTLANT).
Old Ships/Comments:- Joined HMS Nubian after Ganges to find my XO was my DO from Ganges.
Then HMS Dryad, HMS Warrior, HMS Hermione, HMS Glamorgan, HMS Londonderry, HMS Lowestoft, HMS Arrow, HMS Tartar,
HMS Brave and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Leopard, HMS Crofton, HMS Tiger, HMS Norfolk, HMS Gurkha,
HMS Ariadne, HMS Nelson, HMS Vernon, HMS Excellent, RN Cookery School, HMS Dryad, HMS Raleigh, HMS Sultan, HMS Pembroke,
826 NAS, Culdrose, RNC Greenwich.
12/12/1968 - D/098423Q - Ships Company - Cromer, Norfolk, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- Ships Company both times. First as a steward working as Captains Steward in Erwarton Hall.
Secondly as Petty Officer Steward within the Wardroom complex, then as a Class Instructor.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable then Corps of Royal Engineers served 12 years. 3 years on landing craft in Middle East, Suez,
Tobruk, Cyprus, Aden protectorate.
Old Ships/Comments:- Joined Ganges 19th May 1968, left to join the fleet on 20th May 1969.
It was the joining of the fleet that kept me going at Ganges, but you always remember the 'good' bits.
I must admit that without Ganges I wonder how I would have turned out. Ganges set me up for life, and looking
back I would not change a thing. Many great memories, trying not to go to sleep prior to leave, the buses arrived
at about 0400 and we all had to have breakfast before we left. Why did we all take the most of our kit home?
Was it to get the collars washed and starched, or was it really to show off to our families?
I have been back recently, and the river still looked brown, as I remember it, Ensign Block has changed a little,
what happened to the engines which were cut in half and painted up? I clearly remember, during winter term, when we had
lessons during the 'Dogs' wearing my sports kit under my No.2 uniform to 'school'. The only reason for that was that if
you had a shower, you didn't have time for 'tea'. Great times, never to be forgotten, great mates, where are they now?
From the original class there were only twelve of us at the time to leave. We were the 'Dirty Dozen', anybody out there
remember our class. The Class Leader was 'Willy' Wiltshire.
Give me a shout if you remember.
All the best to all ex Ganges and all other 'matelots', we are a breed apart.
06/06/1950 - P/JX889757 - 74 Class - 6 Mess - Blake - Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges 6.6.50/6.5.51, HMS Indefatigable 11.5.51/11.9.51, HMS Theseus 12.9.51/15.10.51, HMS Cadiz 16.10.51/15.11.51, HMS Zodiac 16.11.51/10.4.53,
HMS Victory 11.4.53/6.5.53, HMS Osprey 7.5.53/26.4.54, HMS Victory 27.4.54/1.6.54, ML3503(HMS Tamar)2.6.54/6.2.56, HMS Victory 7.2.56/17.5.56, HMS Excellent 18.5.56/7.3.57,
HMS Victory 8.3.57/3.4.57, HMS Kenya 4.4.57/20.10.58, HMS Ganges 21.10.58/8.1.59, HMS Malcolm 9.1.59/28.8.60, HMS Pembroke 29.8.60/15.10.60, HMS Messina 16.10.60/25.6.61,
HMS Anzio 26.6.51/23.10.61, HMS Victory 24.10.61/28.11.61, HMS Ganges 29.11.61/15.2.62, HMS Victory 16.2.62/ 21.3.62 demobbed. Is this a record??
Then spent 30 years Great Yarmouth - Norfolk Police, mainly as Detective. 1994/96 Security Manager. Retired enjoying Golf, Swimming, Grandchildren. Naval re-unions.
(Ganges, Kenya, Hong Kong Flotilla). Large group of us going back to Hong Kong in September 03.
October 1950 - P/JX890239 - 104 Class - Plate Mess - Blake - Forest-in-Teesdale,
Durham, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable, HMS Zephyr, HMS Wakeful, HMS Zest,
HMS Kildarton, HMS Puncheston, HMS Soberton. Never a barrack stanchion, except
for courses!
Old Ships/Comments:- Enjoined Gnges very much mainly because I came from a home with five sisters.
Did sea training in HMS Jutland. Left Ganges December 62 to HMS Mercury for part two comms training.
Then joined HMS Rhyl and served on the Med station. Late '64 back to HMS Mercury for RO2 course and then to HMS Protector
in Antarcita/Falklands 65 - 67. Whitehall Wireless followed and then Eastney Barracks before HMS Albion in the FES.
Back to Whitehall '69 and Mauritius 70/71. Home to Fort Southwick and then Northwood HQ. Outside '73.
Spent 17 years in the Service, 10 of which were spent in 'Bombers' (Nuclear
Polaris Subs). I am now working in the Offshore Industry.
Hobby is SCUBA diving.
04/05/1948 - C/SSX839146 - 197/98 Class - 21 Mess - Anson - Port Pirie,
South Australia, Australia.
Old ships:- HMS Triumph 49/50, Broadsword 51/53, Glory 53/54, Whirlwind
55/56 and Neptune 56/57.
I would like to hear from any 1948 boys, especially from Anson Division and
any old ship mates. Discharged to R.F.R. Nov. 57 L/Sea RP2.
November 1967 - P/105031 - Anson - Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland.
Old Ships/Comments:- Memories a bit hazy. My CPO's were Luckins and Earle
remember our dhobying being buried? I was a player in the very successful
Ganges football side. Be glad to hear from anyone who remembers.
16/07/1963 - P075178 - 260 Class - Exmouth - St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex,
England.
Left Ganges in 1964 for further training at HMS Mercury then HMS Eagle 1964/66
then back to HMS Mercury. HMS Diamond 1967/69, HMS Fulmar (RNAS Lossiemouth)
1970 (For very short 12 - 18 months shore draft!), then HMS Soberton (Fishery
protection) 1970/73, HMS Warrior (CINC Fleet) 1973 (Another very short 12
- 18 months shore draft!), then out to Gibraltar (Border closed!) from 1973/75.
Left the RN at Rosyth beginning of 1976 and joined the South African Navy
for 8 years serving at Silvermine, Slangkop, Signal School, in SAS President
Pretorious and SAS President Kruger, then Naval HQ in Pretoria, Transvaal.
Returned to the UK in 1983.
Old Ships:- HMS Drake, HMS Decoy, HMS Cambridge,
During training did a weeks sail round to Portland in the old Mull of Galloway.
Other ships visited included HMS Obdurate and HMS Apollo
07/05/57 - P/J973585 - 10 & 15 Messes - Grenville & Rodney -
Rhos on Sea, Clwyd, North Wales.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Osprey June 58, HMS Undine October 58, HMS Rocket
November 60, HMS Vernon October 62 - UC2 Course, HMS Undaunted March 63 -
Qualified Shallow Water Diver, HMS Vernon September 64 - UC1 Course, HMS Pembroke
February 65 - SCRG Diving Unit, HMS Falmouth October 65, HMS Pembroke March
68 - SCRG Diving Unit, HMS Eaglet (Liverpool RNR) August 68, HMS Victory December
68 - For Discharge. Time Served February 69 - Left as L/Sea UC1 Ships Diver.
Joined GPO as telephone engineer and retired on the 14th Feb 02 as a technical
officer on MU/CJ Optic Fibre planning.
10/11/1959 - D053481G - 53 Class - 8 Mess - Blake - Wallsend, Tyne and
Wear, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Carysfort, HMS Adamant, HMS Tyne, HMS Londonderry,
HMS Eastbourne, HMS Beagle, HMS Ganges (Instructor Rodney 1970-72), HMS Ark
Royal, HMS Ambuscade, HMS Exeter.
Comments:- After leaving 'Ganges' Nov 92 I joined HMS Implacable for sea
training. My first 'real ship' was HMS SWIFTSURE, in which I was serving during
the Spithead review '53', and also at the time of her collision with 'HMS
Diamond' in the Denmark straits. My next draft was to the 'Super B'(HMS Superb),
Nov 53- June 56, for a terrific cruise of the West Indies and America's. On
leaving HMS Superb, and qualifying UW3, a stint in the Derry flotilla followed
aboard 'HMS Hardy', my mate Buster Brown, and I didn't fancy this too much,
and in our wisdom volunteered for a Standard Divers course in the middle of
winter, this got us off 'HMS Hardy', and we both successfully completed the
course. 'HMS Troubridge' was next -America and West Indies- again, another
great cruise. The survey vessel 'HMS Scott' became my next home surveying
the Dogger Bank, and Goodwin sands. My last ship before leaving the service
in '63' was HMS Protector, that took me on a couple of trips to the South
Atlantic, and Antarctica, a truly never to be forgotten experience. My Wife
and I are now retired, (early) and spend a lot of time travelling, particularly
on the continent in our motorhome. If anything of the above rings anyones
bell, give me a shout, I would appreciate an exchange of e-mail.
Old Ships/Comments:- Served aboard HMS Leopard, HMS Hermoine, HMS Bulwark,
HMS Albion, HMS Intrepid and HMS Antrim. Also HMS Victory (RNB) on Fleet FMU.
Most shore time spent at Whale Island or Fraser Gunnery Range. I am planning
to attend Re-union 2002 so any old shipmates get in touch. Cheers, Griff.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Mercury 68, HMS Chichester 68/72, RNAS Yeovilton 72/73, HMS Ariadne 73/75,
Whitehall 75/76, HMS Bacchante 76/77, HMS Scylla 77/78, Whitehall (again) 78, SNONI 78/79, HMS Dryad 79, HMS Nelson 79.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Vernon, HMS Eastbourne, HMS Repton, HMS Dolphin,
HMS Bellerophon, HMS Lowestoft, HMS Neptune, HMS Puncheston, HMS Ganges (Ships
Company), HMS Yarnton and HMS Hubberston, with regular visits to HMS Vernon
on courses.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges June 56 - July 57, HMS Hound (Algerine Class
Minesweeper) 1957 - 58, HMS Gambia 1958 - 61, HM Yacht Britannia 1961 - 68.
Left RN Feb 1968.
Have found two old Ganges classmates - Jim Walsh and Pat Whiley.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Kenya, HMS Adamant, HMS Ben Nevis, HMS Whitby, Whitehall Wireless, HMS Tamar, HMS Blackwood, HMS Glamorgan.
Some good, some indifferent memories. Sound training which is still being used!
05/05/1953 - P/SSX926142 - 301 Class - 18 Mess - Grenville - Long Eaton,
Nottinghamshire, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Bulwark, HMS Bassingham, HMS Birmingham, HMS Goldcrest
(RNAS Brawdy), HMS Dolphin, HM S/M's Tiptoe, Talent, Sentinel & Seraph. HMS Dryad (CinC Staff - Fort Southwick), HMS Victory - Fin.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Undine 1954/55, HMS Albion
1956/58, HMS Rook 1959/60, HMS Corunna 1962/63, In between commissions, various
courses at HMS Excellent, HMS Phoenix and HMS Victory. Sorry Ganges, ended my career at St Vincent!
June 1953 - P/J926187 - 106/7 Class - 19 Mess - Grenville - Felixstowe,
Sufolk, England.
Old ships:- HMS Crossbow, Birmingham, Hardy, Armada, Leopard, Ganges (Buffers
assistant!), Defender. Various spells at Whale Island doing GA courses. I
left the regiment in '65 and joined the Post Office Telephones as it was then
as an engineer. I stayed with them for 33 years being retired 2 years early
two years ago. I would be pleased to hear from anyone that might remember
me.
Old Ships/Comments:- Basic training at HMS Ganges and HMS Collingwood. First draft HMS Shoulton, HMS Vernon craft group, HMS Intrepid, HMS Tartar, HMS Torquay, HMS Falmouth, HMS Iveston,
HMS York, HMS Edinburgh, HMS Charybdis/Andromeda, HMS Sultan as Instructor. Left 1994. would like to hear from old oppos.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS London, HMS Shropshire, HMS Devonshire HMMA/SB i5, HMMA/SB 22, HMML 349,
HMS Medway II, HMS Aldenham, HMS Tourmaline, HMS Vengence, HMS Mounts Bay, HMS Fly(Iranian Navy) HMS Collingwood.
Left RN in 23/11/1952 as CREL
Old Ships:- HMS St. Brides Bay, Maidstone, Med Fleet Pool, Admiralty, Hermes
and Hampshire.
Left the Navy in Jan 1966 and joined 'Prudential' in the computer field. Retired
1991.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable, HMS Bermuda, HMS Drake(Barrack Guard), HMS Ark Royal, RN PT School (Pitt St), HMS Wildfire, HMS Mutine, HMS Neptune(Travelling Escort), HMS Troubridge.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Meon July 63 - Sep 64, HMS Maidstone Oct 64 - Oct
65, HMS Sea Eagle Oct 65 - Apr 66, HMS Aston Apr 66 - Oct 67, HMS Tyne May
68 - Jan 69, HMS Eagle Jan 69 - July 70, HMS Upton July 71 - Nov 72, HMS Cleopatra
Apr 73 - July 73, HMS Hecla Feb 74 - Feb 76, HMS Dittisham Aug 76 - Nov 79,
HMS Sheraton Aug 83 - June 85.
Keen to get in touch with old shipmates.
Old Ships:- HMS Wrangler (Training flotilla Rosyth), HMS Virago (3rd flotilla
Med Fleet), HMS Chevron (1st flotilla Med Fleet), HMS Cheviot, HMS Pembroke
(For RC3 Course), HMS Bleasdale (Nore flotilla taking Ganges boys for sea
training), HMS Pembroke (RC2 Course, rated Leading Seaman), HMS Swiftsure
(Home Fleet - Coronation Review), HMS Chequers( 1st Destroyer Flotilla Med),
HMS Forth (Rated Petty Officer & Boys Instructor), HMS Pembroke (Main
Gate PO until retirement). Association Representative in New Zealand.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS York, HMS Stag (Ismailia), HMS Ready, HMS Marlborough,
HMS Sparrowhawk, HMS Begum, HMS Leander, HMS Anson, HMS Franklin, HMS Neptune
and HMS Mars.
Old Ships/Comments:- Sea training on HMS Largo Bay, thence HMS Drake, HMS Termagant, HMS Drake, HMS Vernon and HMS Osprey for UC3s course, HMS Battleaxe,
HMS Vernon and HMS Osprey for UC2s course, HMS Apollo (Minelayer), back to Jago's mansion. Lived ashore in Glasgow whilst HMS Tiger was fitting out then did
first commission on her 1959 - 1961. Spent last few months in Devonport Field Guns crew.
13/11/1951 - C/JX905623 - 180/181 Class - 17 Mess - Grenville - Banora Point, New South Wales, Australia.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Widemouth Bay, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Paladin, HMS Steepholm, HMS Glory, HMS Alert.
Then Royal Australian Navy:- HMAS Tobruk, HMAS Cerberus (Gunnery School), HMAS Voyager, HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Stuart
and a number of shore establishments along the way.
Naval service from 13.11.51 to 30.11.81 Retired in the rank of Commander RAN.
Once a Ganges Boy always a Ganges Boy!!!
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Wrangler HMS Cygnet HMS Coquette HMS Dryad Victoria barracks HMLCT 4063 HMS Mermaid, HMS Bellerphon, HMS Undaunted, HMS Lynx, HMS Vanguard (Reserve Fleet), HMS Victory to shore.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Superb, Bermuda Wireless (HMS Malabar), HMS Tiree, HMS Corunna, HMS Surprise, HMS Mounts Bay,
HMS Ganges, HMS Jutland, HMS Tyne, Whitehall Wireless, Mauritius Wireless, BJSTT Ghana, RNAS Brawdy (HMS Goldcrest).
Ships:- HMS Undaunted, HMS Barrosa, HMS Glamorgan, HMS Achilles, HMS Scylla, HMS Antelope, HMS Antrim
and HMS Ariadne.
Shore Bases:- HMS Warrior (Northwood), HMS Mercury, HMS Excellent, HMS Raleigh and Fort Southwick.
Would look forward to hearing and chatting to any ex Ganges Boys.
As well as being a Ganges boy I was proud to be part of the Mast Manning
team for 1959 on the upper yardarm.
If there is anyone who can remember me from the mess or the team then please
pop us a line I will be delighted to hear from you.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Euryalus, HMS Bulwark, HMS Cleopatra, HMS Active, HMS Peterel, HMS Fox.
Initally we were in 32 mess in Benbow Lane. However, we moved to 11 mess Long Covered Way to make way for the closing down of the Annexe over the road.
Does anyone remember this move?
I'm in touch with my closest "Raggie" from F41 and we would like to track the rest of the class(es).
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Mercury (71-72), HMS Bulwark (72-74),Commcen Whitehall
(74-75), HMS Fife (75-77), HMS Mercury (LRQC 77), Commcen Fort Southwick (77-78),
HMS Mercury OXP (78-80), 9 Sigs Regt Cyprus (80-83), HMS Invincible (83-86),
HMS Mercury (86-87), HMS Charybdis (87-89), HMS Mercury (RSQC 89), Commcen
Gibraltar (89-90), HMS Mercury (90-92), HMS Broadsword (92-93), HMS Forest
Moor (93-95), Civvy (95-99), HMS Calliope (99), Commcen Northwood (99 - present
day)
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Dundas, HMS Girdleness, HMS Palliser, HMS Murray,
HMS Whirlwind, HMS Sirius. Left Navy 1969, would like to hear from anyone
who remembers me- nickname Harry.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Excellent, HMS Cumberland, HMS Phoenicia, HMS Protector
59 to 60, HMS Dieppe, HMS Narvik, HMS Miner V1, HMS Yarmouth, HMS Drake, LPM
HMS Ark Royal. Left service 1967. Joined Met. Police.
Old Ships/Comments:- April 1974 - June 1977 HMS Hampshire,
June 1977 - Nov 1978 HMS Hardy, HMS Keppel, HMS Dundas,
Nov 1978 - Jan 1980 HMS Blake,
Jan 1980 - Nov 1980 HMS Excellent,
Nov 1980 - May 1982 HMS Norfolk,
May 1982 - April 1983 HMS Raleigh, HMS Dryad,
April 1983 - April 1985 HMS Torquay,
April 1985 - April 1986 HMS Fife,
1986 - 1989 HMS Cambridge,
1989 - 1993 HMS Cardiff,
1993 - 1995 HMS Daedalus,
Sept 15 1996 pensioned.
Having spent the first 13 months at HMS Ganges and then on to HMS Cambridge I feel I have had some bloody good drafts in my time,
if only you can turn back the clock! I would do it all again, although maybe I would'nt have put them damm shot matts in the funnel space on HMS Torquay Ha!
Have to say HMS Hampshire, HMS Torquay and HMS Cardiff Oh! and HMS Blake all fond memories. All the very best to you all out there whose round is it anyway?
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Tyrian, HMS Pembroke, HMS Wizard, HMS Phoenicia,
HMS Vernon, HMS Loch Ruthven, HMS Vanguard, (towing crew), HMS Rame Head,
HMS Ausonia, HMS Drake, HMS Adamant (All Hard Ships)!!!!! North
West Kent Association Representative.
February 1968 - P107207 - Chef - Ships Company - Darlington, Durham,
England.
Served at HMS Ganges as a Chef from early '68 to late '69 and as a Leading
Chef from early '72 through to '74. I have many great memories of the place
and the deepest respect for those young lads who trained in the 'proper way'.
I also served in HMS Ark Royal and HMS Diomede plus several Shore Establishments.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Dragon, HMS Emerald, HMS Curlew and HMS Shropshire.
HMS Marlborough at Eastbourne for L.T.O's Course then into subsmarines at
HMS Dolphin. HM Submarines Oberon, H50, H51, P554, Vagabond, Sealion and Auriga.
Depot ships HMS Cyclops, HMS Forth and HMS Adamant.
I am sorry that I have only found out about this association during the last
few weeks but that is my loss. However since going on the internet at Xmas
[a little improvement on semaphore] I have managed to contact an old shipmate
after 59 years who now lives in Canada and already swopped a few memories.
I joined the Ganges after serving a year on the TS Warspite. We certainly
knew how to enjoy ourselves those days no time to be bored, I feel so sorry
for the youngsters today look what they are missing.
11/01/1939 - P/JX161157 - 76 Class - 40 Mess - Drake - Alexandra Headland,
Queensland, Australia.
HMS Hawkins, Naval Parties in North Africa and Italy, HMS Perseus, Gould,
Sultan, Eurylus, Gambia and Indomitable.
Time expired December 1953. To Australia Feb 1954, RAAF Jan 56 - Aug 78. Viet
Nam 1969 - 70.
Old Ships/Comments:- I joined 39 mess, a mixture of Seaman and Supply ratings
as a Junior (Boy) Seaman. PO Keating, Coxwain of HMS Cambrian Far East 1964
was our Instructor. My only claim to fame was to be dis-rated Boy 1st Class
to Boy 2nd Class for 2 weeks just prior to passing out for insulting CPO Garnham
an Instructor, New Entries. One of the only people I met in the Andrew who
I disliked on the first meeting. I was expecting six cuts so I got a result
really. Oct 1962 to HMS Dryad radar training then Jan 1963 join HMS Loch Killisport,
Far East. 1964 HMS Tenby Dartmouth Training Sqdn. Washing paint work in the
fog and ice bergs off Newfoundland "thinks" I could do this inside
a nice warm submarine. July 1965 drafted to HMS Dolphin. Then sea going drafts
to HM/Sm Truncheon, Osiris, Finwhale, make L/S. Then Opportune when in 1972
whilst Act/PO go to Viccy Barracks and become Mr. Join Metropolitan Police
into the CID for 20 years after walking the beat. Leave to make fortune and
fail. Now employed by High Street bookmaker. Still with 1st wife, two daughters
left home so sold home and now live on 55' narrow boat. I finally have worked
out the world is inhabited by two types of people 'TROGS' and the rest.
05/05/1953 - D/J926149 - 61 Class - 49 Mess - Hawke - Banora Point, New South Wales, Australia.
Old Ships/Comments:- Left Ganges in July 1954 and Joined HMS Opossum in Hong Kong. This was my one and only ship as I was sent home from Ceylon and invalided out of the navy in 1956. I have joined the HMS Opossum Association and been visited by an old shipmate Eddie Summerfold when he came over here for the Ganges reunion at Tweed Heads NSW in Sept 2003. Would like to hear from any one who remembers me.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Decoy (1963-1964); HMS Maidstone (1965); HMS Decoy
(Portsmouth Refit, 1965-1966); HMS Intrepid (1966-1968); HMS Vernon (1968);
HMS Ark Royal (1968-1971).
05/05/1953 - P/JX926040 - 302 Class - 4 Mess - Blake - Westcliff on Sea,
Essex, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges 5/5/53 - 28/10/54, HMS Wrangler 29/10/54
- 20/3/55, HMS Wakeful 21/3/55 - 13/4/55, HMS Mercury 14/4/55 - 2/8/55, HMS
Cochrane 3/8/55 - 3/10/55, HMS Kenya 3/10/55 - 3/8/57, HMS President (Whitehall
W/T) 4/4/57 - 23/2/58, HMS Highflyer 24/2/58 - 2/9/59, HMS Pembroke 3/9/59
- 7/12/59, HMS Dingley 6/12/59 - 31/8/60, HMS Pembroke 1/9/60 - 16/9/60, HMS
President (HQANFCE Fontainebleau) 20/9/60 - 23/3/62, HMS Mercury 24/3/62 -
15/5/62, HMS Victory 16/5/62 - 18/6/62.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Venus (1945), HMS Cavendish(1945-46), HMS Anson (1946-1948). After Demob 5 years in the RNR.
Occasionally get to the UK for the National Reunion, and to the North American Reunion, but the only Ganges shipmate with
whom I have been in contact is Harry A. Cornish who now lives in Nebraska, USA.
02/09/1975 - D154589W - Resolution - Southwick, West Sussex, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- Part 2 Training at HMS Mercury. Joined HMS Fearless
for full commission in 1976. Through drafted to HMS Hermes in 1979. Small
ships course at HMS Mercury 1980. Drafted HMS Sheffield. Left RN in 1981 and
joined Hove Sea Cadet Unit. Now Commanding Officer. Ex Ganges Boys most welcome
to call in on Parade Nights Tuesdays & Thursdays. H.Q. Basin Road North,
Portslade.
Old ships:- HMS Newfoundland, HMS Vernon (Course), HMS Vernon (Mining Trials),
HMS Terror, HMS Osprey, HMS Wakeful, HMS Dalrymple. Solent Division Representative
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable, HMS Superb 54/56, Chatham Gunnery School, HMS Lagos 57/59, HMS Chaplet 59/60,
Plymouth refit party HMS Whirlwind at Rosyth then day running from Portland.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable (of course), HMS Cossack 54/55, HMS Aveley 56, HMS Loch Ruthen 57/58,
HMS Keppel 59, HMS Dolphin S/M training, HM Submarines Tudor 69, Ambush 61/62, Andrew 63, Token 64,
Ambush 64/67 and HMS Medway.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Jutland, HMS Mercury, Central Signal Station Portsmouth, HMS Dalrymple, HMS Mercury (Killicks course),
HMS Sheraton (Vernon Squadron), Lascaris Malta, HMS Lion, HMS Mercury (Mercury Club secretary). Left Andrew Oct.67
Old Ships:- HMS Collingwood, HMS Hampshire, HMS Nelson, HMS Pembroke (Dockyard
FMU), HMS Triumph (FMU), HMS Terror, HMS Rooke (Shore Wireless), HMS Pembroke
(Signal Hill Rxers), HMS Mermaid.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Mercury '62, HMS Leopard '63 South Africa, CINCHAN
Ft. Southwick '64, HMS Aisne '64/66 Home Fleet, MED & Far East, R.A.F.
Pitreavie Castle Comcen 66/67 (on loan from HMS Cochrane), HMS Juno 67/69
Home Fleet, Med, West Indies South America and the USA.
Old Ships:- HMS Dryad 1966, HMS Galatea 1967/68, HMS Glamorgan 1969/70,
HMS Ganges (Ships Company) 1971/72.
Afterwards various ships including RNR until 1994. Now collector of Naval
Books and Magazines. Would love to hear from people with things to exchange.
I left Ganges in July 1962 for Raleigh, from where I was drafted to HMS
Falmouth.
In June 1966 I went to Dolphin for S/M training. I met my wife to be, also
a midlander, who was serving as a Wren Writer at Dolphin.
I also met ex Ganges boy Barry Leech, who was by that time a PTI and learning
to drive.
He very kindly drove us home on weekend leave whenever he could.
Following training I joined the Artemis and I am sure everyone knows of its
unfortunate demise, nothing to do with me, honest! After that I found myself
in the Opossum, where I remained until my discharge in 1973.
I then joined the Prison Service, doing the equivalent of at least two life
sentences, before taking early retirement in October 1996.
I now work for the Corps of Commissionaires, if anyone mentions the words
uniform or fetish they will get a slap!
Hope anyone who remembers me will get in contact.
15/03/1955 - D/J948827 - 135 AC Class - 31 Mess - Benbow - Monifieth, Angus, Scotland.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Murray - May 56 to Nov 57, HMS Albion - May 58 to May 59, HMS Cavalier - May 59 to Jun 60,
HMS Loch Killisport - Jul 61 to Jan 63, HMS Adamant - Jan 65 to Apr 66.
Always keen to hear from old oppos, am currently trying to locate all my old messmates from Ganges.
Old ships:- HMS Albion 66-68, HMS Norfolk 70-72, HMS Eskimo 72-74, HMS Norfolk
76-78, HMS Hermes 80-82, HMS Endurance 82-84, HMS Brecon 88-91, HMS Invincible
94-96, HMS Intrepid 98.
09/10/1951 - JX905471 - 362 Class - 41/36 Mess - Collingwood - Sale,
Cheshire, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Illustrious, HMS St. Brides Bay (Far East), HMS
Vanguard (Reserve fleet Devonport), HMS Aphrodite (Cyprus), HMS Phoenicia
(Malta), HMS Cumberland (Refit Devonport), Kranji W/T, HMS Chevron (Ex mothballs/trials
Rosyth), HMS Malcolm (Fishery Protection), HMS Dolphin, HM Submarines Aeneas,
Anchorite (Australia), Teredo (Singapore), Alliance (Refit Chatham), HMS Victory
- Discharge 6 June 1963.
Old ships:- HMS Lincoln, HMS Arethusa, HMS Egeria, HMS Hecate, HMS Herald, HMS Hecla,
HMS Protector, HMS Bristol.
Shore Bases:- HMS Mercury, HMS Warrior, HMS Rooke, Whitehall Comcen, Fort
Southwick Comcen, AFNORTH (Norway), HMS Wildfire, HMS Collingwood, HMS Ganges.
Left as a CRS in 1994. Regular attendee of the National Reunion.
Currently living and working in Gillingham, Kent.
September 1951 - C/JX898631 - 351 Class - 4 Mess - Blake - Padstow, Cornwall,
England.
Old Ships/Comments:- Joined HMS St.Vincent 28.8.51. then to HMS Ganges followed
by HMS Relentless, HMS Pembroke, HMS Superb, HMS Vernon, HMS Osprey, HMS Grafton,
HMS Chawton then HMS Ashton as Buffer in Malta. Leaving the Andrew May 1963.
Old Ships/Comments:- 67 - 70 HMS Cleopatra, 70 - 71 HMS Neptune, 71 - 73
HMS Whitby, 73 - 75 HMS Nelson, 75 - 78 HMS Vernon.
1978 Outside into Pompey Naval Base until present day. Any old shipmates remember
me, please get in touch.
Old Ships:- HMS Mercury, HMS Woodbridge Haven, HMS Woolaston, HMS Adamant,
HMS Dolphin, HMS Berwick, HMS Warrior, Mauritius, HMS Mercury, HMY Britannia
and RNAS Lossiemouth (before the crabfats took over).
Then 6 years in Africa before finally settling down on my smallholding just
outside Tenbury Wells with a clutch of animals (Sheep, geese, chickens, horses,
dogs, cats and 2 shetlands) Oh and a wife!
11/02/1947 - PJX 819840 - Benbow - Heath, Texas, USA.
I came across the Ganges Home Page while searching for HMS Liverpool. It
was a wonderful experience to know that I had not imagined all those good
(and not so good) experiences in younger days. A breath of desperately needed
fresh air. I have tried to contact old friends through the WWW but with no
success up to now. Maybe this will change things.
Old Ships/Comments:- Left the Mob in 96 & joined the RNR & for my sins I've been recalled for the Gulf as a SPO manager for stuft ships!
Working now for Stockton Council and enjoying life on a second wife as you do!
Old Ships/Comments:- On completion of Boys Training (HMS St. George) reported
to Chatham Barracks and immediately posted to HMS Dolphin, Gosport, for submarines.
Boats in which served - HM Submarines - H34, P555, Severn and Unsparing. Returned
to General Service in 1946. Subsequently served in HMS Anson. Discharge by
purchase on compassionate grounds in 1948.
May 1954 - J938005 - 201A Class - 14 & 35 Mess - Rodney & Collingwood
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS St.Kitts, HMS Eagle, HMS Jewel, HMS Cardigan Bay,
HMS Trafalgar, HMS Kent, HMS Phoebe.
Fleet pool loans to HMS Surprise, HMS Pellew, HMS Alert.
Shore bases HMS Phoenicia (Ricassoli), HMS Terror (Kranji), CAPIC Clyde, HMS
Lochinvar (Pitreavie), HMS Mercury.
Old Ships:- HMS Aisne, HMS Alamein, HMS Eastbourne, HMS Bulwark, HMS Lion.
Shore Bases:- HMS Pembroke, HMS Harrier, HMS Victory, HMS Osprey, HMS Dryad
several times. Chairman of Solent Divison.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable, HMS Bermuda, HMS Harrier, HMS Drake,
HMS St. Brides Bay, HMS Leopard, HMS Dryad, HMS Bellerophon, HMS Belfast,
HMS Victory.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ark Royal 1975, HMS Fearless 1980, RNAS Culdrose,
Portland, HMS Daedalus, CHOSC, 845 Sqdn - Loads more that I can't fit in...
An excellent web site and the photographs have brought back many memories.
Thankyou.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Defender, HMS Wakeful, HMS President (Whitehall
W/T), HMS Mauritius, HMS Rampart, HMS Badminton, HMS Dolphin, HMS Terror (Kranji
W/T), HMS Puncheston, HMS Barfoil, HMS Barmond, HMS Brave Borderer.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges 1962-63, HMS Mercury 1963 (I know where I was when Kennedy was assassinated!),
HMS Whirlwind Dec 1963 - May 1964, HMS Chichester May 1964 - Sept 1965, HMS Mercury Oct 1965 - Feb 1966,
COMFEF (HMS Terror) Feb 1966 - Aug 1967, HMS Ulster Oct 1967 - July 1969, HMS Mercury July 1969 - August 1970,
HMS Albion August 1970 - January 1973, Admiralty Interview Board Jan 1973, HMS Mercury 1974 (POLC) until March 1974,
HMS Warrior (CINCFLEET) (Commcen Northwood) 1974 - Sept 1975, HMS Arrow 1975 - January 1978, HMS Flying Fox 1978 - Dec 1980,
FOST (Sea-Riding) Dec 1980 - Jan 1985, HMS Broadsword Jan 1985 - May 1986, HMS Warrior (CINCFLEET/CINCEASTLANT) July 1986 - May 1989 then to discharge 3 July 1989.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Dryad 59, HMS Chichester 59, HMS Loch Lomond 61, HMS President 63, HMS Ajax 63,
HMS Ganges 65, HMS Devonshire 66, HMS Dundas 70, HMS Hardy 72, HMS Glamorgan 74, FOF2 78, HMS Tamar 80.
Retired 83 CPO OPS (R)
Jan 1946 - P/JX 760097 - 199 Class - Collingwood - Fareham, Hampshire,
England.
Joined Ganges from St. George Jan 1946. 3 months sea training in HMS Ulster
till Oct 1946. Recommended to be a Radar Control Rating, didn`t like guns
much wanted to be a Radar Plotter. Left service after 23 years as Chief PRI
Old Ships:- HMS Vanguard Oct 46 - June 47 (Royal Tour to S.Africa, HMS Theseus
Apr 49 - Aug 50, HMS Kenya, Mauritius, Mar 51 - Apr 53 (E. Indies Station),
HMY Victoria and Albert June 54 - Oct 54, HMS Bulwark Oct 54 - Oct 56, HMS
Victorious Jan 58 - Apr 60, HMS Bermuda Apr 61 - June 62, HMS Ark Royal Oct
63 - July 66.
Old Ships:- HMS Plover, HMS Aurora, HMS Clarbeston, Fo Malta (Lascaris Commcen)
Submarines:- HMS Astute, HMS Auriga, HMS Alliance, HMS Andrew, HMS Onslaught,
HMS Otter, HMS Walrus, HMS Osiris and HMS Orpheus. Member of Submariners Assoc.
HMS Ganges Assoc. HMS Andrew annual reunion (anyone interested contact me).
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Indefatigable, HMS St. Austell Bay, HMS Ark Royal,
HMS Drake, HMS Cambridge, HMS Orion, HMS Bermuda, HMS Excellent, HMS Undine, HMS Rocket.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Battleaxe, HMS Chichester TO2, HMS London LRO(T),
HMS Hermes, HMS Fearless, HMS Intrepid CY(TCI), HMS Reclaim LT(X)(C). Left
Service 1981
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Gamecock, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, RNAS Lossiemouth,
656 Sqn Army Air Corps, A&EE Boscombe Down, RNAS Culdrose, HMS Victorious,
HMS Condor, HMS Royal Arthur, HMS Blake, RNAS Portland, HMS Galatea, BRNC
Dartmouth, 'Discharged September 1981'.
Old ships:- HMS Pembroke 1962, HMS Lochinvar 62/63, HMS Centaur 63/65, HMS
Excellent 65/67, HMS Hecate 67/69, HMS Mercury 69/71, HMS Dundas 71/73.
Member of Beeston'Brown Hatters'together with Chairman Carl.
Old ships:- HMS Brighton, HMS Mercury, HMS Cambrian, Forest Moor W/T, HMY
Britannia, HMS Rapid, HMS Glamorgan, HMS St. Angelo, HMS Dolphin.
Old Ships/Comments:- (m) Ex HMS St. George. HMS Ulster,
HMS Vanguard, HMS Birmingham, HMS Scorpion, HMS Charity, HMS Chevron, HMS
Chichester, HMS Scarborough, HMS Berryhead, BJSTT Ghana, HMS Tenby, loan to
Australia, HMS Aurora and loan to RAF.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Raleigh, HMS Pembroke, HMS Heron, HMS Eagle, HMS Seahawk, HMS Berwick,
HMS Excellent [St. George], HMS Rooke, HMS Caledonia, HMS Rame Head, HMS Warrior, HMS Leander.
Old Ships/Comments:- Class Instructors PO Holdstock & POGI McFiggins, a hard training regime, which certainly stood me in good stead throughout my career.
Left the Service in 1980 in the rank of FCPO. I find your web site very interesting and well contructed.
Old Ships/Comments:- Instructors PO Jack Cornwall & PO Reid.
HMS Cassandra 1960-62, HMS Belton 62-63, HMS Bronington loan draft, HMS Shoulton
63-64, HMS Victorious 64-65, HMS Maidstone 65-66, HMS Hampshire 66-69. Various
times at HMS Cochrane, HMS Lochinvar and HMS Victory. Had a great 11 years
would do it all over again.
Old ships:- HMS Ganges 62/63, HMS Dryad 63, HMS Centaur 63/65, HMS Cochrane
65, HMS Nurton 65/66, HMS Wiston 66, HMS Soberton 66/67, HMS Narvik 67, HMS
Layburn (Malta) 67/68, HMS Victory 68/69, HMS Fife 69/71, HMS Dryad 71, HMS
Forth 71/72, HMS Defiance 72, HMS London 72, HMS Victory 72, HMS Argonaut
72/73, HMS Victory 73/74. LS expired
Old Ships/Comments:- Joined HMS Ganges from TS Arethusa. Passed out as a
seaman gunner, HMS Cambridge, HMS Kent, HMS Dittisham, HMS Argonaut, HMS Ambuscade,
HMS Sirius, HMS Eurylaus, HMS Manchester, HMS Kent. With shore time in between
for advancement courses. Leaving 1986. Would like to hear from any old oppos.
08/09/1953 - P/J930659 - 110 Class - 15 Mess - Rodney - Hutton, East
Riding Yorkshire, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Newcastle, HMS Tyne, HMS Diligence, HMS Redoubt,
HMS Bastion, HMS Wizard, HMS Lincoln, HMS Naiad, HMS Dundas, R.N.T.T. Ghana,
HMS Andromeda, FOF1 Staff. Became T.A.S.I. but mostly Buffer of ships after
achieving L.S. Served 27 years.
Old Ships:- HMS Undaunted, HMS Owen, HMS Orion (Tyne), HMS Penston, HMS
Woolaston, HMS Woodlark, HMS Londonderry.
Shore Establishments:- HMS Raleigh, CinC Plymouth, HMS Neptune.
Married my wife Loa, whom I met in the Bahamas whilst doing W.I.G.S. patrol
in 1971. As she is a Yank on leaving the mob I moved to the States. I have
been an electrician in the States since 1972, first in Michigan and now in
Florida. Interests include Sea Cadets, both US and UK. I am at present Executive
Officer of the unit I belong to and hold the rank of Lieutenant J.G.. Association
Representative U.S.A.
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Theseus 47, HMS London 47-48, HMS Sussex 48-49,
HMS Highflyer (CWRS) 49, HMS Mercury 50, HMS Contest (Rated Ldg/Sig) 50-51,
HMS Warrior 51-52, HMS Mercury (Rated Yeo of Sigs) 52, HMS Agincourt (Capt
D4) 52-54, HMS Mercury 54, HMS Ceylon 54-55, HMS Volage 55, HMS Terror (Kranji)
55-57, HMS Mercury 58-60, HMS Lynx (Capt F7) (Rated CCY) 60-62, HMS Mercury
(Qualified TCI) 62-64, HMS Falmouth (D30) 64-66, HMS Mercury 66-67, HMS Osprey
(FOST) 67-69. Retired December 1969.
October 1950 - D/JX890205 - Drake - Hartland, Devon, England.
I still hold a Ganges magazine from that year. Also the old museum magazine
which shows all the models that were in there plus some photographs of our
class training for guard duties under the instruction of PO Delarue.
17/10/1966 - D/096691C - 5 Mess - Blake - Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England.
Old Ships/Comments:- After leaving HMS Ganges served on/in HMS Dryad, HMS St Vincent, HMS Lincoln, HMS Russel and HMS Tiger.
Left the Navy by PVR in Nov.74. Currently moving from Devon to the NE but nobody wants to buy our house!
Would enjoy hearing from anybody who knew me.
On leaving Ganges after mast manning in July '70 I went to HMS Dryad then
HMS Minerva, HMS Drake, HMS Salisbury, back to HMS Drake, HMS Dryad, HMS Fearless,
HMS Active, HMS Alacrity, HMS Rooke, HMS Dryad, HMS Glamorgan, HQBFFI, HMS
Leeds Castle and finally HMS Dryad as an Instructor. After serving my sentence
I left the RN in April 1994. I now work in Winchester as a Prison Officer.
Old Ships/Comments:- I joined Tiger Mess in the Annexe moving to Exmouth
Division Class 345 (Communications). Ships include HMS Maidstone, HMS Whirlwind,
HMS Arethusa, plus time spent in the Far East patrolling the Mallacca Straits
and Borneo. Would like to hear from anyone who was either at Ganges at the
same time or served on any of the above.
Old Ships/Comments:- Recat to JSA 1953 - HMS Ceres, R.N.Barracks Portsmouth,
H.M.S Dolphin 1954-1954, HMS Hedingham Castle 1954-1955, HMS Bellerophon 1955,
HMS Gamecock 1955-1957, 802 Squadron (HMS Ark Royal & HMS Eagle 1957-1959),
HMS Vernon 1960-1961, Reserve Fleet Hythe Southampton (HMS Bellerophon Jan-Aug
1961), 848 Commando Squadron HMS Bulwark 1961-1963, HMS Seahawk 1963-1965,
Kranji Wireless (HMS Terror)1965-1967, HMS Excellent 1967-1968, Boscombe Down
(HMS Heron)1968-1969, HMS Albion 1969-1971, Interservice Hovercraft (HMS Daedalus)1971-1973,
HMS Mohawk 1973-1976, HMS Nelson for pension as CPOSA July 1976.
On leaving Ganges went to HMS Vernon and trained as UC Basic, later trained
as aircrew at HMS Osprey leaving the service as an L/Aircrewman UC2 in 1970
Currently Managing Director Computer Services Lloyds TSB Group.
(The runs ashore are not the same)
Anyone out there who remembers the more elegant areas of Malta/Singapore/Hong
Kong who knew me in any of my old ships I would be pleased to hear from.
Old Ships:- HMS Whirlwind, HMS Dundas, HMS Rhyl, HMS Aurora, HMS Victorious
(814 Sqdn), HMS Blake (820 Sqdn) and HMS Eagle.
I left Ganges in July 1955 to join HMS Flint Castle in the 2nd T.S. Portland.
From there I was drafted to HMS Aphrodite in Nicosia in March 1956 (3 days
after they deported Archbishop Makarios). Here I spent 4 months under canvas
with the army at Kykko camp. I was then drafted to PB4 C/S LZZR patrolling
out of Famagusta around to Kyrenia - What a draft it would be now! From there
I was deployed to Episkopi for the Suez fiasco. Left Cyprus in 1957 to join
HMS Girdleness, our first guided missile ship, then out to FO2 Staff FES serving
in HMS Newfoundland, HMS Albion, HMS Ceylon, and RFA Gold Ranger. Drafted
to RN element Fontainebleau in December 1959 for 18 months then joined HMS
Falmouth on her 1st commission, remember the collision off Portland Bill on
her workup? Finally ended my RN days at RNAS Brawdy where my ex missus gave
birth to our second set of twins in 18 months! Any of you guys remember me?
I played rugby for most of the ships mentioned along with the RAF and army
at Cyprus and Allied Forces Central Europe. I was also in the Swansea Division
of the RNR from 1969 to 1984 spending most of my yearly training at CSOS Scarborough
with GCHQ personnel. Look forward to hearing from anyone who remembers me.
I'm in contact with Brum Palin of 392 class and Mick Sleight of 12 mess still
lives in the Neath area (He was our permanent Instructor at Swansea RNR) Love
to hear from guys like Del Streeter, Fred Thorne, Laurie Fear, "Donald"
Sinden, George Doyle, Mike Branigan, Ross Baine, Doc Watson and all of 392
class.
Captain B C G Place VC, DO Lt Cdr Wallace, Sub DO Sub Lt Thompson, Instructors:
POAF AE Ron Roose and POAF AE Frank Cleghorn.
Old Ships:- HMS Condor 1965. (Part 2 Training). HMS Goldcrest 65/66. HMS Fulmar
66 (736 Sqdn). HMS Hermes 67/69 (801 Sqdn). HMS Fulmar 69/72 (Mech Wksps).
DNR Bristol 72 Mobile Display. HMS Heron Station Tool 72/73 Controller. RAF
Honington 73/74 (237 OCU?). HMS Ark Royal 74/75 (809 Sqdn) HMS Seahawk 75/76(Mech
Wksps). HMS Daedalus 76/79 (BTG Instructor). HMS Osprey 79/80 (703, 829 NAS)
HMS Euryalus 80/83 (Ships Flight). HMS Daedalus 83/84 (BTG Instructor). HMS
Daedalus 84/85(MARTSU OiC PA)
August 1966 - D/096132 - 68 Class - 15 Mess - Rodney - Four Crosses, Powys, Wales.
Old Ships/Comments:- I have to say I enjoyed my time at HMS Ganges under the guidance of PO Buck Taylor, I cannot remember the other PO's name.
Moved onto HMS Vernon and then out into the big wide world on HMS Zest, her final Far East tour. On return it was off to HMS Vernon again then onto
HMS Bellerophon with the odd sortie out on HMS Hardy, HMS Russell and HMS Scarborough. Went to HMS Daedalus for the Nile course before joining HMS Kellington
at Chatham, what a sorry state she is now in, and up north to HMS Lochinvar. Invalided out in 1971.
Left Ganges Spring 1940 because of H.O. training takeover.
Old Ships:- 1940 HMS Emerald, Near and Far East Fleet.
1943 Combined Ops, Beach Party 'N', Italy.
Fort Wallington, Portsdown Hill.
HMS Maidstone, Weymouth.
Invalided 1948 from RNH Haslar.
Came to Canada 1949.
12/10/1948 - C/SSX 839781 - 117 Class - 8 Mess - Blake - Napier, North
Island, New Zealand.
Old ships:- HMS Whirlwind 1949, HMS Pelican 1949/51, HMS Cheviot 1951, HMS
Tyrian 1953/54, HMS Wizard 1954/56, HMS Defender 1956/57. Demobbed L/Sea UCII.
My Instructors at Ganges were PO Hickmot - Tyrwhitt mess (Annexe), POGI Ken
'Bully' Yates and PO Macroe in the Main, DO Lt Carrington. Are there anymore
of my lot out there? or even any 'Old Ships'?
Old Ships/Comments:- HMS Ganges 12/9/66 - 1/8/67, HMS Dryad 2/8/67 - 16/10/67,
HMS Hermes 17/10/67 - 28/4/68, HMS Bellerophon 29/4/68 - 28/7/68, HMS Penelope
30/10/68 - 11/7/69, HMS Ark Royal 12/7/69 - 30/1/72. After a stretch of sea
going ships it was back to HMS Dryad until January 73 then HMS Mermaid 15/1/73
- 6/1/74, HMS Fearless 7/1/74 - 3/7/74. When my time came to an end I went
PVR following my marriage.
