Captains of HMS Ganges

The list of Captains of the first and second sea going and later HMS Ganges boys training ships at Falmouth and Harwich were drawn up by Commander William H Nicholson the last Captain prior to the renaming of the second HMS Ganges to HMS Tenedos in 1906.
Amongst the Captains should be noted the Hon. William Cornwallis who in 1795 as Vice Admiral, flying his flag in HMS Royal Sovereign, was famed for his skilful retreat from superior French forces at Belle Isle II and also Sir Francis Laforey who later commanded HMS Spartiate at the Battle of Trafalgar.

HMS Ganges 1782 - 1904

In command rank - Captain - unless stated otherwise
Name Date Appointed Name Date Appointed
Charles Fielding 16/03/1782 George McKinley 24/07/1802
George Vandeput 31/12/1782 Thos. Francis Freemantle 17/07/1803
Hon. William Cornwallis 22/01/1783 Peter Halkett 19/04/1806
Thomas Boston 04/02/1783 Thomas Dundas 02/11/1809
Hon. James Lutrell 11/04/1783 James Spratt Lt. Commander 30/12/1814
Anthony James Pye Molley 22/12/1792 Francis Augustus Collier 19/01/1822
William Truscott 21/01/1794 Edward Brace C.B. 31/05/1823
Benjamin Archer 02/10/1795 Patrick Campbell 02/11/1824
Henry Warre 26/11/1795 Samuel Good Inglefield 01/03/1826
Lancelot Skynner 06/12/1795 John Hayes 18/09/1829
Francis Laforey
(Later Sir Francis, BT)
27/12/1795 Edward Stirling Dickson 24/05/1830
Robert M'Douall 03/04/1796 George Burdett 22/07/1830
Charles Campbell 17/07/1799 Barrington Reynolds 17/10/1838
Thos. Francis Freemantle 19/08/1800 Henry Smith 01/03/1848
James Brisbane 27/04/1801 John Fulford 25/06/1857
Joseph Baker Commander. 07/12/1801

 

 

 

HMS Ganges as Boys Training Ship

In command rank - Commander - unless stated otherwise

Name Date Appointed Name Date Appointed
Frederick H Stevens 01/01/1866 Walter B Bridges 31/12/1881
Frederick W Wilson 24/07/1866 Reginald H Thornton 06/01/1885
Joseph E M Wilson 20/04/1867 Guy Mainwaring 03/07/1886
William H Annesley 11/07/1870 Randolph F O Foote 10/09/1889
Edward Kelly 11/08/1870 John R Prickett 08/08/1891
Arthur R Tinklar 27/10/1870 Robert S Lowry 09/03/1894
Robert Woodward 28/10/1873 Charles H Coke 16/07/1896
Robert L Byng 08/11/1876 Walter V Anson 18/01/1899
Walter Stewart 29/06/1877 Joseph R Bridson 11/01/1901
Edward J Jermaine 16/01/1878 William H Nicholson 12/01/1904
Arthur D Fanshawe 15/07/1879

HMS Ganges as Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley

In command rank - Captain - unless stated otherwise

Name Date Appointed Name Date Appointed
W H Nicholson Commander 1904 - 07 G L D Gibbs DSO 1944 - 46
E G Barton 1907 - 09 E W Bush DSO DSC 1946 - 48
C L Vaughan-Lee 1909 - 11 W G A Robson DSO DSC 1948 - 50
C S Hickley MVO 1911 - 13 D C Hill DSO 1950 - 51
G C Caley CB Rear Admiral 1913 - 18 J F Whitfield DSC 1951 - 53
C S Hickley MVO Rear Admiral 1918 - 19 The Earl Cairns 1953 - 54
F J St John CB MVO 1919 - 21 M Le Fanu DSC 1954 - 57
E Wigram CMG DSO 1921 - 23 R D Franks DSO OBE DSC 1957 - 59
R C Dalglish 1923 - 25 H S MacKenzie DSO & Bar DSC 1959 - 60
P L H Noble CVO 1925 - 27 J R Gower DSC 1960 - 62
W T R Ford 1927 - 29 C P Norman DSO DSC 1962 - 63
F M Austin 1929 - 31 B C G Place VC DSC 1963 - 65
E J Hardman Jones OBE 1931 - 33 F W Watson 1965 - 67
H H Rogers MVO OBE 1933 - 35 D W Napper MBE 1967 - 69
C O Alexander 1935 - 37 M J Button 1969 - 71
F R Corson MVO DSC 1937 - 39 W N Ash MVO 1971 - 73
F W H Goolden 1939 - 40 J M C Dunlop 1973 - 76
W H G Fallowfield 1940 - 44

 

Lists and short history compiled by ex HMS Ganges boy
the late Tony Grimmer.