HMS Ganges Association
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Some of the items here displayed came from the last sailing battleship H.M.S. GANGES, which trained young seamen for the Royal Navy. In 1905, training moved ashore to a new establishment of the same name, near Harwich, where it continued with little interruption until 1976, when it was closed. Many thousands of officers and men connected with the Navy think back with affection of the time served in H.M.S. GANGES. This display is presented in much the same form as it stood previously in the shore training establishment, where it was used as a saluting base. It was erected here by the Department of the Environment to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee 1977. Inaugurated by Lady Le Fanu. 1st December 1977. |
| The display, formerly on the Quarterdeck of RNTE Shotley - HMS Ganges, was erected outside the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth Dockyard adjacent to H.M.S VICTORY (Ship), to commemorate HM Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee in 1977. As is explained in the narrative, Lady Le Fanu, wife of Admiral Le Fanu, one-time Captain of HMS Ganges, inaugurated the display. The photographs of the "bitts" and narrative were taken in 1998 prior to their removal & the proposed re-erection at HMS Raleigh, Devonport (the Royal Navy's present training establishment), after the Royal Naval Museum authorities deemed the display "inappropriate" after the Museum was reopened as the Lord Nelson Museum. It is a sad indictment of "historical commemoration" that modern-day administrators should take it upon themselves to ignore the wishes of many Royal Naval personnel. The display, taken from the old wooden ship and used in everyday routine at Shotley, was erected to commemorate: a) The last wooden battleship, in which many young men trained - 1866-1899. b) RNTE, Shotley, where 150,000 young seamen were trained - 1900-1976. c) Her Majesty The Queen's, Silver Jubilee of 1977. David MacLeod (1946) P/JX795860 |