Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

HMS Ganges was the boy's training base and established in 1865. Originally, it was based on a number of old hulks, one of which was the 84-gun ship of the line HMS Ganges. The hulks were originally based in Falmouth and Harwich before training was moved ashore at Shotley in Suffolk in 1905. The establishment was named Royal Naval Training Establishment Shotley, but was renamed Ganges in 1927.
Training of boys at the establishment was suspended for the duration of the second world war and she became a "Hostilities Only" training base. Training of boys at Ganges recommenced in 1945.
Ganges took school leavers from the age of 15 years and trained them for various roles in the service.
HMS Ganges closed in October 1976.

The HMS Ganges Museum has its own website where further information can be obtained:
https://www.hmsgangesmuseum.com/

Handy links for information about the history of HMS Ganges both afloat and ashore + her captains.
https://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/cmspage/ ... late-1800s
https://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/cmspage/ ... at-shotley
https://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/cmspage/ ... hms-ganges

THE YOUNGEST SAILOR

32 Minutes video - update of A Sailor Is Born in many respects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnmEKLn ... _85wT_aofs

Believed to be made in 1958-59.

A little bit before your time Jim.

HMS Ganges & Shotley Point Battery Documentary

26 Jan 2020
Beyond the Point
Welcome to our next documentary, investigating the decaying remains and iconic abandoned swimming pool of HMS Ganges Royal Naval training school, as well as the historic Shotley Point Battery nearby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFmujuu ... l6JCVgutpA

Pelican wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:55 pm A little bit before your time Jim.

Another view.
Also 2 views of the building after closure in the late 1970s.

CLOSING DOWN SIGNAL IN 1976

SOME WENT ON TO BECOME ADMIRALS OTHERS WERE THROWN OUT OR MEDICALLY DISCHARGED LIKE SEAN CONNERY AND GEOFF CAPES COULD NOT CUT THE MUSTARD AT GANGES.

Duncan Bannatyne OBE joined Ganges in May or June 1964. Several Boys still remember him.
The story goes that he was in Eagle in which was anchored off Lossiemouth. Shore leave was via ship's boats and he pushed an officer off the quay.
See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2h_GIP ... _mNEjlVBTk
And - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Bannatyne

Please see image for details.

3RD FEBRUARY 1915

A GANGES BOY

On this day: Ernest Knight, Boy 1st Class, HMS Clan MacNaughton, aged 16. The youngest person from Kennington to die on active service. Lived at Lewis Cottage, Faversham Road. Died with all 261 crew when ship hit a mine in the North Atlantic, 3 February 1915.