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Wonderful memories of HMS Gangrene.

Great to see the place again

my father was a POPTI at ganges from 66 to 72....!

i was resolution 21 mess last but one bottom of the long covered way on the left

This is the Hong Kong in my memory as I saw it in 1969 and 1972 whilst in the Royal Navy

Good memories of Ganges joined May 72 Drake 9 mess.

Why was it ever left to such decay, it’s a crying shame to a National Monumental Establishment!

Oooo my god 33 trust that number to stay

The Perv's Grooming Paradise

That should read dave swattan john winn

Mick sadly don't remember you more importantly don't remember your accident. I remember ray lavall we seemed to hit it off dave satanic and john winning we're posted with me to Raleigh in Plymouth for a short while before we all found ourselves on a plane from raf Brize Norton to Singapore to join the albino in the far east 1 took off not old enough to but a brink in the UK and a Virginia both of them were about to change big style in Singapore. I normally read for an hour in bed and sometimes scroll TH-cam imaging my shock to see an officer inspecting a parade and dave groves is on the end ,tallest, and I'm next to him I also still have the field gun picture need to look at it again to try and remember names frank Pyle was class leader was there a Colin West, biffo bear, a guy from Manchester we all picked on called martin chop chop cpo brown speak soon

Been there great pal Ray lavall Frank Pyle class leader chop chop brown other officer

Low rise Hong Kong!

38 recruitment hawke division sept 72.

Sick cruel shithouse

Baby stokes 1962 to 1963. Grenville Division 158 recruitment. My Navy. 😊

Wonderful memories of my time at Ganges, 63 recruitment! Thank you!

Boys into men, no doubt.

You have brought back many mixed memories for which I thank you, we could do with one or two of these facilities today!

Police should do this type of basic training

Just stumbled on the movie. My dad was a boy seaman in 1928 there. He was taken there by his father, George Constable, at the age of 13. He never talked much about it and came to New Zealand on the survey ship HMS Endeavour to make maps of NZ's coastline. Awesome video! Thanks, Jim

Remember Faith Hope and charity. Punishment for not paying attention in typing class was to run up and down them carrying type writer. Also remember climbing mast for the first time going over Devils Elbow

I was there from March 64 to March 65 fond memories good training for what to expect, Grenville division. CAPT. PLACE VC WAS the CO.

amazing how nature reclaims

Just stumbled upon this thanks Jim. Joined 1962 Drake mess short covered way. I live just over the river and can see Ganges with all the development going on. The refurbished mast looks great, hope Nelson Hall is going to be saved .

I joined GANGES on the 31st August 1965 entering the New Recruits section at approximately 14:30

At least you joined the right Branch and had a good 1st ship Doc, 10 Mess HMS Norfolk.

Great to see the Annexe again. Joined up at Raleigh in 65 but had a week at the Annexe in 63 as a Sea Cadet on Easter or Summer Camp. Except for the Cinema, can't recall doing much there, we were drilled on that square quite alot especially when caught having a floor polish fight between the messes lol.

I enjoy watching the vedios of old days, being back lots of memories , thank you ! Great job!

When I joined the Navy in 1957 just 2 months shy of my 17th birthday I arrived having spent the previous 3 years in a Nautical training establishment at Portishead, it was actually an Approved school just one step away from Borstal, so I avoided Ganges altogether and thank the lord for that. Of course I met many ex Ganges boys, easily spotted by their red name tags, I particularly remember Peter Helliwell who would have been “Button boy” for the Queen's visit in 1961 but for a broken ankle. An unlucky lad who joined his first ship later that year, ( Battle class destroyer Trafalgar ) as the youngest member of the ships company and then got killed on the back of a motorbike before the ship put to sea. A messmate gone but not forgotten. I listened to many stories from Ganges and compared them with my experiences in what is nowadays called a “young offenders institution” and thought just how lucky I had been. For a start there was no corporal punishment, I was caned at Grammar school (for smoking) before I got expelled, but not at Portishead. There was no running up and down hills or steps either, the most severe punishment was reserved for absconders, (always caught next day) who had to jog round and round the gym until they dropped. There was a mast, it was about 15 ft tall with a platform half way up that was supposed to represent the Chains where we stood and practised heaving the lead and shouting “ BY THE MARK 10”. A completely useless skill because long before the fifties somebody had invented an Echo Sounder. One thing we did have to watch out for was sexual abuse. Not from the staff I hasten to add, they were all ex servicemen who had been through the war and were looking for a quiet life. I don't have a bad word to say about any of them. The problem was other boys, bigger boys, “big cheeses” as we called them. The age range at Portishead was between 13 and 17, that’s a big difference, and you are on your own when the dormitory lights go out. I was a fairly beefy 14 year old, captain of the school rugger team when I got there but still carry a broken nose to this day, now 84. Don’t use the night heads, that's what I’m saying.

I have this dvd but unfortunately it was low quality and won’t play anymore. So glad you have downloaded it to TH-cam.💯👍

Can anyone advise me if records are available to research my Grandfathers records. He was a Ganges boy in 1936?

1969, 13 recruitment. Boys to Men.

Strong memories, good to see this, thank you

Well done. Good to see it back online

Sorry.. was that Hermes or the Vic alongside.?

Some wonderful memories...all but forgotten now. Thanks

My Dad went there approx 1938/9...He loved it but at first felt like running away. He was a button boy ...signals ...then he got really unlucky ..joined HMS Exeter...when he came home in 1947..the navy chucked him out..to stop him talking ..told him not to speak about his experience he was NOT a conscript...he was angry ... Here is his story th-cam.com/play/PL_qb4YkbxuQyKNt9GdVOy-TIePHQhv7QQ.html&si=5rbK6KDqBHGZ_f4i

My grandad Terry Kavanagh was there November 58-59 Rodney 12 mess

Are there any Ganges boys from the recruits from the 1961 intake

HMS Bulwark and HMS Chichester.

Oh those wonderful 60s. Ark Royal 62 & Darlington 65, where I became a man!

I was there April 27th 1965 to 1966 in Rodney 20 mess, born in Yorkshire made in the Royal Navy, enjoyed my service time

Thanks for sharing so sad 😢 to many cuts to our services

Did anybody ever refuse to climb the mast at HMS Ganges?

I was so lucky to visit beautiful Hong Kong in 1967 - Junks sailing on the harbour - Hard working people - great restaurants - it felt totally exotic location

Parents day 1966,we had Green mansions not red.

I was there as were some family members, great day nice to see them, then back to reality when they all went home

My first posting after leaving Ganges in 66, 16 months HMS Loch Fada: Singers , Hong Kong Japan Penang, then brought her back to Pompey for paying off via Ghan , Mauritius, Simonstown and Gib wonder memories for a 16/17 year old. Thanks Jim

Excellent post Jim, so many memories , good and bad, but I would do it all over again, even knowing now what I didn't know then. 1965 seems like yesterday looking back through the photos, and can still remember CPO's Eldred and Brown I reckon we were lucky having those two. Those hard lessons have stood me in good stead throughout my life, and still do today. Take care mate be in touch soon, Ray Lavall .