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Only one boy is known to have died by falling from the mast, Boy Second Class ALFRED HERBERT JAMES HICKMAN , who was 15 years and 9 months old.. On Saturday, 6th October 1928 at 3.15PM. Hickman climbed the mast with four other boys. This was not an "official" action but a "leisure activity" which any Boy could do at the weekend. He attempted to get to the button, but slipped - and rather than descending hand-over-hand as they were taught, he slid down the rope and burned his hands. A report in the Times said "Grasping a rope he was carried wide of the safety net at the bottom of the masr, and his hand was so badly burned by the friction that he released his hold, and was killeed almost instantly when he fell." The Royal Navy Communications Branch Museum notes that no other boys, of the thousands who climbed the mast, died and found no record of any serious injuries being sustained.. The vast majority of fatalities ay HMS Ganges were due to illness, as common diseases amongst a population of several hundred boys were hard to control, particularly before the dawn of modern medicines. The HMS Ganges Museum at Shotley Gate is dedicated the history of the establishment - details can be found online.

Only 1 Boy, Alfred Hickman, died in that way. That was in 1927.

Crazy voice? He's easily understood which is more than can be said of today's presenters, what with their incomprehensible regional accents. No matter where an English speaker comes from, this presenter is easily understood.

I attended Royal hospital school from 1972-1979 Holbrook a naval boarding school in those days (you could probably see our school tower from Harwich) Some of our lads went on visits to ganges for parades and watching lads stand on the button and fireworks displays we even used to borrow their boxing ring for our inter house boxing matches

Makes me nostalgic for our past where did we faulter

Is Nelson Hall still there?

@@BJDorset Yes I think I saw it on Google maps.

The HMS Ganges mast has now been completely renovated and replaced - great to see the return of such an iconic landmark and hats off to Wavensmere for prioritising its restoration. It is a fitting monument to the 160,000 Boys who trained at HMS Ganges and served in the Royal Navy. According to the developer of the site, Nelson Hall, the PO Mess and the Swimming Pool building will be retained and repurposed - and the main gate will be retained. The HMS Ganges Museum at Shotley Gate is dedicated the history of the establishment - details can be found online.

@@BJDorset Yes I believe that and the mast are protected. You can now see it from Harwich as all the trees have been cleared.

You're welcome - my late dad was aboard the Kent 1938 - 1941 , initially stationed out in Hong Kong . Big change for a poor lad from Birmingham ! :-) We have quite a few photos he sent back from that time , i may try to splice them all up into a video , maybe . :-)