HMS Ganges is situated on the Shotley Peninsula in Suffolk. It used to be a training camp for the Navy until 1976, and in later years it was a police training school. It closed in 1998 or something.
At the start of 2006 the site was subject to a controversial planning war – some developers want to build a ton of homes etc on the site, but locals don’t want that. In July 2006 the Secretary of State intervened and rejected all plans!
Mast
Anyone who visits Shotley can’t fail to notice a huge mast that dominates the skyline. I can’t find out exactly how high it is – various websites say it’s between 130 and 150ft high. That is damn high. And kids had to climb it when they were training in the navy. If that doesn’t sound too bad, the wind on the ground was ferocious when I visited. I can’t imagine what it would be like at the top of it.
Signal school
This building was a Signal School apparently, which was created to teach flag signalling and telecommunications. I don’t know too much about it, but it did have fantastic bricks inside.
In one room were some educational posters on one wall. They were in quite a bad state, but some parts were still readable. Time to learn some nautical signals…
Swimming pool
This’ll be where people swam.
Main block
Martello Towers
There are two of these towers on site, both of which have been converted to water towers. One has had an additional observation post built onto it which gives splendid views accross the estuary to Harwich and Felixstowe. The same tower also has a mast on it, and a broken one is stored underneath it.
Other buildings
Some of the other buildings on site…
Fort/Battery
An old battery remains on the grounds of HMS Ganges. It was built in 1865 to protect the port of Felixstowe, and to supplement the forts at Felixstowe and Harwich.
Bomb Shelters
Scattered around the site are various bomb shelters.
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On WWII armistice day, I joined the RN as a Boy. After a spell as a nozzer, I decided to go for visual signalling and cryptography. When I was transferred to the main establishment, I spent a year there (should not have been that long, but I took ill and spent some time in sick bay) initially under the wings of Chief Yeoman of Signals, Bunn and Petty Officer Telegraphist, Nicholson, in 48 mess at the North East corner of the parade ground, then 32 mess in the short covered way, under the tuition of Yeoman Barton. After Ganges, I spent time in HMS Ceylon and HMS Birmingham, in the East Indies; then HMS Flatholm, one of the two last coalburners in the RN, engaged in Wreck Dispersal; then the Frigate HMS Crane to Korea; then transferred to HMS Ocean; then HMS Sea Eagle, an anti-submarine shore establishment in Londonderry, then finally, HMS Roebuck in the Med………..Pincher Martin. P.S I went up the mast, but never got as far as the button – too scary!…….
I was at Ganges in Blake Div in 60-62 Basher Briggs and CRS Messenger were our instructors. I have heard from a couple of lads from the mess since I moved to Australia in 1986, namely Colin Barber and Colin Dorsett they were due to come to Aus in 2009 on a cruise, but that was the last I heard, I was in the US when they first contacted me. My time at Ganges was —–THE BEST!!!!! I have great memories and some not so great i.e G.I. Thompson who put the fear of god in me. At 15 years of age he really pushed my buttons, I would freeze everytime I saw or heard him. We were RO’s and had some TO’s in our mess and would be glad to hear from any of the mess
I joined Ganges in September 1966 in 87 recruitmentas a sonar rating. I had a great time there mostly. I swam for Ganges and played rugby so both summer and winter all my spare time was accounted for. I was housed in Exmouth 32 mess just off the parade ground in what was then known as the brick mansions. I still have vivid memories of the Friday night routines on my hands and knees scrubbing the parquet floor brick by brick with our boot brushes. Ganges was a great leveler because all started the same way with identical kit. I made some good friends at Ganges but am not in touch with any now. I do remember whole class punishments that seemed to occur nightly for some misdemeanour or another, this usually meant doubling up and down Faith ,hope and charity as the stairway to the fore shore was known.
I left the RN as a chief in 2003 and remember Ganges with some fear and as a place that gave me a good foundation for my naval career.