HMS Ganges - (1961 - 1962)
Rank: Junior Seaman
HMS Ganges was a training ship and later stone frigate of the Royal Navy. She was established as a boys' training establishment in 1865, and was based aboard a number of hulks before moving ashore. She was based alternately in Falmouth, Harwich (from 1899) and Shotley (from 1905). She remained in service at RNTE Shotley until October 1976.
I started my Naval career here in June 1961 and my first year induction training in seamanship and general naval duties commenced before qualifying as junior seaman and dispatched to my first draft at the Torpedo Anti Submarine training station in Portsmouth.

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HMS Vernon (1962 - 1962)
Rank: Junior Seaman
Trade: Trainee Sonar OP
H.C. Kane who was at that time attached to the gunnery school at HMS Excellent began laying down the principles for the study of torpedo warfare as a separate subject within the school with the blessing of the Excellent Captain A.W.A Hood, but within two years he had been succeeded by Lt. Jackie Fisher who was promoted to Commander almost immediately. Hood and Fisher set up the new school in the hulk HMS Vernon which was then a tender to the Excellent, whilst experimental trials took place from 1885 at Horsea Island. At about the same time Excellent and Vernon went their separate ways, Excellent to Whale Island in the late 1890s and Vernon to Gunwharf in the 1920s.
The center for my first naval trade training course for underwater control basic training (UC basic) in torpedo anti submarine warfare (TAS) on SC, 164 and 174 sonar systems. training included sea training on HMS Decoy (pictured here left) while doing Seacat trials in the channel

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HMS Devonshire (1962 - 1964)
Rank at joining:Junior Seaman
Rank at leaving: Able Seaman
Trade: Sonar OP UC basic up to UC*.
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Devonshire, originally in honour of William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, and later after the county of Devonshire.
She was the First County class guided-missile destroyer and my first full commissioned sea draft we embarked on sea trials and missile test firing, before sailing to the med then flag flying exercise to the Caribbean and the eastern coast of USA calling on New York, Philadelphia and US Navy base Norfolk .

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HMS Vernon - TAS Center (1964 - 1965)
Rank on joining Able Seaman TAS UC*
Rank on leaving Able Seaman TAS UC 2
Trade: Sonar OP UC*
The name of Vernon originated with Admiral Edward Vernon who was born at Westminster on November 12th 1684 and went on to become a successful naval captain and member of Parliament. He died in 1757, leaving behind a cherished legacy his nickname 'Old Grog' from which the name of the navy rum ration was derived
Home for my second TAS course for underwater control II (UC2) qualified on SC 177 Doppler scanners

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HMS Eastbourne - (1965 - 1966)
Rank: Able Seaman TAS UC2 Ship;s Diver
Trade: Sonar OP

A secondment draft for 12 months from HMS Drake as replacement crew.
Atlantic training commission taking in Canada calling at Quebec and Montreal where we had a small refit on the engines

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HMS Drake - (1966 - 1966)
Rank:Able Seaman TAS UC2
Trade: Seaman, Trainee Diver.

Rejoined Drake after secondment to HMS Eastbourne.
Completed ship’s diver course on SABA and SDDE systems course included buddy support for bottom search and general hull searches.

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BRNC Dartmouth - Ship’s Company(1966 - 1966)
Rank: Able Seaman TAS UC2
Trade: Diver

Stationed at sand quay on the Dart as ship’s company support to training officer cadets.

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HMS Cavalier - (1966 - 1969)
Rank: AL/Sea UC2
Trade: Sonar Op and Ship’s diver.
HMS Cavalier was the Royal Navy's last operational Second World War destroyer and is now preserved at Chatham as a memorial to the 143 British destroyers and over 11,000 men lost at sea during the war.
I joined Cavalier in Gibraltar on the 12th September drafted to crew the 6th commission in her sea career mainly in the far east including two stints on Biera patrol off the Mozambique coast.

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HMS Vernon - TAS Center (1969 - 1969)
Rank:L/SEA UC2
Trade:TAS Sonar
As the two schools grew it became increasingly obvious that they could not remain afloat for ever. The first move to bring them ashore involved the Mining School which was destined for the southern half of Gunwharf, the half under the control of the navy. This was largely achieved by 1919 with the Torpedo and Electrical Schools following shortly after to be allocated the northern half of Gunwharf as soon as the army had vacated the premises. Once safely ashore and settled down the whole of Gunwharf became known, on 1st October 1923, as the Vernon Shore Establishment
I rejoined Vernon for the third time on 3rd April 69 retraining on new equipment and for TAS1 (UC1) senior sonar operator course. Successfully completed course including sc 177 and 184 doppler systems

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HMS Raleigh - (1969 - 1971)
Rank: L/SEA UC1
Trade: Ship’s company and diver.

Part of the Flag Officer Sea Training organisation,                          Raleigh provides a diverse range of training. This training ranges from the ten-week initial induction for all new rating recruits to specialist training in areas such as seamanship, submarine operations, logistics, military and board and search skills.

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HMNB Devonport - (1971 - 1971)
Rank: L/SEA UC1

Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport (formerly HMS Drake), is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy. Devonport is located in Plymouth Devon . It is the largest naval base in Western Europe and is the sole nuclear repair and refueling facility for the Royal Navy.
This was my final barracks before discharge from the RN.

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