Induction and training - H.M.S. Ganges

The Induction and training took 79 days, the day started by being woken by a bugle call over the tannoy system at 6am every morning. After washing and dressing, breakfast was served which had been collected from the galley by the duty men. A different group of men were detailed each day for these duties. At the end of the 79 days I passed out as an ordinary seaman. Every recruit had to climb the 143ft.10inches mast, situated at the head of the parade ground, at least once in his training. There was a safety net around the base of this mast to catch any one who fell out of the rigging. Every Rating had to be able to swim one length of the swimming baths, no shore leave was granted to a rating until this had been accomplished.

All ratings were trained in all the operating positions of a six-inch gun, be able to crew a whaleboat as one of its crew and be able to to rig it for sailing. Also become proficient at tying knots, (having been a Scout and a Sea Cadet before joining the Royal Navy was to my advantage), parade ground drill and how to load and fire a 303 Rifle. The fun and games started when I was issued with a hammock and "nettles", a mattress and 2 mattress covers and then instructed how to "lash" it up.It took a little while to master the rudiments of threading the nettles to each end of the canvass hammock and then lashing it up. Even to this day I believe that I have had the best nights sleeping in my hammock.

After the 79 days training, a one weeks leave was granted. On my arrival home, my Mother's first remark was to say "How fit and well" I looked, so my training had done me some good. On my return to GANGES, I was drafted to Chatham Depot.