91�ȱ�

This story is submitted to the People’s War site by a member of Market Harborough Branch, Royal British Legion on behalf of Bill Cotton and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr Cotton fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

January 9th 1939, 5am “Come on Bill; time to get up. Uncle Fred will be here soon”. Uncle Fred was taking me to the station to catch the 6am train to Derby. It was there that we had to muster en route to Shotley in Suffolk. Train to London, trains to Harwich, ferry to Shotley. HMS Ganges was the boys’ Training Ship on the Suffolk coast, a harsh place to be when you are only 15, and have never been away from home before.
It seemed to be alive with RPOs (Crushers as Regulating Petty Officers were called). Everyone seemed to be shouting at once “You’re in the Navy now and don’t forget it, and don’t ever let me catch any of you smoking”.
We were taken into a mess with about 26 beds; told to stow our gear and fall in outside. We were then taken to the dining mess and given food (I think that’s what they called it).
Next day at 6, “Wakey, Wakey up you get, ten minutes to wash and fall in outside”. After breakfast we were taken to the main Barracks to be kitted out, and then back to the annexe where we had to sew our name tags on every bit of kit. Five weeks of sewing, squad drill, Dentist, Doctor, swimming tests, mast climbing and at last the training started.
Into the main Barracks, into No 40 mess, then Seamanship, Gunnery and School every day. Early morning laundry (5am) once a week, early morning bath once a week, and endless marching.
Pay day every Thursday meant one shilling (5 pence) a week pocket money to spend on stamps and sweets. The Tobacco Barons did a good trade, as 20 Players bought for 11½d sold for 2d each. When caught smoking once you were given 6 of the best with the cane. In the toilets the cry “Lobs a jock” went up when the Marine sentry was seen getting near.
Easter leave came and went and summer leave was due giving 3 weeks at home with plenty to eat and mother doing the washing. It was heaven.
On September 3rd 1939 whilst still on leave, war started. “I’ll get called back now, I suppose”. My mate Len Tebbut, who was in the Fleet Air Arm, was recalled and I went to the station to see him off. That was the last time we saw each other as he was killed when the Glorious was sunk off Norway in 1940.
Back from leave we had our exams and were then classed as trained seamen. October 5th was my 16th birthday; October 6th I was off to Pompey for my first real ship, but that’s another story!

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.