Welcome to the HMS GANGES TO TERROR website Comprehensive illustrated records and recollections of ship's exploits that include Arctic Convoys, battles, landings, earthquake relief, royal escorts as well as Barracks, Dockyards and Singapore Naval Base that supported the ships. What became of them? Click on the index or name.
HMS GANGES. Everyone - Boys and Staff - still hotly debate the 'Shotley' regime but almost unanimously agree that this training establishment shaped their lives. Look again at Shotley then and now and add your own memories if you want to.
HMS BERMUDA. A day-by-day account of the history of the ship includes an Engineer Officer's illustrated account of his war years in this new 1942 cruiser and continues its life through to the breakers yard.
HMS ECHO of my time was a white painted survey vessel that was visited by a tragedy in the Thames Estuary but as well as that event you can find out why and when everything went Greek for those who served in her wartime destroyer predecessor. (Dec 2009 - 1980-83 pictures of ship/crew from L/S 'Gabby' Hayes added. Are you in the picture?)
HMS JAGUAR. This new in 1959 diesel-engined frigate came out of Denny's in Dumbarton as their long and distinguished shipbuilding history was coming to an end. She was still in use in Bangladesh in 2001.
HMS OBDURATE, a major player in the Battle of the Barents Sea went on to become my GANGES 'Sea-day' ship and subsequently my first seagoing draft. The history and first hand accounts bring the ship back to life.
HMS PEMBROKE the home of the Chatham Port Division and HM DOCKYARD CHATHAM always seemed so welcoming and secure and I cannot remember anyone ever 'dripping' about the place but I could just be a bit forgetful! HMD SHEERNESS AND WILDFIRE were no less welcoming but there was and still is an explosive possibility there. Recount your memories and their history here. (March 2010 - Pembroke - RN Supply School 1961 pictures added)
HMS SKIPJACK, GAVINTON, VERNON & EXCELLENT also took me in at one time or another and must not go unmentioned. Of these EXCELLENT alone survives but must be sinking under the weight of the many Navy Departments now (2006) housed on Whale Island.
HMS TERROR, SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE and DOCKYARD became home to many RN, RAN, RNZN & others including Dockyard Staff but did you know the background? The answers, the ships and the way of life is remembered and revisited in this section with 21stC comparisons.
ROYAL NAVAL PATROL SERVICE. The memories of Reg Brearey's wartime 'Hostilities Only' life in RNPS trawlers and minesweepers during WW2 and its aftermath.
DUNKIRK REMEMBERED. Some of the 'Little Ships' at Ramsgate on the 60th Anniversary in 2000.
This replaces original Contents Page with Counter at 29304 + 10000. New published 30/11/2007 |