Daily Routine

The image above is of Jim Mason (320) escorting Captain Napper, and other senior officers inspecting 320/321's rear rank on divisions. 

Daily Routine, by Gerry Taylor (320 Class, second from right above)

06.30 reveille (piped to the whole establishment over the tanoy system)

07.00 breakfast

08.00 Morning divisions

09.00 Classwork (or workshops etc)

10.00 stand easy

12.30 lunch

13.30 Classwork

16.00 sport/freetime

17.00 tea

20.00 lights out (pipe down whistle later)

Days at Ganges were filled to the brim with activity, there was never a dull moment as I recall. Some sadistic bone-crusher (Regulator branch policemen) would come around at 06.00 to 06.30 banging dustbin lids to ensure everyone was awake. There was usually a second visit to make sure you were up, or at the very least, had one foot on the deck. Mornings, I seem to remember, were a busy time with last-minute ironing and boot polishing in readiness for the morning inspection. The daily rush to the bathroom for a wash and brush-up and some late-comers washing nicks (underpants) and socks in the sink, that they had forgotten to do the night before. Breakfast was served in the CMG (Central Main Galley) and queues were always the order of the day. The food available included cereals, toast, jam or marmarlade and always a full English breakfast. As young busy men, the calories were quickly burnt off with all the marching, running and sporting exercise that everyone participated in every day.

At 08.00 the entire camp would gather on the parade ground for morning divisions. The dress of the day during weekdays was always No 8s (blue trousers, blue shirt), boots and gaiters. Each individual mess would form up outside the mess to be marched to the parade ground. Once at the parade ground each mess would stand easy in their ranks at the perimeter until the PO GI bellowed "RIGHT MARKERS FALL IN". Every class had a right marker, usually the tallest junior in the class, and they would double march onto the parade ground and take up their given spot, standing at ease. A further command from the PO GI would generate a mass stampede as every mess ran onto the parade ground and "fell in" by ranks and dressed off to their respective right marker. The PO GI would call the parade to attention and give the command to "dress by the right". After much shuffling the parade ground would fall silent and be stood at ease by the PO GI, awaiting the arrival of the inspecting officers, led by Captain Napper or his the Commander.

Each class, in turn, had the honour of being parade guard. The parade guard stood at the front of the muster in No 8's, carrying SLR rifles with bayonets fixed. The guard was always performed by the more senior intakes of junior ratings. Upon arrival of the inspecting officer the parade was called to attention and the junior ratings were addressed by the inspecting officer, passing on any information, results, congratulations or news to the remainder of the camp. This was followed by the formal inspection. Sometimes, due to the sheer volume of junior ratings on the parade ground, each class was inspected by their own Divisional Officer, the Captain only inspecting the guard or a few chosen classes.

Uniforms were closely scrutinised for cleanliness, smartness and presentation. Boots had to be bulled to a radiant shine, creases were expected in every appropriate part of kit and personal hygiene was most important. As young men, some were just entering the phase where shaving was required on an occasional basis, and wobetide any junior rating who was found to have more than his fair share of "bum fluff" or a hair too long on his head. A short prayer by the Padre was always said at morning divisions.

Following inspection, the parade would be called to attention once again for the march past and on to morning activities; these included classroom study, practical workshop training, marching and drill, gym or lectures or films concentrating on aspects of seamanship or trade matter depending what branch of the navy your class was training for. Drake 320/321 were all electricians of one type or another. Practical or trade-orientated lessons were usually taken by one of our mess instructors. At 10.00 there was a 10-minute stand easy where a drink of tea and some nutty bars were provided. Smoking was allowed at Ganges and junior ratings could smoke in their stand easy but only outside buildings and most certainly not on the parade ground.

Lessons would continue until 12.30 when a pipe was made over the loudspeaker system indicating that it was lunchtime. Morning Ki (hot chocolate) and sticky buns were usually provided during morning stand easy at about 10.30. Lunch was served in the CMG and consisted of many of the staple navy recipes such as "shit on a raft" (kidneys in gravy on a piece of fried bread), oggies (Cornish pasties) as well as the more traditional English lunches as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, sausages and mash with lashings of vegetables. There was always a dessert available, drinks of tea and sometimes coffee or fruit juice and plenty of bread and margarine to fill up on if anyone was still hungry. From my own personal point of view I always felt that I was well fed, notwithstanding that some of the food was not always to my liking!

Afternoons were pretty much the same as mornings, with lessons, practical work, drill and a host of other activities. With the exception of Wednesdays, which were "make-and-mend day". Wednesday morning was lessons as usual but the afternoons were devoted to sporting activities. Every conceivable type of sport was available, and everyone had to take part unless they had a very good reason not to. Sport was a large part of Ganges life and was available to everyone every day after lessons and until tea time.

17.00 saw tea time commence in the CMG. The dress of the day was No 2's (blue uniform) with silks but no collars. These ichy serge sailor suits were detested by most. In the summer a white front was worn beneath them and in winter and even ichier blue sea jersey. As I remember, you had to have special permission to attend tea in No 8's or sports rig. Tea was another hot meal, or sometimes sandwiches, fruit and cake.

After tea, evenings were generally "free" to do as you pleased but this was not always the case. There was always washing and ironing to be done for kit musters and daily divisions. Boots to be bulled, gaiters to be blancoed (whitened) and the mess to be cleaned for evening rounds. Those who were unfortunate to "earn" punishment were put to work around the camp. Those who did have free time could go to watch a film, make use of the bowling alley or the NAAFI, or join in with one of the many evening activities that were available like the bugle band, piping lessons, playing chess or draughts, field sports (mainly in the summer months), sailing etc etc.

Lights out were at 20.00 every day and officers of the day and class instructors did rounds to ensure all junior ratings were in their pyjamas and in bed. Head counts were carried out and only special permission allowed anyone to be absent.

In view of the busy days, nights were mainly kept for sleeping as everyone was tired out from the day's activities but on occasions there were the odd pillow fights and other extra-curricular activities known to happen. If caught, it was most certainly a prolonged drill session on the parade ground in pyjamas, raincoats and boots and gaitors, or a session of doubling up and down the Long-covered way, irrespective of the weather! Sometimes you were accompanied by your entire bedding on your back!

Upon joining Ganges, juniors were allocated to a Mess. These had previously been occupied by the outgoing classes, who went to great lengths to trash them prior to your arrival. Each mess was supplied with a galvanised dustbin and two spit kids. The floors were of wooden blocks and the beds were iron framed sprung bunk beds.

Every Friday night, without fail, was mess cleaning night. All the beds were moved to one end of the mess and all the mess members, armed with a shoe brush, were required to wire wool the floors and then polish them. This was done in one evening and on completion the floors would shine like glass. Needless to say no one was allowed in the mess with boots on for fear of damaging the floor shine. Windows were cleaned with newspaper and vinegar and toilets were cleaned with toothbrushes to ensure they were spotless ready for Captains rounds. The dustbin and spit kits, when they arrived, were the usual dull galvanised colour but in a very short time they were polished, using metal polish, to a mirror finish.

Weekends were generally free time, except for Sunday Divisions. Sunday Divisions was attended in No. 1's and the turn out had to be immaculate, without exception. Divisions on a Sunday were usually followed by church. After this junior ratings were free to do as they wished for the remainder of the day. As ever, there were numerous activities to take part in or a trip into Felixstowe as "liberty-men" via the liberty boat to see the local sights.