Albert joined HMS Ganges on 20th June 1914 as a Boy 2nd Class. He was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 18th December 1914 and completed his training on 13th April 1915.

Shotley had a mixed reputation in the Royal Navy, both for its reputed harsh methods of training boys in order to turn out professionally able, self-reliant ratings and for the professionalism of its former trainees. The training was tough, brutal at times, yet many of those who came through remember HMS Ganges, at Shotley Gate, with a certain fondness.

Shotely is particularly famous for its 143-foot (44 m) high mast which all boys under training were required to ascend, at least to the half-moon and for the mast manning ceremonies held whenever a dignitary visited the establishment.

RNTE Shotley opened in 1905. In 1907 the 143-foot (44 m) high mast of the old steam corvette HMS Cordelia was erected and would become a major landmark.

In 1916 the establishment was bombed by a German Zeppelin. Rationing measures nearly produced a mutiny in 1917 but dispersed peacefully. Other wartime activities included the establishment of a trawler base at Ganges II and the completion of 600 miles (966 km) of anti-submarine nets by boys and staff. In 1918 the base suffered outbreaks of spanish flu and diphtheria. Armistice Day was celebrated by a display of mast manning.