Following on from ‘Lily & Me’ comes another ‘cracker’ from Fred’s pen, but this time covering his time in the Navy. Ganges, surface ships – Far East and Home Fleet. Girls, with Cupid active with his bow. Joining the Submarine Service with a very good description of life aboard diesel electric’T’ and ‘A’ class boats. More girls and arrows everywhere, tricked into marriage, children, divorce and part of the 6th Canadian Submarine Squadron based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Dick Lloyd Editor-Gazette
irishroversbooks.wordpress.com 
I also served at Ganges then was draftewd to open Briuce im Scotland. Look forward to reading you r book.
Good to hear from you Shipmate, you must be quite a bit older than me if you opened Bruce in Scotland, I believe that was during the war. I joined Ganges March 14th 1955.
I joined September 1946, just after the war ended, was training in the Sea cadets and Home Guard for two years, with emphasis on signals. We were the first graduating class from HMS Bruce, a few of us were transferred to HMS Ulster for further sea training. Good to hear from a former shipmate.
Keep in touch.
Hi Derrick wondering if you know Tom Robson he also went to Bruce at about the same time as you. He wrote the book “Boy Seaman RN” its a good read too. A good friend of mine we met several years ago.
At 86 it is harder to remember names these days, I do remember the times though(who could forget) the training at Ganges was something remarkable in a sense, that all those different dialects could influence you own way of speaking. When I went home on leave (Yorkshire) no one could understand me. My first ship as an ordinary seaman was HMS Cadiz (Battle Class Destroyer), I received my first promotion:- Captain of the Heads. I was responsible for refurbishing the officers toilet seat by sanding all the scratched varnish off and replacing it with “OX Blood” shoe polish, that did not go down too good. Took a long time to sand it all off. I will get a hold of Tom Robson,s book
and maybe it will bring back some of the pranks we use to get into. More later.
.
Great times Derrick, who could ever forget them.
Dear Mr Rogers,
I have recently found my deceased father’s “Certificate of Royal Navy Service”. My father, Michael Desmond Connor joined the Royal Navy on 4 February 1931 as a 15-year old boy sailor when he walked through the gates of HMS Ganges at Shotley. He trained as a radio telegrapher and served on several ships and submarines. He was sunk once during the war when serving on HMS Naiad. My research about my father’s 15-years in the Royal Navy has brought me to your website.
My 90-year old aunt has told me that my father was a Button Boy when at HMS Ganges. Are you able to advise me how I can confirm this story?
My grandfather, Michael Christopher Connor, originally from Drogheda, took the then Queen’s shilling and after several years service in the army, ended up in Liverpool, where my father was born.
Your sincerely,
Mike Connor
Hello Mike Idont think I can help you,I doubt records of button boys were ever recorded. You might try the HMS Ganges web page,some one have better advice to offer.although I fear the only way to confirm would be a class mate at Ganges, and finding one alive today is slim to nil. Perhaps from an old photo but again not many cameras at Ganges in those days. I think if your father said he was a button boy then he probably was.