Training Ships based at Falmouth

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=185 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="040b9c00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="70" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="66"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="66" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Ganges</B></I></div> <div> Based Falmouth 1866-1899</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Cutty Sark</B></I><B> (1869)</B></div> <div> Based Falmouth 1922-1938</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" >Visit </FONT><A HREF="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm"><U>The Red Duste</U></A>r</div> <div> <A HREF="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm"><U><IMG SRC="20a516d0.jpg" border=0 width="81" height="109" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> Captain Wilfred Dowman</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>Indefatigable</B></I></div> <div> Based Falmouth </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Foudroyant</B></I></div> <div> Based Falmouth </div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Falmouth Packet Archives 1688-1850</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Packet Archives 16881850"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tallships Falmouth for Orders"><U>'Tallships' & "Falmouth for Orders"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Docks"><U>Falmouth Docks</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Falmouth Pilots"><U>Falmouth Pilots</U></A>   |   <B>Training Ships based at Falmouth </B>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tugs Local Steamers "><U>Tugs & Local Steamers </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shipping Agents"><U>Shipping Agents</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lifeboat"><U>Lifeboat</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Master"><U>Harbour Master</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Commissioners"><U>Harbour Commissioners</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Misc"><U>Misc</U></A></div> <div> Training Ships based at Falmouth </div> <bR> <div> <B>H.M.S. </B><I><B>Ganges</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="2730c230.jpg" border=0 width="780" height="547" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> The log of the three masted Square rigged naval training ship, H.M.S. GANGES,  March 20th <B>1866</B>, </div> <div> <I><B>Ganges </B></I><I>towed by Gladiator (from Devonport) in afternoon and ancored in St. Just Pool"</I>.  </div> <div> Ganges was to remain near Mylor for some 33 years.  Some of the original Mylor Dockyard buildings were used as a naval hospital and playing fields were made for the young trainee sailors on the hill behind the smithy.</div> <bR> <div> Discipline aboard the training ship was severe, the ship had a bad name in her own port, and in 1866 a Board of Enquiry was set up to discover whether these allegations were true.  The report found there had been some truth that Commander Stevens had given punishments not laid down in the Training regulations, he and his first Lieutenant were superseded in July 1866.  In April 1867 there were no less than  478 boys under training.  The cat-o-nine-tails was abolished as a Naval punishment in 1881, but the birch, up to a maximum of 24 strokes, was still used for serious offences such as theft and desertion. [see: <I>Mylor Royal Naval Dockyard</I> - from <I>History around the Fal . </I>Part 1, (1980) and,  Summers, D. L., <I>H.M.S.Ganges. Boys Training for the Royal Navy</I> ] </div> <bR> <div> It was while Ganges was at Mylor,  that a giant cross, more ancient than the oldest portions was found in the churchyard buried head downwards in the earth. Tradition in the parish declared the cross stood originally on or near its present site, marking St Mylor's grave. [ The Ganges Memorial is dated 1872-1898  V. Ships log 1866 ---1898].  </div> <bR> <div> FP14/3<B>/1896</B>:      [County Court - on Thursday before his Honour Judge Granger;</div> <div> John <B>Mead</B>, oyster merchant, Green Bank, sued Edward de Leef, 56, Bank Side London, for £13. 2s. 6d., the value of 5,250 oysters.  Defendant did not appear.  A verdict was given for the plaintiff with costs.]</div> <bR> <div> Entertainment aboard H.M.S.<I><B> Ganges </B></I>.. the first part consisted of songs, "<I><B>The Press Gang</B></I>" and "<I><B>The Bugler</B></I>" by Mr. Lovell; "<I><B>Free and Easy</B></I>" by Fleet-Paymaster Penny <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(sic!)</FONT>; "<I><B>The Lifeboat</B></I>" by Mr. Rendle, boatswain<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > [etc.]. </FONT> The programme ended with a capital rendering of "<I><B>The Blind Beggars</B></I>," the principal characters in which were sustained by J. Guard and W. J. Hardy, naval schoolmasters.  [Mr. J. H. Palmer, head schoolmaster in H.M.S. <I>Ganges</I>.]</div> <bR> <div> FP 25/4/<B>1896</B>:     Falmouth Harbour Board.</div> <div> Mr. T. Webber asked if any communication had been received from the Admiralty with reference to the northern bank.  When the <I>Ganges</I> was removed to her present position it was promised that a buoy should be put there as a guide for pilots.  Mr. C. Pearce said the Pilots have been looking forward to the buoy being placed there.  The Harbour Committee was asked to consider the matter..</div> <bR> <div> FP 22/5/<B>1897</B>:     Sales by Auction.          At Mylor Dockyard, Friday May 28th, 1897.</div> <div> Mr. J. R. Nicholls has received instructions from Captain Coke, H.M.S. "<I><B>Ganges</B></I>" to sell by auction</div> <div> Two condemned Copper-fastened Boats, viz: A 27 ft. PULLING CUTTER, and a 32 ft. PULLING YAWL.  </div> <div> [See image of a large, well-laden,  Quay Punt alongside  HMS [<I>Ganges / Foudroyant</I> ? <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >CHECK</FONT>]</div> <bR> <div> FP 19/6/<B>1897</B>:     Sailor boys and the Jubilee.</div> <div> One hundred '<I><B>Ganges'</B></I> boys have been placed aboard the training brig '<I><B>Nautilus</B></I>,' stationed at Plymouth, in order to take part in the naval review at Spithead. </div> <bR> <div> FP 10/7/<B>1897:</B>     Prize Day on the training ship H.M.S. "<I><B>Ganges</B></I>" Commander Coke.</div> <bR> <div> FP Sat. 23/10/1897:      Harbour Board.</div> <div> An application from the Chamber of Commerce for the payment of £75 on account of the £100 voted by the Harbour Board towards the establishment of the time ball at Pendennis Castle was acceded to.</div> <bR> <div> Naval Appointment: Captain <B>R. S. Lowry</B>, formerly in command of H.M.S. <I><B>Ganges </B></I>, has been appointed Assistant-Director of Naval Intelligence, in succession to Captain C. G. Dicken. </div> <bR> <div> FP 26/3/<B>1898</B>:     The Police and the Publicans, Another Case.</div> <div> Henry Liddicoat was summoned for selling intoxicating liquor to <B>Thomas Cavanagh</B>, petty officer on H. M. S. <I><B>Ganges</B></I>, at his Inn, No. 4, Market Street. (who had previously been refused drinks in The Queen's Arms, High Street, kept by Mrs. Thomas.) [long account...]</div> <div> <B>Alfred Pond</B>, coxswain of the <I><B>Ganges'</B></I><B> steam launch,</B> averred that both men were sober when they came on board. </div> <div> Mr. Liddicoat* had held a licence for 29 years [thus w.e.f. 1869] and no complaint had ever been made against his house.</div> <div> Bench was satisfied the man was drunk.  Fined £1 10s and £2 8s. 6d. costs, but the licence  not endorsed.</div> <div> [*Henry Liddicoat, ex- Mayor (1883, 1895 & 1895)]</div> <bR> <div> FP 6/8/<B>1898</B>:     Mylor Regatta.</div> <div> Yachts not exceeding 24 feet and 18 feet linear rating. </div> <div> Great interest was taken in this event, owing to the first appearance of Mr. Tuckett's new yacht "Sphynx."  She was however beaten by Mr. Tuke's "<I>Red Heart</I>"  by several minutes. [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marine Artists"><U>H.S. Tuke, R.A</U></A></FONT>]</div> <div> Fishing Boats not exceeding 30 feet.1st. <I>Florence</I>, C. Ferris, Truro. 2nd. <I>Harriet</I>, J. Ferris, Truro. 3rd. <I>Glyner</I>, G. Vinnicombe, Mylor.</div> <div> <B>Yawls of H.M.S. "</B><I><B>Ganges</B></I><B>." </B>1st., No.1,  2nd., No.5, 3rd., No.3.</div> <bR> <div> FP 8/4/<B>1899:</B>     Flushing Ferryboat Capsized - boy drowned off Greenbank Quay. [abbreviated excerpts. see <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id132_greenbank_ferry_disaster.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harbour Commissioners"><U>Pilot's comments</U></A></FONT>] </div> <div> Matthew Laity, ferryman, & 4 passengers, squall 10.30 a.m., capsized. Ernest Drew, errand boy for Mrs. S. Dunning, butcher of Arwenack Street, and son of John H. Drew, stoker on board the tug <I>Victor,</I> drowned.  </div> <div> When half way between the landing piers, a heavy squall came down the Penryn river and struck the boat with great force, capsizing her. <B> </B></div> <div> <B>F. Watts</B> (coxswain belonging to H.M.S. <I><B>Ganges)</B></I> jumped forward and tried to lower the <I>leg of mutton </I>[sail] which the boat was carrying in addition to another small sail, but was unable to get it down more than part way. All in the boat were thrown into the water. …  Watts was then picked up by the second ferry boat, which also rescued Laity… doctor, member of the Surrey Wanderers football team, resident at the Greenbank Hotel, hired a cab and drove round to Flushing to render assistance.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Ganges</I> left Falmouth in <B>1899</B>. A sister ship the<B> </B><I><B>Foudroyant</B></I><I> </I>moored for a considerable time in Falmouth harbour.</div> <bR> <div> FP Friday 4/9/<B>1914</B>:The Unites States battle cruiser '<I>Tennessee</I>' left Falmouth for Havre on Tuesday night.  On Monday evening, 19 of the young men of Falmouth, including 8 from the<I> Foudroyant</I>, left for the depot.  They were given a hearty send-off. The Mayor and Mayoress shook hands with each man and presented them with a packet of cigarettes.</div> <bR> <div> <I><IMG SRC="271474e0.jpg" border=0 width="583" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <div> <I><B>Cutty Sark</B></I> & <I><B>Foudroyant</B></I> moored in Falmouth harbour               <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > [Photo-card by OPIE, courtesy of Kevin Wilkes]</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS5.htm"><U><B>The Cutty Sark</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>: </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Captain Wilfred Dowman</B></div> <div> "In January 1922, [<I>Cutty Sark</I>] the <I>Ferreira</I>, having left London for Lisbon, had to seek refuge from a storm in Falmouth. There she was spotted by Captain Wilfred Dowman who had always admired her since passing in 1894 her while on the <I>Hawksdale</I> during his apprenticeship. Captain Dowman, negotiated her purchase from the Portuguese and had her towed back to Falmouth. Together with his wife, who also shared his enthusiasm for the <I>Cutty Sark,</I> Captain Dowman began the task of restoring the old ship to her former glory and thus began the chapter in the history of the ship which still continues today at Greenwich."  [qf <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/DOFS6.htm"><U>The Red Duster</U></A></FONT>]</div> <bR> <div> <I>Kelly's Directory</I> of <B>1923</B> lists <B>Wilfred Harry Dowman</B>, Trevissome; & Royal Cornwall, Royal Fowey and Anchorites Yacht Clubs. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="foudroyant___cutty_sark__circa_1926_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Foudroyant & Cutty Sark </B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(circa 1926)</FONT></div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="32ef88c0.jpg" border=0 width="760" height="908" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> FP 8/3/<B>1929</B>: Famous ships leaving Falmouth - to be towed to Southampton</div> <div> <I>Implacable</I> (ex.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk/index.h"><U><I>Trincomalee</I></U></A></FONT>), formerly a drill ship at Southampton, and, <I><B>Foudroyant</B></I><B> </B>(the only example of a third-rate ship of the line in existence, and was formerly the <I><B>Duguay Trouin</B></I>)  - for the last 25 years used for training boys at the expense of her owner, Mr. G. Wheatly Cobb, who saved her from the ship-breakers..  </div> <bR> <div> The holiday Training Scheme started last year makes it imperative that they are moored close together.  This is impossible in Falmouth (inner) harbour for the depth of water available is not sufficient for the <I>Implacable</I>, but there is plenty of room in the roadstead.  The <I>Implacable</I> had been lying in the Truro waters [up-river, or off St. Just?]...</div> <div> They are now both moored fore and aft, in what was the <I>Cutty Sark</I>'s original berth,</div> <div>  and they are said to occupy less room than the <I>Cutty Sark</I> herself when swinging at anchor.</div> <div> The <I>Implacable</I> lay in St. Just Pool for 6-years, and just before the end of the war, she was moved to King Harry Passage, moored fore and aft, and nearly broke her back, though that was a much more sheltered berth than the new one now offered to the <I>Foudroyant</I>.  Mr. Wheatly Cobb complained that in the new position the <I>Foudroyant</I> was subject to much danger, especially when it blew a gale from the south-east to the south-west, but the Harbour Commissioners were adamant and actually issued a summons. [what's changed !)  - <B>Cobb wanted swinging moorings, no more than what he asked for </B><B><U>24 years</U></B><B> previous.</B>]drop</div> <bR> <div> "Visitors have been greatly interested in them, especially the <I>Implacable</I>, because of her history. </div> <div> Mr. Wheatly Cobb feels he has not been treated in a fair way in the matter of berthing the <I>Foudroyant</I>. </div> <div> It will be a tremendous loss to the Town..."</div> <bR> <div> MR. F. J. Bowles agreed Cobb had been badly treated.</div> <div> Mr. T. A. Webber "we have not the accommodation for deeper draught boats"</div> <div> The Trust said it is imperative that the vessels are moored side by side -hence the move to Southampton [abbreviated summary only].</div> <bR> <div> FP 12/9/<B>1930</B>: The <I><B>Foudroyant</B></I><B> Leaves Falmouth</B></div> <div> After having been at Falmouth for 23 years, the training ship <I>Foudroyant</I> left this port on Tuesday for Milford Haven. [Due to the Harbour Board insisting on the vessel being moored fore and aft off Kiln Quay, and Mr. Wheatley Cobb (rightly) refusing to be bullied by the Board.  .. long articles in several issues of the <I>Falmouth Packet</I>].</div> <bR> <div> FP 31/10/<B>1930</B>: The IMPLACABLE</div> <div> Under the head of "A Wanderer's Notebook," E. V. Lucas wrote as follows in the "<I>Sunday Times</I>" on Sunday. [26 October, 1930]</div> <bR> <div> [abbreviated extracts] … the <I><B>Implacable</B></I> has suddenly become the ship of the moment, on account of the scheme to make her the holiday training ground for British youth….</div> <div> Much as I believe in the excellence of this scheme, I think that the historical importance of the <I>Implacable</I> should be emphasised too, because she is the oldest battleship now afloat, with a great story behind her.</div> <bR> <div> Originally French, she was launched at Rochefort as long ago as 1789, under the name of <I><B>Duguay-Trouin</B></I>.  She took her style from the gallant and daring berserk <B>Rene Duguay-Trouin (1673-1736)</B>, who was such a thorn in the English flesh.  When, in 1689, war broke out between England and Holland, he realised privateering would be more fun [than becoming a divine], and, though only 16, he dashed into the fray in a sloop belonging to his family.  Two years later, when in command of a corsair of 14-guns, he burned two English ships in the Limerick River.  In 1694, however, he was overcome and imprisoned at Plymouth, but he escaped , to do more damage to both us and the Dutch.  His greatest feat was the capture of Rio Janeiro in 1711 - of which you may read in his memoirs.</div> <bR> <div> How the Douguay-Trouin was employed between 1789 and 1805 I have not ascertained. But, on October 21st, 1805, she was one of the French Fleet off Trafalgar, and one of the first to engage the <I>Victory</I> itself, although it was not one of her marksmen, but the <I>Redoubtable</I>'s that laid Nelson low. </div> <bR> <div> The battle over, the <I>Douguay-Trouin</I>, with three other ships, managed to get away, but only for a little while, for, on November 2, Richard Strachan rounded them up and brouight them into Plymouth as prizes., although the <I>Douguay-Trouin</I> would not surrender until 150 men and her captain were killed or wounded.  Not for nothing, you see, when the re-christening set in, was the word Iimplacable chosen. </div> <div> First in the Baltic campaign of 1808, and later in the Mediterranean, the French ship continued at work under her new colours and new name until <B>1848</B>.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>