The school leaving age was 14 at that time, so my father, mother, and I, started looking into finding a training ship. It turned at that I could go in the Royal Navy as a Captain Bugler at 14years and 6 months or to a training ship at 14 year 4 months, but at that time 2 months seemed like a long time so decided on the training ship route.
My mother and a neighbour Mrs. Smith came along, as women in those days did not travel alone, and off we went to Liverpool, to the Sailors Home where 25 boys around my age sat an exam . We all past (strange), and the next thing I remember we were all heading for Rock Ferry, then out on a launch to the Ship.

Arriving on board our shoes and socks vanished,( I guess they were sent home). It would appear one was expected to go over the top, ( Main mast), the first day! or live a life of disgrace for the rest of your years, or so the older boys told us. They also added that after the last new enters, one boy had fallen, but the safety net over the sky light had saved his life, and he had not descended two more decks to the school room. He had only broken his leg.

Life aboard was quite a shock we lived our days by the ships bell and bugler., raising and lowering the flag sunrise and sunset, we all stood to attention and faced aft and all QUIET as the Flag was hoisted, or lowered.

In the morning (turned out by the bugler), we lashed up (seven turns) ,and stored our hammocks, and after a cold water wash then fell in for duty detail. I was told who ever took on the companion way out side for the winter got their stripe and anchor, so deciding I wanted to advance in life, and took on the job. Each morning , frost, fog, rain or shine, and the was not much of the latter at that time in the morning, bucket and holystone down to the Mersey at the bottom, hang on and dip out a bucket full, up to the top, wet, and stone the platform and steps swilling them off as you went down kneeing in cold water all the way to the bottom ,(lately have been getting some sore knees and was wondering about that) ),one was sort or encouraged by the climate to get a move on.

Then to breakfast which usually consisted off a slice of bread not too fresh, and a ladle of lumpy porridge. We had no cups, and used pudding basins for a cup, full of what could have been anything.

If a basin was dropped every one shouted out” two pence”, except the duty officer, he was usually busy running round hitting as many boys as he could with his stick, to restore order.. .

The midday meal was no improvement, one of the cook house boys said they had to scrub the meat to get the green off. I remember not wanting to eat the horrible semolina ,so I was held down by the ships bully and force-fed, (too this day cannot face the stuff), he latter was expelled for bullying.

It would appear that was his pastime!

We did have a tradition on board called “so-many -a-boards”. I joined on the 8th of August so on the 8th of September, anyone on the ship that had been their longer than you could come and hit you, anywhere they wanted ! They usually tried to pick a place where the bruise would not show, as time past, boys ahead of you left, so there were not so many boys in front of you that could give you your, “so-many-a-boards”,and more behind you.

I had a few bruises but some boys had a bad time. I will say during my time there the tradition was stopped, and outlawed, a good thing too. . It was a cruel practice. On inspection day there were lots of boys saying they had fell down when bruises were sighted.

Our training was definitely “ hands on “ we were instructed in Signals Morse with flag, ,International code ,Semaphore, Seamanship, Boat work, so that after a while the older boys were teaching the newer boys.. .

One incident comes to mind while attending the ships school ,(The Extended Education), as it said in the curriculum. All I remember doing was drawing the International Flags, and colouring them in with coloured pencils. We had to attend the school up to 14 ½. years of age .

One of my friends asked me how to start the fire extinguish, I told him, and after it started he tried to stop it by turning it upright. We finished up shooting the foam down into the bilges, but it still was dribbling, so we put a bit of paper in the nozzle ..

Shortly after that ships divisions were called and the Captain walked up and down in front of us telling the guilty boys to step out, I did not step forward ,and my friend did not step forward, so we got away without being hung. The only thing was, for a long time after that, whenever I passed by the Extinguisher, it spat at me !

When we got back if the boat was not spotless we would have to make it so, using Mersey water, sand and a piece of fire hose. 15 oars plus the rest of the boat before we could go back on board ,if you were late for a meal that was just to bad.

Our medical inspection came after our bath ,once a week which consisted of a basin of warm water. Soap yourselves all over, then to the cold water shower, controlled by an officer with a stick. He would turn the cold shower on and you had to stand there till he was satisfied that all the soap was gone.

When he touched you with his stick you could go onto the lower deck and dry yourself, usually on a very damp towel if someone got to your towel before you did, then without dressing, up to the Main deck, cloth over your arm, you lined up and in turn stood in front of the Captain, Chief officer and Doctor, and sometimes the Captains wife would appear.You had to spread your hands and turn round, touch on the back side with the C/O’s stick, then dress.

Sometimes the older boys (15years) had a little problem, so would keep moving to the back of the line (150 boys) ,hopeing the problem would not be present when they did reach the front. If it did I can remember the Doctor saying, “can not you control yourself boy.” Never happened to me.

Liverpool was really getting plastered at night. I remember laying in my hammock hearing the shrapnel landing on the boat deck. I can remember the Customs House dome melting and running down the side of the building. One very bad night we had a land mine come down in the river, not far from the ship,and the authorities figured we may swing over it on the tide change and set it off so at 01.00 so we had to abandon ship.

Boats all were lowered and we were all off in 13 minutes , even the Captains wife., .I guess our training had worked.. We all stayed at the Sailors Home for a few days, then were sent home for a few days leave while another location for us was found. Liverpool was having quite a bad time with night air raids it was a very bad period of distraction in the Dock land & City.

After about 2 weeks we were told to report to Clawdd Newydd in North Wales.

On arriving in Ruthin, the nearest Town, we found there was no transport so had to walk the 5 miles with kit to our new location..

The new location had been a holiday camp, quite high up on a hill if not a mountain.

The wooden huts we lived in had no insulation, and were designed with space between the wooden planks, in other words you could see out from inside. At night you spread your oilskin over your blanket so that when it snowed, ( which it did on my birthday the 15th. Of May), you were protected somewhat.

…Food was about the same, but we now wore boots, and marched to Church on Sunday, where I and many more boys were confirmed.

The bath house was open with a concrete floor, and no hot water, and just basins so did not take to long to get a bath. We had one trip with a group of boys on the back of an open lorry to Rock Ferry to bring back the ships Gig which we put into a small lake several miles away so that we could row now and then.

It was a very cold trip, and thinking about it now, quite dangerous trying to goon board, I have often marvelled that the was no one missing when we got back to the camp.

Half way back the Office bought us a cup of hot tea, I guess it was to fend off hypothermia.

I found life very boring there, and when the opportunity came to leave was quite ready. Word came that there was a ship in Liverpool that required two Deck Boys, and was I interested, the only trouble was one had to get permission from ones parents.

On writing to my father, who was serving in the army as a Major, his reply was “certainly not” .

I then wrote to my mother who said in her letter to me, “ that she had to agree with my father, however, she did not wish to stand in my light”, so covering up the first nine words I was honorable discharged to go to sea...

My leaving report certificate stated “ A GOOD ALL ROUND BOY “, and so I and, one of my mates, (Jeff from Sheffield) ,started our sea going career by joining The S.S.Wanderer registered with Harrisons of Liverpool..which is of course another story.

Looking back over my experience, I would say that the training and the discipline were very good, and proved to be a great help to me through out my Career.