Day one...

Mmmm! Home from home. From sharing a bedroom with my younger brother, I could now look forward to sharing with 20 others.

I had arrived at Ipswich station having traveled across London (this, in itself a first). There were others like me milling around on the station clasping their single suitcases no doubt filled with the same regulation kit as myself.

3 pairs pants, 3 vests, 3 pairs of socks, shaving and washing kit in a bag and a few other sundry items.

As I stood in the cold in this unfamiliar place I wondered with a mixture of trepidation and excitement what this adventure would bring.

We were all gathered and marched, sort of, to a bus and taken to our new home for the next 6 weeks. This was HMS Ganges at Shotley Gate - the training establishment for new recruits. Here we would learn our basic sailors skills and have imprinted on our young minds the concept of teamwork, leadership and discipline. Things sadly lacking in today's world.

In swift succession we were shorn of our trendy shoulder length hair, issued with basic uniforms including the ubiquitous No8's - these were the day to day work clothes of the non commissioned ranks.

Everyone seemed to be issued with badges to signify their chosen branches of the Navy - all except the medics. Before we could wear ours we would have to earn them - it seems that a red cross does not come easily.