This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
The cadets undertaking much activity on hMs Britannia’s starboard side.


t was back in September 1863 that the former Flagship of the Crimean War sailed upriver to her new moorings. The ship was by then a cadet training ship carrying onboard about 230 boys from affluent families whose long-term plan was for their sons to become royal navy officers. HmS britannia, a first rate ship of 120 guns, was commis- sioned in 1820. She was the fourth ship to bear the name and weighed 2,616 tonnes. The three deck ship was launched in Plymouth. In 1859, the ship was designated as a cadet training ship


as the Royal Navy decided that a common foundation was needed to train the next generation of officers. Previously boys, like Admiral Lord Nelson, were sent straight to sea to receive their training under a Naval Captain usually known to the family. A few were sent to the Naval Academy in Portsmouth. In fact Portsmouth was originally the location for the new cadet training ship with Britannia moored at Haslar Creek. Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) Archivist Doctor


Jane Harrold said: “It was soon decided that Portsmouth was not the best place to teach young boys. In fact one report describes ‘the fleshpot of Ports- mouth’ and so a good harbour, with access to the sea, away from temptation was sought. The French and Germans also located their colleges in similar areas.” After a brief spell at


BRITANNIA 150 I


THIS YEAR MARKS THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF HMS BRITANNIA IN THE RIVER DART STARTING THE ROYAL NAVY’S ASSOCIATION WITH THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTH.


Portland, which proved to be unsuitable because of the windy conditions, HMS Britannia arrived in Dartmouth under her own steam to be greeted by townsfolk who lined the harbour wall. Although the ship had been towed most of the way it was the last time she would be under full sail. The Cadets schooled onboard arrived at the age of 12¾,


among them were the grandsons of Queen Victoria, the Duke of Clarence and the future George VI. The boys spent three or four years as cadets learning traditional academic subjects and also seamanship and navigation. They were taught by naval instructors and civilian teachers, the first of which was the Rev J C P Aldous, who was appointed the Chief Naval Instructor in April 1875. The Rev Aldous was a Dartmouth resident and had a house and family ashore. Dr Harrold said: “The boys didn’t join the Royal Navy


a painting by charles Dixon, showing the original Britannia under sail en route from portland to Dartmouth.


properly until they left the school. They were mainly the sons of middle ranking officers who could pay for their sons’ education, but couldn’t afford the more well known public schools such as Eton. It was really a case of social engineering to keep the Navy supplied with the right sort of boy. Although there was an expectation that the Cadets would join the Royal Navy, some didn’t. However for the majority they did what they were told by their parents and once immersed into the culture they decided to stay. The boys would sleep in hammocks and wear Naval uniform. It was a very unhealthy ship, there were


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148