But he likes to remember the time he bet a colleague 1 to jump in the water wearing the sacks. The boys even achieved ISMs, Imperial Service Medals - but what really stays in their memories, they say, is the 'camaraderie' and the laughter. Captain of the Dockyard's House 19th century. Accommodating some 1,800 men, Chatham was one of the first large-scale Army barracks in England. Joe said: "You had to have a sense of humour to have our job - you had to watch your back all the time!". This role ceased in 1801, however, when the entire Dept establishment moved to Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight (where the recruits were less prone to find ways of deserting). This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Nicholas, South Africa, last updated: 26/03/2009 at 15:36created: 26/03/2009. She said plans to upgrade her garden, part of her retirement after 38 years in the NHS, have now been put on hold, People with these 57 health conditions can get more than 400 a month from DWP, The support is available to millions of people, Plymouth Civic Square improvements are starting to take shape. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Nobody ever had it as good as we did - and nobody will ever have it as good as we did.". Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Chatham Dockyard was a Royal Navy Dockyard located on the River Medway in Kent. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. If either yourself, a friend or relative has a story they would like to share with us, we would love to hear it. Amusingly, they rigged the draw, Keith says, so their friend would win. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust cares for over 70,000 objects in its collection - ranging from archaeology, rigging, hand tools, machinery to fine art and photography. who died 04/05/1917 AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL MEMORIAL New Zealand ' The Commissioners were:[89]. The barracks remained in military use until 2014. He said: "We built up a comradeship, we were virtually living together. Discover some of the amazing objects found at the Dockyard. The project has enabled a sustainable future for one of the Dockyards most important Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The senior officer was now a serving sea officer the superintendent, admiral or captain-superintendent who was often also the port admiral, or flag officer. The Establishment grew, and by 1856 the Artillery had moved out; Brompton Barracks remains in service as headquarters of the Royal Engineers. dailyinfo[15]=' 6963 Private Albert CHRISTIE 1st Bn. From 1844 St Mary's was used as an 'Invalid Barracks', accommodating soldiers having to return from service in different parts of the British Empire because of illness, injury or age. These records are not available to view online so to see them you willhave to either visit us in Kew or, if you can locate document references, order copies. [20] Holl's smithery was itself enlarged with the addition of a foundry in the 1850s, and its courtyard was roofed over for a steam hammer shop in 1865. Those that we have in our collections are ones that have been donated to us, usually by families of former dockyard workers or Chatham Ratings. The subalterns were given one room each, the captains two, and field officers four. NOSTALGIA: Were you one of these Dockyard apprentices? I spent a couple of nights in the dormitory blocks, before joining Diamond and had a lot of laughs. ! [20], Dockyards have always required shore defences. [26] Another hint of changes to come was seen in the launch of HMS Aetna, the first armour-plated vessel to be built at Chatham, in 1856. The records covered are for yards in the UK and abroad. Pembroke Royal Navy who died 18/04/1918 GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, KENT United Kingdom ' In 1665, the Navy Board approved Sheerness as a site for a new dockyard, and building work began; but in 1667 the still-incomplete Sheerness Dockyard was captured by the Dutch Navy and used as the base for an attack on the English fleet at anchor in the Medway itself. Old royal dockyard hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Glenn, USA, "My Grandfather worked in the dockyard, he was a shipbuilder and worked night and day during the WW2. Land was purchased to the northeast for its construction, and the new saw mill began operation in 1814. Similar but smaller blocks to the north and south housed ancillary services, such as the pay office, infirmary and Quartermaster's stores. There was an Army hospital at Chatham too. The chances of finding someone by name within this series are steadily improving as details are added to the online catalogue as part of the Navy Board cataloguing project. At its height, it employed over 10,000 skilled artisans and covered 400 acres (1.6km2). Two years later the project was largely complete, with facilities provided alongside for gun mounting and mast rigging, as well as a victualling depot and a coaling area. [36] Welsh Regiment who died 30/04/1916 MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY France ' [35] During World War I, twelve submarines were built here, but when hostilities ceased, uncompleted boats were scrapped and five years passed before a further ship was launched. It came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional defences. Coordinates: 512350N 003140E / 51.39722N 0.52778E / 51.39722; 0.52778 Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional . if (month<10) month="0"+month dailyinfo[10]=' 837119 Gunner Alexander BROOKS Military Medal "A" Bty. For records of workers from the last 100 years you should start your search at one of the dockyard historical trusts or societies or at a local county or metropolitan archive. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. In 1717 the original Storehouse was replaced with the Grand Store (a much larger three-storey building, contemporary with and of a similar style to, the Main Gatehouse in the Dockyard). v3.0, except where otherwise stated, 3. Brian and John remember their Devonport Dockyard wage: 2 6s 2d a week (about 2.32), with no overtime for apprentices, but said at the time they were well looked after. [1] The painting, now in the National Maritime Museum, provides a detailed illustration of the yard as it was in the Age of Sail; many of the buildings and structures illustrated survive: William Camden (15511623) described Chatham dockyard as, stored for the finest fleet the sun ever beheld, and ready at a minutes warning, built lately by our most gracious sovereign Elizabeth at great expense for the security of her subjects and the terror of her enemies, with a fort on the shore for its defence.[2]. Dockyard apprentices reunited after 50 years Prices may vary with room occupancy and attributes. The first steam-powered ship to be laid down at Chatham was HMS Phoenix, one of four paddle steamers built concurrently across the royal dockyards in the early 1830s, each designed by a different leading shipwright. dailyinfo[2]=' 353 Lance Corporal Eric Allan VANCE 2nd Bn. [24] By 1861, No 1 Dock had been filled in and a machine shop constructed in its place for heating, bending and planing armour plate for HMS Achilles which was being built alongside. Joe May, 86 shared his memories of the Dockyard, Keith Dowrick, 82 told reporter Molly Dowrick some of his memories from the Dockyard, Royal Navy joins European allies on crucial Baltic mission, Plymouth's nickname 'Guz' and the reasons behind it, Live: Huge fire breaks out at industrial unit outside Looe, As many as eight fire crews are understood to be on the scene, Woman fumes over Lidl store towering above her garden, The retired nurse said a Wickes DIY store is doing similar, blocking the sun and warmth. var fontend = '' Also, after a reunion in 1993 at Gravesend Rowing Club, Terry said the whereabouts of two of the attendees, John Doggett and Ted Leftley, is now unknown. Apprenticeships in HM Royal Naval Dockyard, Chatham. [134] In 1865, following the opening of new and enlarged hospital facilities in Fort Pitt, the old Garrison Hospital was closed; its buildings (on what is now Maxwell Road) were converted into barracks and named 'Upper Chatham Barracks'[135] (later 'Upper Kitchener Barracks'). Co Live Sunrise Narendra 1, Purnima Niwas, 3rd Main Rd, Doddanekundi, Doddanekkundi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037, India. (The covering of Chatham's slipways and dry docks, to protect the woodwork of ships as they were built or repaired, had begun with No 2 Slip and No 1 Dock in 1817). He has two sons Samuel, 35, and Lloyd, 39, who went into engineering. A Dockyard Apprentice's Story: Hard graft, scrapes and japes on the My grandad was an electrician working on the submarines and my dad was an engineer. Mr Gray, who lives in Portsmouth, remarked on the differences which have taken place at the dockyard over the decades. The main 1930s barracks building is being retained, along with the remaining earlier structures. Built on the site of what had been the convict prison, the barracks complex could accommodate 4,742 officers and seamen in a series of large blocks built along the length of a terrace. It was used to house the, No 1 Boiler Shop and No 8 Machine Shop were originally built as slip covers at, Dock Pumping Station 1874: as well as serving to empty dry docks 58 when required, its. He says for the first three months of the apprenticeship he was given no tools and distinctly remembers the big 'awful sacks' [overalls] they used to wear. In the event, those defences were built in distinct phases, as the government saw the increasing threat of invasion:[126]. [28] In 1860 the dockyard's policing was also transferred to the new No.4 Division of the Metropolitan Police, which remained in that role until 1932. The storehouse would have furnished ships with such necessary consumables as rope, pulleys, sailcloth and timber. This was a somewhat unusual . Diners evacuated from busy Plymouth restaurant and bar, The venue thanked customers for their patience, Plymouth Argyle Home Park attendance figures this season second highest in 60 years, Steven Schumacher has paid tribute to the fans after the Pilgrims won 20 of their 23 League One games at the Theatre of Greens, Seven changes Plymouth Argyle and their fans will notice in the Championship, Steven Schumacher's Pilgrims have booked a place in the second tier of English football for the first time since 2010, Heartbroken family pay tribute to man killed outside Cornwall nightclub, Police have been allowed more time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder. The ropery. Not long afterwards a large new single-storey Carriage Store, with a long frontage parallel to the river, was constructed, adjoining the Storekeeper's House to the south. Their website gives further information about the type of records they hold and how to search them. The senior officers of a victualling yard were: The victualling yards reported to a Victualling Board, which in turn reported to the Navy Board. I'd hold it anywhere, even in my own home. Visit Veterans UK to find out how to request a summary of a service record. Now complete, the project provides a new accessible Reading Room and much improved conditions for our books and archive collections, alongside new volunteer and conservation facilities. 'Everything had to be done by 4pm on Fridays', which made Fridays quite manic and stressful at times, they said. ", Keith added: "I liked all our antics, [in the dockyard] you had to have a sense of humour.". When Royal Dockyard Chatham closed in 1984 the Ministry of Defence removed all records still held on site. 1st Floor North, Fitted Rigging House ), The final boats constructed in Chatham were Oberon-class submarines Ocelot was the last vessel built for the Royal Navy, and the final vessel was Okanagan built for the Royal Canadian Navy and launched on 17 September 1966. In spite of this in June 1981, it was announced to Parliament that the dockyard would be run down and closed in 1984. seaJane. Constructed from timber recycled from warships probably from the. Most of his duties were running passengers between Chatham and London. //-->, By The 'old boys' who were recorders in the Dockyard and still meet up for a pint. Many homes have views of the River Medway. A group of local men meet every six weeks and reminisce of a bygone era, Get the latest nostalgia features and photo stories straight to your inbox. He said: The training was excellent. The boys tell of their daily roles: clocking people in and out, checking employees were working, checking pay, doing the 'holiday rounds', and recording various bits of information. Terry left a secondary school in Hoo with qualifications in metal work and technical drawing and, like many boys of his age, enrolled for apprenticeship at the yard, classed as one of the best in the world. dailyinfo[26]=' Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Gordon CADE Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross and Bar, Three times Mentioned in Despatches Middlesex Regiment who died 26/04/1918 TYNE COT MEMORIAL Belgium ' Chatham Dockyard ledgers: employees, apprentices, etc . Apprentices and masters. When the first Labour budget in eighteen . dailyinfo[3]=' 3747 Flight Serjeant Reginald Tom PARRY Air Force Medal 15th Aircraft Acceptance Park Royal Air Force who died 03/05/1919 WELSH NEWTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD United Kingdom ' Designed by Edward Holl, it has a gallery supported on cast iron columns, one of the first uses of cast iron in the dockyard. I still sometimes wonder if my name I painted on a beam in the apprentice building with a 6" brush is still there. The officers and men employed in the yard had also increased, and by 1798 they numbered 1,664, including 49 officers and clerks and 624 shipwrights. 10,499 / mo*. The fire-fighting displays were actually good education for us, as were all the displays of engineering, diving and damage control.Later I went in a group of school cadets to see the launch of the submarine HMS Onslaught, built at Chatham.Whilst a member of the Kent Police Force, I acted as an interpreter for a party of visiting French police officers and their wives and we were shown through the rope-making loft where HMS Victory's ropes had been made. It really did feel like one big family with a happy atmosphere. We understand that memories of this nature can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable to talk about. In its early days, dockyards such as Chatham were the largest industrial centres in the world. "If you were in trouble, if you had a problem, there was always someone there to support you," recalled Joe. Royal Engineers who died 17/04/1916 ARRAS MEMORIAL France ' PDF The history of - Microsoft The group has met regularly over the years celebrating their time at Chatham together. John also remembers calling his friend, who worked as a cleaner, the nickname 'Horse's head,' so whenever he was on a big ship, they'd call out 'Oi, Horses's head' to make him jump. [141], The Naval Barracks (later HMS Pembroke) opened in 1902; prior to this, most Naval (as opposed to Dockyard) personnel were accommodated on board their ships or on hulks moored nearby. var fontstart = '' // Stop Define Variables for days of the month It was a very sad day for me when the Dockyard closed but I still have many fond memories of my time spent as a Dockyard Matey. Use our catalogue to search within the records series listed below. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). [127] The Infantry Barracks went on to serve as a home depot for numerous regiments. Apprenticeship Model Contract Form (0.22 MB) Application invited for "Empanelment of Third Party Agencies under the Apprentices Act, 1961" (0.34 MB) Programme for 106th AITT of Apprentices to be held in November, 2017- regarding (0.14 MB) NAPS Amended Guidelines (3.49 MB) [24] Among other things, the use of iron in ship construction enabled larger vessels to be built, and between 1836 and 1851 Chatham gained five new covered slipways, much larger in scale than the ones they replaced. Most significantly, Chatham's first dry dock was opened in 1581 (for repairing naval galleys). What's for dinner? Another, Mike North, got in touch and sent me his cartoon of the staff who were there when the station closed. The attached document lists all Apprentices connected to the towns of Chatham and Rochester, the majority worked in the Chatham Dockyard between 1710 and 1811. [23], Following the appointment of Robert Seppings as Master Shipwright in 1804, iron began to be introduced into the structure of ships being built at Chatham; the following year work began on a new, much larger smithery, commissioned by Samuel Bentham, designed by Edward Holl and fitted out by John Rennie. [134], In 1928 Chatham Barracks was taken over by the Royal Engineers and renamed Kitchener Barracks. The principal records and how to search for them, A guide to the naval records in The National Archives of the UK, Friends of The National Great days out, can still smell the hot dog stand with its fried onions. But every six weeks, if you're lucky, you might bump into a group of men - all in their 80s - who have some truly fascinating stories to tell. These were built to a standard design with bays 45 by 20 feet (13.7 by 6.1m). This guide will help you find records of the staff of Royal Navy dockyards, victualling yards and other naval establishments from around the 1920s or before. [124], During the wars with Spain it was usual for ships to anchor at Chatham in reserve; consequently John Hawkins threw a massive chain across the River Medway for extra defence in 1585. National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. R.N. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. However, it was not unusual for officers to move between the the Navy Board and the Board of Admiralty over the course of their career. - See 2,652 traveller reviews, 1,691 candid photos, and great deals for Chatham, UK, at Tripadvisor. I am 82 years of age and was a Naval Shipwright Apprentice (Dockyard number 21413) in Chatham Dockyard from 1941 until 1945. Mr Elgar, 66, who lives in Hoo St Werburgh, was transferred to the naval base at Devenport after the Chatham closure in March 1984. Great days out, can still smell the hot dog stand with its fried onions. else { document.write(fontstart+"No major events today"+fontend); } Has it changed for the better, or were those really the "good old days"? The Marines were withdrawn from Chatham in 1950, and the buildings were later demolished. They lived in Chatham, in Old Brompton, some in Rochester and Strood, but by far the greatest number in New Brompton and Gillingham, and the similarity of much of that district to a Midland or Northern industrial town was due to dockyard workers many of whom had come from the North. We were one large family. A good many were engaged in manning the defences, but some had other duties; others were accommodated there for convenience prior to embarking on ships for duties overseas, or following their disembarkation. John said: "The dockyard gave you a good life. The northern building was used as a fitted rigging house, and a general store for equipment to fit out newly built ships. The National Archives has some records of Ordnance employees, mainly within WO 54. I later transfer to The Foundry and on it's closure I was sent to the training school in Kyber Road to train as a Engine Fitter. In addition, the Medway had begun to silt up, making navigation more difficult (especially as the Navy's ships were getting larger). down the phone. The White Yarn House to store the yarn before it was tarred to prevent rot. [20], No 1 Basin was officially opened in 1871, with HMS Invincible being brought into No 5 Dock for repairs, with great ceremony. Contact Plymouth Live reporter Molly Dowrick: molly.dowrick@reachplc.com, and she'll put you in contact with a member of the group. Almost Full. We, as a family, would travel up from East Kent to attend the dockyard when they had a 'Navy Days' event. dailyinfo[28]=' 76274 Corporal Horace John Baker WHITTINGHAM 1st Bn. For the first two years of his apprenticeship, he moved through the different ships, Brian recalled, and in his third year the skipper taught him, he said. Dad worked on the submarines for years, and only left when the Dock Yard closed, Many people would have know him as Nobby, but sadly passed away . [46], The remaining 350 acres (1.4km2) were transferred to the government's urban regeneration agency (later English Partnerships). Apprentices of Chatham Dockyard - Particularly 1956 to 1961. The grandfather-of-three said: Apart from working together, we used to go out to nightclubs together where most of us met our partners.. 3 Slip). North Mast Pond, 1702. A lot of the group chose early retirement when the opportunity arose in the 90s and were looked-after with a salary, allowance and pension, they say. var year=mydate.getYear() Chatham Dockyard workers reunion | Greetings to all the Chatham Dockyard Apprentices that began their long journeys 65 years ago on the 10th September 1956 and are . who died 02/05/1915 BABY 700 CEMETERY, ANZAC Turkey (including Gallipoli) ' [110], On 5 September 1971 all Flag Officers of the Royal Navy holding positions of Admiral Superintendents at Royal Dockyards were redesignated as Port Admirals. Did you or your family, work there on the ships? Some post-1920s service records for dockyards personnel are held by the Ministry of Defence. What's for dinner? Read the catalogue details for BT 19 to find related correspondence from various departments of the Board. Cashiers' Office 18th century. dailyinfo[5]=' CH/316(S) Private Jack WILSON Chatham Bn. A lot of the 'boys' worked in the dockyard for over thirty years, from the 50s to 80s, but still remember their times fondly, as if they were last week. [128] The three-storey barrack blocks were aligned northsouth. [20], View down the length of the former No 7 Dock towards No 1 Basin (now Chatham Marina), Remains of No 8 Machine Shop with No 1 Boiler Shop behind it, Dock pumping station (its 80ft chimney, formerly on the plinth to the right, has been removed), The Commissioner of Chatham Dockyard held a seat and a vote on the Navy Board in London. dailyinfo[22]=' Major Thomas Archibald BATCHELOR Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Cross No. [13], In the early 17th century the government resolved to invest in a new specialised facility for refitting and repairing warships. The dockyard closed in the 1980s and is now a museum. At the same time, the nearby village of Brompton began to be developed to provide housing for the dockyard's growing workforce. The decision established Chatham as the country's premier naval industrial complex; nevertheless, concerns were already being raised over its river being prone to silting. Captain Sir Thomas Bourchier, 20 September 1846 5 May 1849, Rear-Admiral A.L. The following series cover workers who retired or worked after 1832: Try, also, searching the Admiralty Miscellanea inADM 7(1563-1956). Sheerness remained operational as a royal dockyard until 1959, but it was never considered a major shore establishment and in several respects it operated as a subsidiary yard to Chatham. In almost all cases you can only search by yard or ships name, not by a persons names. Ultimately they meet up to share their dockyard memories and amusing stories. Money was only made available for one such installation, however, and Chatham (as the principal building yard at this time) was chosen as its location. Saw HMS Jamaica of Bismarck fame and I believe we saw HMS Manxman too in which a friend's uncle had served during WW2. [119], Chatham Infantry Barracks was opened in 1757 to house troops manning the fortifications which had recently been built to defend the Dockyard. Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Terry Hoare at home in 1963 during his apprenticeship at Chatham Dockyard. "Without a shadow of a doubt, those were the best years of my life, apart from my married life of course.". dailyinfo[14]=' 29919 Gunner Eric William BENJAFIELD 5th Bde.