The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject: HMS Pembroke

JC started with his piece on Depot RM Deal.

So, I thought, why not do it for all our old and current bases including the steel ships as well as the stone ones.

Please feel free to add, correct or contribute to this thread and or start your own for where you served.

This will add to the historical data we already have on here letting current and future and past members see where we served and as a reference for visitors to the forum.

I served in HMS Pembroke from 1972 to 1981

It was the base for the following band over the years.

Western Fleet Band
C-in-C Fleet Band

HMS PEMBROKE Main Gate.

Changed a bit in this picture from when it was an operational base, In the middle was a small gate house/sentry box which controlled the barriers into and out of the camp. This also housed the tannoy system for annoucments and bugle calls and pipes when required.

To the right was the church (same design as Deal) and on the left was the guardroom, and cells, which a couple of our chaps became temporary residents of, during the years I was there.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:06 pm Post subject:

Officers Mess/Wardroom

Main entrance to Officer Mess/Wardroom and accommodation block.

Played many a tune while the ossifers ate a hearty meal and ran up their mess bills

Up in the minstrel’s gallery from which, if you were lucky, you could catch a glimpse of a Jenny getting changed in her room. The room where we played overlooked the WRENS accommodation.

View from other side of the block.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject:

Parade ground.

Parades/Divisions in the mornings and on Friday afternoons (just when everyone wanted to get away for the weekend).

In the distance is the tunnel from which we would start our march on with the Naval guard.

Last building on the left is the gym (Played in there for a few RN boxing matches).
Preceeding building is the swimming pool (with a sauna).

Buildings on the left were Dockyard buildings, but was, in earlier times, the drill shed.

You can still see the white line where the Naval guard would line up on and where the Drum Major would march us along, on the march past. (Sometimes at a very fast beat if the heavens were dowing it upon us, or it was freezing)

The steps on the right led up to the main road and accommodation blocks.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:26 pm Post subject:

Saluting Dias and steps.

Looking from the parade ground.
(Just where the band would be formed up).

The dias, was (in my time) a platform dias on the parade ground level with 3 steps leading up to it.

The band practice room and barber shop were in the accommodation block on the right of the picture.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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2nd Clarinet · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 1:42 pm Post subject:

Anson Block

Nelson Block

WRNS accommodatikon block!!!!!
(Strictly out of bounds to all ranks - even Dusty Millar, lol)

Granville Block

This was my first accommodation block when I was posted to Pembroke.

All the band inliers lived in the attic at the far end.
This block was also where the Pembroke Club was situated and the disco nights here, were great.
Grenville Block also housed the NAFFI Club.
The NAFFI Shop (a prefabricated building) was also between this and another building.

Buildings I cannot find pictures of:
Mountbatten Block - New accommodation which was falling down within six months of moving in.
Small drill shed - where we used to play 5-a-side football every lunchtime (trying to kick Dave Dawson (Drum Major)
Galley - great meals as this was the RN cookery school and we got to eat all their pass out food in the galley.
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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are kinda the same thing...!
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Nick B · Bugle Major Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 824 Location: Deal

It all sends a few shivers down my spine Bob! I was there for the dying embers of TF and the hand over to Ted Whealing. Evening Soirees in the wardroom, Port and Starboard Band, Rivs Howgills' missing seg on His shoe, clopping down the colonade and the smell of a Drum Majors pipe!!

Pat and I lived in Royal Sovereign Ave. and had many a good night in the Pembroke Familys' club. I'm sure many an inlier was glad of the 'Gate' close by when shore leave had expired!!

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Still driving trains around in circles! (and a bit further now)

joe90 · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

2C, I think you may find we were in the attic in Duncan Block (no longer standing nor is Hawke - Pembroke Club and NAAFI). I'm sure Grenville block housed the galley. In '68 when I first arrived in Pembroke there was a half building in between the two that I think housed the coal shed. I'm up at Rochester Cathedral tomorrow for a graduation ceremony and may be able pop into Pembroke before coming back down to Canterbury. Hopefully get some piccies (if it's not raining)
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Waving, not drowning

MrJpig · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:05 pm Post subject:

I know these are posted elsewhere but here they are again ..

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Visit The Hawthorns

I've given up jogging for my health. My thighs rub too much and set fire to my Slinks!!

euphless · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:33 pm Post subject: Re: HMS Pembroke

It was the base for the following band over the years.

Western Fleet Band
C-in-C Fleet Band

In the 50's it was home to the Nore Command Band which had the last 2 members of the Chatham Divisonal Band.
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I have decided to live forever..... so far, so good..................

Hornblower · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

OMIGOD!!!!!!!

That last photo! I'm in it and didn't have a 'kin clue!!!!!

Stupid boy's got a stupid grin all over his stupid face....

Jumpy - you HAVE to e mail me that pic (please?)

Brill - I love it.

Bob. the NAAFI shop was in the end of ANSON - See the door at the end of the block? That's the very door you went in. Then they built the larger one in between the two blocks.

I admire the way you put your head on the 'block' with this one. I wouldn't dare try to rely on my memory, I'd be shot to bits by you lot...
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ITMA!

Eric Hayward · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject:

The Band of CinC Nore Command based at HMS Pembroke under the Direction of Lt. Tom Merrett ceased to exsist in 1961 on the closure of the Command. This was also when the last two members of the Chatham Division Band retired. They were Sgt Vic Chandler and Cpl Ernie Rann who was the Drum Major for many years and who taught me how to perform the same duties. These two members were not allowed to wear the old Division cap badge but actually did so on he last day of their service. Well at that time they couldn't be charged could they.

Eric Hayward · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

I forgot to say that I served in the Nore Command Band from '56 to '61 and your pictures have certainly brought back memories. The WRENs moved into the block next door to the Officers mess the year before the closure of the command and it somehow promted almost the full band to volunteer for Guest Night orchestra in the gallery. Also there were many times that I left through those gates with my heart in my mouth and two or three hundred "Blue Liners".(duty Free cigs) in the tool box of my side car combiation.

MrJpig · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject:

2nd Clarinet · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 6:54 am Post subject:

Hornblower · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: