HMS Ganges 1965

Jim Mason · HMS Ganges 1965

In 1965, on returning from 3 years in Singapore, it was my task to move the Drafting Office from Deal to Eastney ( some would say, to remove it from the influence of thr RMSM!) At that time we still had some 22 bands around the world, quite a number of them at sea, and this meant that there was a lot of turbulence, with most people only managing beteen 1 and 3 years in any one place. I was able to get out from the office and visit each of the bands to explain what was going on, and tell them of future plans for the Band Service as well as discuss personal problems and try to help and advise wherever I could (something which had not been possible before then)
One memorable visit was to the band at "Ganges" and I made an appointment to meet the band at 2 p.m. on an arranged date. Arriving at "Ganges" at about 12.30 I decided to visit the local hostelry, well remembered by anyone who served at "Ganges" (out of the main gate, turn left and proceed down to the seashore). My pint was served to me, much to my surprise (and to his!) by a musician from the band - who I shall call "Jack" The landlady was very enthusiastic about Jack, and started singing his praises, telling me how she relied on him to help in running the pub. She commented " I do not know how he gets away with it, he is in the band at "Ganges" but seems to spend most of his time here at the pub, and hardly ever does any work in there at all. He would have to leave by 1.00 because they had some officer coming to talk to them in the afternoon"

While she was giving me Jack's life story, a very embarrassed Jack stood in the background, frantically signalling and trying to convey to her (Shut up Gal, thats him!)

On meeting the band at 2.00, they were in fine form, Jack played his trombone like an virtuoso (Well, not quite!) and in the best traditions of the Band Service (I hope) neither of us referred to our previous encounter.

Incidentally, there was an acute shortage of sugar in England at that time
and I found on the table in front of me - a 3lb bag of sugar - presumsbly a bribe, put there by Jack.

If Jack is still around and by chance on the internet, I am sure that he will remember the occasion.

Co-admin

Another priceless dit from the Col Jim files, many thanks.

22 bands... but can the Colonel still name them?

Bronco

Hmm, what about the other Twenty one band visits Col. Jim!!( Must be some dits there somewhere

?)

Jim Mason

Bands in the early to mid 60s were;

IN HM SHIPS.

Ark Royal, Eagle, Victorious, Hermes,Tiger, Lion, Blake, Centaur.

SHOREBASED IN UK.

Excellent, Drake, St Vincent, Raleigh, Ganges, Portsmouth Group, Plymouth Group, C-in-C Home Fleet (Chatham),FONAC, FOSNI, Dartmouth, RMSM.

FOREIGN SHOREBASED.

HMS Terror (Singapore), 3 Cdo Brigade (Singapore)HMS Phoenicia (Malta.

The bands in New Zealand and South Africa had recently been withdrawn, and Centaur was the next to go.

More bands were withdrawn as the Band Service was reduced in size.

Having already completed two foreign commissions in Malta, and just returned from 3 years in Singapore, I had no great wish to visit those bands. Nor could I justify the cost, I did manage to visit all the others!

Co-admin

Eight bands at sea in the 60s and five bands in the Corps at the start of this century... evolution or devolution?

With a Band Service that big it is no wonder there were so many characters!

Bronco

Lot's of bands means Lot's of Drum Majors.....BE SCARED.... BE VERY SCARED!!!

Hornblower

mrbassbone

bootybandy