From training exercises to the daily grind in the barracks, life as a Royal Navy sailor in Portsmouth has never been dull.
Here is a wonderful selection of historic images from days gone by.
MORE RETRO PHOTOS: Victoria Barracks | Southsea Castle | Palmerston Road dating back to 1870
![13th December 1933: A line of sailors at the Royal Naval barracks at Portsmouth pass Christmas puddings to their comrades from the back of a wagon. (Photo by PNA Rota/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAzZGVjNTg3LTIyYTItNGY3Zi1hMDY1LTAyZDZkMzBmYzMzNTpmMWM3ZGZiZS1lMzRmLTRlY2QtYmJhNC05N2VjZDQyZjI2ODk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Navy sailors
13th December 1933: A line of sailors at the Royal Naval barracks at Portsmouth pass Christmas puddings to their comrades from the back of a wagon. (Photo by PNA Rota/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: The News archive
![5th April 1934: Sailors from the naval training college at Gosport, giving a statue of HM Queen Victoria a soap and water wash. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZlYmQzODhjLWNkNTgtNDA5Ni04NjU2LWQ0OTM4ZmQ3MmZiMToxZGU4NzI2NS02Y2YyLTRmNzktOTU0OC03MWZlNGM0YTVjYmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Navy sailors
5th April 1934: Sailors from the naval training college at Gosport, giving a statue of HM Queen Victoria a soap and water wash. (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: The News archive
![1940: Sailors at the Central Signal station, Portsmouth, southern England, during WW II. One is using a telescope. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJjYjJjYjM3LWM5ZmItNDY0MC05NDZlLTg4NGM4MTEwMjAxNDo1ZmNhNWMxNC1hMTJiLTQ4ODctOThmZi0yNzRjZWZkYTIyMWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Navy sailors
1940: Sailors at the Central Signal station, Portsmouth, southern England, during WW II. One is using a telescope. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: The News archive
![Sverdlov sailors visit Portsmouth. In June 1953 Russian sailors from the cruiser Sverdlov visited the city.
A happy group of Russian sailors from the Soviet cruiser 'Sverdlov' enjoying themselves in the company of some Portsmouth girls during a garden party in Portsmouth, England, 12th June 1953. The crews of the ships assembled at Spithead in readiness for the Coronation Naval Review, were given a civic welcome in the form of a garden party at Portsmouth, and the Russian sailors were invited to join the fun. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjcyYzYyYzcxLTRhOGMtNGI2My1hMzI5LWYwYzM1NGFjZjE2YjphYTU4NmFhMi1jNDQ4LTQ4Y2EtYjIxNS0yOTgyMTlmN2VkYjg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Navy sailors
Sverdlov sailors visit Portsmouth. In June 1953 Russian sailors from the cruiser Sverdlov visited the city. A happy group of Russian sailors from the Soviet cruiser 'Sverdlov' enjoying themselves in the company of some Portsmouth girls during a garden party in Portsmouth, England, 12th June 1953. The crews of the ships assembled at Spithead in readiness for the Coronation Naval Review, were given a civic welcome in the form of a garden party at Portsmouth, and the Russian sailors were invited to join the fun. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: The News archive