26th September 1933: Three Royal Navy sailors from H M S Excellent holding a pig at Whale Island, Portsmouth. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)26th September 1933: Three Royal Navy sailors from H M S Excellent holding a pig at Whale Island, Portsmouth. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
26th September 1933: Three Royal Navy sailors from H M S Excellent holding a pig at Whale Island, Portsmouth. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Rarely-seen photos show what being a Royal Navy sailor in Portsmouth was like

If you’ve ever wondered what life was like for a sailor in years past, take a look at these rarely-seen black and white photos.
By Deborah Croker
Published 13th May 2020, 16:25 BST
Updated 13th May 2020, 16:26 BST

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)

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) Photo: The News archive

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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)

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) Photo: The News archive

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1940: Sailors at the Central Signal station, Portsmouth, southern England, during WW II. One is using a telescope. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

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) Photo: The News archive

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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)

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) Photo: The News archive

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