Royal Navy's gunners in action at HMS Excellent | Nostalgia

HMS Excellent was the naval gunnery school of excellence and officers from around the world used to attend the establishment for training.

The island echoed to stentorian orders of the instructors on the parade ground and it never lost its reputation for smartness and good strict discipline.

The captain of HMS Excellent in 1931 was Captain Guy Charles Cecil Royle who had been gunnery officer in HMS Marlborough at the Battle of Jutland. He later became Chief of the Royal Naval Air Service.

The sailors are training on a QF (quick-firing) four-inch MKV naval gun with a range of 16,300 yards, more than nine miles. They were in service from 1914 to 1945 although I suspect a few might have been around a little longer.

Captain Gordon Walwyn (Rtd) tells me the photograph has been set up for the camera. He says: ‘The sailor setting the fuse would have been further away from the gun. They are using drill shells and once rammed into the breech the breech would be re-opened, the shell discharged and carried to the rear of the loaders. In real firings the gun's crew would be in anti-flash gear, of course.’

The sailors are all in square rig, less the white lanyard, compared to today when fatigue gear might be worn. All have the cap tally bow above the left eye as opposed to above the left ear. They are all wearing long gunnery gaiters which were so comfortable. They were used to keep bellbottom trousers from flapping about and stopped them getting caught in gear.

Andrew’s partner Jackie, believes the petty officer at the gunsight is her grandfather PO Stephen Gwyer.

Bill Ford, from Farlington, got in touch about the former college of technology in Anglesea Road, Portsmouth. It was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1952 a year after Bill began his apprenticeship.

In the photograph, three lads are seen with Bill on the left alongside John Burns, plus another who Bill only remembers as Trevor. When the college opened the three helped install and maintain the machine tools and workshops. On the right Bill is working on a Cincinnati milling machine.

I wonder whether any former apprentices from local firms and companies from across the UK and worldwide can remember their days gaining their practical training in the following workshops; machine shop, welding, sheet-metal, foundry and motor mechanic workshops.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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