Writes Kirshaang B. (Divs)
On October 3rd, the Royal Navy Cadets went on a residential trip to Portsmouth, home of HMS Excellent shore establishment. We left from Merchant Taylors’ and St Helen’s respectively at 8am, headed on a 2-hour journey down to Portsmouth. We then spent the day at the Historic Dockyard.
We first visited HMS Warrior, launched in 1860, the world’s first iron-hulled warship, featuring three huge masts for wind power, but also a large engine and furnace – a masterpiece of engineering! We saw, the decks, where ratings slept, the galley (kitchen), the furnaces (known has hell to those on board) and many other parts of the ship.
We then sailed on a Harbour Tour, pointing out naval warships from many countries – frigates, destroyers and more! We learnt about how slaves from the Napoleonic Wars dug up the basin of water that’s now the harbour, and how dredgers retain the depth of water there.
After lunch, we toured HMS Victory (completed 1765) – the flagship of Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805). When we visited, it was in the middle of a major repair, so we got to see a unique perspective of seeing how an age-old ship gets maintained. I personally found it very interesting how they would remove the old rotting wood and replace it with new wood.
Then we paid a visit to the pride and joy of Henry VIII’s new Royal Navy: The Mary Rose (launched in 1511). This ship had been underwater for 437 years after tragically sinking in 1545. It capsized when trying to steer to port too hard, with 500 men on board – only 35 came back alive. Even though cut in half and with little of its original splendour left, it really was a sight to behold – out of all three ships, this was by far the most jaw dropping one for me.
After wandering around the Historic Dockyard, we went to HMS Excellent’s Junior Rates Mess to have dinner and then we went back to our accommodations at Fort Purbrook.
The next day, we went to the Quarterdeck of HMS Excellent to observe Colours (raising of the White Ensign flag in the morning). Then, we ate breakfast in the Junior Rates Mess.
Afterwards, we headed to a ship intelligence operation training facility, where we had a lecture on the modern Royal Navy. Following that we took part in a simulated Maritime Compartment Clearance operation to find drugs, hostages and military equipment on a ship. We used Nerf guns to shoot hostiles in ship like corridors and role played as hostiles, hostages and Navy sailors. This was an incredible experience and definitely something I will not forget – trying to find drugs and weapons in compartments whilst not knowing what’s beyond the door in front of you is an experience like no other!
Finally, we had lunch and left Portsmouth to arrive back at school around 4pm on Saturday. Nischal V. (Fifths) said that “It was a very interesting two days where we got to learn a lot about the Royal Navy’s history and got a glimpse of what they do in the modern day.”
We really enjoyed the trip, and we thank Lt Cdr Firestone and Lt Bulman for organising this wonderful trip.
