About this Event
Enjoy this light-hearted, musically entuned, presentation of professional photographs including the history of the site of Forton Barracks, latterly HMS St Vincent (now St Vincent College), and particularly the training the Boy Sailors endured.
From 1928 to 1968, 700 Boy Sailors aged 15 trained every year, for a year, to become the crème de la crème of the Royal Navy. Most failed!
The HMS St Vincent Association was bequeathed the entire photographic collection of the Admiralty contracted, Gosport-based photographers, J. Lawrence & Sons, and these are used to good effect in this light-hearted presentation by a former Boy who suffered there in 1959/60 yet lives to tell the tale.
Your speaker, affectionately known as 'Darby Allen', will also touch on the history of the site from its early 18th Century beginnings, including its 75-year occupation by the Royal Marine Light Infantry.
He will attempt to retain your attention for 60 minutes with his recollections, singing, dancing, wit, and armed sentries. Whether he succeeds will be up to you but it’ll be fun trying!
Duration 60 minutes.
Booking OPENS on 17 Aug at 0930
Advance Registration required: Please complete registration within 10 minutes. After this, the reservation we're holding will be released to others.
FAQs and other information
Accessibility: For full accessibility options and facilities available, please go to 24. Training Boy Sailors at St Vincent - Gosport Heritage Open Days
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
FirstLight Trust, 68 High Street, Gosport, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00