HMS Royal SovereignHMS Collingwood was calling, and part two of my initial training, this is where I found out I was going to be called a greenie! Nothing to do with my night of passion at Kinghorn, no, greenie was the old and colourful name given to Electrical Engineers because they were recognised by a thin green line on their sleeve. This was the tradition with other branches of the navy as well, only the medical branch carried on the tradition in today’s navy, but for some reason they were never called redies.
HMS Collingwood is coveted in naval tradition, the fourth and last in a long line of ships named after Admiral Lord Collingwood; he had a long and distinguished career in the Napoleonic period of naval history and was second in command to Nelson at Trafalgar, flying his flag in HMS Royal Sovereign he was the first to engage the enemy fleet during the battle. Nelson and Collingwood were great friends throughout their careers.
HMS Collingwood is coveted in naval tradition, the fourth and last in a long line of ships named after Admiral Lord Collingwood; he had a long and distinguished career in the Napoleonic period of naval history and was second in command to Nelson at Trafalgar, flying his flag in HMS Royal Sovereign he was the first to engage the enemy fleet during the battle. Nelson and Collingwood were great friends throughout their careers.
After Trafalgar he was in charge of a massive fleet in the Mediterranean, blockading both the Spanish and French fleets and slowly draining Napoleon’s resources and his ability to wage war.
The camp had a history as well:
HMS Collingwood was built as a new entry training establishment for "hostilities only' ratings of the Seaman Branch. It was built on wet and boggy corn land in the 1940’s.
The camp had a history as well:
HMS Collingwood was built as a new entry training establishment for "hostilities only' ratings of the Seaman Branch. It was built on wet and boggy corn land in the 1940’s.
HMS COLLINGWOOD was under the Command of a Commodore; training began a week later commisioning, with batches of about 1000 trainees joining every 3 weeks for a 10-week course. In 1946 the Electrical branch was formed and HMS COLLINGWOOD took over from HMS VERNON and other establishments for the training of officers and ratings, except those of the Fleet Air Arm, in the maintenance of all electrical and radio equipment in the Fleet.
Subsequently, the Branch assumed additional responsibility for weapons and became known as the Weapon and Radio Branch and later, the Weapon and Electrical Engineering Branch. In 1979, as a result of the restructuring of the whole Engineering Branch, it became the Weapon Engineering Sub-Branch, passing Electrical Generation and Distribution to the Marine Engineering Sub-Branch.
In 1963 a programme was put in hand to replace, over a period of 25 years, all the original huts with new buildings and modern facilities. Tall 60's-style Junior Ratings' Accommodation Blocks were opened by HRH The Princess Margaret in 1966.
Where do I come in, In 1975, after my first leave. My official title was now Junior Electrical Mechanic Second Class, they couldn’t go any lower than that, but I was pleased to know I now had a place on the career ladder.HMS Collingwood had the biggest parade ground in Europe and even though I was now entering the professional part of my training, I was later to find out that I was going to do a few miles marching around it.
Subsequently, the Branch assumed additional responsibility for weapons and became known as the Weapon and Radio Branch and later, the Weapon and Electrical Engineering Branch. In 1979, as a result of the restructuring of the whole Engineering Branch, it became the Weapon Engineering Sub-Branch, passing Electrical Generation and Distribution to the Marine Engineering Sub-Branch.
In 1963 a programme was put in hand to replace, over a period of 25 years, all the original huts with new buildings and modern facilities. Tall 60's-style Junior Ratings' Accommodation Blocks were opened by HRH The Princess Margaret in 1966.
Where do I come in, In 1975, after my first leave. My official title was now Junior Electrical Mechanic Second Class, they couldn’t go any lower than that, but I was pleased to know I now had a place on the career ladder.HMS Collingwood had the biggest parade ground in Europe and even though I was now entering the professional part of my training, I was later to find out that I was going to do a few miles marching around it.
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