TS Indefatigable Anglesey 1944-1995
The TS (Training Ship) Indefatigable was for many years a place
where young men could train for a life at sea. Anyone from Anglesey
will have fond memories of seeing the young trainee sailors in
their neatly pressed navy uniforms in and around the village
of Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll. Many will have been familiar with the
sight of them hitch hiking home along the A5 road to Liverpool
or even further away, their uniform a sure promise of being given
a lift.
The gates into the Indefatigable
There are many still living on Anglesey who have benefited from
the training and discipline once taught at this highly respected
establishment. Sadly the `Inde` closed in 1995, and as this website
is dedicated to recording Anglesey's history, it would not be
complete without their story.
The Sphinx Bridge
In the right hand column you will find links to other pages,
including individual accounts of the time spent at the Inde,
most heart rending is the story of John Prestwich 1952-4.
The T.S.Indefatigable History.
The T.S. Indefatigable
The TS Indefatigable was founded in 1864 by one John Clint,
who set up a committee to raise funds to offer naval training
to
poor and destitute boys, and the sons and orphans of sailors.
Financial assistance was rendered by James Bibby, of Bibby Line
Shipping, whose family helped support the `Inde` for many years
to follow. At that time the trainees actually lived on the ship,
which was moored off Rock Ferry, on the Birkenhead side of the
Mersey. The ship was an ex Royal Navy wooden frigate,
and the gun deck was converted to accommodate 200 boys in hammocks.
The original ship lasted through to 1914, when it was scrapped
and replaced by a masted cruiser named H.M.S Phaeton, subsequently
renamed
Indefatigable.
On 31st December 1927 an Admiral Warrant for a blue ensign defaced
with a Liver Bird was issued. It was described as a Liver Bird,
with an ivy leaf in its beak, standing on a red and white torse'. You
can see an impression of this here.
The T.S. Indefatigable moves to Anglesey.
In 1941 theT.S. Indefatigable and another training ship – T.S.
Conway - for lads from more well off families – were ordered
evacuated due to the severe bombing that Liverpool had been forced
to endure.
It was decided by the committee that it was safer to find a shore
base, and initially they moved to Clawdd Newydd in Ruthin, North
Wales -a disused holiday camp.
By 1944 the TS Indefatigable was relocated to a country home
named Plas Llanfair in Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, on Anglesey, where
it would remain for the next 51 years. The choice of Plas Llanfair
was perhaps very apt as it was once the home of Admiral
Lord Clarence Paget - commander in chief of the Mediterranean
fleet. Admiral Paget was the fourth son of the 1st Marquess of
Anglesey, whose column towers above the site. He was also the
person who had the statue of Nelson erected in 1873 on the banks
of the Menai Straits as an aid to navigation.
Many new buildings were erected to house classrooms etc, and
of course there was a parade ground. Near to Plas Llanfair there
is a rock called Nozzers Rock. It measures something like 40
feet wide and 30 feet high. Many an Inde lad will remember clambering
to the top and spending some moments pondering their lot. New
entrants were called `Nozzers` to show they were the juniors.
Training generally took part from the age of 14 to the age of
16 years of age. The Inde was split into four divisions, named
Drake, Hood, Raleigh, and Rodney. Each division had about 30
lads, with 3 eventually being promoted to Leading Hands, and
one to Petty Officer. A Chief Petty Officer boy held overall
responsibility for discipline amongst the boys, in much the same
way as a Head Boy might.
Read Captain
P.E.R. Hutchins story of his time at the Inde from
1941-2, it gives an insight into just how rough it was in the
early days. Maybe you lads from the latter Inde days had it cushy
after all?
The Inde still had its own boats, including big Whalers, and
Cutters – one per division – for pulling oars. Life
was hard for the lads, but with no exceptions amongst those that
have helped with my research, each has a strong belief that the
Inde stood them in good stead and would do so for the rest of
their lives. Most that I have spoken to have done well, and a
surprising number rose to the rank of Master, surely a tribute
in itself to this amazing establishment. John Farley – 1959/60 – put
it really well when he stated that he considered TS Indefatigable
his spiritual home.
Charlie Swindon and John Farley 59/60
|
John Farley and Chief Derrick
|
Read Albert Spavins story, who attended TS Indefatigable in
the war years. The punishment at that time involved caning with
a
birch
stick.
Still think YOU had it bad lads?
Prize Day 1962
Since the closure of the Inde the ships bell was bought by the
Marine Engineers Guild and returned to Plas Llanfair, where
I believe it is on loan to the present MOD establishment JSMTC
- Joint Services Mountain Training Centre. It also operates
as a place where members of the forces can take a low cost
holiday.
As I researched more into the history of the TS Indefatigable,
I realised that many ex Inde lads would have paid the supreme
sacrifice serving in the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy, indeed
all of the Armed Services. They would have given their lives
during
the Great Wars War, and in later conflicts such as the Falklands,
where the Royal Navy took some heavy casualties. God Bless them
and remember them.
A Snippet.
Henry Schreiber No 47 Raleigh. 1955-6
Henry A. Schreiber, Number 47 of Raleigh Division.
On my "Apprentice's Indenture (Dated January 17th 1955)
I was marked as 14 years 11 months. I served one year, and was
discharged on the 24th January 1956.
As my birthday is on January 30th I would would have been aged
16.
I spent the next 10 years in the British Merchant Navy and came
to Calgary Alberta Canada on December 19th 1966 and I am still
here.
The Indefatigable Old Boys Association.
An association exists, named the Indefatigable Old Boys Association.
Their secretary - Steve Humphries - has provided me with the
following information.
From a very fortunate meeting two years ago, I first met
Canon Bob Evans and Chaplin Roy Paul - Mersey Mission to Seaman
- Liverpool, at an Indefatigable Old Boys reunion promoting one
of Bob’s books - ‘The Training Ships of Liverpool’.
Although Indefatigable had been previously included in the ‘Training
Ships’ book, I knew we had to have Bob write the much fuller
account of our story and history and most of all about us the
Trainees.
As a boy I had no doubt that I wanted to go to sea, from Sea
Cadets in North London (TS Barrossa), to Anglesey THE INDEFATIGABLE,
which was the making of me, and now although the School has subsequently
closed, I have always considered it to be my spiritual home which
I’ve since discovered holds the same meaning to so many
others!
Many of the Boys who attended this School gave up their lives
defending the UK as members of the Merchant Navy and Armed Services
and this book is dedicated to all the trainees and staff of ‘THE
INDE’.
Bob Evans takes us back on-board the ‘Inde’, and
he has woven a story of personal experiences to meet the boys
of
old
and the masters who steered us through tough discipline but with
the utmost respect, and taught us to identify and help others
who were not so fortunate.
The book is written by and on behalf of those who were at the
Indefatigable, and Bob Evans quotes, “This is
one hell of a story”. This book is about the boys
and their successors, it’s their story, and there has never
been a book exclusively on the Training Ship Indefatigable and
School.
This is a unique occasion and a memorable event that many have
participated in. The Indefatigable Old Boys Association is proud
of what Bob Evans has unlocked. I know you will enjoy our story.
Forever the Inde!
Steve Humphries 1975 - 1976
T.S. Indefatigable Old Boys Association: Secretary.
For Membership of the Indefatigable Old Boys Association
and to buy the new Indefatigable book, contact is as follows:
email: here
website: here
Reunion Indefatigable Old Boys Association Reunion 2005.
Each year the Indefatigable Old Boys Association hold reunions for the ex trainees and staff. On the 4th June 2005 a reunion
was held on Anglesey. The initial contact
was
at
the
Carreg
y Bran
Hotel
just yards
from
what
was the Indefatigable Training School. This webmaster was in
attendance, and took lots of photographs which you can see
here.
The reunion was attended by over 120, 80 of which were ex Inde
boys. Everyone appeared to have enjoyed the day.
After booking in with the O.B.A. officials - Steve and Spencer
- we were issued with our identity tags and at 11:30am we made
our way to the Indefatigable site. After booking in individually
with the guardroom - this is after all still MOD property - we
were shown into the Plas Llanfair building, and met in the cinema
by Lt Col Hodgson - Officer in charge JSMTC (Joint Services Mountain
Training Centre). He began by telling us that Plas Llanfair was
probably built circa 1673. It was owned in the 18th century by
the Earl of Uxbridge, and remained in the Paget family for some
150 years. In the 1930`s it became a hotel, and during WWII this
was commandeered by the War Office until D Day.
In 1944
it
became
the TS Indefatigable,
which it remained until 1995. It was then bought by the
MOD for the sum of £732,000 and a further sum of 4.2 million
was spent on its upgrade. It opened in its present function on
the 4th April 1999. After going through this induction - where
the function of the site now was further explained - we
were taken on a tour of the site.
Most interesting for me was meeting a wide variety of characters
aged between 25 and 85. It was a pleasure to meet Derek E.K.
Evans, who attended the Inde when it was at Clawdd Newydd near
Ruthin between 1941-42. I was further pleased to have met Bill
Smith, who attended the Inde whilst it was still aboard ship
in Liverpool. He was there 1936-38!! He told me that his brother
had attended the Inde in 1922.
It was a great surprise to the Inde Class of 1965-6, when no
less than 8 from that year turned up for the reunion, with
ex Holyhead lad Frank Lawlor and his wife Valerie travelling
all
the way from Australia. The others were Gary Gray, Peter
Cook, Mark Chatham, Ken Tatlock, Will Williams, Will Gyte,
and Robin
Tonks. You may see a photo of the group here.
Following the visit to the Indefatigable we returned to the
Carreg y Bran hotel and enjoyed a light lunch and a pint,
which was
followed by the AGM and a reunion evening at the hotel.
For details of the upcoming reunion please go to this page.
Please Contribute.
If you have any photos you would like to email
me or a story to tell, please email them to me here. As
I receive more stories and pictures from ex Inde lads, so I will
add them to the site. I have to say that it has been
a pleasure to be in contact with so many of you, and thank
you. In the meantime, please read about the Indefatigable Old
Boys Association and the upcoming reunion below.
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