|
History of the Training Ship HMS Volage. The Volage
was originally an iron screw corvette launched in 1869 and was sold in
1904. Her sister ships were Active (also a Training Ship in 1896) and
Rover. Other Training Ships in 1896 included the Champion and Calypso. |
| Four of the older corvettes -
the Active, Volage, Champion and Calypso comprised the Training Squadron
in 1896, under a Commodore, and their special duties were to take to
sea, for extended cruises of six months or more, drafts of lads passed
out from the school-ships which were at various home ports. All four
training ships were fully masted, square-rigged vessels which belonged
to the older class of masted steamship common in the Navy in the 1870s.
The Volage was a corvette launched in 1869, a single-screw iron ship of
3,080 tons. The lads on board would learn to use the great guns which
the Volage and all her fellow training ships had, these were the modern
(1890s era) guns of the lighter types - 6 inch breech-loaders,
quick-firers and torpedo tubes. The Volage and Active were sister ships
and the largest of the training ships, each carried a company of 357.
The Volage's midshipmen after coaling would be very dirty after their
coaling duty. Grimy and unpleasant work as coaling a ship was, it was a
job in which everybody on board a man-of-war took a hearty part,
officers and men alike sparing themselves no fatigue. In all the fleets
and squadrons, there was always the keenest rivalry among individual
ships as to the smartness with which each ship could get its coaling
done, a healthy sign of the spirit of the men of the Sea Service; but
was also a matter of national interest, for the quicker a ship could
take on her fuel, the readier for emergencies she would be.
The photographs below are available to purchase. six post card
size prints on two large 15" x 10" magazine pages dated
1896. price £22 for the set. (incl post) REF: C5
|
Furling Sail
This photograph shows lads aloft engaged in furling sail.
The lads who came on board were all used to and trained in exercise
aloft and sail drill of any kind. |
The Captain and Officers, HMS Volage
A portrait group of the officers of the Volage in uniform, the
captain in command of the ship being readily distinguishable as the
officer with four rings of lace on his sleeve, and a telescope under his
arm.
|
Divisions on Christmas Day
The whole of
the ship's company are mustered for "Divisions" for the
Captain's inspection, a parade of all ranks and ratings which would take
place every Sunday morning and on Christmas Day, the lads falling in
around the upper deck right round the ship, each Division or party of
men separately under its own officers - some of the Lieutenants and
Midshipmen. The inspection would take place a little after breakfast,
the Captain being accompanied by various officers and receiving reports
from the officers of each Division as he comes to it and also from the
heads of departments on board, the Chief Engineer, Paymaster and the
Doctor. As the Captain approached each Division, the men would doff
their hats and stand to attention, while the Captain scrutinized each
man individually and drawing attention to the smallest irregularity of
dress or appearance. When the Captain has passed to the next Division
the previous Division can replace their hats and stand easy until the
Captain has completed his round of the ship when all are piped to Divine
Service. |
In Boats This photograph shows the larger boats of the
ship in the act of being swung on board to be stowed amidships and made
fast. |
A Gun Room Smoking Circle This photograph shows the
midshipmen of the Volage taking it easy after dinner on deck, on a warm
day under tropical skies, until the order is issued for afternoon drills
to begin. |
The Captain Going On Shore The captain of the ship in mufti
going over the side to spend a day on shore. The captain of a man-of-war
was an absolute king on board his ship, a monarch of despotic power, and
even so comparatively trivial an incident as his going ashore for his
own pleasure in civilian attire, was in itself a semi-state ceremonial,
the side being manned and everybody near standing at salute. |
|
