It was on Wednesday 5th November 69 that I boarded a special military train in Haslemere along with 1034 other matelot's travelling to Plymouth to join HMS BULWARK. We were the last Commision to join her as a complete complement, we traveled to Plymouth as a full group, all kit loaded on goods vans running behind, and arrived at Plymouth station to board a fleet of lorries to take us to the dockyard On entering the dockyard we dissembarked, formed into lines of three and marched to the jetty she was lying at. As I made my way up the gang plank I was quite anxious as I had never been on such a large ship before, and had allsorts of things going on in my head, new friends to be made, a new bunk to find and a new life, a three year commision, First work up then sail for work and play. I need not have worried, she was the best ship and crew I ever served with STORIES AND TALES OF HMS BULWARK Procedure Alpha entering port A few pictures and stories of our Engineering Department / The messdeck Commisioning service and ceremony / Our visit to Japan Communications department AKA The canabis Kids Our Royal Marine Detachment
It was on Wednesday 5th November 69 that I boarded a special military train in Haslemere along with 1034 other matelot's travelling to Plymouth to join HMS BULWARK. We were the last Commision to join her as a complete complement, we traveled to Plymouth as a full group, all kit loaded on goods vans running behind, and arrived at Plymouth station to board a fleet of lorries to take us to the dockyard On entering the dockyard we dissembarked, formed into lines of three and marched to the jetty she was lying at. As I made my way up the gang plank I was quite anxious as I had never been on such a large ship before, and had allsorts of things going on in my head, new friends to be made, a new bunk to find and a new life, a three year commision, First work up then sail for work and play.
I need not have worried, she was the best ship and crew I ever served with
A few pictures and stories of our Engineering Department / The messdeck Commisioning service and ceremony / Our visit to Japan
Communications department AKA The canabis Kids Our Royal Marine Detachment