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- HMS Collingwood during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

HMS Collingwood



   HMS Collingwood is a shorebase, was built as a new entry Training Establishment for "hostilities only ratings of the Seaman Branch. The 200 acres it covers were compulsorily purchased in 1939. The base is is situated between Gosport and Fareham in Hampshire The buildings were erected to surround the Parade Ground which was the focal point of the training.

On 10 January 1940 the base was offically opened, training began a week later with batches of about 1000 trainees joining every 3 weeks for a 10-week course. Fifty wrens joined Collingwood initally and worked as Cooks, Stewards, Messengers and Telephonists.

The first Wireless Telegraphy ratings started their training in June 1940, a Radio Direction Finding School was added in 1942. At this time the Medical Section was rated as a Naval Hospital with a Surgeon Rear Admiral in charge.

After the war the Electrical branch was formed in 1946 and Collingwood took over the training of officers and ratings, in the maintenance of all electrical and radio equipment in the Fleet.(except for the Fleet Air Arm.)

Today the base is still in use by the Royal Navy and is home to The HMS Collingwood museum which features an extensive collection of Naval communications and radar equipment.

 


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have sailed in

HMS Collingwood

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of HMS Collingwood from other sources.



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Want to know more about HMS Collingwood?


There are:0 items tagged HMS Collingwood available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Forbes Franklin HMS Argus

My uncle, Forbes Franklin, trained at HMS Collingwood and subsequently served on HMS Argus where he was killed. Before the war he was captain of Deal Rowing Club and after the war a boat was named after him which can still be seen in Deal Museum. Any further information would be appreciated.

Paul Harris



Gunner Albert Roy "Smudge" Smith HMS Collingwood

We have a photo of my Dad, Albert Smith in uniform at H M S Collingwood. Just trying to find details or photos of his wartime service.

Susan Aisthorpe



Able Seaman. Arnold Malina HMS Fishguard

My Father was Able Seaman Arnold Malina, he trained at HMS Collingwood from 12 May 1943 August 1943 to 20 July 1943.

He served on HMS Fishguard from 1943 to December 1945. Convoy escorts in Indian Ocean from 21/11/1943 to 31/05/1945 out of bases HMS Tana, Kilindini, Kenya and HMS Lanka in Ceylon from 01/06/1945 to 31/10/1945

Mike Malina



Geoffrey Norman Cox HMS Europa

My father, Geoffrey Norman Cox, served during WW2. He volunteered at the age of 19 and joined the Minesweeper Corps. I have his service record which shows him starting his Naval career at HMS Collingwood and HMS Europa. He served on a number of ships including Eland, St Wistan, Leonidas, Forward, Marshall Sault and Beaver. He saw action in the North Sea, the West African Gold Coast and English Channel.

I would love to hear from anyone who has information about any of these ships and anyone who might have served on these ships.

Melvyn Cox



Able Seaman Alex Biggam HMS Nigeria

Alex Biggam whilst training at HMS Collingwood

My father Alex Biggam served on HMS Nigeria as an able seaman. He would not talk much about his time during the war but did tell me of the extreme cold of the Russian convoy. He was also on the Malta convoy when the ship was hit by a torpedo. The ship was sent to Charleston, South Carolina for repair. He would talk about his time there and how well the Americans treated the crew and the interest they had shown about the war.

Thank you, this is a very informative site.

Gil Biggam



Norman Robert Jones HMS Collingwood

My dad, Norman Jones tried to join the Merchant Navy in 1942 but he was chased for being too young. He went to the Royal Navy recruitment office and ended up as a young seaman in HMS Collingwood in 1942. He served on a number of ships during WW2 and stayed in the Navy after the war. He was stationed at HMS Gosling and HMS Blackcap shore bases and left in 1947 I think.

Norman Jones



A/AB. George James Harry Manning HMS Collingwood

George Manning went from Merchant Navy to HMS Collingwood on 2nd of February 1942, and served on various ships, MGB 657, MTB 405, MGB 659, and was released to shore on 2nd of February 1946.

Chris Manning



Able Sea. John McLean HMS Quebec

My father, John McLean voluntarily enlisted in the Royal Navy on Thursday 14th of November 1940. My mother relayed a funny story and said that my father left home early in the morning on the 14th to go to get some milk from a local shop and didn't return until early evening. When my mother, who was obviously upset, asked him where he had been, he proudly told her he had enlisted in the Navy and would be leaving the next day.

His service record shows that his first posting was at HMS Collingwood followed by HMS Pembroke, Northney, Quebec and HMS Copra and was released from service in January 1946. I have little information about my father's service as he passed away in 1955 when I was only 9 years old. My mother told me that my father had been on a landing craft during the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy.

John McLean



Ord.Sea. George Edward Francis HMS Europa

My father George Francis served in HMS Collingwood 23/06/1942 - 20/09/1942, HMS Europa 21/09/1942 - 28/09/1942 HMT Marshal Soult 29/09/1942 - 05/10/1942 with the Trawler Relief Pool. New Comet 06/10/1942-24/03/1943 lent to Shrapnel 18/12/1942 - 11/02/42 then returned to HMS Europa 25/03/1943 - 15/06/1943, HMS Claverhouse 16/061943 - 07/09/1943 with the Trawler RP. HMS MM86. 08/09/1943 - 14/09/1943 then HMS Claverhouse 15/09/1943 - 07/10/1943. He then returned to HMS Europa. 08/10/1943 - 24/03/1944 and was lent to Pembroke 22/12/43 - 26/01/44. Returned to HMS Claverhouse. 25/03/1944 - 14/08/1944 and was lent to HMS Lochinvar 27/05/44 - 14/08/45.

Ian



AB. George Edward Francis HMS Europa

George Francis served in HMS Collingwood and HMS Europa.

Ian Francis



Able Sea. George Crosbie HMS Pembroke

George Crosbie enlisted in 1941. The following were his service postings during WW2:
  • 1941 HMS Collingwood, Fareham (Naval Training Centre)
  • 1941 HMS Victory, Portsmouth
  • 1941 HMS Victory, Whitshed
  • 1942 HMS Victory, Portsmouth
  • 1942 HMS Pembroke, Whitshed
  • 1942 HMS Victory, Portsmouth
  • 1942 HMS Proserpine, Hoy (Royal Navy Communication Centre)

Martha Herres



Ldg.Sea. William Henry Powis HMS Activity

The following were William Powis' naval service postings:
  • 09/04/1940 Conscripted or Enlisted
  • 17.04.1940 to 16.07.1940 Ordinary Seaman HMS Collingwood
  • 17.07.1940 to 23.07.1940 Ordinary Seaman HMS Victory
  • 24.07.1940 to 17.02.1941 Ordinary Seaman HMS Victory (HMS Impulsive)
  • 18.02.1941 to 31.03.1941 Able Seaman HMS Victory (HMS Impulsive)
  • 01.05.1941 to 30.06.1941 Able Seaman HMS Beaver II (HMS Impulsive)
  • 01.07.1941 to 29.01.1942 Able Seaman HMS Tyne (HMS Impulsive)
  • 30.01.1942 to 16.06.1942 Able Seaman HMS Victory
  • 17.06.1942 to 28.09.1942 Able Seaman HMS Excellent
  • 29.09.1942 to 07.09.1945 Able Seaman HMS Activity
  • 08.07.1945 to 28.11.1945 Leading Seaman HMS Activity
  • 28.11.1945 to 01.02.1946 Leading Seaman HMS Victory
  • 02.02.1946 Released from Service - Class A

David Powis



Ldg.Stkr. Ralph Victor Digout HMS Collingwood

Ralph Digout served on HMS Collingwood from 10th of October to 26th of November 1942 serving with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. He went to HMS Collingwood and stayed there prior to her maiden voyage as the ship wasn't ready. He acted as the ships' barber. Ralph attended the Collingwood reunion at Collingwood with my Dad & Mom. We have an original crew picture of the Collingwood crew with my dad in it.

Don Digout



Able Sea. Brian Crossland HMS Collingwood

HMS Collingwood Brian Crossland

Brian Crossland FR 2nd from left HMS Collingwood

LCT851 Gun turret training Brian Crossland left

LCT851 Training, Brian Crossland

Brian Crossland served in the Royal Navy in WW2, training at HMS Collingwood and HMS Pasco and serving aboard HMS Vega and LCT 851.

Edward Crossland



Ord.Sea. Raymond Arthur "Ron" Osborn HMS Howe

Dad, Ron Osborn volunteered to join the Navy on achieving the age of 18 in September 1941 and was posted for basic training to HMS Collingwood. On 18th of March 1942 he was posted to the shore establishment of HMS Spartiate at St Enochs in Glasgow. He is officially shown as joining ships company of HMS Howe on 1st June 1942, as part of the commissioning crew and remained with the Howe for the rest of the war until March 1946. Howe battle honours are Arctic 1942-43, Sicily 1943 and Okinawa 1945.

John Osborn







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