Denzil Thomas no 43 Raleigh Divison
 
I joined Indefatigable on the 20th of September 1959, and left on 20 september
1961;  The Captain Super-intendent 
was George Washington Irvin (yes really), a seaman of the "old school" who would 
today be considered not only non-PC, but "rough with it." School was divided 
into four Divisions, Drake, Raleigh, Rodney and Hood (colours red,blue,green and 
yellow.) All boys were numbered there being about 130 -140 at any one time. Each 
division had a PO Boy and two Leading Boys in charge there being a CPO Boy of 
the School. Interdivisional rivalry was actively encouraged and depending upon 
the encouragement of the divisional officer instructors could be interesting 
from an Anthropologist's angle, if studying tribal warfare.
 
The food was pretty awful however a goodly and unlimited quantity of sliced 
Mothers Pride stowed in a large rack at one end of the messdeck kept us all from 
starvation. My friend Terry Kelly could get a whole meal (well mixed) spread 
thinly into a stack of sandwiches some 10" tall. We didn't exactly starve but 
were constantly hungry, no doubt due to the very long and physical day. The 
thing I did retain from this period is the knack to eat anything (if it doesn't 
move too quickly) and a love of bread with meals! This has been helpful during 
my time at sea. The day started at 0630, 0730 on Sundays with either a swim in 
the pool (unheated) summer and winter, or a quick dash through the shower. two 
divisions per activity. Then it was clean ship before breakfast at 0800. Morning 
parade at 0900 and then classes/training until lunch 1230 and then a full 
afternoon ending at 1630. Tea was 1730 followed by more cleaning/study/practise 
etc. and to bed by 1930. These times are approximate. 
 
Training was along RN lines as most of the instructors were from this service. 
Laundry was done by hand with large bars of soap and lukewarm water which didn't 
prevent almost all the boys taking a great pride in having very clean and smart 
uniforms, sartorial elegance was the order of the day when on parade and also 
when on "liberty". Collars and whitefront edgings had to have the correct shade 
of light blue, trousers, blouses and silks all creased correctly and sharply in 
the right places caps bent and worn at the correct angle and name talleys tied 
with an ornate (usualy false) bow. All this was achieved without the aid of 
irons or modern appliances and without attracting the attention of any 
instructor who was on the lookout for non-regulation items or coulours. Cleaning 
polishing etc. was a constant operation all done by hand the decks of oak board 
were polished with large quantities of RONUK polish, and gleamed like glass. The 
fire risk doesn't bear thinking about! 

Inspections were numerous and a cake was presented each week to the cleanest 
dormitory, a prize indeed. Bullying of a very violent or pyschological nature 
was rife, black eyes cuts lumps and bruises often in evidence discipline was 
military with defaulters doing extra and unpleasant tasks, the ultimate was 
caning which given the violent nature of some boys wasn't much of a deterrent 
the weals and bruises even being seen as a status symbol that you could "take 
it." The boys came from all walks of life, many from backgrounds which today 
would entitle them to their own Social Services team, some came as an 
alternative to reform schools and others like myself from a middle class 
upbringing. 
 
This mixture was responsible for many of the less agreeable aspects of the 
school there being very little in the way of attention or interest taken in 
those who were having a "hard time." I could go on at more length enough to say 
that I didn't particurlarly enjoy my time at "Indie" even though it gave me a 
good insight into the make up of the male society of this country over the last 
30 years. The educational level was not high, given the vastly differing mental 
abilities of the boys, those of us who had the capacity rose and the rest 
didn't, in those days more reliance was placed on physical and manual ability 
than education, it was after all a school for would be seaman. Some of us 3 or 4 
every term managed to reach an educational standard which was acceptable within 
the industry as evidence that we could be trained as deck cadets/apprentices. 
 
The remainder went to sea as deck boys/catering boys in ther Merchant Navy or 
joine the RN as boy seamen. Sports were fives, rugby or some athletics, 
naturally rowing (cutters) and sailing were indulged in on the Menai Straight. 
The ethos of the school I understand changed after I left probably due to the 
new Superintendent who took over. The regime would have changed when Mr. Wade 
became the Superintendent, he was ex RN and much more enlightened than GWI, Wade 
was 2 I/C when I was there and must have been itching to make some changes. 
Caning was usually carried out in the rigging loft (I think) and as I never 
participated I cannot tell you what the sequence of events was. Rig of the day 
was No. 8 blue shirts and blue trousers, boots and gaiters for parades, blue 
jersey in the winter. Sleeves always rolled above the elbow.
 
I suppose you have to look at the big picture when the type of violence that was 
present at Inde is concerned. A lot of the boys in those days came from family 
backgrounds and inner city areas that were far from perfect, "standing up for 
yourself" was a survival requirement. Also you find that many teenagers who are 
perhaps not very articulate and have difficulty in verbal communication will get 
their point across with a smack in the mouth! There are also the types who are 
big fish (physically) in a small pond and enjoy the benefits thereof. Put all 
this together in a school were being "tough" was seen as a requirement by the 
senior staff and bullying becomes a fact of life. Yes, if it got really out of 
hand then steps were taken to discipline the bully, however getting the evidence 
is difficult when you are again up against the "not telling tales" syndrome! Put 
this together with a large old building, full of nooks crannies, dormitories, 
corridors etc. and the opportunity is endless for clandestine violence. It 
didn't all stop after Tom Browns Schooldays! I know that it all changed in the 
1970's but then they type of boy that they were teaching changed as well as the 
senior staff attitude.