What was The Russell Cotes Nautical Training School like. John Martin who was at Russell Cotes 1940 to 1942 sent an article to The Guild messenger 1998.
Tough times Not even the Second World War could disrupt life for boys at Russell Cotes Nautical School, Dorset.. .. despite the summer camp taking place right under the path of enemy action. only 13 at the time, John remembers the drama of it all. Lucky John didn't go to Goldings, we didn't have a matron to tuck us-up in bed!
SUNDAY 3rd September 1939, 11am. War is declared and at Stepney Causeway there was panic as children were evacuated to the safety of the countryside. We were moved to Bromborough, Cheshire, a lovely mansion type home with woods, but the air raid sirens were sounding even as we arrived as enemy aircraft made for nearby Liverpool. The home was fantastic, so free and easy; I thought it was too good to be true. And indeed, soon I was off on my travels again Russell Cotes, Parkstone, was my next stop.
It
was summer 1940 and we saw plenty of action down at Poole. The Battle of
Britain was raging, we saw dog fights, aircraft shot down and, believe it
or nor, we still had to go on Poole Harbour and row a big cutter. I was
nearly 13, but the oars were so long and heavy that two of us had to man
each oar. Poole Harbour was a base for the civilian Sunderland flying
boats and the Germans used to follow them in and machine-gun them when
they landed. I thought it was crazy that they had us there.
Then we went to summer camp just outside Poole for a week. We had large white tents which would have been very visible. The night we went back to Poole, the Germans dropped a stick of nine bombs where our tents had been. It left six big craters, which staff took us back to see the next day. There were raids day and night for a long period. When we were in the shelter matron used to tell us to be quiet. She said "the Germans will hear you."
Russell Cotes was really tough. The food was terrible, and even if you were lucky enough to have a relative to write to you, the letter you received would be censored with lumps cut out of it with a razor blade. There were four different houses. Before breakfast in the morning we had to polish the long dormitory floors on our hands and knees, with a pad of blanket material. You were three in a row and you had to polish in step with your hands just like you march in step. A petty officer's fist would smack into your ear if you got out of step. Great big blobs of the old Ronuk polish would be spattered on the floor.
Then we marched off for breakfast. We used to call the porridge, "Rock of Gibraltar"; made with water, it was a solid, revolting mass; to this day I will not eat porridge. If one did a bad misdeed one would be flogged in front of the whole school. There was a big playing field, it was bitter cold in winter, but one had to stay there until tea-time. I was in this home for two years, it seemed an eternity.
I left Russell Cotes to start work then joined the regular army serving in Italy, Palestine, Egypt and Kenya and the Korean War. Despite the rigours of army life, he admits he found it 'rather easy' after the Russell Cotes regime.
John Martin
Boarded out Bromborough, 1939
Russell Cotes, 1940 - 1942