HMS Collingwood

Located in Fareham, Hampshire, HMS Collingwood was commissioned 1940 on marshy land that had been compulsorily purchased. Over the years its role has changed as the navy has evolved. It started as a school for Hostilities Only (HO) seamen and communicators. In 1946 it became the naval electrical school. When the engineering branches were re-organised in 1979 the electrical side was passed to the Marine Engineering branch and Collingwood became the school for the Weapon engineering branch.

Since then further changes have been made and according to the HMS Collingwood website:

'HMS Collingwood is the lead establishment of the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) and the largest naval training organisation in Western Europe . The MWS is a federated training establishment incorporating HMS Excellent, the Defence Diving School , the RN Physical Training School, the School of Hydrography and Meteorology in Plymouth and the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth Naval Base. At any one time the MWS is training about 10% of the Service and has an annual throughput of over 30,000 Officers and Ratings, both regular and reserve.'

Further information about HMS Collingwood can be obtained from the Royal Navy website.

THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION (1914 to 1919)

The Royal Naval Division was formed in August 1914 from naval reserves when warships of the fleet were fully crewed. A shortfall in infantry divisions in the army led to the formation of the RND to supplement the army. It was Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, who founded the division.

4th June 1915 - Gallipoli

On this day the Hood, Howe and Anson Battalions led the Royal Naval Division's attack, followed by the Collingwood Battalion. The first wave successfully captured its objective. However the failure of the neighboring French attack meant that enfilading fire caught the RND. Consequently, when the Collingwood Battalion was ordered forward, practically the whole Battalion was annihilated.

A few survivors, with men from the Howe and Hood Battalions, pushed steadily forward and captured their second objective. However they could not hold on and by evening they were back in their own positions. 60 of 70 officers and 1000 of 1900 men were lost by the RND.

Collingwood Corner

Training the sailors to be infantrymen was carried out at Blandford Camp in Dorset. Today a memorial to the Captain, Officers and Men of the Collingwood Battalion who died on the 4th June is situated just outside Blandford Camp. It is on a corner just to the north of Pimperne village on the A354 Blandford to Salisbury road.

See the Gallery for pictures of the 2007 remembrance service.