I am starting this with the person who gave their name to this establishment - Admiral Edward Vernon - then moving on to the old vessels that made up the floating version of Vernon, and finally to the shore site and the Vernon that I knew 1962-1989 before the new Gunwharf Quays housing, shopping, entertainment and leisure facility was built on the site.

Edward Vernon ("Old Grog") (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was an English naval officer. Born in Westminster, London, Vernon was the second son of James Vernon, secretary of state to William III.

Vernon attended Westminster School, then joined the Royal Navy on 10 May 1700 as a Volunteer on HMS Shrewsbury. In March 1701, he was transferred to HMS Ipswich and three months later, joined HMS Mary.

On 16 September 1702, Vernon was promoted Lieutenant and appointed to HMS Lennox serving in the Channel Squadron. The ship was later transferred to the Mediterranean and finally paid off in March 1704. He was then appointed to HMS Barfleur, which at the time was the flagship of Admiral Cloudesley Shovell in the Mediterranean. The ship was present at the capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Malaga. In December, with Shovell, he transferred to HMS Britannia and was present at the capture of Barcelona in 1705.

On 22 January 1706 he was promoted Captain and appointed to HMS Dolphin. However, he was moved ten days later into HMS Rye and remained in the Mediterranean until 1707. With the rest of Shovell’s fleet, he returned to England, but was fortunate to escape the disaster that befell Shovell’s flagship, HMS Association at the Scilly Isles. In November, he joined HMS Jersey and in April 1708, took command of the West Indies station. In 1710, he successfully broke up a Spanish squadron off Cartegena. At the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1712, he returned to Britain.

In March 1715, he was appointed to HMS Assistance, in which he served in the Baltic until 1717 when the ship was paid off. After this, he was put on half pay for the next eighteen months.

In March 1719, he was appointed to HMS Mary and returned to the Baltic. Vernon was the commodore of Port Royal in Jamaica in 1720. In 1721, he again went on half pay for five years. During this period, he became the member of Parliament for Penryn and took a leading part in naval debates.

In 1726, he was re-appointed to active service in HMS Grafton. This ship served in the Baltic until the winter of 1727 when it was transferred to the fleet at Gibraltar, after Spain had declared war on Britain. In May 1728, peace was made with Spain and Vernon returned to Britain and resumed his Parliamentary duties. He took up the case of Robert Jenkins, a merchant seaman who claimed to have had his ear cut off after his vessel was boarded by Spanish guardacostas in 1731.

During the ensuing War of Jenkins' Ear, Vernon was promoted Vice-Admiral on 9 July 1739, and as he had prominently spoken for both the war and the Navy, he was given the command of a squadron of five ships for the West Indies which on 21 November 1739 captured the Spanish colonial possession of Porto Bello (now in Panama). Vernon was subsequently granted the Freedom of the City of London and commemorative medals were produced. The Portobello areas in both London and Dublin (see Portobello Road and Portobello, Dublin) are named for his victory, and "Rule Britannia" was composed by Thomas Arne during the celebratory frenzy of 1740.

In April 1741, with a much larger fleet and with land forces under Major General Thomas Wentworth, 23,000 men and 124 ships, Vernon turned his attention to Cartagena de Indias in Nueva Granada (now Colombia). He had previously tried to bombard this settlement with his small squadron but without success. Vernon and Wentworth did not get on and time was wasted in deciding where to land the army. When the army finally attacked, it was repelled by the garrison of just 3,600 men and 6 ships commanded by Blas de Lezo. An epidemic of yellow fever, which ravaged the crews of the ships and the soldiers ashore, compounded the problems and the force returned to Port Royal.

The attack on Cartagena was carried out by the largest fleet in history (until the Disembarkation of Normandy during WWII, two centuries later) and ended with 8,000 men dead and about 50 warships sunk. George Washington's half-brother, Lawrence Washington, served on Vernon's flagship as a Captain of the Marines in 1741 and named his estate Mount Vernon in honour of his commander.

At the end of May 1741, it was decided to attack Cuba. Vernon captured Guantánamo Bay, briefly renaming it Cumberland Bay. He arrived with a force of eight warships and 4,000 soldiers with plans to march on Santiago de Cuba, but was resisted by local guerilla forces and finally abandoned in December after sickness broke out again. Vernon could no longer hold back his anger at Wentworth’s ineptitude and a bitter quarrel ensued ending in the recall of both parties to Britain at the end of 1742.

Whilst he had been away, Vernon had been elected MP for Ipswich, after having purchased the Nacton estate in Suffolk. Vernon returned to Parliament and continued to harass the government on naval affairs. At this time, many anonymous pamphlets criticising the Admiralty appeared and although Vernon denied he was the author, some have been attributed to him.

In 1745, Vernon was promoted to Admiral and appointed to command the North Sea Fleet in response to the threat from the French forces in support of Charles Edward Stuart, "Bonnie Prince Charlie". This was Vernon's last operational command. When the Admiralty refused to grant him the status of Commander-in-Chief, he asked to be relieved on 1 December 1745, and the Admiralty removed him from the list of flag officers in 1746.

Throughout his career, Vernon had tried to improve naval procedures and encouraged his captains to improve manoeuvres and gun drill. He introduced new instructions to aid the flexibility of handling fleets in battle and formed the basis of continuing improvement to Admiralty fighting instructions by subsequent naval commanders.

Vernon continued to serve in Parliament and remained active in the interest of naval affairs until his death at Nacton on 30 October 1757.

The Crest is from the Arms and motto of Admiral Edward Vernon.  

Crest. Blue; in base water barry wavy of two white sinister a dexter arm embowed and vambraced proper grasping in the gauntlet bendwise sinister a trident downwards gold.

Motto: Vernon semper viret: Vernon always succeeds.

On the 26th April 1876 Vernon was commissioned as a separate command.

The next vessel to join Vernon was the Ariadne.

Ariadne - Ariadne class Screw Frigate (originally designed as corvettes) of 26 guns.

280 feet
245 feet 8 inches
50 feet
19 feet 4 inches
4426 tons

24 x 10 inch (85 cwt) MLSB, Muzzle-loaders smoothbore, on the broadside.
2 x 69 pounders (65 cwt) MLSB (pivot-mounted)- replaced by slide-mounted 110 pounder Armstrong BL’s Breech-loaders which were rifled
2 cylinder horizontal single expansion engine. Rectangular Boilers. Single screw.
3.08 Knots
450
Deptford Dockyard/engine by Maudslay, Son and Field
3rd April 1854
1st August 1856
4th June 1859
16th December 1859

On joining Vernon the vessel was used for extra accommodation and became the establishment's workshop.

Ariadne was moored ahead of Vernon and a lighter named Florence Nightingale was placed between the two ships.

The lighter, used as a launching platform for torpedo firings, was originally built during the Russian War to carry the wounded from the hospital ships at Spithead to a temporary hospital on the Gunwharf called the Balaclava Shed.

Donegal, Conqueror Class new two deck 101 gun ships

A major reorganisation occurred when the former two deck ship of the line Donegal arrived in January 1886 and assumed the original Vernon’s role as a more spacious torpedo school ship.

Donegal was renamed Vernon. Vernon replaced Actaeon and took her name. Actaeon went for scrap at a later date.

On the 23rd April 1895, the three hulks that made up Vernon had moved to a new home in Portchester Creek. More accommodation was required by the growing size of the courses in the establishment and another old ship of the line was obtained, the old three decker Marlborough.

Marlborough replaced Ariadne and became Vernon II, and was connected by bridges to Actaeon and Donegal which became Vernon I, which was moored at the northern end of the line.

Designed as a sailing ship but was converted to a screw ship of the line.

Fate
1878 - hulked and became an instruction ship at Portsmouth
1904 - renamed Vernon II
October 1924 - sold off and floundered on the way to the breakers yard

The ships which made up HMS Vernon were to change again and this would be the last change prior to moving ashore.

In 1904 the iron built ship Warrior joined as a floating workshop, power plant and wireless telegraphy instructional ship.

She was connected in the middle of Marlborough and Donegal with her bows to Vernon I (Donegal) and her stern to Vernon II (Marlborough).

Warrior was renamed Vernon III and a white line was painted along her gun ports to conform with her wooden companions.

In 1916 extra accommodation was required for Vernon and this was provided by the former second class cruiser Furious which had been renamed Forte. She was moored alongside Vernon III (Warrior).

Forte went for scrap in 1923.

Work on new buildings in the ‘Old Gunwharf’ started in 1921 and by December 1922 the whole area was designated the ‘Vernon Shore Establishment'. Each of the gunwharfs had its own pier, the one in what was the ‘Old Gunwharf (the northern one) was renamed ‘Donegal Pier’ and the one in the ‘New Gunwharf (the southern one) ‘Marlborough Pier’, the area of water between the two becoming known as ‘Vernon Creek’.

On the 2nd October 1923 an order to commission the shore establishment as HMS Vernon was carried out and the establishment's first Commanding Officer, Captain J. D. Allen CB took command. This is the establishment that we would serve in over many years to come.

HMS Vernon remained the home of the Anti Submarine Warfare branch for sixty two years and over that time many changes took place. In 1985 all ASW training moved to HMS Dryad, HMS Vernon ceased to be an independent command on 31st March 1986 a renaming to HMS Nelson (Vernon Site) took place.

1987 saw the a futher name change - this time to HMS Nelson (Gunwharf).

This fine establishment closed its gates for the last time on 1st April 1996.

And so we come to the times I spent in HMS Vernon.

On the 6th of December 1962 at the age of sixteen I entered Vernon for the first time to undertake my UC basic course ECB 54X which did not actually start until after the Christmas leave period.

The time sped by and having passed mt exams I was sent to my first sea draft on the 8th April 1963 when I joined HMS Berwick for the next two and a half years at home and in the Far East.

Back row left to right:
White, Williams, Downes, Suttle

Front Row left to right:
Dordoy, Latimer, Green and Daynes

On my return to Vernon I took over as the Oceanography instructor. This would be my task for the next two years - it was a most rewarding job and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Not just a new job but I found out I had been voted in as the Chairman of the Torpedo and Anti-Submarine Instructors Association.

John Ashton took me to meet the Captain of HMS Vernon Keith Sutherland. I still have very warm memories of Keith and his wife Avryl,

Their support over the two years that I had the pleasure of being the Chairman could not have been greater and more helpful. Keith, as the association President, gave his total support to all that we did including letting the TASI’s host the PRI, GI, TASI Trophy in Vernon in 1979 and 1980. The sports field, the creek and wardroom garden were used for the various events and it is was with much pride that I lead our team to victory on both occasions.

My first task on taking over the chair was to get the association back up and running as at that time it was very much in decline, so on returning from Christmas leave I called a meeting of all members in Vernon to plan a way ahead for the next year.

There were many ideas and most of them were put into effect. I put forward that our president should also be invited to these meetings and all accepted this. As Keith said later it brought him into the working of the association and I have no doubt this was one of my best moves in taking the association forward.

Brickwoods were the current supplier and I got no joy whatsoever from them but not to be out done I knew a rep from Whitbread Wessex, Roger Abberley, who gave the club his support in what we wanted to do. We took the club apart on the inside with the help of the committee, an almost new carpet was given to the club, Roger had behind the bar sorted out and new glasses delivered along with new stock. We now could dispense from the bar pumps Bitter, Larger, Cider and Guinness. Bottles covered two other lagers, ales, fruit juices and most things that you could get in a pub outside at the time. Eve Whymark from the Nell Gwyne pub gave us a hot food cabinet to complete getting back into action.

In 1979, for the first time, the annual dinner was held outside HMS Vernon in The Royal Beach Hotel. The guest of Honour was Rear Admiral David Halifax, the most senior ASW officer in the navy at that time. Music for the dinner and dancing was provided by the band of the Commander in Chief Naval Home Command. A five course meal was enjoyed by one and all.

The top table in 1979
CPO Williams, Captain and Mrs Sutherland, Mrs Halifax, myself, Rear Admiral Halifax and my (then) wife Pam

The dinner is the time that the name of the next chairman is announced to the membership. The outgoing chairman does not know who his successor will be and so I was much surprise to find I had been elected for a second year.

Christmas and the New Year came and went, the association was in good shape club was still being well used. One of the members (FCPO Roy Counsel) who was in contact with the Leicester Senior Service Association (LSSA) asked if the committee could carry on this link.

The link not only carried on but became much stronger. I made contact with Gerry Rogers who invited a small group of us up to Leicester to meet him and the members at their new club house and this made a great weekend for all.

It was arranged for members of the LSSA to come to Portsmouth in late April and visit Vernon and the TASI’s club and this they did on Saturday the 26th 1980.

At the beginning of December I took leave due to me before joining Yarmouth on the 13th January 1981 and although I didn't know it at the time this was was to be my last sea going ship.

Yarmouth was in refit and so we were living in HMS Cochrane. One morning, some months later, I crossed the path of Keith Sutherland told me the sad news that the new captain of Vernon had closed down the TASI’s club. I was totally gutted at this news after all the work that had been put in to revive it. I don’t think it ever opened its door again partly due to the many changes which were to overtake the navy and how it went about its business.

From January 1981 to July 1983 I served in Yarmouth - now I've already said my drafts were good this one was outstanding. The ship's company were mostly from Scotland or the Newcastle area and were brilliant to serve with. Little did I know we would go to war together. The Falklands conflict is covered in my Yarmouth diary.

The last six months of this draft were spent in the West Indies and whilst out there I found out I was being drafted back to Vernon which turned out to be my last draft in the Royal Navy. Vernon was undergoing great changes and as far as I know I was the last TAS rate to serve in the old establishment.

I arrived in Vernon on the 12th July 1983 and would leave it and the service on the 30th May 1989 after 27 years.

My new job was as the Training Commander's Office Manager and I had three different Commanders during my time in the office; First - Commander Tim Paul, then Commander Pat Gale fofllowed by Commander John Rayner, all diving officers and very good to work for.

The biggest move would be to take the Anti-Submarine Warfare training from Vernon to HMS Dryad which was planned for 1985. The Minewarfare would stay on the site as would the Seamanship section but the site would be reduce by 55%.

Those working would be victualled and accommodated in HMS Nelson and be transported to the Vernon site by bus. One of the problems was what would be done with the part of Vernon which was being made redundant.

The 1960's

1976

Vernon had many old traditions and one of them was the annual pantomime which brought together many of the ships company to make total twits of themselves but all for a good cause. They were known as the Vernon Drama Club and their performances were open to the public and our families.

The Sunday performance was always in the afternoon and free to various organisations.

1983 was the last pantomime held in Vernon.

"Welcome to the eleventh and, sadly, the last H.M.S. VERNON Searchlight Tattoo. Perhaps because it is our last, our aim this year is to make it our best and most spectacular. The performances you will see combine some of the finest military bands and display teams of the Armed Services together with the police dogs of the Hampshire Constabulary and, for the first time, the Knights of Arkley, who will add their special blend of mediaeval talent to our show.

As always the purpose of the Tattoo is to raise money for the King George's Fund for Sailors. This fund supports more than one hundred charities and is dedicated to helping distressed Seamen and their families whether they have served in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Merchant Navy or the Fishing Fleets.

Thank you for coming and for lending your support to this most worthwhile cause. My particular thanks to our regular patrons who have come year after year, fair or foul, since 1974. Let us hope the weather will be at its kindest for our finale and that you have a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening. Together let us make 1984 another record year for K.G.F.S.

Finally my appreciation to our sponsors for their generous financial backing and to all those who have contributed so much to the success of H.M.S. VERNON's Searchlight Tattoo over the years."

Lunch was taken and so into the afternoon phase of the inspection which started with a staged security attack on Vernon to see how we coped with The Royal Marines playing the part of the enemy. I am glad to say we knew our home ground far better than they realised; the establishment remained intact with the enemy being driven off or placed in safe custody.

The last part of the inspection was intended to release the tension of the day but nevertheless it is the final check of the establishment's resourcefulness, determination and, above all, the spirit of goodwill. The inspecting staff had a wash up in the Captain’s Office, which took far less time than we thought it would with Admiral Cassidi giving the establishment a clean bill of health. In fact Vernon came through with flying colours.

At the beginning of December the security state went to the highest level and would remain so until early March 1985.

Four groups had been formed to patrol the establishment and reinforce the civilian guards who had undertaken the day to day security. To add to this the weather was not at its best, very wet and in January a rather lot of snow, but never mind - it gave us some thing to do off watch.

The first part of 1985 saw the Sonar department start moving from Vernon to Dryad and we began to see some of the lodger units move away. Aas they moved out the Army diving branch moved into the top floor of Creasy South. The minesweepers moved from Vernon into 2 basin in the dockyard or went up to Rosyth. The underwater weapons side of life was also moving out - in fact the last torpedo left in 1986.

It really was a time of great change, not just for Vernon but the whole navy and how it was to carry out its training in the future.

The senior rates mess was becoming more and more spacious as people moved out and so the last Ladies’ Guest Night Dinner was held on Friday 27th September 1985.

Menu from March 1985 event

I think from the Captain down we all felt this feeling of loss. Vernon had been a very happy establishment as I remember it and there had been some odd and colourful people serving in it over the years.

So 1985 I watched as my branch moved from Vernon to HMS Dryad at Southwick, the School of Maritime Operations, (SMOPS). This left only two TAS ratings in Vernon - Peter Edge in the demolitions section (Diving) and myself as the Training Commanders office manager for the Minewarfare, Diving, Demolitions and Seamanship Faculty of SMOPS.

Peter Edge left before me and so I became the last of our branch serving as a TAS rate in this fine old establishment until I left in May 1989 when I came outside of the service.

Some memories of HMS VERNON

The end of the TASI’s Club 12th June 1987

Going ........

Going ........

Gone ........

Other reminders from HMS VERNON

Around Vernon

The Creek

The Pay Office

Ships Company galley

The church

Around Vernon and Horsea Island

Branch badges

If any one wants the complete history of HMS Vernon there is the book written by Rear Admiral E. N. Poland CB CBE, The Torpedomen HMS Vernon 1872 – 1986. ISBN number 0-85937-396-7.

Training in Diving, Demolitions and Minewarfare, along with Naval Control of Shipping and, for a time Seamanship continued on the site of HMS Vernon even after it ceased to be an independent command on 31 March 1986 and was renamed HMS Nelson (Vernon Site).

In 1987, the establishment was renamed HMS Nelson (Gunwharf) and briefly became Headquarters for the Commandant General Royal Marines before his move to permanent accommodation on Whale Island.

In November 1995, Minewarfare training was shifted to the School of Maritime Operations (SMOPS) HMS Dryad Diving training, together with the Superintendent of Diving, the Fleet Diving Headquarters, the Fleet Clearance Diving Team. The Portsmouth Area Clearance Diving Team moved into new accommodation on Horsea Island and the old Vernon establishment closed its gates for the final time on 1 April 1996.