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T.S. Itchen, Winchester Sea Cadets
Winchester Sea Cadets are part of a National Youth Organistion, our unit name being TS Itchen. We have been based at Worthy down camp since 2006. We are named after HMS Itchen (see below for ship history).
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Unit Activities
The Unit is constantly growing in it's new location and continues to build a good relationship with the local community.
As an active Unit, the Cadets are involved in all aspects of Sea Cadet Training.
Specialisations:
Seamanship, Marine Engineering, Writer/Stores, Physical Training, Drill, Cook Steward, Chartwork and Navigation, Communications and Meterorology.
Proficiencies:
Expedition Training, Band, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Piping, Tunneling, Archery.
Boatwork:
Pulling, Powerboating, Dinghy Sailing, Kayaking, Offshore Sailing.
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Unit Staff
CPO (SCC) C Dyer - Officer in Charge
Lt (SCC) G Bassett RNR - First Lieutenant
Lt (SCC) R Dyer RNR - Admin Officer
S/Lt (SCC) C Leverett RNR - Stores Officer
PO (SCC) L Basett- Training Officer & OIC Juniors
PO (SCC) R Williams - Unit Instructor
CI M. Newton - Unit Instructor
CI A. Phillips - Unit Instructor.
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Senior section training
Cadets in the senior division are those aged 12-18years, they may have moved up from juniors or join at any age. The cadets start out as
o New Entries – where they learn the basic knowledge of the sea cadets and the unit. They then progress to
o Cadet – Here they go into slightly more depth and learn different parts of the sea cadet syllabus. Whilst doing this they earn points by gaining any of the above qualifications when they have 8 points they can become
o Ordinary Cadet – as an ordinary cadet they get new tasks to learn and start to look at helping younger cadets, and more in depth knowledge. When they earn 15 points they can be promoted to
o Able Cadet – from this rank the cadets need to be able to give a basic lesson and learn leadership skills, they also need to have gained 30 points to move up to
o Leading Cadet – as the second highest rank a cadet can reach standards are high and the cadets need to work hard to advance their leadership skills and set a good example to the lower rate cadets to be promoted to the top rank they need to achieve 60 points
o Cadet Petty Officer – This being the highest rank cadets are accepted to take on a more leadership role in the unit, and work on the transition in to adult life, through leadership, service and mentoring lower rate cadets.
As well as progressing through part 1 training (as described above) cadets are also encouraged to gain qualifications in a whole manner of different areas, to help build their confidence and self esteem.
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Junior Training
The sea cadet corps has a junior section for those aged 10-12years. The training programme for the juniors is spilt into 4 colour modules.
o Red Module – Corps Knowledge, this the basic things that juniors need to know about the unit, basic rope work, first aid and basic knowledge of sea cadet subjects
o Blue Module – Waterborne activities, as the name suggests this is all the boating, water safety, swimming and fun and games involving the water.
o Green Module – outdoor and recreational, this is basic camping, weather knowledge, fitness and all things to do with the great outdoors
o Yellow Module – Community and citizenship, this section is all about different celebrations, community service, learning about the local area and other people’s feelings.
Once the juniors complete all their colours they can then go on to earn their commodores award pennant which is the hardest achievement for the juniors and can be worn on their uniform when they become a senior.
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History of Worthy Down
Worthy Down was built on the old Winchester Racecourse, which was acquired for the purpose in August 1917.The airfield opened August 1918 for use by the RAF, who retained control until 24/5/39.
On this date control passed to the Admiralty,and the station became HMS Kestrel.During WW2, in addition to the FAA use,Supermarine used the airfield from 12/40 until 3/44 for Spitfire development flying. Post war flying was reduced and on 9/1/50 the station closed after 2 years on Care and Maintenance.
In June 1952 the airfield was reopened as HMS Aerial II with the Air Electrical School in occupation.No flying units were based there although visits by communications aircraft were common. Eventually in November 1960 the Air Electrical School left, and in December 1960 the airfield was closed.
After closure the site passed to the Royal Army Pay Corps, who continue to occupy it today. A helipad is in use in a corner of the old airfield, but there is no other aviation activity although many of the original buildings remain.
Worthy Down is the home of the Adjutant General Corps, which is one of the largest Corps in the British Army and deals with its most vital resource - its personnel. It achieves this by employing high quality professional soldiers who in addition to being soldiers have secondary trades in Administration, Policing, Education and Law.
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HMS Itchen
The First HMS Itchen
HMS Itchen was a River class Destroyer, she was built by Cammell Laird shipbuilders and launched on 17 March 1903. She was around 555 tons; The yard built four ships of the same class, Foyle (vessel number VO 649), Itchen (VO650), Arun (VO651) and Blackwater (VO652). The yard described Itchen as a ‘Torpedo Boat Destroyer’. She had 2 x 18 in tubes and 1 x 12 pounder (12 cwt.) and 3 x 12 pounder (8 cwt.) guns. Ironically, Itchen was torpedoed by the German Submarine U99 in the North Sea on 6th July, 1917.
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The Second HMS Itchen
HMS Itchen was a River Class Frigate built by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd. (Paisley, Scotland), launched 28th December 1942. Some writers described her as a Corvette. HMS Itchen (K227) was torpedoed by a German U boat while on convoy duties in the North Atlantic, south of Greenland. The forward magazine blew up and 227 men, including 81 survivors the Itchen had rescued from HMS Polyanthus and the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix, went down with HMS Itchen. There were only 3 survivors, 2 from Itchen and one from Canadian vessel.
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The Third HMS Itchen
This boat was a River Class Minesweeper. She was launched on 30 October 1984, but sold to the Brazilian Navy less than 4 years later on 8 April 1998. Her displacement was 890 tonnes. She was one of 12 minesweepers built to the same design by Richards of Great Yarmouth. After commissioning they were posted around the UK. HMS Itchen was based at Southampton.
River Class minesweepers included HMS Wessex, HMS Sussex, HMS Claverhouse, HMS Itchen, HMS Arun and HMS Spey
Itchen had a crew of 30, including 7 officers.
HMS Itchen is now owned by the Brazilian Navy and is called BRACUI.
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