"My late grandfather was born 1895 in London and was placed in either a workhouse or orphanage with at least one sister late 1890's to early 1900's. He told us that boys from the workhouse/orphanage were sent for training on the T S Exmouth for 2 years. He told us that his life was very harsh during this training period and he suffered 'many beatings and floggings.' He had no choice but to go where he was sent as that was 'what happened to boys from these places' during that time. He made the life aboard the Exmouth sound very brutal and miserable.
        Sometimes I think people tend to forget the bad things and dwell on the good times when reminiscing about the 'good old days'! My grandfather, however, was not one of these people. He had an awful childhood, being abandoned by his mother (for what reason we do not know!) Then being 'sent' to the Exmouth for naval training, which apparently in that era was the 'easiest way of dealing with unwanted children from workhouses or orphanages'. I  recall when he spoke of his time on the T.S.  Exmouth that he shuddered when remembering how brutal the regime was for these poor unfortunate boys.
       He said that abuse was rife and an everyday part of life and that floggings were handed out for very little reason!

       He was one of many who did not choose to make the sea his life!"
 

Exmouth Photographs.