Junior Sailors Train At Dartmouth Naval College For First Time

Junior Royal Navy sailors have been training at Dartmouth's Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) for the first time.

The service says there has been an increased demand among new recruits to join during the coronavirus pandemic.

It has meant BRNC, has been the home of Navy officer training for more than 100 years, has increased its capacity to accommodate the junior sailors.

Forty-seven new recruits began their training at the Dartmouth college last week.

Captain Roger Readwin, the Captain of BRNC, said: "It is an absolute privilege to support the training of ratings at Dartmouth and to play our part in growing the Royal Navy.

"This will also be a historical first with officer cadets and ratings training together, celebrated with a combined passing out parade at the end."

The British Army returned to basic training at a reduced capacity in May following a pause due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Royal Air Force said essential training was unaffected by the pandemic, with the rest of its training activities now back to capacity.

The Royal Navy, meanwhile, said much of its training has continued through the lockdown period, including operational sea training and at HMS Raleigh where ratings usually get initial training.

For the new recruits at BRNC, a new course programme at was developed there to ensure standards are maintained.

The first ratings at Dartmouth have formed a new group, the Whittall Division, recognising the unique nature of their course.

The division is named after Petty Officer Ellen Whittall, who died when the college was bombed in September 1942.

Cover image: Navy recruits have started training at Britannia Royal Navy College (Picture: Royal Navy).