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John Cooper | all galleries >> English Coastal Towns >> Arethusa > Possibly the TS Arethusa on the Medway.
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Possibly the TS Arethusa on the Medway.
Early 1970's John Victor Cooper

Possibly the TS Arethusa on the Medway.

River Medway. view map

I took this photo believing this ship to be the TS Arethusa.
Following much correspondence from men who served on the Arethusa there is great doubt that this is the Arethusa.
It was moored on the Medway. I would appreciate any information as to which ship this might be.


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number 10 mess2 30-Jul-2008 13:06
This is definatly not the arethusa from upnor was on board from jan1965 to 1968 good but hard times the arry as it was known was 4 masted and had a lady as a figure head, the ex peking became the arry
ahoy mate plenty of info about if you search, any old shipmates read this good luck too you
jane MartinNIE Levey 28-Jul-2008 13:51
HI my name is Jane Levey my father was aboeard the
Guest 11-Jun-2008 10:58
Hello i found this site by chance, my grandfather was on the TS Arethusa from the 29th Jan 1903 he signed up for 12 years. I have been looking for info on this ship for ages. Someone told me that there is a model in a museum in Weston Super Mare. but on looking couldnt find it. his naval number was 209406 portsmouth rating...
if anyone wants to contact me. please do so. at Celbro9532@aol.com.uk
Guest 01-Jun-2008 10:55
As previously reported this is the Thames Nautical Training College training ship HMS WORCESTER - an ex RN wooden wall - which was moored on the Thames at Greenithe from 1862 until 1968 when the college moved to premises ashore close-by and changed its name to the Merchant Navy College.
Barry Warfield 04-Apr-2008 18:28
I was on the T.S. Arethusa 1958-60 which if memories serve me right she was a threemasted tea clipper yes we used to sleep in hammocks the captain at the time had a young duaghter was used to stay onbroad during her school hoildays I was one of the choosen few who used to be invited for dinner some time, there was a chap name Best there at the same time got picked to go & play rugby with the United service run crosscountry in the snow it was hard at times but fun at the same time, I left & joined the R.Navy for 91/2 yrs so it served me well it would be good to hear from anyone that was on there around that time.
David 12-Feb-2008 14:08
Hi there,MY name is DAve and I was on the Arthusa in the seventies,before joining the Royal Marines down at Deal.The Arethusa had Four Masts and also had a female spithead on the bow of her.She was not derigged as at 530 am in the morning we had reveille and used to climb the rigging.Summer visits from my family were a big occasion as we all use to climb up the yard arms and all over the rigging for the families to take pictures.I was 12 years old when I had to travel down from my home town of Lowestoft in Suffolk,thriugh London and onto Strood in Kent on my own.It certainly did,nt do me any harm.
Bob Scott 12-Dec-2007 17:29
I rather think your photograph is of the "Worcester", on the Thames at Greenhithe
Guest 11-Dec-2007 08:45
HI to all of you.

I now have been contacted by many ex Arethusa boys,and have been out to New York and put a few things right with the maritime museum people, they had many facts wrong.
If anyone wants more info contact me on melrosesw@aol.com or stewartmelrose@scotwaste.com
Stewart Melrose
ex 114
early 60,s
Guest 12-Nov-2007 01:52
Guest from 12/11/07 at 0105Z. Checked some other places and links. This is a port side view, probably at an earlier date, of TS Exmouth at Grays. You can find more at www.ts2000.royalnavy.co.uk/exmouth.htm or www.trainingships.royalnavy.co.uk.
Guest 12-Nov-2007 01:05
This ship is NOT TS Arethusa of Upnor on mud fame. It resembles TS Foudroyant, now restored and docked afloat in Hartlepool under her original name of HMS Trincomalee. However, a more likely candidate, from the shore background and the deck housings,is TS Vindicatrix,at Gravesend. I'd really rather not recall my time on the Arethusa, thanks, it took me twenty years to live down the nickname, and I still want to kick concrete. For the record, the Arethusa is/was indeed the SS Peking, a four masted steel barque of 3000 tons. She was built by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg in 1911, for the Flying P Line. The mast heights are (feet) 180, 180, 185, 145. Her normal route was Hamburg to Valparaiso on the nitrate trade route, and there is film from her 1931 voyage taken from the foremast crosstrees as she rounded the Horn in a hurricane. The cameraman survived. . . The Heller plastic kit of Passat is nearly identical, and for the 'real thing' look at the Russian tall ship Khruzenstern. She was formerly SS Padua, a sister in the Flying P line. She is now berthed at the South Street Seaport Museum, NY.
Des Hoskin 105 (1959 - 1963) 10-Nov-2007 18:09
D.A.Hoskin 105 starboard mess. Can't remember the table.
Deffinately NOT the Arethusa I was on. It was moored off Upnor, Rochester, Kent on the Medway during my time 1959 thriough 1963 when I joined the RN from her.
ThE Arethusa I served on as a boy was a 4 masted steel barque built by Blom and Voss of Germany in 1912. She was captured during the first world war and offered back in 1918 but was refused. Given to a Naval charity, she was run as a schooling ship for boys aged 11 to 15 who had designs on joining the RN. Hope this helps you. Getting old now at 60 and my memories are fading somewhat. There are some distinct similarities. Was she perhaps changed rigging wise? The masts during my time had at least 3 yard arms and I am sure some had 4.
Guest 16-Oct-2007 18:27
It looks Like the TS Exmouth
John 20-Jul-2007 09:26
The bow is all wrong to be the Arethusa, however around that time there was another training ship called the Indifatigable, I recall something like this moored in Portsmouth harbour
Graham Brayshaw 20-Jun-2007 15:50
Sorry Should have been 178 Mess 18 QUARTERDECK port
Graham Brayshaw2 20-Jun-2007 11:10
I was also on teh Are 63 / 65 178 Top Port 18 mess. This is also not teh ship I remember. Went on to join teh RN (March 65) as a stoker and eventually left teh mob in 90 as a MAA. The 2 years on teh Arethusa, although hard, certainly did me no harm.


Jim Semple 03-Jun-2007 10:41
Hi Dave from Devon,
I Have just left a message for Alf Frost Regarding my serch for Bruce Matthews, would you also be good enough to contact me as you might be able to help.
email or Telephone 01793 728206 (SWINDON Area)

Best Regards
& Take Care

Jim Semple (aged 73)
Jim Semple 03-Jun-2007 10:35
To ALF Frost,
Hi Alf,
I am trying to help a lady trying to trace a Bruce Matthews who was on the ship just after the war,and I think you might be able to help. Would you be kind enough to email; me at or telepone me on 01793 728206 (SWINDON Number)
Best Regards

Jim Semple
phil 30-May-2007 18:58
hmmmm, well this is a conundrum, i was also on the ARE around 63/65 (164) port mess, I have forgotten which table,but I also would have said this was not her, but i seem to remember that she was derigged for safety reasons after my time, I know that the yardarms shown are not the ones I climbed out one by one, up one side over the top and down the other, the one shown are smaller.
not long after I did my bit, she changed from a training ship to the royal and merchant navy to a school on a ship, I have two younger brothers who also went there, and the younger copped the school on a ship.
David Wols 26-Mar-2007 11:09
I too had my experiences in 69, not good, still have nightmares but I am particularly good at deck scrubbing even to this day. I indeed contributed to that News of the World expose, I had photos using what was then a very costly Minolta 110 film format, pocket instamatic, anyone remember those? I actually think Kodak registered the name 'Instamatic' in 68 so how Minolta got away with that I don't know. Anyway, bygones as they say, I may be mentally scarred but sane enough to know this is not the ship! Not even close.What is that ship? Incidentally my stay on board resulted in my successful career as a tabloid photographer.
Geoff Wood 26-Mar-2007 08:41
I was on the Arethusa in 1969, I don't know what you lot were on but I was sent there and hated it, slept in hammocks, got up at dawn, scrubbed decks, had officers that were psyhcopathic and if I ran into them again I'd give them some of what they gave me.

I ran away twice and got caught, second time I bribed the Bosun and slipped over the side into the freezing water at 4am, it was December and snowing.

In fact the year I left they ran an expose in the News of the World about what a disgusting place it was.

Nice ship though, but this one isn't it.
Alf Frost 06-Feb-2007 12:31
This picture is not the Arethusa that I was on. Ijoined the 'Are' on 24 Jan. 1946 shortly after the war, there were 84 boys on board at the time having recently joined the ship from Salcombe in Devon.She was in Chatham dockyard during the war. My no, was 129. The Captain was Campbell.I was a Petty officer boy on 6 mess. I have many photographs of the Arethusa and of on board events.One of the boys manning the rigging for the Lord Mayor of London visit 1947.
Dave 04-Jan-2007 18:59
Hi Folks - that is definitely not the Arethusa that I was on in 1949 as the rake of the bow is nothing like the rake shown on the old Pekin in New York. The masts shown are just not the ones I used to climb etc... - my ships number 216 if I remember... Comms Officer Lt. Tiny Fuller and Capt. De la Mare.. As people say - bloody hard graft on board - sailing whalers, scrubbing the quarter deck with sandstone blocks and salt water (remember!) - having to climb up those rattlings with me legs shaking like jelly (hated heights, and still do at an old age of 71 (living in Devon)... used to be in the band playing (or trying to) play the Euphonium... Dave Bishop (Ex RN C/SSX 883349)
Hugh 05-Dec-2006 03:10
The picture is probably of the HMS Arathusa. Note the 'Tops' are old 'wooden wall' style. You can clearly see the tumble-home and rounded blunt bow of a wood ship. There are windows where the gun ports were. She has three masts, not the four which Peking has. Compare this with HMS Victory before she was restored back to the Nelsonian era.
Mick Colley 17-Nov-2006 21:29
Mick Colley 17-Nov-2006 21:21
The first picture is certainly not of the Arethusa (ex Peking). The TS Arethusa changed my life for the better even though it was tough going sometimes for boys from the ages of 13 to 15. I have some very fond memories of my life onboard the ship from 1960 to 1962 when she was moored on the river Medway. My number was 61 and I started on mess 7 but was promoted to Leading Hand on mess 22 (I think). I remember that particular mess because there was a boy on there who lost his eye which was replace by a false one. Some of you may remember 'Shaks' the 'Wizard' etc.
R Cullen 16-Nov-2006 12:15
Are you sure that this is not the original Arethusa - as the bow profile matches the old ship which was replaced by Peking rather than the latter.
Stewart Melrose 18-Oct-2006 19:10
I agree this photo is not the Arethusa that I served on 1960/62 I was leading seaman of 12 mess my number was 114 my name Stewart Melrose one of only two scots boys on board,I recently went to New York to the Arethusa and have to report that the museum also have been given lot of wrong info,which I promised the curator I would put right. I am told that for many years after my departure my escapade was talked about, after a rather unfortunate incident with Cmd De la Mare the captain I "borrowed" a ships boat one night and sailed away never to return,The shaftsbury homes refused even to reconise the fact that I existed and therefore I was refused entry into the Royal Navy, this as it turns out was a good thing as it forced me out into the world where I have become a very succesful entrepreneur I now own several companies specialising in jobs that no one else wants to do all around the world, anyone out there who rembers me,(maybe even my mate ginger from liverpool) please try melrosesw@aol.com' or if I can give more info to anyone just contact me I know a lot about the ship and still have the orginal brochure.
John Cooper 16-Oct-2006 20:52
Richard, this is very interesting, I am making further enquiries.
If you have any photos of Arethusa/Peking you would like displayed alongside this one I would be willing to do so, with full credits to you of course.
Guest 16-Oct-2006 15:58
John, ONE LAST COMMENT. It looks like I've given you a bit of a puzzle. I can promise you the picture is not the ship I was on at upnor. The Arethusa I was on in 1963/64 was moored at upnor and WAS the Peking as I can remember looking at the stern one day and seeing the raised metal 'Peking' name having been painted over. I have photos of the Arethusa which clearly show the name Arethusa on the bows, and this is from a far greater distance than your photo which does not show a name. One other point of interest, I believe that Shaftesbury Homes called her a training ship but never gave her the title of TS Arethusa. If I remember rightly I was told that this was because people would think the TS stood for Trojen Ship.The ships name on our Royal Navy style cap bands was simply ARETHUSA. John, I will not bother you any more, unless I can assist you in any way. Please let us know if you find an answer to this conundrum. Richard.
John Cooper 16-Oct-2006 09:55
I looked at the photo, there does appear to be some differences. Although the basic size is about right.
However, I personally took this photo of this large ship, which had the name TS Arethusa on it, it was moored in the River Medway near Upnor. The photo was taken in the late 1960's. We passed it many times in our small boats.
I would be grateful if anybody could tell me the name of this ship before it was renamed TS Arethusa. All the references I can find say it was the Peking.
Guest 16-Oct-2006 08:54
Sorry, regarding my last should have said 'type in HMS Arethusa not TS. I apologize.
Guest 16-Oct-2006 08:49
Further to my last. If you type in TS ARETHUSA, go to page 11, open Shaftesbury Nomes FAQ site, you will see a photo of TS ARETHUSA formerly PEKING.
Guest 16-Oct-2006 08:27
According to documents I have TS Arethusa formerly Peking started life in the Medway in 1932. The first ship was the Chichester which came into use in 1866, this was joined by the Frigate Arethusa (one of the last wooden warships) until 1932 when they were replaced by the 'Peking'. I can assure you that the photo displayed is not the Peking. I spent two years on the 'Peking' and can remember it as if it was yesterday. I also have photos to compare. There is no likeness. 'Peking only had yard arms on the foremast and only one white line along her sides. There are alot of other differences, to many to mention.
John Cooper 15-Oct-2006 22:07
Very interesting, I took this photo in the late 1960's, the ship was named TS Arethusa.
I had no idea there was more than one Arethusa. I will immediately send an agent to New York to photograph the Peking for comparison. Photos will be here in about a week.
Do you know how many Arethusa's there were ? Any information you have will be good.
Guest 15-Oct-2006 21:42
I was on the Arethusa formally Peking 1963/64 on the River Medway for two years. The picture displayed maybe a Arethusa but it's not the one that was formally the Peking.
Tasha 09-Oct-2006 09:47
Could you tell me where she is now based? My grandad was on this ship and he would like to know. Thank you
John Cooper 23-Sep-2006 23:06
Optical illusion.
Ian Dalgliesh 23-Sep-2006 23:02
Why was the sea that odd shade of pink?
Guest 22-May-2006 21:41
Stephen not Stepen.
Stepen Mcdonough 22-May-2006 21:40
I lived on this ship for 9 mths, i joined in 1971, i was 14yrs old. We used to sleep in hammocks. Fond memories even though it was tough at times.