Manning the mast at HMS Ganges. The Button boy (Top of the mast). When the mast was manned. He got sixpence (2.5p) for his effort. He was probably only 14/15 yrs. They were sent to sea at 16 as junior seaman. The training establishment was closed in the 70's. I went to HMS Ganges on the 2nd September 1958, at the age of 15 and 5 days old.