Welcome to the Mercury Old Boys’ website. The Training Ship -TS – “Mercury” was both a school and training ship where, between 1885 and 1968, around 5,000 boys were prepared for a life at sea in conditions that were usually hard and often harsh. For most of us Mercury was a testing time with memories that endure for a lifetime. Nonetheless it prepared us well, giving us a sense of camaraderie, values, pride and, above all, a respect for others – all that is needed for a life afloat or ashore. Never was a school’s motto more appropriate for it read “Men are the Souls of Ships”.
The Training Ship Mercury
TS Mercury was founded in 1885 and closed down in 1968. Initially located on a ship moored off the Isle of Wight, for most of its existence it was located at Hamble near Southampton, England and consisted of a substantial shore based school with a dormitory ship moored nearby in the River Hamble. Today, the heritage of the school is kept alive by the Mercury old boys scattered across this country and around the world.
We welcome all those interested in finding out more about our unusual school and the Mercury Old Boys, as well as requests from relatives researching their family history. Please contact tsmercury@btinternet.com
Training Ship Mercury – a History
In 2003 our archivist and historian, Adrian (Snowy) White, wrote a definitive history of the school, which was published by the Association. Many members purchased copies but it is now out of print. The remaining members of the Mercury Old Boys’ Association Committee, who continue to take an active interest, have decided that this book should be added to the website so that former students, staff and their relatives can learn about our old school. At the same time the book has been updated to cover the history of the Association and also to add more photographs. This can now be found under the History section of this website; https://tsmercury.com/training-ship-mercury-a-history/ The book can be downloaded in a PDF format with the caveat that copyright is still owned by the Association and therefore it cannot be reproduced commercially.
Roll of Honour
As in this year, 2025, we commemorate and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Days we have included, on this website, the names of the Mercury old boys who sacrificed their lives in World Wars I and II. These can also be found under the history section of this website; https://tsmercury.com/t-s-mercury-roll-of-honour/ and those names are also on our war memorial in St Andrew’s Church, Hamble-le-Rice. By the very nature of the school a huge number of Mercury boys served throughout both conflicts in the Royal and Merchant Navies as well as in the Army and Royal Air Force.
Captain David Parsons MNM, Former Chairman, Mercury Old Boys