The Britannia Association
Patron, H.R.H. Admiral of the Fleet The Prince of Wales KG GT GCB OM AL CD QSO PC
From: Harrold J & Porter R, 2007: Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth: An Illustrated History: (Richard Webb, Dartmouth)
The term 'Naval Cadet' used officially for the first time, though the term had been in common use for many years previously.
Admiralty decides officer cadets should serve on board a training vessel, initially HMS Illustrious at Haslar Creek Portsmouth.
Illustrious replaced by HMS Britannia.
HMS Prince of Wales launched (later HMS Britannia)
Britannia arrives in the Dart.
HMS Hindostan arrives.
Second Britannia arrives in the Dart (previously HMS Prince of Wales)
Committee set up and chaired by Ad. E. B. Rice to look in to health and general training of cadets.
Rice Committee reports that a college should be built on shore.
Committee under chairmanship of Ad. G. G. Wellesley formed to look into the acquisition of a site and considers thirty two sites.
Prince Albert Victor and Prince George (later King George V) join as cadets.
Passing – Out photographs first take.
First Beagle pack founded.
Britannia Magazine first published.
The Wave arrives, (barque rigged vessel of 300 tons)
Yet another committee suggests moving training to The Solent.
Admiralty Board proposes to revise existing cadet training scheme.
First Lord of the Admiralty announces that a new college will be built at Dartmouth.
Admiralty accepts tender from Higgs & Hill to build the college for £220,600 in three and a half years.
Edward VII lays the Foundation Stone.
Sick Quarters opened, three years ahead of the main College.
'Selborne Memorandum' on officer training published.
Cyril Ashford appointed as first Headmaster of RNC Osborne.
RNC Osborne opens. Introduction of the Selborne Scheme.
Prof. J A Ewing appointed as Director of Naval Education from University of Cambridge.
Battleship HMS Britannia laid down and the old ship became known as HMSBritannia (hulk).
Rifle range under arches in use.
College opens.
Swimming bath opened.
Masters' Hostel opened.
First introduction of the new six term scheme. (Blake, Drake, Greynville, Hawke, Rodney (later re-named Exmouth) and St Vincent.
E Block opens.
Swimming bath covered in.
Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) joins as an 'Exmouth' term cadet.
New squash courts completed.
Visit of their Royal highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Prince Albert (later King George VI) joins as a Greynville cadet.
Epidemic of measles and mumps kills two cadets and is also caught by Prince Edward and Prince Albert.
HRH the Prince of Wales passed out.
New entrance to grounds, from North constructed.
Special Entry begun for boys who had completed their education at public school.
Construction of D Block begins.
Telegram to mobilize.
College re-opened.
The old Britannia is towed out of the Dart, her copper plating going to help the war effort.
New studies connecting 'D' Block completed.
HRH Prince George joined.
'D' Block opens.
HMS Britannia, battleship sunk off Cape Trafalgar by German U-Boat.
First hard courts behind 'D' Block completed.
HRH Prince George passed out.
Admiralty decides to close RNC Osborne.
Five new terms at Dartmouth from Osborne; Anson, Benbow, Hood, Rodney and Duncan.
Closure of RNC Osborne.
Dedication of War Memorial Shrine.
Parade Ground laid out.
New rifle range opened.
Presentation of yacht Amaryllis.
New Canteen opened.
'House' system replaces terms; Blake, Exmouth, Grenville, Hawke and St Vincent. (Drake was the House for the two junior terms)
The mast of the yacht Britannia erected on the canteen.
Ninth Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Brigadier B. L. Montgomery, accommodated at the College.
Montgomery visits the College and presents a statuette in gratitude for the help given on 5th-6th July of that year.
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret visit the College.
College bombed.
College moves to Bristol to become HMS Britannia IV.
HMS Effingham, The Combined Operations Headquarters under Mountbatten move into the college buildings. The US Navy occupies the college.
Cadets of HMS Britannia re-assembled at Eaton Hall, Cheshire.
RNC returns to Dartmouth.
Cadets enter Dartmouth age 16 years. Fees for tuition and boarding abolished.
Last of the 13 year old entry.
The Chapel of Remembrance is opened.
Following commissioning of Royal Yacht HMY Britannia College becomes HMS Dartmouth.
Committee on Officer Structure & Training (COST) reports on 18 year old entry training scheme.
COST scheme necessitates many internal alterations to the College.
First 18 year old cadets join.
BRNC celebrates its Golden Jubilee.
Director of Studies replaces post of Headmaster. House system replaced by five 'divisions'; Blake, Drake, Exmouth, Grenville and St Vincent. Dartmouth Training Squadron (DTS) operational.
College receives the Freedom of the Borough of Dartmouth.
Royal Marine Band arrives.
Murray Committee increased minimum entry to BRNC to two 'A' levels.
Queen's Colour is presented to the College.
First Upper Yardmen entry at BRNC.
Murray Scheme Introduced. First year professional training at BRNC (inc. DTS), second year at sea as a midshipman and third year at Dartmouth as acting sub-lieutenant for a one year academic course of first year degree standard.
First special course for 'New Commonwealth' and foreign officers.
Centenary Celebrations of HMS Britannia at Dartmouth.
First five cadets selected for university entry instead of third year at BRNC.
Hawke Division re-established in the old hospital quarters.
Casper John Hall opens.
First Direct graduate Entry.
First University Cadet Entry (sponsored cadets).
Cunningham replaced Exmouth and Jellicoe replaced Grenville as divisional titles.
Work begins on the building of College Way.
Drake Division abolished.
Last Pay Parade on the Quarterdeck.
'Naval College Entry' replaces Murray Scheme.
Rank of Cadet abolished, all junior officers under training become midshipmen.
HMS Walkerton joins as Navigational Training Tender.
First women officers under training as QARNNS.
Last of Murray Scheme cadets Pass Out.
Special Duties Officers' Pre-Qualifying Course (St George) comes to Dartmouth.
Women's officer training course moves from Greenwich to Dartmouth to form separate 'Talbot' Division.
HM Ships Sandpiper and Peterel join to form the Dartmouth Navigation Training Squadron and replace HMS Walkerton.
Catering at the College is privatised.
Mast of Britannia lost from the Pavilion (canteen) during a severe storm along with twelve trees in the College grounds.
Integration of male and female officer training.
Seamanship Training Vessel Hindostan arrives at Sandquay.
HMS Sandpiper and HMS Peterel (Dartmouth Navigation Training Squadron) decommissioned.
Integration of female officers into BRNC. (Men and women follow the same course for the first time)
Integration of Foreign and Commonwealth Young Officers within Naval Studies course.
Special Duties Officers' Course moves to BRNC on the closure RNC Greenwich.
Contract with the commercial partner 'Flagship Training' initiated.
Blake Division abolished.
Three Divisions replaced by two Squadrons, 'Cunningham' and 'St Vincent'
Britannia Museum opened by HRH Prince Philip.
Senior Upper Yardmen replace Special Duties Officers.
Steele Report published.
Post of Director of Studies abolished.
First Head of Faculty appointed.
Learning Centre opened.
Six term entry introduced.
Post of Head of Faculty abolished.
Academic Faculty merged with professional training and creation five 'pillars'.
BRNC celebrates centenary
The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP is first serving British Prime Minister to visit the College.
Establishment of the Britannia Museum Board of Trustees.
The University of Plymouth takes over responsibility for academic provision and staff.
New Initial Officer Training scheme introduced, returning to three term entry.