HMS Ganges mast

A ship's mast stands on the site of the Royal Navy shore establishment HMS Ganges at Shotley, Suffolk in England.

[2][4] A 2017 survey noted that the fittings on this section looked to be original to 1907 but that it unlikely that the wooden mast would have survived from this date and may have been replaced or repaired since.

[6] The mast stood adjacent to the asphalt parade ground and the "Indian Prince" figurehead of the former second-rate ship-of-the-line Ganges was installed near its base.

[8] Outside of the compulsory training exercise, boys were free to ascend the mast as a leisure activity or could join the team who manned the yards for ceremonial occasions.

[8] On such occasions one boy would be selected to stand on the button, reached by means of a 15-foot (4.6 m) climb up the mast itself from the top gallant trestle tree and by use of the 2-foot-6-inch (0.76 m) lightning conductor as a handhold.

[3] Hickman was using the mast during leisure time with a number of other boys and was attempting to make his first climb to the button.

Hickman suffered a bad friction burn and released the rope, which carried him beyond the edge of the safety net, falling to the ground.

[3] The accident was mentioned in the House of Commons by Labour MP Ernest Thurtle who questioned, in light of the death, whether mast climbing remained an essential part of naval training in the era of steamships.

The conservative government's First Lord of the Admiralty William Bridgeman replied that he was aware of the incident and was considering if additional precautions should be taken.

Labour MP and former RN lieutenant-commander, Joseph Kenworthy asked that mast climbing not be reduced as he considered the Navy already carried out too much infantry drill.

[3][4] The Royal Navy Communications Branch Museum notes that no other boys, of the estimated 150,000 who climbed the mast, died and found no record of any serious injuries being sustained.

[3][4] The topgallant mast and all the yards were renewed in 1955, with new elements made at Chatham Dockyard, it was afterwards noted to measure 142 feet (43 m) from ground to button.

[2] TV presenter John Noakes climbed the mast and reached the top gallant trestle tree in 1967 for an episode of Blue Peter.