Hi
HMS Ganges (training establishment)  What is the difference between Boy II  and    Boy I.  Is it to do with age? a period of time spent at Shotley? or maybe passing certain training exercises?  Reading various ex. navy comments I'm so glad by sons will never be able to go there, although my husband did comment, after reading 'If', he now realize where many of his father's quotes came from.  bfn

dumpling ...

It is the age.  You were 2nd class on entry (age 15-16); 1st class after one year.  
Ganges? - I cannot speak for the conditions in the 1920's, but I was at Shotley in the 1960s ... and it wasn't THAT bad then! You were certainly worked hard, and it was obviously a controlled/disciplined atmosphere, but I would think probably no worse than a public school.

See:http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/rnteshotley.html

thank you