Portsmouth has been the home of the Navy since Henry VIII started investing in ships. For his daughter, Queen Elizabeth l, the Spanish Armada was the defining moment of her reign. Spain’s defeat secured Protestant rule in England, and launched Elizabeth onto the global stage.

The History Department took over 200 Year 9 students down to Portsmouth to see the Historic Dockyards as part of their studies into the development of the Royal Navy during the Industrial Revolution. They were able to see a snapshot of the Royal Navy and its history, from the hallowed decks of HMS Victory, Flagship of Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar, to the near-modern HMS Warrior and The Mary Rose. The students all had a wonderful tour of HMS Victory, which was provided by members of the Royal Navy still stationed on the flagship. It opened the students' eyes to the conditions and day to day life on board the ship, and they were astounded to hear that many of those on HMS Victory would spend two whole years on its decks before even setting foot on dry land.

They were also given tours by RGS staff around HMS Warrior, with occasional talks given by the many volunteers who wander its decks. 

Our Heritage

RGS has a long history of association with the armed forces, dating back to 1909 when the School’s Officers’ Training Corps (OTC) was founded. Today, around 200 boys participate in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), with an Army and Royal Air Force section. We are one of only four schools in Buckinghamshire offering CCF.

Our boarding house, Fraser Youens, is named after two remarkable OWs, Frederick Youens and Ian Fraser, who fought in the First and Second World Wars respectively. Both were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award ‘ for gallantry in the face of the enemy’ that a serviceman in the British and Commonwealth forces can aspire to attain.