The Lay Apart Store

In February 1973 having joined the Leander Class frigate HMS Ajax whilst she was completing a major refit in Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, I was put in charge of the ‘Lay Apart Store’. 

The Lay Apart Store was a store located in one of the 17th Century warehouses suited in South Yard, not far from the Torpoint Ferry. 

Built in the late 17th Century, about 70m long, 20 wide and two floors, today this store would be classed as a heritage building and actually it now is.

The store contained all the spare gear that would normally be held onboard the ship when she was running normally and consisted mainly of engineering stores. As a Petty Officer Marine Engineering Mechanic (Stoker PO for short, or any other nefarious name at times) it was my job to prepare these stores for returning to the ship. Quite a cushy number as we would say! My store was on the first floor and below me on the ground floor was a similar store belonging to HMS Galatea - also run by a Stoker PO.

Hope you are keeping up!!

At the time I was living in Plymouth so at the end of each day I would lock up the store and cycle home.

Well, what happened wos’ - as they say across the bridge, I came in one morning and found several fire engines around the store, a large part of the roof missing and a large hole in the floor between ‘Ajax’ and ‘Galatea’!!! 

I always remember the Fire Officer saying “ well somebody must have been smoking to cause this” (standard response from a Fire Officer when he doesn’t really know!!). The fact that I didn’t smoke clearly put the blame towards ‘Galatea!!. But of course it must have inspired me to join the Fire Service!

As far as I remember I don't think anybody actually got  ‘in the rattle’ (blamed) but it was just one of those events that I felt worthy needed ‘introducing’ into my garden railway as part of my RN ‘dioramas’ (Sheila will like that!).

Hence the Lay Apart Store on the Barrack Lantern Line!!!

Sailor - with Fire buckets!

'Spot the birdie'