HMS Fisgard At the age of 15, George went into the navy, having run away from home according to the story in the family, and on 8 April 1873 he joined the reception ship HMS Fisgard at it's mooring at Greenwich as a rating class B2. According to his naval records, his characteristics were noted as Height: 5'1˝", Hair: brown, Eyes: hazel and Complexion: fair.
		HMS Boscawen George was transferred to the boy seaman training ship HMS Boscawen at Portland on 18 April 1873. He remained on HMS Boscawen until 11 April 1874 when he is recorded as having run at Portsmouth. However, he returned to the ship 2˝ weeks later on 29 April and remained there until 14 October 1874.
		HMS Victory On 15 October 1874, George was transferred onto HMS Victory at Portsmouth and remained with her until 3 November 1874. Victory had been retired from duty in 1812 and anchored in Portsmouth Harbour, thereafter remaining moored there fulfilling a combination of practical and ceremonial roles, latterly as a floating depot ship.
		HMS Monarch George was transferred on 5 November 1874 onto HMS Monarch the next day but absconded again at Portsmouth on 4 August 1875.
		HMS Duke of Wellington George returned to the navy and was taken onboard HMS Duke of Wellington, but the date is unclear. It is also unclear how long he remained with this ship but it was not long. He was belatedly discharged on 18 June 1886, it is believed having been bought out by his father.

 
The design of warships changed dramatically in the last half of the nineteenth century with iron and steel taking the place of the 'wooden walls' and armour plate and with heavier breech loading guns in turrets taking the place of cannons.

Much of the training of the boys, however, still reflected life under sail and activities ashore and on board prepared them for life at sea. They were required to set up topmast rigging and cross upper yards, and they learned to scrub and wash hammocks and to make and mend clothes. They also cleaned boats, took lead line instruction, engaged in physical drill, including dumb bell exercises and gymnastics, landed field artillery, learned rifle drill and, at the turn of the century, went ashore to receive machine gun and ammunition instruction. They coaled and painted ship, and formed a fire brigade which could be called ashore in an emergency. For this the 520 boys in 1872 received 3d per week pocket money. Supplies of food, regularly taken aboard, included fresh vegetables, beef, 'mouton', suet, corned pork and bread. Fresh water was also supplied.

On Sundays the boys attended divine service. During the summer they were given leave and this provided an opportunity for dockyard men to join the ship to make good defects. On some occasions the boys were prevented from going ashore by bad weather, and there were times when the ship was quarantined due to scarlet fever and other infectious diseases. Conditions were harsh and punishment could be severe. In 1866, for example, two boys each received 24 ‘cuts’ of the birch.