Came across three youngsters from Walsall who show up in 1881 on the Industrial Training Ship 'Formidable' at Bristol. They were Robert Coates (abt 1869), Frederick Green same age & Frederick Saunders a year older. Just wondered if anyone had come across them before and knew how they ended up there? Everything I read about the Industrial Schools majors on them being for juvenile delinquents. The Bristol Mercury talked about "destitute and neglected boys .... from the haunts of ignorance, wretchedness and vices." I know a bit about Robert because he's a cousin of my great grandmother. He was in the navy in 1891 and back in Walsall with family by 1901. Does anyone know if some boys were sent to these schools/ships simply to get training or was it just those who were sent their by a magistrate's order? Thanks Tracy