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HISTORICAL GUEST BOOK

500  Date: 2007-09-22 17:21:25
Steve Holden ( srh@holdensuk.karoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Is there anyone outthere interested in the first Oriana, If so try this site the pics tell the story and yes I'm in a few of them.

http://web.mac.com/oriana_crew/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

Just highlight and paste to view
Steve Holden

499  Date: 2007-09-22 17:19:37
Steve Holden ( srh@holdensuk.karoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Is there anyone outthere interested in the first Oriana, If so try this site the pics tell the story and yes I'm in a few of them.

http://web.mac.com/oriana_crew/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html

Steve Holden

498  Date: 2007-09-16 17:20:21
Alan Furse ( alanfurse@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site such nostalgia, was on Media in July 1960 when that picture was taken of the line up on NY waterfront, however spent rest of time with P&O pursers dept as waiter (winger)happiest time of my life without doubt

497  Date: 2007-09-13 21:31:28
teddy johnson ( tjohnson5@earthlink.net / no homepage) wrote:

sailed as r/o 1945-1950 taken ill emding my sea going career, but still sail 'em in my memoties. wish it could have been longer

496  Date: 2007-09-04 21:09:05
Bill Rodwell ( bill-rodwell@fsmail.net / no homepage) wrote:

Very interesting and nostalgic site.
As an ex-merchant seaman sailing out of Southampton England in the 1960's I have sailed on several of the ships. Queen Mary, Mauritania, Pendennis Casle
Regards
Bill Rodwell

495  Date: 2007-09-01 21:26:28
Alan Faulkner ( no email / http://www.shipsofthemersey.photos.me.uk) wrote:

Ian, What a wonderful site, great memories Thank You Alan

494  Date: 2007-09-01 20:27:29
Alan Shard ( westcoastmarine@shaw.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Aug 31st/07
Dear Ian,
I congratulate you on the wonderful effort. At 85 I do have a couple of articles published in maritime newsletters, but may be a bit long 9 & 7 pages. They are entitled MY APPRENTICESHIP 1940-1944 and THE LOSS OF M.V. "PUTNEY HILL" June 1942.
Perhaps they are not in keeping with your theme which I understand.
Best Regards
Alan

493  Date: 2007-08-31 06:38:09
Peter Persicaner ( ppersicaner@arrowlabs.com / no homepage) wrote:

Greeting's to you from Melbourne , Australia !!

Dear Ian ,

I laud your efforts to keep the memories of the leading British shipping companies of the 1950's and 1960's alive.

Sadly most of these companies are no more ... and the magnificent cargo and passenger liners depicted have long ceased to be anything but a wonderful memory.

Thank you for re-calling the past.

Best wishes to you.

Peter Persicaner
Melbourne
Australia

492  Date: 2007-08-29 23:12:21
mick freeman ( mickfree@bigpond.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

great site.went to sea in 1952 on the pretoria catle as deckboy, left the sea as AB on the Lizzie(QE)1962

491  Date: 2007-08-29 07:37:28
David Sims ( simsdw@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

A very comprehensive record. I only today managed to access this website.
Now aged 82, I served with P.& O. from mid-1950's until 1970..initially as Radio Officer in COROMANDEL, IBERIIA, MALOJA and MANTUA both maiden voyages/fitout, then in CANBERRA as snr. 2nd R/O ( fit-out and maiden voyage) with Don Chapman (2nd R/O)
Then in CHUSAN as 1st R/o. Then changed over to Deck Department to gain sea-time, finally obtaining 2nd Mates/ 1st Mates certificates and sailing in PATONGA as 2nd Officer.
Left P & O in 1970 and returned to home in Australia. Gained Foreign-Going Master Certificate and command of several vessels on Australia/Pacific run ( a big let-down after P.& O!)
Ended up my working life a GeneralManager/Director of an international Australian shipping company.
Now retired to a rural 50 acre property onthe Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland.... can still read Morse at 30wpm!

490  Date: 2007-08-26 08:34:12
harry ( ismailgreyhound@hotmail.com / http://ocearover.blogspot.com) wrote:

Good site with all those nostalgial photos.

489  Date: 2007-08-19 14:08:40
Kenneth Cordeiro ( Kncord@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Sunday 19 August 2007

Dear ian

I came across your site when googling P & O after talking to my 10 year old nephew about travel in the 1950s and 1960s. I travelled from Singapore to London in 1960 on The Himalaya. I collected all the lunch and dinner menus as a record of my journey but unfortunately these have all now been lost.

Your site brings back lots of memories and I wonder if you could tell me if records exist of a ship's voyage and a list of its passengers. if so, how can I access the record.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes,

Ken

488  Date: 2007-08-15 08:33:41
Robert A Lay ( robertlay@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ive enjoyed painting maritime subjects and seascapes for some time but this site has provided greater spur. Great nostalgic trip too.
Thanks.

487  Date: 2007-08-14 09:38:01
Albert Novelli ( bertmail@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian. I have lost your e-mail address. Could you come back to me.
Incidentally, you have my name wrong on some of the pictures on the site. They are down as Albert Correli when it shoud be Albert NOVELLI
Cheers fopr now

486  Date: 2007-08-14 09:34:55
Malcolm Donaldson New Zealand ( malcolmd@ihug.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Hey just great found it when looking for Triple Expanshion engines, no I was a 'Deck ' man before Steam Railway Locomotives got the netter of me.
First ship was Union Steamship of NZ SS Waitemata x HMS Selsey Bill one of the Canadian Forts & Parks
bloody great ships as far as I was concerned.
I've book marked it, I'll be back for another look before long. Many Thanks

485  Date: 2007-07-27 12:38:09
Ronald Wilkinson ( rwilkins@pan.uzulu.ac.za / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for reviving memories of 1974 when I sailed on the Edinburgh Castle from Durban to Southhampton via Las Palmas: a twenty-one day voyage if I remember correctly. The ship's Master was Captain Catrell (sp?). The almost all-night dancing at the Flying Fish club to the beat of 'Tall woman dressed in black - dressed in black, dressed in black, dressed in black, black, black...' and 'Sailing'still reverberates in my mind. I also remember solitary night watches off the stern, the throb of the engines, the rush of sea dissipating in the churning phosphorescence of the propellers.
One night we watched as the Pendennis Castle approached south-bound - cities of light, ships passing in the night... Thanks again for the memories.

484  Date: 2007-07-22 20:14:56
Brendan Williams ( Brendan2208@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Fantastic memories. Sailed with my Mom and Dad(Pearl and Roy Williams, sister and brother (Julie and Mark)on the Edingborough Castle December 1971 Southampton to Cape Town

483  Date: 2007-07-19 20:14:13
Leigh Gayman ( lgcars@shaw.ca / no homepage) wrote:

what a beautiful site. Have always loved liners. My father served in the RCNVR on the Britiah Destroyer Wager in WWII. Always loved his sea stories

482  Date: 2007-07-19 18:39:27
Alberto ( auranito@speedy.com.ar / http://www.geocities.com/lu1dz) wrote:

Great job...!!!
Many thanks for rememerings

481  Date: 2007-07-16 20:02:17
denis kinsella ( denis_kinsella@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

enjoyed reading ur story,
IM EX MARC0NI R/O
CLATEX CARDIFF GJVS ESSO CARDIFF GXNS
NURJEHAN MFUC
LLANTRISANT GJVS
CLUDEN ZKDS

480  Date: 2007-07-14 08:56:11
Odd Bjørn Søyland ( obs@losmail.no / no homepage) wrote:

I sailing on M/S Sunfalcon, 1964 - 1966. In 1964 I was a 16 years old boy, who got a many god friends omboard.

479  Date: 2007-07-11 10:17:24
Gordon Kennedy ( bigengine999@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent site. Very nostalgic.

478  Date: 2007-07-09 16:34:33
bernard delaney ( Bernard.delaney@ireland.com / no homepage) wrote:

Really enjoy browsing the site. Served as an R/O 1961 to 1970 with a three and half month return to sea in 1975. Worked as an Aviation R/O from Dec 1975 up Dec 1999 at Shannon Aeradio in ireland when got early retirement at age 56. Enjoying life since. Enjoyed seeing photos of ships I served on and the memories that they brought back. Keep up the good work! 73s

477  Date: 2007-07-08 19:44:57
Paul Grant ( Skyetex@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

I attended the Watt memorial college at Greenock around 1964 going to sea with AEI and Royal Mail lines and wonder if you are in contact with any former pupils?

476  Date: 2007-07-05 20:29:34
Charles Henry ( hambanjo2@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Brought back many memories educated Bellahouston Academy, Glasgow '42-47 Messroom boy to 2nd Steward, 47/8 1st class Ticket and C @ G's various ships. '53 James watt radar diploma, QSY to Canada, Canadian ship, DEW Line station chief,
Page Engring, Farinon Radio (mfcr microwave multichannel radio 900mhz to 50ghz)Director EFI., Retired "81 Living in Kingston, Ontario, sailed sailboats from 14' to 32' great life now enjoying longevity. Incidentally got my ticket at "Duke" Ellerington's wireless college Ibrox, Glasgow, failed a Second so them sat a First, helluva kuffle getting permission at that time, but managed to get permission but could only sail as with a second class ticket for six months before I
could use it on the dizzy heights of CHief Opr on things like GBSS OR GBTT...... what a hope but did
get on the CIty of Paris GFQM for a while, Regards and thanks for the Memories Chas

475  Date: 2007-07-04 11:48:38
John Astad ( messinabout@earthlink.net / http://vesseltrax.com/) wrote:

Great web site and very informative with the historical pictures of tanker ships. My dad sailed from in the era of the 50's and onward to 1991 and retiring as a chief engineer on tanker ships.

I have a website I'd like to share with your viewers...VesselTrax. It covers vessel positions of tankers ships arriving and departing from the Gulf of Mexico into the ports of Texas City, Houston, and Galveston.

At times when the atmospheric conditions are ideal, VesselTrax can even pick up the supertankers lightering 50 NM offshore from Galveston, Texas.

Regards,

John

Regards,

john

474  Date: 2007-07-04 00:53:07
Forest ( Forest.Saunders@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have always loved the old super liners, Particularly the Lusitania, Mauretania (1) and the Olympic class.

473  Date: 2007-07-01 01:11:26
harry bowie ( queen_fiona@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

enjoyed reading site served in cirassia and cameroniawar time would like contact seafarers of this time if possible. sent via daughters email

472  Date: 2007-06-29 19:34:22
Tom Laybourn ( tom@laybourn.plus.com / no homepage) wrote:

A great site. I was an electrician (lecy) on RMS Orcades during the early 60's on the Australia and Pacific runs. Any one else around from that period. We had great times at sea and ashore. One highlight was our arrival in Sydney, from the Pacific, in time for New Year 1960. We entered Sydney harbour astern of our sister ship Oriana on her maiden voyage from the UK. What a New Years eve party.

471  Date: 2007-06-29 09:11:48
ian fears ( ie.fears@o2.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

hi great site , brought back many memories good and bad , ex ro for a short time 1969 to 72 marconi and kelvin hughes, sailed with southern ferries , shell, bi, corys and steve clarkes , keep up the good work

470  Date: 2007-06-21 22:07:33
Abdul Hamlan N7JBH ( Belidorm@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

After reading all the accounts of Sea life, I feel I was born too late. Love to work CW on the HF ham bands.

Regards
Abdul Hamlan N7JBH

469  Date: 2007-06-18 22:06:34
Charlie Wood ( charlie@foweypilots.com / http://www.foweypilots.com) wrote:

Just revisiting and laughed to see the pictures of Pete Ashcroft, did that boy never take his sun glasses off. I can't remember which ship he was 3rd Mate on when I was cadet, but the shades were always on!! Arthur Slack was a proper gent too, greatly concerned for my welfare when he was mate on the Ross.

468  Date: 2007-06-18 06:37:46
Iain Mathieson ( iain.mathieson@conocophillips.com / http://maxson.com.hk) wrote:

An excellent site especially for us expatriate sea-dogs. Enjoyed Tony Thompson's story but was surprised to hear that he quit seagoing in '65. I sailed with him on m.v. King Charles and remember the fact that he avid ship-spotter who carried around huge volumes of Talbot-Booths Ship Identifier. The King Charles with full Scouse crew must have been a shock to his system after the Clan Maclean with its Serangs,Burra/Chota Tindals and Bhandaries........!

I left 'real seagoing' in 1973 and went 'piloting' in the Middle East and then Far East. Still in the same business having made my home in China for the last 19 years. Amazingly one of the other Mooring Masters here is another ex B&C Mate, Gavan King, who sailed on the U-C Mailboats and the Reina del Mar in the '60s.
We shall discuss you site in the local pub tonight !

Keep up the good work

Best regards

Iain Mathieson

467  Date: 2007-06-16 15:46:26
Ron Lennox ( ronlennox@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Trying to buy sleeve and shoulder insignia for 1st 2nd and 3rd, for auld lang syne.Any ideas/offers. Recently bought brand new RFA cap badge fm kellybadge.co.uk forgot mine once looked like that.
Now 81 and still enjoying life and work from Baron Douglas, "Hungry Hogarth, hungry by name, hungry by nature" to City of Dieppe to RFA tankers.Started the SONY Centre concept, then Fibreglass roofing - still going strong, then bought farm for children's ponies, then horses then grandchildren, etc etc etc! Must go, lots to do!

466  Date: 2007-06-09 19:01:04
Colin Seeger ( CES41@COX.NET / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian - your site was sent to me by a friend in Florida (I'm in Las Vegas - Brit ex-pat for 28 years - and found it very interesting. I served with Ellerman Lines from Jan '58- March '60 - City(s) of Port Elizabeth, Exeter and Durban (UK to S.Africa).

Was a Writer (Pursuer's Clerk) and eventually Saloon Steward (more fun, as I could mix with the Passengers and make out with any young females).

The "Sparks" in all ships became my 'mate' because I used to have to prepare the Ship's newspaper every morning - from eiether his hand-written notes or, if he was good, from his "Onion-Skin" duplicating sheets, typed with the ribbon removed from the typewriter and which "punched out" the words, for me to run through duplicating machine. Ugh - really Messy!! Memorable days, when I learned of the death of Mike Hawthorn, as well as Buddy Holly whilst at sea.

The four "City Boats" - Ellerman's Pride & Joys - used to roll like pigs due to the high single funnel acting as a "sail" - and my last trip home through Biscay was a complete maelstrom, as we spent about three days covering less than 100 miles, in a force 10 gale... Great days, and fond memories as a lad of 17.

I wonder is we passed eash other back in the 'good ol daze?'...

Best wishes to you; keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Colin.

465  Date: 2007-06-08 20:26:36
Julian Grebby ( julian@pluckley.net / no homepage) wrote:

Good Evening,Clicked onto your sight by accident.Never went to sea-failed medical being slightly colour blind,in those days,late fifties/early sixtes you were required to identify a small coloured dot in a long dark room(Tilbury).Anyway spent most of my working life on the Baltic Exchange,first ship I ever chartered was a Liberty. Most of your photo's of vessels I would have seen during my 'ship spotting' days.A very interesting websight. Maybe you could assist in a little information. I have recently purchased a model of the SS Garryvale at the time owned by Andrew Crawford of Glasgow.I'm fairly sure it's a standard Fort or Empire type,however I'm a it rusty on this one,and my old LLoyds Registers are not helpful.Any ideas ?? Best Regards Julian.

464  Date: 2007-05-28 16:49:40
Sid Woods ( sidw@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Enjoyed your site. Loved Tony Thompsons story of his first trip as a Clan Line Cadet. When the Clan Maclean kept the Clan Davidson waiting in Calcutta, I was one of the Cadets on the Davidson! Unfortunatly, for health reasons, that was my last trip. Became an accountant & emigrated to Canada.

463  Date: 2007-05-26 12:46:08
Mlodia C. Remedio ( melody_phys@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

I enjoyed looking at the ships and at the pictures. I can see you surely love ships.

Melodia C. Remedio from the Philippines.

462  Date: 2007-05-25 22:37:43
Ken. ( KJWKatsina@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,
1957 Woodarra. British India.
1968 Pandogulf. P & O.
1974 Benalbanach. Ben Line.

461  Date: 2007-05-20 04:05:39
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, The pic of Woodarra on the home page may be P&O, but it has a BI funnel.I assume it was taken around the take-over time. Nice pic tho'.

460  Date: 2007-05-16 14:42:57
Michèle Gross ( me.michgross@googlemail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I see no mention of the Bloemfontein Castle in your list! Having just completed sorting my late mother's photos I found a picture pc of this ship on which she and I (aged 9)together set sail for a new life in Rhodesia in 1951 away from the post war hardships and rationing of London. However, after 3 not altogether satisfactory years (2 subsequent ones spent in Cape Town)we returned to London again on the Durban Castle. I have happy memories (and photos)of these events.

459  Date: 2007-05-15 19:09:51
colin campbell ( c.campbell607@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

three trips with ellerman as jnr eng.first trip city of birmingham angola s africa coast mozambique,still under portugese rule.second trip durban for bunkers then gulf. shah was still in power in iran still city of birmingham,then karachi and bombay.third trip flew to bombay then sailed to canada,suez was still closed,then back to bombay flew back to uk, and came ashore.enjoyed most of my time at sea like all jobs good points and bad points.always remember as soon as gangway was aboard r/o was away to try and swap some films.your web is very interesting keep up good work.second ship was city of canberra.

458  Date: 2007-05-13 23:13:13
Harry Pemberton ( vindipem@clear.net.nz / no homepage) wrote:

An excellent webpage with plenty of information. There's only one problem. The BLUE background makes the BLACK writing very difficult to read; especially for those of us with dimming vision due to age.The WHITE writing on blue is excellent Have you anything on Ropner's ?

457  Date: 2007-05-11 13:58:56
Alexander Booth ( alexander.booth@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ex Ellerman´s (Canadian City Line) Deck officer 68-76.
Very interesting and sentimentally nostalgic
Thanks to your efforts the traditions and memories will continue.

456  Date: 2007-05-01 16:54:37
George B Blue ( georgetheblue@sbcglobal.net / no homepage) wrote:

I finally ran down a site with photos of two of my ships from the 1959-63 era. Thanks to all included in this most gratifying effort. I started out on the KOYAN (Paddy Henderson Line), moved up to the CILICIA (Anchor Line), then on to Gladys Bowater (Bowater's Paper Company) before hitting the beach Jan 1 of 1964. The two latter have photos but not the KOYAN. If anybody out there has shot of her I'd be most grateful for an e-mail to complete my sea life gallery.
Like most of you I look back with longing to those years when the Merchant Navy provided a "way out" fo Clydesiders like us (I was born and brought up within a 3 iron of the river and always thought of it as my way out of the slums and boredom of a factory job-for-life). After the sea years I moved to the USA and have made my home here and seen 46 states (so far). I couldn't watch as the shipping companies went under (Paddy's and then the Anchor Line while I was serving) and the yards close so I headed west.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of all who served at sea and loved the life. I'll look forward your e-mail. Down the hatch!!

455  Date: 2007-04-27 20:57:22
Joe Duffy ( joeduffy65@hotmail.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, visited your web site for the first time today. Enjoyed it very much. Still got to troll thru it though. I was at the Watt Mem. coll. 1956/57 and again 1960 for Radar. Can't remember you but then again there were a lot of young uns after me!. Was with Siemens from 1957 until 1965. Will send photos later. Retired April 2006 and enjoying every minute of it. Keep up the good work. Speak to U later. cheers, Joe Duffy, Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

454  Date: 2007-04-26 21:08:37
Roy Wilkin ( ukroy@tds.net / no homepage) wrote:

Really enjoyed your website.I worked on several P&O liners and the pictures brought back memories.Thankyou once again.Roy

453  Date: 2007-04-25 12:02:12
Coos de Vries ( coosjl@ca.inter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Finally again time to 'snoop around'! Still looks very good Ian!
25 April 2007

452  Date: 2007-04-24 11:54:00
Danny Winter-Hall ( dannywh@clara.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Superb site. As a youngster, I visited my grandparents every summer in Swansea. My grandfather worked on the docks and his next door neighbour was the harbourmaster. How many hours dis I spend on Kilvey Hill watching the arrival and departure of theses fine vessels? At 9 or 10 I knew the fleet lists and flag/funnel/hull colours of most of them. In fact it was an obsession more than a hobby. Well, now I am trying to find out if there are any survivors anywhere in the World of these vessels. The aim is to get hold of one and two and bring them back to Swansea as "living" museum pieces. Any ideas? With kindest regards Danny

451  Date: 2007-04-23 23:06:09
Brian Ingarfill ( bingarfill@sbcglobal.net / no homepage) wrote:

Brian Ingarfill Saled 1966-1970
City Line:
City of Brooklin '66
City of Port Elizabeth '66-70
Bank Line:
Taybank'70-72
Blue Star Line:
Caledonia Star '72-74
Argentina Star '74-75

I would like to contact Jerry Dutton Chief Refrigeration Engineer on the Caledonia Star '65-

450  Date: 2007-04-23 14:44:50
PETE ASHCROFT ( info@mercantilebrokers.co.uk / http://mercantilebrokers.co.uk) wrote:

Cayzer Irvine (B&C) 1967-1982. Sailed in Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Pendennis Casle and numerous Clan/King Line vessels.The best time of my life! Tell the youngsters of today.
Moved to South Africa, (Durban) and originally joined Safmarine, but then took over as Master on an highly manoeuverable container/coaster as feeder service for the Big Lines to East Africa.Now back in the UK, distributing Mocambique Prawns to the masses!
Ian you have lovely stories to tell, which is only reminiscent of things that I have forgotten, but are pleasantly reminded about. Many Thanks. I'll tell you some of my tales sometime, when I have the time! Very Best wishes, Pete. (otherwise known as "sunshine" on the Windsor)

449  Date: 2007-04-22 20:45:19
Donald Cameron ( largs1966@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

As an ex R/O 1961-1969 and ex "The Watt School" Greenock I must thank you for taking the time and trouble to compile such wonderful nostalgia

448  Date: 2007-04-15 15:31:08
morris ,vigilance ( moalvigil@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

It is indeed a wonderfull guesture to relive the glory days of sailing coming from the caribbean wehad some of the best L&H LINES T&J HARISSON BLUE STAR LINE, SAGUENAY TERMINALS AND THE OCCOASIONAL NORWEGIAN SHIP thank god for the old days

447  Date: 2007-04-05 04:12:21
Stewart Garmey ( stewart@tradelanes.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

My late brother Alan sailed for many years as Chief Fridge with Federal Steam Navigation ... Durham, Nottingham, Suffolk, Devon ... beautiful ships of a long gone era. Thanks for the memories!!

446  Date: 2007-03-23 20:46:53
William Swecker ( williamswecker@peoplepc.com / no homepage) wrote:

Very,very nice. I crossed the Atlantic in 1946 on a boat or ship. The name was the Merryposa,I am not sure that this is spelled right.I have no pictures of this ship or history of it. Can you help me. Thanks so much You have a really nice history going

445  Date: 2007-03-22 20:36:53
Mike Cramer ( acramen618@rogers.com / no homepage) wrote:

A fantastic site with with a large amount information and photographic history which if not for people such as yourself would be lost to future generations. Your work is greatly appreciated.

444  Date: 2007-03-06 14:18:50
Miller Houston ( miller.houston@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Wow! James Watt (1962-64) Oregis, Franconia, Queen Elizabeth, IMRC. Clocks with silence periods, call signs...

Really great stuff. I still have a few pictures if you want them.

443  Date: 2007-03-06 11:26:27
R.Potter ( mirex@netspace.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

This is great stuff, a real window into the past.

But where is the "Orontees"?

I came to Australia aboard The Orontees in mid 1951, and 50 years later met some other passengers who were on the ship at the same time.
Regards,
R. Potter

442  Date: 2007-03-01 15:47:01
Graham Collins ( grahamcollins@lycos.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site, I didn't go to sea until 1976 but it surprising that some of the shacks in your photo's resembled those I worked in some 16 or so years later!

I sailed with BP Tanker Co. on various tankers and had a very enjoyable 6 years at sea.

Have found quite a few sites dedicated to the R/O and shore stations - gives me little bit of light relief whilst sat at work!

Keep up the good work.

441  Date: 2007-03-01 04:11:10
jack moorhead ( jacknc@slingshot.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

great site i sailed on the mt herulv norwegian a shocker.. the joined thordahl in the uk thoshov.thorshavet// then to ccal thorshope thorswave//left thorswave in cape town oct 76 ended up in rhodesia anthor story also was on sedco 135f off shore nz and worked for ntcl in nwt canada and spent time in halifax aboard the ccgs alert and louis st laurent the alert is now a research ship would like to hear from any body in the-past

440  Date: 2007-02-26 02:45:43
andrew macgregor ( drewcmac@sbcglobal.net / no homepage) wrote:

hello ian, this has just brought back so many memories. i sailed with anchor line from nov.1956-1963 as an engineer. my first ship was the tahsinia and my last ship was the cilicia. in between i sailed with the euicadia(under cpt. harris) egidia, circassia. we plan to be in scotland this year, and would love to meet up with
anyone that sailed with anchor line at that time. thank you again for a great web-site. andrew

439  Date: 2007-02-24 01:00:20
James Taylor ( jamesjava1@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Ahoy Ian

A great site, I am enjoying all the links and stories. I went to sea 1956 age fifteen, sailed on mainly Blue Funnel ships. Married and left the sea 1957. I now live in Australia. Will send you an interesting story later

Cheers James

438  Date: 2007-02-21 00:01:58
simon beard ( bisondream@onetel.com / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for a truly wonderful site. My reason for visiting...? I made a "scratch build" model of a tramp steamer. Pity I couldn't have found this site back then (appx 4 yrs ago). All I had to work with was a cutaway drawing! Apart from this, there's something inspiring about these tramp ships. They, like many other by-gone modes of transport, had personality and character - something romanticlly appealing, too - about randomly roving the seven seas...! Anybody familiar with William Hope Hodgson?

437  Date: 2007-02-20 23:47:35
Peter Curwell ( curwell@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

A magic site but in a way sad to see the decline of the traditional merchant navy, as we knew it during the best years 1960 to 1980. To see most of the RNLI crews being composed of "non professional" seafarers - no criticsm of them - is sad.As an ex R/0 mainly with Marconi sailing on the Empress of Canada, Bank Line, tanker companies, tramps which were the best for a variety of experiences and later working for the R/O's ashore, both in the UK and Australia, we were badly paid - but it was the best job on the ship. Anyway to those I sailed with and worked with best wishes and good luck.
Peter

436  Date: 2007-02-11 22:50:57
Brian Evans ( bri64liz55@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

i was at gravesend training school for my 16th birthday,june 1957 as catering trainee,finished up doing 18 years on various types from liners to coastal including shell & bp tankers,ellerman wilsons,comben longstaff,even scottish cattle boats running from glasgo to dublin three times a week,i am now retired after 31 years in a factory but memories of the indian ocean etc etc will never go away, i still think of sleeping under the stars because it was too warm below

435  Date: 2007-02-09 11:44:32
terry walsh ( v.walsh@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Excellant site,ex P&o myself

434  Date: 2007-01-28 05:21:56
Roy Fox ( veroy@bigpond.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

Yes, definitely nostalgic. But the worst sandwiches surely, were definitely marmite, curled at the edges and dry as dust by four bells in the "gravy eyed watch".

433  Date: 2007-01-20 13:19:23
David Pickles ( picklesd@btconnect.com / no homepage) wrote:

A reminder of the past and my formative years. Going to sea was an experience I do not regret and influenced the rest of my working life.

432  Date: 2007-01-18 12:39:46
pete hogg ( hoggpeter@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site! has given me many happy hours of browsing and nostalgia for better times!

Thanks

431  Date: 2007-01-17 21:46:35
Alexander Booth ( alexander.booth@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian, Being an ex Ellerman lines apprentice & deck officer during the 60's & 70's, I find your web site collection most memorable even to looking over the others lines and seeing some of the lines we bumped into (not literally) during my time, brings back most happy memories for me but also recalling an era what was basically the end of the British Merchant navy as we knew it.
Many Thanks & keep it up.
Brgds
Alex Booth

430  Date: 2007-01-16 11:08:32
stuart thompson ( sg.thompson@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

brilliant

429  Date: 2007-01-12 15:56:23
John Aggett ( john@aggett1783.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, Have just found your web-site and what a surprise, a photo of the British Lancer, my first ship! I joined her at Falmouth on 19th December 1951 as 6th Eng.,. The Chief Engineer was one Mathew Border from the North of England,(no comment). We sailed not long after Christmas when the refit had been completed and the same time as the "Flying Enterprise" was being towed in and just before she went down! We were heading for Mena-Al-Amadi ( think that's correct).I have forgotten how many times she broke down on the way,but if we were not stopped with engine trouble we were suffering with refridgeration trouble and oil contaminated drinking water. We lay at anchor after loading with more trouble but eventually set of for home. Close by Aden more problems and we limped in there on about 4or5 cylinders out of 8. The Company surveyor flew out, took one look and said "tow it home". If memory serves,we were towed by the British Wisdom or maybe Warrior. We lost the tow twice,one thimble boiler let go badly scalding the 4th Eng's feet and the 5th Eng slipped and fell down the last section of ladder to the Engine Room plates. We reached North Shields early May where she went into dry dock for a complete refit. I paid off 20th May 1952.
I suppose i learnt more on that trip about life at sea than any other and in particular about myself. I did one more trip on British Tankers and then went tramping and cargo passenger, much more
enjoyable!!
By the way the last i heard of the "Lancer" was that she was laid up in the river at Falmouth but that was a ggod few year ago now!
Regards and thanks for a trip down memory lane.
John Aggett.

428  Date: 2007-01-11 15:34:23
Tiziana ( tiziross@tiscali.it / no homepage) wrote:

I found into your site M/V Durban Castle, the one my father used on April 1946 to come back to ITALY after two years as POW at Osterley Camp.
In spite of those hard days, he used to tell us nice memories of his staying in England.
Something I had to search in his memory!
Tiziana Rossi

427  Date: 2007-01-09 23:52:52
tom newstead chippy ( dhirayoga@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

it tom chippy clan line and port line cay giv me more sites relating to kg5 dock clan line officers crew inowe live in hartford s/e 01279507644

426  Date: 2007-01-09 23:32:46
tom newestead ( dhirayoga@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

was imechat 12 year port line clan castel line chippy whold live to find soe of my shi mates the gratest frend in the world thi is good site

425  Date: 2007-01-09 20:02:35
Roy Gerstner ( Roy.Gerstner@virgin.net / http://www.lof-news.co.uk) wrote:

Many thanks for some wonderful memories.
Roy Gerstner Ex R/O ETO and present Senior Support Engineer for Disney Cruise Line.

424  Date: 2007-01-08 20:22:11
Dave Robertson ( dave.suds@btopenworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

On checking my guestbook entry (421), I realised that I had missed out a letter in my email address.

423  Date: 2007-01-07 18:28:53
Andy Thomson ( technical@maritimepro.com / http://www.maritimepro.com) wrote:

I am impressed with the work that has gone into the development of this web site and appreciate all the effort. I was fortunate to join British & Commonwealth Shipping Company as an Engineer Cadet in 1961 at Southampton siling on Clan Line and Union Castle ships after completing my apprenticeship. Definitely the 'Golden Days' of shipping.

422  Date: 2007-01-07 00:19:36
Doug Howick ( doug@tpaa.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for the "Freedon Freighters" information currently on the home page. Amazing how much we took for granted without really knowing the story (or the Planning) behind it all. Very interesting!

421  Date: 2007-01-06 16:42:42
Dave Robertson ( dave.suds@btopenworl.com / no homepage) wrote:

I was very interested in your section about Salvesen and the SALVADA in particular. I sailed on the MV SALAMBRIA, one of the sister ships youmention - I can't remember all the other but I think there was SALMILA, SALDURA (prob. wrong spellings as I didn't see there names written down, rather word of mouth from shipmates who had sailed on them. We were doing tramp cargo work aminly between Japan and the Western seaboard of the US although we went up the Lakes and round the world as well as a part of our charters to Japan Line and Mitsui Line.
I have been trying to find some information about the Salambria as apart of nostalgic personal research - sadly the memory fades and trying to rememner all the places you sailed to is difficult. I have been unable to find the name of the ship anywhere in internet searches and it's quite perplexing. If there is anyone out there who remembers anything about the Salvesen ships of that period or who can point me in the more productive direction of research, I would be very grateful. All of Salvesen of Leith records are held by Edinburgh University Library but unfortunately, they don't have the kind of information I'm looking for.
Enjoyed your site vey much, Ian. Actually, I have a b/w postcard somewhere of the Salambria - if I can find it, perhaps you could include it in your Salvesen section.

420  Date: 2007-01-06 01:16:57
Michael Chaplin ( machaplin@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I enjoyed browsing the site. I was at sea as an R/O in the sixties and seventies with Marcononi, Union SS CO of NZ and finally Cable and Wireless.The content was nostalgic for me and I shall be reading more over the coming weeks.

419  Date: 2007-01-05 23:59:16
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

What a great article re Liberty ships, and included T2 tankers. As a matter of interest in 1976, Canmar (Dome Petroleum) refurbished two Liberty ships which became Canmar Explorer I and Canmar Explorer II, (Canmar Explorer IV came a little later). These ships, now drillships, sailed to the Beaufort sea, in the Canadian Arctic, and drilled the first season in 1977. A helicopter deck was built on the stern. I served on all three between 1977 and 1983, as R/O. I also sailed on T2 tanker 'Esso Manchester'. I remember it being all steel, and a bit spartan. The story at the time (1958) was that the Esso Rochester another T2, had broke her back recently, gave us all confidence wondering if we would pass our bow while eating breakfast!

418  Date: 2007-01-05 17:47:04
sukhy loyal ( sukhy.loyal@mac.com / no homepage) wrote:

I found some menus with union castle with drawings of cartoon figures. One has Will Owen.
Not sure what to do with them. So I serched on the web. Would it have anything to do with the ships?

417  Date: 2007-01-04 01:38:01
Coos de Vries ( coosjl@ca.inter.net / no homepage) wrote:

'Freedom Freighters'. Very interesting Ian. Of course I remember most of these ships. After the war a large number were handed over to the Netherlands Government, which, in turn, distributed them among Dutch shipping companies that all had lost many ships in the war. In my own company ('V.N.S'.) we had a large number of 'Liberties' which were always full going to the Persian Gulf, their only destination. Waiting times there were enormous. Once they were discharged, they returned empty to Europe.(the outward freight paid for the return voyage also!) However at times, we in Mombasa for the Holland-Africa Line, called them down to East Africa where they were filled to capacity with produce: coffee, tea, sisal, cotton, cotton seed oilcakes, wet and dry hides etc. The names of the Liberties all started with the letter 'L' such as 'Lemsterkerk'.
The C3's, of which the Dutch had many, had over 700,000 cft bale space and as such were very useful. This type was also originally built as small auxiliary aircraft carriers. After the war the flight decks were burned off and the ships converted to freighters. Owners, like ourselves, still called them 'baby flattops'. They had even more space than the C3's. An occasional C1 and C2 also sailed under Dutch flag.
Then, yes, there were the 'Victories'. They were divided into 16-knots and 18-knots vessels. Like the C's they were steam turbines-driven vessels, much faster than the 'Liberties'. The natural stability of these 'V' ships was remarkable. It was said that on an empty ship one could load 1,000 tons on deck without the ship being in danger of capsizing! Something the Americans liked! Each chief officer had in his cabin a very simple instrument to calculate the stability when loaded. All our 16-knot Victories had a name that started with an 'M' like 'Mariekerk'. The 18-knotters had names that started with a 'G' like 'Grootekerk'.
Finally, our company had one British 'Empire' ship, the m.v. "Rijnkerk". The master of that ship was so pro-British that he refused 'promotions' to other (better/newer) ships and he was in command of the 'Rijnkerk'until he retired!

Ian, it is very good and 'nostalgic'that you could copy that article. Well done.It brought back many memories.
Coos (ex Holland-Africa Line/Nedlloyd)

416  Date: 2007-01-01 22:02:51
Roberta Linehan ( Gryffindor44@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

My maiden name is Cameron, We still own land in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I have a clock with T.S.S.
Cameronia and searched the web and found out about the anchor line.Very interesting

415  Date: 2006-12-28 06:04:52
Roy Prince ( betroy@surewest.net / no homepage) wrote:

Thank you Ian for a magnificent site. I've spent hours here and only scratched the surface. I'm ex Siemens Radio R/O 1942 - 1945 and NZ Shipping Co 1945 -1947.
Best wishes for 2007

414  Date: 2006-12-27 23:25:00
David Morrison ( morrisond@bordernet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

As an ex-Master Mariner originally with Clan Line, I really enjoyed your site

413  Date: 2006-12-25 09:39:41
tom lipscombe ( internetaction@yahoo.com / http://www.historymaritimeliverpool.ipfox.com/) wrote:

Hello Ian,

Season's Greetings!

Please accept my compliments on a very interesting and informative website.

Tom
Web Admin
History Maritime Liverpool

412  Date: 2006-12-22 14:51:20
Morris Rooms ( morris.rooms@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Stumbled across your excellent site whilst looking up some other stuff about todays MN and "Electronics Officers". Like many others, some of my best years were the five spent at sea with MIMCO and Kelvin Hughes as a Sparks. After cruising the world with various shipping companies, it helped me get into computers and lots more travel and adventure. Though I still think the MN was the DB's. Thanks for providing a super archive.

411  Date: 2006-12-16 18:49:24
Rodney Gascoyne ( rodneygascoyne@hotmail.com / http://members.shaw.ca/GascoyneR/WindsorCastle.htm) wrote:

Great site and we shared a few ships. Best wishes

410  Date: 2006-12-16 18:30:05
dave carpenter ( info@dockland.fsworld.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

good websight ian!
i worked on many of the ships that you have on it.
visit www.dockland.fsworld.co.uk

409  Date: 2006-12-15 21:03:30
patrick nieuwenhuis ( p.nieuwenhuis@chello.nl / no homepage) wrote:

hello ,i just discovered yr site because i was searching for an english empire hazlit ship built redhead & sons southshields in 1943 if i could find some pics about this ship because my father was sailing on it as a stoker ,my hobby is to find old ships all over the world wich still existing ,like the J.W.Brown ,o,brian liberties , victories,T2 tanker ,and canadian parkship wich i found one in Portsmouth some years ago,i like yr site very much to see newer versions wich were built after the war,maybe here has somebody for me pics also from the boilerroom. greetings from amsterdam the netherlands

408  Date: 2006-12-13 22:00:57
David Thomas ( daveandsanthomas@yahoo.co.uk / http://www.lahaciendaandotherstories.piczo.com) wrote:

Hi Ian, what a great site you have here. Your url was passed on to me by Terry Gardener who said you might like to swap links. I will put a link to your site on my "Merchant Navy Links" page. I hope you can find the time to have a look around my site, like yours it's getting quite big these days
Best wishes for the coming yuletide and new year
Dave

407  Date: 2006-12-12 00:45:31
Howard Wright (Lefty) ( rathaspeck@bigfoot.com / no homepage) wrote:

Season's Greetings to you too! Super site!

406  Date: 2006-12-10 05:54:53
David Rorison ( rgrenoak@tpg.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

In 1934 I went to sea as a Deck Boy with P & o aged 14.In 1936 I started an apprenceticeship as a Marine Engineer & rejoined P&O . Iam originally from Greenock which you know & now live in Australia hence my E-Mail adress. In 1947 I was 2nd Refrig Engineer on MV Stirlingshire Scottish Shire Line & would love to have a Photo of her ifyou can helpp I would be v4ery grateful; Kindest Regards David Rorisonm

405  Date: 2006-12-08 23:12:59
john humphries ( johnjhumphries@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

i myself am ex port line engine room great site great memories keep up the good work...john....

404  Date: 2006-12-02 10:42:36
William Aldington ( royaldington@telefonica.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian,

I was just browsing to try and find relatives in Montreal of an old Harrison Line and Cunard Captain, Robert H Monks. I have a hand written personal letter (8th December 1959) from Monks to an old friend of ours, George Morris - Captain of many Cunarders and Commodore of the fleet. I thought that it may be of some small interest to the Monks descendants if they are tracing their family history.

Incidentally, some years ago we went aboard Queen Mary in Long Beach and there, near the captains quarters, is a picture of George Morris in full regalia.

Frustratingly, Google Earth can zoom-in on the very house from which the letter was written but so far I am unable to make contact. Any ideas?

Kind regards,

William Aldington

403  Date: 2006-11-22 13:10:56
Mike Davis ( mdavis@rfdbeaufort.com / no homepage) wrote:

I sailed on the MS Sunmont (on charter), Saguenay circa 1967. Liverpool, West Indies, British Guyana and Canada. The Sunmont shown was the original. Does anyone have a picture of mine?
Thanks for the trip, the memories came flooding back.

402  Date: 2006-11-18 21:32:54
Graham Collins ( grahamcollins@lycos.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site - I often put 'Radio Officer' into Google and see what comes back!

Trained at Grimsby College - MRGC issued June 1975, DTI radar maint'later that year. Spent my 6 yrs at sea with BP Tanker Co.

Marine Electronics cert gained at So'ton around 1980.

The photo's of radio rooms could have been taken on any ship - the radio gear is ageless! How reliable compared to modern stuff?

Keep up the good work.

401  Date: 2006-11-15 19:56:33
Derek Lewis ( dee.makem@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Message for David Gillmon

Hello Dave

Noticed your posting, where you the dark haired dapper "Sparks" who used to pull all the "Birds" on the Boat Deck ??? I was A "Leckey" on the Queen 1961 & 1962, mainly in the engine room. You'll probably remember Joe Steel better as he was a day worker and worked mostly on the decks and accommadition.

There is an item I wrote about my first trip to sea on the Queen on this site, Cheers Derek Lewis

400  Date: 2006-11-15 16:34:09
David Gillmon ( david.gillmon@btconnect.com / no homepage) wrote:

Quite an interesting site.I am an ex R/O,ECO and TAO. My sea career commenced in 1955 on the Queen of Bermuda (Furness Withy - Marconi R/O's). I was 11 years on the Queen untill she was withdrawn from service in 1966. I then began a 17 year love affair with ss Oriana (P & O). In 1984 I started getting used to passenger RO-RO ferries criss crossing the Channel,North Sea and Irish sea until 2001 ,when at the age of 65 I decided to swallow the anchor.

399  Date: 2006-11-10 17:03:03
Simon Webber ( ticklemonster@hotmail.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

The Registan! I sailed in her for about 4 months from xmas 1974, She was a real Lady, sleek, fast, and with wonderful "named" wood panelling around the accommodation. I still have a silver Strick Line teaspoon purloined from one of the stewards. Great days, great times.

398  Date: 2006-11-06 18:05:21
Terry Griffin ( terrance.griffin@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

I arrived at your site when searching for for the Thorstream (CCAL). I used to work for Kerr Steamships in the early 70's and used to love meeting those ships when they arrived in Halifax and Saint John. I am perusing your site and am enthralled. Keep up the great work!! -Terry

397  Date: 2006-11-03 02:24:36
Brian Wylie ( littleflower111149@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

of Burntisland , M. N. 1966 - 1980 .
Great site , good work , well done , keep it up !
Any body out there recognize the moniker , get in touch

396  Date: 2006-10-29 12:21:13
bob murdoch ( bob.murdocj@skynet.be / no homepage) wrote:

Just checking you out, yet again, Ian.
Enjoyed but was horrified by Aime's tale of working as a "radio officer" on a cruise liner. Bo thanks, telephone exchange operator! Dont blame him for getting back to real operating.

395  Date: 2006-10-28 22:19:44
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Re the BI letter about VWB, and your not re waiting times for a berth. I was R/O on the OKHLA/GMNM in October 1958 outside Colombo/4PB at anchor where we sat for nearly 3 months, waiting to discharge. We could get ashore no problem, and I spent my mornings making cricket balls out of string and rubber scraps. The afternoons were spent with most of the crew playing cricket on the small foredeck. It paid off, we played many other ships in Colombo/Galle/Mt.Lavinia, and were unbeaten. We only had 12 white officers on board, but with an Indian crew there were lots of players to choose from. We were sorry to see it come to an end! Our chief Eng. was a great opening bat, and 2nd Engineer Ken Farmer had played for Kent 2nds. Alas we were soundly beaten by the Mackinnon Mackenzie team, our agents. Very happy days.

394  Date: 2006-10-03 02:37:32
Mike Lindsell ( mlindsell@netfactory.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Good site, I joined Bank Line in 1953 as an apprentice, left Bankline in 1962, last position Chief Officer M.V. Teakbank.
Took up residence in Australia in 1963 (Parents had been in Sydney since 1951). Since ariving in Sydney in 1962 I have lived all over Australia, and in Hong Kong, and Singapore, returned to Australia , Perth in 1985. Last 35 years have been spent in the Offshore Oil and Gas Support Vessel business.

393  Date: 2006-09-27 00:37:27
James Dawson ( james@premierresorts.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for your efforts. I enjoyed the nostalgic trip through your web site.
Former R/O Union Castle & Clan Line 1975-82

392  Date: 2006-09-23 13:14:38
Patrick Chapman ( grosvenor.buxton@btopenworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have started researching some of my family history and am delighted to find such a facinating and useful web site
Apart from personally returning to GB from South Africa on the second leg of the maiden voyage Windsor Castle in 1960, my uncle, George Chapman was the senior representative for the Union Castle Line at Mombassa and then Cape Town from the 1930's to the 1960's and retired to his last posting in East London.
A second uncle Jack, worked for the same line on board, was torpedoed twice and survived some twenty days in an open boat. It is these two who I am most interested in discovering more about.

391  Date: 2006-09-22 14:43:47
Hugh Roberts ( roberts@henddol.fsworld.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

RNARS 4820 & retired RNLI crew.Well done excellent site.
Blue funnels Lawrence Holt with Kurt Hahn established Outward Bound Sea School at Aberdovey in 1942 as a result of loss of young life in WW2.

390  Date: 2006-09-20 12:25:01
david a jones ( david@farstar.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Brill, just couldn't be better. Brought back many happy memories.

389  Date: 2006-09-19 15:03:35
Terry Powell ( terros@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

In the Union Castle section you talk about the "R" ships and include both Tintagle and Tantallon Castles as reefer ships. I was on the Tantallon as Senior Cadet on her maiden voyage and they, to the best of my recollation did not have reefer capacity. They were general cargo ships, with balck hulls similar to the Good Hope and Drakensberg Castles.

388  Date: 2006-09-13 18:02:46
Dave Share ( d.b.share@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

I note you have deleted my blurb promoting my book Ian "Oceans of Time"? Why is that? All seaman enjoy nostalgia about the times we went to sea in the golden age of the 50 and 60s and talking of the times as your site promotes. Very rarely do new books come out. Other MN sites have given me full steam ahead and are going to promote the book. I spent a lot of my early career on UC line. Im disappointed you have dimissed my text.

387  Date: 2006-09-11 19:06:42
Brian Cudlip ( cudie@uwclub.net / no homepage) wrote:

I joined the Union Castle after leaving catering
college in 1955.My first ship was the Edinburgh Castle & over the next six years I would serve on the Stirling,Winchester,Capetown & best of all
the Pendennis which I joined in Belfast as she was
being fitted out I was then with her for the next two years until 1961 when I left the MN for life ashore.I'm 69 now but I still have my discharge book & union book I guess I thought I would go back one day.Your site is great & has brought a lump to my throat.Thankyou
Brian Cudlip

386  Date: 2006-09-05 15:01:38
Julie Speidel ( julebug78@juno.com / no homepage) wrote:

My dad immigrated from Ireland to the USA on the Georgic in Oct-Nov 1952. During that trip they were supposed to arrive in New York on Friday, but they didn't arrive until Sunday, because a huge storm came up. It was the worst storm that the captain had even seen. He had to let the ship drift back ward for 1 day because if he had dropped anchor, he would have torn the ship apart.

385  Date: 2006-09-02 01:14:59
Patrick Reynolds ( patreynolds1@tisacli.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Joined Union Castle in 1971, SA Oranje, Penndennis Castle, Windsor Castle, Southampton Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Reina Del Mar, as junior Catering Purser. Left in 1975 as 3Rd Purser Catering afer having met a passenger. Married her in 1976 and just celebrated 30 yrs married. The most eventful and interesting 4 years a young man could ever wish for. (I'm 55 now!)

384  Date: 2006-08-30 21:04:04
Bill Spalding ( bill@cardonald.fsworld.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

After spending many years searching for informationa about the Anchor Line I have just found your website. Magnificent. Wonderful photos I have not seen before and such clarity and sharpness. I have been collecting A.L. material for about 20 years now and have a fair collection. I give displays from time to time. In fact am doing one in September at Hamilton to the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society. I have also spent some time in the Business Archives in Partick, Glasgow where the remaining documents of the A. L. were deposited. I have many postcards plus print-outs and ephemera. Thanks for a really wonderful surprise. I am willing to describe by letter some of the "treasures" in my collection if you are interested. Bill

383  Date: 2006-08-29 16:18:31
Geoff Semple ( geoff@autotechcoachworks.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian
Thanks for the e mail Steve Bryant was a very quiet lad while the rest of us at college were screaming eejits and far too fond of fast ladies slow horses and the demon drink Steve didnt
Nicelad all the same I was told some years aqo that he had joined the Ministry but I dont know how true that is However it wouldnt be out of character if memory serves me right he really was a very gentle sort of chap
I served my apprenticeship in Bank Line and on passing my second mates ticket i was sent to join the M.V. Streambank in Savannah Georgia it was a crew changeover so all 15 of us went to the States on the old Queen Elizabeth Among our number was a young newly married Marconi sparks called Ray his previous experience had been on Passenger ships of the Cunard variety back home every few months and so forth strange to say he was quite excited about sailing on a bona fide cargo boat. Well we joined the Streambank in Savannah and in due course we sailed,and we sailed,and we sailed,and after innumerable ports and one circumnavigation we arrived in Baltimore with a cargo of cocoa from West Africa and young newly married Marconi sparks who seemed to have lost his enthusiasm for cargo boats certainly those belonging to Bank Line as they were namely for going out and staying out.
He came to my cabin one afternoon to tell me he was for the off we had become good pals and he knew I wouldnt tell anybody.Anyway it wouldnt have mattered as he had told the skipper who,a real nice guy,had slipped him a few dollars to help him on his way.The bold Ray instead of heading for Canada and home took a train for New York booked himself into a nice hotel and stayed there until the money ran out he then went and gave himself up to the police and was promptly thrown into the Tombs the notorious New York jail where he stayed until they could arrange his passage home D.B.S.
We then had the dubious pleasure of having an American join us for about a month until a British replacement joined us.
Well Ian War and Peace it aint but your e mail sounded as though stories of any description were sadly lacking so there you go.

All the best

Geoff

382  Date: 2006-08-21 19:17:42
Bill Greig ( bgreig@supanet.com / no homepage) wrote:

What a great site. Ex P&O R/O. Reading some of the stories and looking at the photo's the memories came flooding back. I'll be back!

381  Date: 2006-08-21 14:23:24
Geoff Semple ( geoff@autotechcoachworks.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Ian,
Browsing gently through your site as I am wont to do of a quiet afternoon when Bam! in the RO Gallery I find a picture of a chap one Steve Bryant I went to Pre-Sea school at Tech College Glasgow with Steve in '56 and then we took our 2nd Mates together in '60 . Small world Eh?

Thanks again
Geoff

380  Date: 2006-08-18 19:08:07
Carol Jackson ( c.j.jacksongw@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian

I visited this website today as I am looking into the history of my late grandfather - Commander William Nicholls on behalf of my mother Ann Jackson (nee Nicholls)

My mum (his daugher Ann) never really knew him as he died of a heartattack when she was 3. She tells me that he captained the Mauritania during her early years - and mum believes that he was aboard he when she was awarded the Blue Riband.

My mum has a very sketchy idea and her memory is fairly poor - but she believes that he was aboard sometime between 1907 (she thinks he was there for her maiden voyage) and 1912. She doesn't believe he was when she ferried troops in WW1.

Would you know how we might find more information about him and his time aboard this steamer?

My mum has had very poor health in the last 2 years and one of her 'lifetime ambitions' is to take a trip on a Cunard ship - after months of wondering whether she would be well enough - we have finally booked a trip on the QM2 in October. She is taking myself, my husband and our young son.

I would be very interested to hear from you if you would know how we might find more information.

Kind regards

Carol.

379  Date: 2006-08-16 15:16:27
Anthony Legg ( ale97564@bigpond.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

enjoyed visiting your site, brought back many memories of my cadetship between 1961 -64.I was introduced to radio when my eyesight failed and went on to do precision navigation for off shore oil exploration using Shoran equipment. Now retired and living in Western Australia I miss the old cw on 484khz ( Perth Radio ) and r/t and w/t traffic on hf. Active on ham radio as VK6ZDZ, BUT i MISS THE OLD DAYS. tHANKS AGAIN i'LL VISIT AGAIN 73'S -.- tONY.

378  Date: 2006-08-16 07:06:19
Janella Horne ( janella@thehedges.wanadoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Very interesting site; easy to read & navigate.
I am trying to find out about my grandfather James McGregor Gardner from Banbury Oxfordshire & my great grandfather E C Hayward from Southampton who both severed on the Dunbar Castle. I think James later served on the Queen Mary.

E C Hayward disappeared one trip to South Africa & the family never heard of him again. I note from your site that Mr. Anderson was on the Durban Castle – I wondered if he might have known either of them? I can supply pictures of James if required.

Do you know where I can find out about their service records?

Hope you can help.

Kindest regards

Janella

377  Date: 2006-08-12 16:31:14
PASQUALE DE CEGLIA ( ik7tve@libero.it / no homepage) wrote:

radio officer merchant ships 1974 - 1996, gmdss/opr. 1996 - 2006. Wanderfull pages,excellent. thanks

376  Date: 2006-08-11 21:06:05
Kevin Gibson ( welshkevin@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Fantastic site - a credit to you and a wonderful tribute to a true Golden Age. My great-uncle, Albert Gibson, joined the Merchant Navy in he 1930s as a radio officer and served with Marconi and the Union Castle Line until 1957. I'd be delighted to hear from anyone with any memories. Thanks.

375  Date: 2006-08-11 15:21:05
bob roberts r671642 eng. ( barbroberts@blueyonder.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent programme brings it all back. From 1952 in
Ship Repair through Merchant Navy to 1990 when there
were no ships left to repair on Merseyside.

374  Date: 2006-08-06 15:28:19
Gareth Jones ( mrgarethjones@talk21.com / no homepage) wrote:

As a former R/O I very much enjoyed you site - In 1978 I was R/O aboard the Niarchos owned Liberian Tanker Spyros/6ZYG when she suffered a catastropic engine room explosion whilst undergoing annual refit in Jurong shipyards Singapore. I have often thought about writing down my experiences of that day. If I were to do so, would you be interested in putting it on your site ?

373  Date: 2006-08-01 04:07:28
Matt de Silva ( vmaster@toll.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

I am master on a cargo ferry in the Bass Strait running from Melbourne to Burnie Tasmania. I served my time as a cadet in Ellerman City Lines from 1966 finishing off as Chief officer from 1976 to 1979.Have seen a lot of the old movies of that era floating around and the nostalgia associated with the old ships and men was churning in me when a non-seafaring friend sent me your website. I have many officers from the Red Ensign sailing with me and they will be very interested in your site. Thanks & regards Matt de Silva

372  Date: 2006-07-16 05:30:18
Doug Howick ( doug@tpaa.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian, I have really enjoyed the first episode of Derek Lewis' memories of his early MN career. Derek: if you read Ian's Guestbook, "Thanks" and I'm sure many other regular visitors to this great site are really looking forward to the next episode as much as I am. Kind regards, Doug H

371  Date: 2006-07-14 11:28:14
Tony McGregor ( tonym@statssa.gov.za / no homepage) wrote:

I loved especially your page on the Unkion Castle line. I sailed on may of the ships shown, including the Arundal and Winchester Castles. My late father, Murray McGregor, was a great ship lover and founder of the South African section of the World Ship Society. Thanks for the great site! My uncle Geof Keen was UC's marine super in Southampton for many years and his son Owen sailed on many UC ships. Both were members of the Master Mariners. Geoff was married to my mother's sister.

370  Date: 2006-07-09 01:16:38
Helen Windsor ( helenwindsor734@msn.com / no homepage) wrote:

PHIL J. KELLY R/O (GLASGOW) I have just found this website and added to my Favourties. I have just seen, for the first time, my late father's James Watt College in Greenock, (1939). I have his Results from Liverpool Maritime Museum which holds them. He wrote his Memoirs 1939 to mid-60s - includ. serving on both QM and QE late 40s. I have researched the WWII part for 2 years and if there are any WWII British R/Os I would love to hear directly from them (e-mail me any time), especially if they have knowledge of RN Special Reserve. I also have the full Archive Index for Anchor Line if anyone interested (have as Word doc) Includes other Anchor company names as well, Currie Line, Runcaman, Moor Line, Leith Hull, Isaac and George Gibson. They are at Glasgow Univ.
Hope someone reads this and comes back to me.
Helen

369  Date: 2006-07-08 20:18:31
Dave R ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Oh for the days when I went to sea. These pages have rekindled many memories - thank you

368  Date: 2006-07-07 04:48:45
Roger Lecucq ( RogerFranzose@web.de / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian!
My complements to a internet site well made! It has loads of information - I could spend days reading it. I am looking for information about the United African Company, which was a merger between the Niger Company & African & Eastern Trade Corporation which operated routes between the UK and mainly West Africa but also South America? Do you have any information and ships pictures from about 1929 to approx. 1949 ? when the company the PALM Line?? Any snippets of information would be useful. Thank you very much! Complements again...
Very kind regards from Germany
Roger Lecucq Bergstrasse 18 a D-33803 Steinhagen
Germany

367  Date: 2006-06-30 11:13:24
Roger Webb ( retiredandactive@aol.com / http://www.retiredandactive.com) wrote:

i was a cadet in the clan line and would like to make a link from my site to yours

366  Date: 2006-06-28 04:20:58
karl crook ( karlcrooksnr@clear.net.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian Did you get the photo of the Hornby Grange I sent you.Where on the site do I send sea experiences.Kia Ora Regards Karl

365  Date: 2006-06-21 20:39:13
Graham Poulloin ( ggpoulloin@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

thanks for the memories, one day i'll write to you about how I broke the crankshaft of the cod war mother ship the 'Miranda'

364  Date: 2006-06-20 15:56:25
Hurol Hekimbasi ( hurolh@yahoo.com / http://www.geocities.com/erdem_yurtseven) wrote:

Ian,
I thank you very much for your kind and encouraging entry to my guest book and your offer of link from your page. It will be an honour.
Best regards,
Hurol Hekimbasi
P.S. Sorry, had to use your book for the second time as I could not find your e-mail !

363  Date: 2006-06-19 20:57:14
Hurol Hekimbasi ( hurolh@yahoo.com / http://www.geocities.com/erdem_yurtseven) wrote:

I have been a regular visitor of your site for the last few years. Many interesting writtings and pictures that I found there helped me to better visualize the post war era at sea. I think this site contributes a lot to the oral history of merchant marine. I have recently launched an amateur MM site dedicated to personal memories. I hope you visit it when you get a chance. Thanks again for sharing that valuable knowledge with us.
Best Regards,
Hurol Hekimbasi (TA1BD)

362  Date: 2006-06-15 05:12:54
Karl Crook ( karlcrooksnr@clear.net.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian Great site.Found a few ships I sailed on but still can't find a mention or photo of the Alsatia on which in 60 I was down below carying whisky from Glasgow to New York.regards Karl Kia ora

361  Date: 2006-06-12 07:23:15
Glynis Clifford (nee Royle) ( glynisthemenace@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I enjoyed reading the guests notes and the website. I travelled on the SS Orsova on it's maiden voyage to Australia from Tilbury docks in London in 1954. I would love to make contact with any other passengers from this voyage. Please feel free to pass on my email address if you get any queries. I have a photo taken with other passengers on the ship, would love to find out who they are

360  Date: 2006-06-12 04:13:19
Hugh Wilson ( hfw2@btopenworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

I enjoyed reading the account of a cadet's first trip to sea with Clan Line. However, he says that he joined his first ship in 1959 and during the voyage, the ship made her way upriver to Calcutta in company with the 1975 built vessel Irish Maple. How can this be??

359  Date: 2006-06-08 16:01:01
Michael Tabakoulias ( mtabakoulias@vicr.com / http://www.vicr.com) wrote:

Great Site. Keep it up! Thanks for having us here!
Regards from Andover,MA.

358  Date: 2006-06-03 20:39:03
Mike Higgins ( no email / http://www.gi3ymt.co.uk) wrote:

Congrats.Was R/O 1957-1968 all years Elder Dempster lines Liverpool apart from initial 9 months with Marconi.
Keep up the good work.

357  Date: 2006-05-31 21:37:57
David CREMIN ( daveacremin@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

My wifes grandmother (92yrs) showed me a napkin from the RMMV Winchester Castle she has as a souvenier. She showed this me just prior to saying "I am throwing this away. Is it any good?" On looking into this ship I found this web site. An interesting look into nautical history!

356  Date: 2006-05-29 20:41:16
Terry Calpin ( tcalpin@telco4u.net / no homepage) wrote:

At work four of us very young lads decided to join the Royal Navy, I put down to be an Artificer and failed the test, the other three passed. Going back to work a chap told me to join the Merchant Navy, and see more of the World.I went on deck after the Vindi: now over 70 as I look back, and are very thankful I failed the test, what a great life the MN was. Id like to thank you for a very good site.

355  Date: 2006-05-28 00:33:27
Dave Ingram (Chippy) ( inky@rabbit.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks Mate,after being a chippy from 1961 to 1975 on passy boats to containers.Your site gave me the final photos i,m collecting of all the ships i sailed on from Queen Mary to Margret Bowater in a very varied career.Good Job Good Luck & Thanks ended up in aussy am retired at 67yrs

354  Date: 2006-05-25 16:17:00
Alan MacKenzie ( strathspey@onetel.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,

have just stumbled across your site and think it's absolutely brilliant.

Like yourself, I was a Radio Officer, though always with P&O Passenger Division and some years behind yourself. I first went to sea as a TRO in "Canberra" in November 1976 and served in eight ships all told, crossing over in the late 1980s to the so-called "Electro-Technical" Dept. I finally had to come ashore at the end of 2002, not so much because I wished to but because my parents had got to the stage where they could no longer look after themselves and could not manage during my 4-month absences. I left "Arcadia" (III) in November 2002 as the Staff Electro-Technical Officer, by then, one of the Chief Engineer's deputies! A far cry from the early days, when the ROs had hardly any contact with the Engineering Department.

Anyway, if you would be interested, I have quite a number of photographs of Radio Offices (and around the ships) from 1976 - 2002, including Canberra, as the R/Office was in the 1970s and later, when it was refitted as a single room in 1992.

Other R/O-orientated pics are from Oriana (I), Uganda, Sea Princess / Victoria, Island Princess etc. If you would like some, let me know and I'll scan them up for sending.

Best wishes, cheers,
Alan

353  Date: 2006-05-22 13:46:23
julie Betrovski ( mermaid53565@msn.com / no homepage) wrote:

In 1954 I sailed from Liverpool to New York aboard the Franconia I was 2 years old (no memory). In 1958 (my Mum was homesick) we sailed back to Liverpool from Boston in october aboard R.M.S. Nova Scotia. We returned to Boston from Liverpool in November abord the R.M.S. New Foundland. Some of the best memories of my life!

352  Date: 2006-05-21 12:42:58
Paul Mulle ( paul.mulle@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

My mother, born 12/12/1903, often told me that at the age of 18 months she was shipwrecked in the Bay of Biscay on the way back to England from South Africa. I have just located records of the grounding of the Uzumbi on 3rd September 1905 near Ushant, which fits all the required circumstances. Articles in the Times relating to the incident and the subsequent Enquiry, state that there were 50 crew and 15 passengers, including several women and children. Unfortunately no names are given. I wondered whether you might be able to advise me how I might be able to obtain a copy of the passenger list ?

Regards,

Paul Mulle from England

351  Date: 2006-05-18 20:22:01
Mark Glasgow ( pinuk@btconnect.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ian, I came across your site today when researching something for Ships Nostalgia and was so impressed I took the liberty of adding a note and link to your site. FYI it is at:

http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=25441

Well done and Kind regards
Mark (aka Tonga)

350  Date: 2006-05-17 16:54:59
Robert Walgate ( walgate@scienceanalysed.com / no homepage) wrote:

Staff Commander Richard Walgate, pictured on your White Empresses page, was my father. He was a Canadian by birth but married a Plymouth lass, Dina Winsor, during the war and I was brought up in England. As a boy I sailed with him a few times across the Atlantic. I preferred the Beavers - the Empresses were beautiful but for the passengers just food food food! Thanks for putting up the pictures.

349  Date: 2006-05-07 20:34:21
Peter Evison ( evison35@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Never thought I would see an Oceanspan and an Atalanta again. Ex Marconi R/O 1975-80, mostly Bank Line including the Laurelbank near the end of that great era of British flag tramp ships. Thanks for the nostalgic reminder, arrived at by chance.

348  Date: 2006-04-27 12:53:22
Mark Hughes ( markanne@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Just came across this site whilst at my desk(sorry workstation) in the Liver Building and lost myself for half an hour. I was at sea for 12 years with Cunard in the 70's and 80's. Most of my early time was spent on Brocklebank and Port Line ships. (I wonder what the girls from the Durban Ladies Hockey Club circa 1974 are doing now?)
Great days. Great site. The photos brought back memories, faces and smiles. I hope my kids find an environment where they can learn, have fun and experience the cameraderie that was available then. Blow this desk job business.

347  Date: 2006-04-26 12:45:55
Ray Gee ( rgee48@talktalk.net / no homepage) wrote:

I joined the Merchant Navy in 1964 or 1965, I went to the Gravesend Training School. I originally came from just outside Sheffield, don't get many ships there, I'd never seen one until going to Gravesend.
I think I joined on the strength of our school corresponding with some-one who was working on a B.P.Tanker, not sure which one it was, but I think I must have been impressed by what I had seen and heard.
My first two ships were tankers, I almost demolished Milford Haven, I was on my first ship the Clutha River, never really been away from home before, other than the training school, I was told to find an empty cabin and then go amidships and get the key from the mate who was overseeing offloading cargo, I found the empty cabin, right opposite the door for the engine room, wouldn't you know it, I went out on deck to get the key and decided to light a cigarrette up, bad idea!
The mate let me know in no uncertain terms that it wasn't a good idea.
After the two tankers I got on the Dorset, Federal Steam Navigation, I went round the coast with it and then signed for deep sea, had a fantastic time, did 4 ports in New Zealand, then a couple of ports on the continent before taking the ship to dry dock in Falmouth, a fittingly beautiful closing port to a beautiful ship, it was the first ship that I really enjoyed being on, really good crew, really happy.
I have always supported Sheffield Wednesday, they had never been to Wembley in my life-time, yes we got there in 1966, yes I was at the other end of the world on the Dorset and the team we played was Everton, and yes you guessed it we had an Everton fan on board, we were 2-0 up and lost 3-2!
We've still not won the F.A cup in my lifetime.
I then spent the rest of my sea life 'rock dodging', mainly to the continent with Ellerman Wilson lines, United Baltic Corp. and North Sea Ferries.
Basically the happiest part of my working life was the 5 years that I spent at sea, as any-one else I have tales to tell and maybe one day I will retell some on here.
Loved looking at the many photos on your site, weren't those ships majestic, unlike lots of what they turn out nowadays, I use to train spot when I was young and I liken the advent of deisels in comparrison to steam trains in the same way as I look upon today's shipping, I think it's classed as 'progress', pity!

346  Date: 2006-04-24 15:47:53
joe prewitt w0tut ( w0tut@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Joe, you rejmember me, Ross who wrote the book CQ GTZM, diary
of a maritime radio officer.

However the book i wrote, i had 500 copies printed and over a period of
3 ;years sold. the lot breaaking even. I have now given the rights of the
book to the Radio Officers Association, a kind of olf comrades club
of exsea going Radio Officers fromthe sea and coast stations and
"clandestime"services. All proceeds go to the ROA and I receive absolutely nothing. Should you want a copy for anyone the adddress to write to is
aas follows:
John Russell
21 Landcross Drive
Abington Vale
Northampton
NN3 3LR
England

The cost is L16.50 sterling for books to the USA

Hi Ian:

Receiived the following from Ross Bradshaw in re to his
excellent book: CQ GTZM back in Jan 06.
Joe Prewiltt w0tut

345  Date: 2006-04-22 22:41:48
dick sharples ( SHARPLES@LAGUNACOM.AU / no homepage) wrote:

I commenced my love of ships in 1944, in South- Bank-on-Tees.Served a Marine Engineering Apprenticeship at Smith Dock, then entered my Golden Years of Shipping on the Port Pirie.Soon realised I could hop from one Company to another with ease, depending on were they were destined for.Curiously,the best one (and the worst one) was the Athel Tankers. They went anywhere were there was Molasses.. and that was everywhere! The Computer has whetted my appetite for searching for my ships I sailed in, some surprising revelations came from my searches. The mostly new ships I joined were either scrapped or in the case of some of the Prince Line,Engine -room fires had sent them to the bottom.I am 75 now, and still grasp at anything to do with Shipping from those days.. Regards Dick Sharples

344  Date: 2006-04-21 13:24:16
Stuart Henderson 'George) ( Vernelles@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great site. Was at sea 1947 to 1977. Brings back happy memories. Liked the photo of SAMARIA it was quite possible I might have been Purser/Chief Steward on her about that time

343  Date: 2006-04-20 13:01:54
Rupert Erskine ( kadie@sdm.dorea.co.za / no homepage) wrote:

In January 1971 we left UK to South Africa, Cape Town, on the Winsor Castle, I was only 9 at the time. I remember crossing the Equator Pool Party. My sister, brother and myself won first prize in the fancy dress. Everyone was sick on the ship when it stopped at Lasparmus! Sad that all good things in life come to an end. Supersonic jets have come and gone. The world is now a smaller place to live in, "globalisation". As a child I remember going to Cape Town Harbour with my grandmother to collect a friends from the mail ship, it was an exciting thing to do!!!!

342  Date: 2006-04-19 17:34:02
Geoff Semple ( geoff@autotechcoachworks.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi,Have enjoyed your site very much and keep coming back as there is so much to enjoy.
I went to sea in 1956 as a cadet with Bank Line served my time obtained my 2nd Mates Ticket and did a trip on a boat called Streambank as third mate.I then left to join the Crest shipping Co. and sailed on the M.V.Tidecrest as second mate I then had a short spell on a small ore carrier called Thackeray belonging to the Anglo-Danubian Group I then went on tankers firstly with Esso on the Esso Exeter And then with Ropners on Shell Charter on the M.V. Thirlby I came ashore after that trip and been ashore ever since However I would not have missed the experience for the world it truly was the best time to be at sea in the British Merchant Navy. Geoff

341  Date: 2006-04-13 23:07:13
Adair Craigie-Lucas ( adair@lucasmarine.co.nz / http://www.lucasmarine.co.nz) wrote:

Good Day!
Have just discovered your site - excellent!
I went to sea as an apprentice with Port Line in 1964. First ship being Port Brisbane. Saw the last of the 'good days' in the British MN but, after passing my Masters 'ticket in 1974 decided to join the newly formed NZ Shipping Corporation. I sailed with them for 15 years, including 8 years as Master, before coming ashore and starting Lucas Marine Services. We are a small shipping agency, marine survery and consultancy company based in Whangarei, NZ. I attend on board cargo ships on almost a daily basis. How things ghave changed! I do not remember the last time I met a British officer or seaman. In fact I seldom meet anyone who is not from Asia or Eastern Europe.
Thanks again for a great site - I have bookmarked it for future visits when I have the opportunity.
Cheers.

340  Date: 2006-04-10 21:26:41
Rick Hollinshead ( pandemonium@boltblue.com / no homepage) wrote:

Just found your site whilst doing some research for a friend. I too was 2nd R/O on the Eucadia in 1962 (My first trip) Chief R/O was then Davey Briggs who was taken off the ship ill and replaced on our arrival back at Yorkhill Quay by Gus Mcphail. Captain Barclay was Captain then --- Ahh happy days !!!

339  Date: 2006-04-06 09:46:25
ian kemp ( icky59@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

hi ian,
great site mate.really liked the ellermans section its the best i have found so far.was with ellermans from 1962-66 mainly on the manz run.great days not only have all those great old ships gone but so has the company.would be great to hear from any guys who sailed with me back then.now living in auckland nz.your site can only get better,great stuff.

338  Date: 2006-04-05 03:35:20
stuart j Morrison ( stuart_j_morrison@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Sir,

Where did you get the info on the Ellerman's City Line? My late Great Uncle Captain Peter Morrison served over 40 yrs (1928 - 1972) with this line, torpedoed twice in WWII (City of Simla, City of Venice). I am trying to research his vessels, journeys etc.

337  Date: 2006-04-02 15:20:27
clive v lewis ( kaitoa@clara.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for very interesting nostalgic viewing.. was myself starting 1949 as 'Vindi boy' subsequently A/B ... R/O for several years as freelance & finally 3rd mate. Hope to visit the land sites before too much longer - 73's = CVL

336  Date: 2006-04-01 12:51:01
David Hodes ( d_hodes@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,
I'm glad I've found your website. I was searching for Manchester Liners, for whom I worked from 1971 - 1983. I agree with every word you said. All those elegant powerful ships, not like the floating blocks of flats they all look like nowadays. I sometime go to Felixstowe to view the traffic and with a very few exceptions modern ships are anonymous and ugly. My wife and I went to the naming ceremony of the "MANCHESTER VANGUARD" at Smith's Dock and we thought the ship was one of the most beautiful we'd seen. The "Vanguard" has now sadly been broken up after only 25 years service.
Maybe I'll be able to get back to you with some memories of a landlubber's work for the world's best shipping line.
Kindest regards,
David Hodes.

335  Date: 2006-04-01 06:59:41
Barry Fenwick ( barryfenwick@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have been trying to unearth information on MV Gorgon as I was aboard her as a 4 year old evacuee when she sailed for Australia on February 11th 1942. I am particularly interested in finding out more information about the events of that voyage and wonder if you can suggest how I might achieve that. Your web page is extremely interesting with some wonderful photographs. Thank you!

334  Date: 2006-03-25 19:09:35
Robert Emmott (R/O) ( remmott@cogeco.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Brings back memories!

333  Date: 2006-03-23 02:53:22
Robyn Florance ( florance@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au / no homepage) wrote:

I am researching Greek Immigrants who arrived in Sydney on board the Orient Liners. Thanks for your site

332  Date: 2006-03-20 01:00:00
Baz Mumford ( barriemumford@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

a very good website Iwas in the vindi dec 59-feb60.
Ihave sailed in ellerman n wilson, cunard ,castle bp, bp, clyde, haynes,palm,baltic,orient,palm,cory,london and rochester,stag.

331  Date: 2006-03-05 17:52:58
Roger Bentley ( rogbebo@nascr.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, We have been in contact before. I am one of the editors of the Radio Officers' Association journal QSO. Your site is superb and memories flood back everytime I visit it. Best regards, Roger

330  Date: 2006-03-03 23:51:11
Roger A. Fawcett ( globechart@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

Thank you for some great memories and pictures of ships sadly long gone.
Ex Chapman & Willan / Brocklebank deck officer now a shipboker.

329  Date: 2006-02-25 22:36:24
Bob Wiliams ( robert.williams45@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Born in liverpool,aprentice in Cammel Lairds .Sailed various companys and with fyffes on Golfito as junior engineer and on Cameto Chuscal and Tetela as Second engineer.
Took up teaching engineers(for many years). Now retired and live in Liverpool. Enjoyed the pictures,supprised how many ships (or one of class)I had seen but one I missed was the City of Johannesburg sometimes called Ellermans Yacht. my first ship.Thanks for the memories.........

328  Date: 2006-02-25 16:17:36
Paul Edmond ( panda22@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, I sailed from Southhampton to Cape Town on the Pendennis Castle on Friday 13th Septenmber 1968 one day after my 22nd birthday. I had a ball for 12 days and the start of a life time of adventures.

327  Date: 2006-02-25 02:19:48
Eileen ( eilcon2000@yahoo.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Keep up the good work.

326  Date: 2006-02-21 20:36:00
Gerard M Foley ( gfoley@columbus.rr.com / http://home.columbus.rr.com/gfoley) wrote:

In Sept.1932 I crossed from New York to Glasgow in RMS California, on my way to enroll at the U.of St.Andrews. My mother and I sailed back from Glasgow to New York the following June in RMS Caledonia.
Thanks for your work on these pages.
Gerry K8EF

325  Date: 2006-02-18 00:08:17
Aimé Charest ( ac.wto@cgocable.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Feb 17 2006

To Charles Mintoff:

I was very interested by your pictures of Bowaters ships. I have been sailing on the MV Québec/VCXL ex-Alice Bowater. Unfortunately, I have no picture of the "Alice" which would compensate for the "Québec".
In early 70's, the MV Québec was, as a cargo-ship, manned with regular crew but additionally with deck and engine cadets from the Marine School in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada. I was occasional R/O on her for vayages between Eastern Canada coast to the Caribbean mainly with newsprint and to former West Germany with ammunitions for Canadian Forces based over there.
The ship was sadly in very bad condition when I went aboard again in '74 or '75, to join as R/O. So much that a few hours after I joined and before I sign the articles, I just backed off and went back home! The radio-room was in a so bad shape that the company was to hire a 2nd R/O in Sept-Iles, when I joined in Sorel, to stand watches on 6/6 hr-wathes for the Auto-Alarm was out of order. The Ol' Man was a old Navy guy who did not "suffer" the presence of the R/O in the wheelhouse! His attitude was so dislikable in many ways that I just did not stay!
That ship, so great at sea and with so great and beautiful accommodations, was sold for scrap a couple of years after.
Just to mention that at that time, cadets were paid 1.27 Can$/a-day for 4 hours in the engine room or wheelhouse, in addition to usual seaman work in either department!!!
That was also the way in those days.

A.C. ex R/O

324  Date: 2006-02-16 22:52:19
David Share ( d.b.share@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

There are so many nostalgic sites that we old KG5 mariners can peruse over.Your site Ian is another stacked with hours of interest.
My book 'Oceans Of Time'is to be published and in the book shops in August 2006. There are many books written about shipping companies, but very few on working seafarers writing down their experiences at sea.It is even harder to attract a publisher but within a month of completing the book I was lucky to secure a book contract. 'Oceans Of Time'is an autobiography of 300 pages and photos from the cradle to retirement. It spans my life and times in a 48yr career on the briny 1956-2004 In the British MN and the 34yrs I spent on the NZ coast as an AB. The golden era of shipping in the '50's and 60's when ships had derricks and a ten day stay in port. I sailed out of Southampton on the Mary and Castle boats but KG5 and Customhouse was my port. Seafarers are unique and lived a life that only we could put into words. My publisher advises that interested overseas buyer may purchase the book direct from SteeleRoberts Publishers in Wellington NZ but at present it is being edited and put into shipshape form for marketing in August.
Regards Dave Share

323  Date: 2006-02-12 07:02:19
Coos ( coosjl@ca.inter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Ian, in your Bowater pictures, where is the "Nicholas Bowater"?. She once loaded a full load of newsprint in Corner Brook, Nfld (Bowater mill)and carried it to South and East Africa. I saw her discharge in Mombasa. I was interested as a "CCAL Man" looking at the "competition"! Actually not competition because Bowater supported CCAL very well!
Coos de Vries

322  Date: 2006-02-11 21:14:25
Chris Melvin ( crown@globalnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Thank you, brought back many happy memories of my yars as a "City Line" cadet 76 -80 The Cape Coast, movies on deck under a tropical Southern sky, good friends, good times, youth and a true sense of adventure. Now long gone and sadly missed.

321  Date: 2006-02-08 20:10:20
Derek Lewis ( dee.makem@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian

It's been awhile since I last posted on tne site but I still like to read post form others from around the World.

Thought you and other "Old Sparks" would be interested in an Obituarie in The Daily Telegraph news paper over here in the UK.

It's for a Nicholas Swarbrick aged 107, ex. Radio Officer no the "Westfalia" on Atlantic convoys to Halifax Nova Scotia in the First World War. His ship was picking up horses to take to France and he made a few trips to Halifax until the port was damaged when a ship carrying ammunition was attacked by a German submarine. After this they ran to Montreal.

He was also on a Liner owned by Canadian Pacific Railways ferrying American troops to Liverpool.

So Ian and other "Old Sparks" out there it looks like you will all live to a ripe old age and will be carrying on your good work with this site.

Hope this will also extend to an ex. "Old Leckie".

Cheers to all, Derek Lewis, "Makem" North East England

320  Date: 2006-02-01 06:48:17
Ken Smith ( kenandlois@xtra.co.nz / http://www.zeotropeburmese.kiwiwebhost.net.nz) wrote:

Hi Ian
Enjoyed your web pages very much. I was a printer on the "Carinthia", "Sylvania", and "Mauretania" during the 1960's I remember running up to the Radio Room early in the morning for the Marconi News so that we could set the type and print the morning paper. Quite a job if you have had a "session" the night before.
Best Wishes on your web site.
Ken Smith

319  Date: 2006-01-28 22:59:05
David Campbell ( hazel.campbell@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ian. Thanks for a wonderful website, so many great ships. I started with Harland & Wolff in Belfast in 1947 and finished sailing on the M.V. Iron Shortland with BHP Australia, in 1993.
I love old photos of ships. Regards & Best Wishes.

318  Date: 2006-01-25 22:44:12
Trevor Williams ( trevrose@tpg.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for a great site. I migrated from Tilbury Feb 1961 to settle in Sydney on the Himalaya. My father Nigel S Williams followed on the Oriana in 1963

317  Date: 2006-01-21 16:54:35
Bill Haygarth ( Bill.Haygarth@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

I found the Clan Line pages very informative. My father sailed with Clan Line 1947-1954 as an engineer and I am researching his time at sea to write a biography. Could you tell me the sources you used for the Clan Line section? Many thanks

316  Date: 2006-01-20 18:28:56
Peter Jensen ( Peter-Jensen@mp-jensen.de / http://www.poseidon-schiffahrts-archiv.de) wrote:

Hello,
first, sorry but my english is not so good.
Over a Link I cam to your site. I was a Seaman by the Poseidon-Lines, from 1966 to 1970. May of the situation on the St.Lawrence I knows. I will aks you, have you same pictures of the Montreal habour from 1955 to 1975? I will stard in Sping with a new Homepage www.canada-great-lakes.de it will reminds the history of the Lakes shipping and specialy the history of the german regualar service fram europ to Montreal an the great lakes. On my hompage now you find the history of the poseidon-lines incl. the time of the service to the great lakes an winterservice to Montreal.
Best wishes from germany to montreal
Peter Jensen

315  Date: 2006-01-19 22:43:45
Raymond Bisseker ( g3srq@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi,Very interesting site.Brings back memories of the 60's and Marconi's (ex RO) Sailed on various ships. Lamport&Holt,Ellerman lines, rfa,

Best Wishes. Raymond

314  Date: 2006-01-19 20:59:23
Terry Renner ( trenner@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed on MV Warkworth, MV Silksworth, and MV Ravensworth, of R.S.Dalgliesh Ltd, 1965 to 1969
Regards
Terry Renner
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

313  Date: 2006-01-17 01:55:24
Joe Prewitt ( W0TUT@COMCAST.NET / no homepage) wrote:

The many letters from the ros who sailed the Union
Castle mail ships also brings back memories of
copying the press (for practice) from South Africa on 8 mhz on
those cold snowie winter nights back in Northwest Colorado and dreaming of going to sea sometime
(a little town name of Hayden, Colorado) during the 1960 thru 1964> i recall the press was rather slow
(about 20 wpm and much less wpm than the px from
WSL or WCC. ) But it was fun getting the golf and
cricket scores. I believe the press came via ZSD
in Durban and not capetown rdo/ZSC and could someone there confirm this to refresh my memory????
Anyway hope to run into any ex ship radio officers
on 20 cw and exchange a few sea stories.
73 and happy hamming via 14020/14052.
Joe Prewitt w0tut

312  Date: 2006-01-16 05:15:57
David Bunting ( d.bunting@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

fine stories of the past. Was at Brooks Bar 1975-77 , then Marconi 78-83 ( Texaco ,Bank Line , P&O Ferries), then became Electrical Communications Officer on Channel Island Ferries till 95.
this evokes some fine memories of , as the cartoon states, being paid to travel the world, to so many fine and exciting places. thanks & good luck

311  Date: 2006-01-15 03:16:28
kenneth morley ( jkmorley@clear.net.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Great site memories memories. I spent 20yrs at sea from sailin a ship, to steam to motor. great days. Kenneth

310  Date: 2006-01-10 15:39:01
Lance Fowler ( snicholsfowler@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

I spent 4 very happy years [1960/64] with Union Castle as a Radio Officer. Mostly on the mail boats Edinburgh and Stirling Castle. Living in France nowadays so if there is someone out there who sailed with me it would be interesting to hear from them.

309  Date: 2006-01-09 09:15:51
Charles Mintoff ( 9h4cm@camline.net.mt / no homepage) wrote:

This is my 1st visit to the site which I have enjoyed bringing back Happy Memories.When I was at sea I was employed with Union Castle, Clan Line, Bowater's, and Manchester Liner's. If anybody remembers sailing with me I look forward in hearing from them
Regards
Charlie Ex 3rd Eng

308  Date: 2006-01-07 21:12:47
Peter Best ( peter-best@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for the interesting website. I'm trying to find out details of my great-uncle's career with Clan Line. He was Commodore from 1950 for some years. His name was Capt R P Galer RNR. If you have any news or can be point me in the right direction I would be most grateful. I think he died in the late 1960's. Many thanks, Peter Best.
peter-best@tiscali.co.uk

307  Date: 2006-01-06 22:15:45
Ronald.H.Byng ( ronbyng@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I sailed with my parents on 11th April, 1957 on the Stirling Castle on the way to Luanshya. Northern Rhodesia. Came back via Capetown Castle 1958.

I have the certificate from Crossing the Line ., which took place on the Equator on the Stirling Castle.
And to any one who worked on either Capetown/stirling castle ships.

Thanks.
had a wonderful time.
The best time in my life.
I am now a sad old person who collects Dinner Menu's [Union Castle of course]
Have a few?

306  Date: 2006-01-05 01:34:53
Alistair Kerr ( akk.vkk@actrix.gen.nz / no homepage) wrote:

I was at sea 1946-1950, so I appreciate this nostalgic website.I sailed (Deck Crew) in 3 NZ coastal ships, Taupata, Gabriella and Totara. Then joined British ships, Fordsdale, Seamew, Drina, Dunster Grange, Fort Carillon and Dominion Monarch. Did a "run job" To South Africa on new SAR&H tug, J.D.White, and worked for Union-Castle in Port Elizabeth before returning to NZ

305  Date: 2006-01-03 18:54:59
Hilde Sørensen ( hisoer2@online.no / no homepage) wrote:

I`ve read the story that my father wrote for your front page about the burning ship and the rescue operation 45 years ago. He told me the story several times in short thermes, but it is quite different to read the whole thing. It was very good.

304  Date: 2006-01-03 09:01:32
George Taylor ( georgetaylor@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great stuff Ian, am ex BI engineer 1956-1962

303  Date: 2006-01-02 15:37:00
Oliver Batt ( oli_batt@hotmail.co.uk / http://myweeklyupdate.tripod.com) wrote:

Your site is very good. Although im not a big fan of past shipping i still enjoyed what you and others had written. Im unable to go to sea at the moment as im only 13! But my family has always gone to sea and i hope to follow. Im a Sea Cadet and have been on SCC vessels (TS JOHN JERWOOD in particular, very, very small only 24m!) working for 7 day peroids. I hope to have a carrear in the RN as a warfare officer and work my way up to a PWO and so on. Thanks for the site!

302  Date: 2006-01-02 13:04:34
Ron Stringer ( rstri76699@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

A very enjoyable site Ian. Your time at sea was very similar to mine. Trained in Manchester at the Brook's Bar College of International Marine Radio 1968/69. Then Marconi Marine Radio Officer in British Merchant Navy from 1960 until 1966. Sailed on Golfito 1960-61, Lochwood 1961, Bretwalda 1961, City of Lucknow 1961-63, San Florentino 1963-64, Cairngowan 1964, Regent Pembroke 1964-66. Then worked ashore for Marconi Marine as service engineer at Mill Dam, South Shields 1966-67 before tranferring to Marconi head office in Chelmsford to work on technical support of new developments and services. Subsequently became Technical Manager and retired 2002 as Operations Manager. Retired and living in Essex with wife, Joyce. Two daughters, each married with one son and one daughter, live within an hour's drive so keep busy with the baby-sitting.

301  Date: 2006-01-02 12:01:18
Terry Roeves ( roeves@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

3rd R/O ss Iberia (GBCN), early 60's. Trained at School of Marine Radio and Radar, Ashley Down Bristol. Excellent site.

300  Date: 2005-12-27 11:43:17
Graham Davies ( graham24@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hello.
I was a Officer Steward based at Salford, Manchester,1967-1971,what memories this has all brought back to me!Has anyone got a picture of my very first ship, MANCHESTER FREIGHTER?,Also, are there any "Peanuts", people trained at the school in Gravesend, Kent? Here,s to the sixties Merchant Navy!!!!

299  Date: 2005-12-24 21:26:44
Aimé Charest R\o ( ac.wto@cgocable.ca / no homepage) wrote:

dec 24th 2005

Merry Christmas and Happey New Year to all. pecial regards to ex-R\Op's on VCS-HalifaxRadio
who were patient enough to copy my numerous Christmas time P telegrams, sometimes in heavy QRM or QRN. It was great to hear fm you on 8 or 12 MGH.
Best remembrance and 73's.

298  Date: 2005-12-21 03:10:01
John Munro ( jmunro@metro-mobile.com / no homepage) wrote:

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year, I drop bye every now and then to give the Site a once over gently!!! Still looks great, thanx fer yr work.

297  Date: 2005-12-20 20:12:01
Martin Kitt ( martinkitt@firenet.uk.net / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent site!

Martin
R/O Cunard 1980-18987

296  Date: 2005-12-17 23:01:41
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

A very Happy Christmas and great New Year to you Ian and to all your regular (and irregular) website visitors. Great to see several recent postings in your Guestbook - interesting nostalgia!
Are there any former Hamble graduates out there??
Kind regards, Doug H.

295  Date: 2005-12-17 15:53:25
Johan Journee ( J.M.J.Journee@wbmt.tudelft.nl / http://www.shipmotions.nl) wrote:

I am re-publishing model and full-scale manoeuvring data from the 60's with tss "British Bombardier" (1962). According to my information this tanker had 5 sister ships: Br. Queen (1959), Br. Hussar (1962), Br. Cavalier (1962), Br. Grenadier (1963) and Br. Lancer (1963).
A picture in the tanker-section at your wonderful website (congratulations!!!) shows tss "British Lancer", cleaning tanks off Banias. However, I miss the deckhouse amidships that the "British Queen Class" tankers had.
My question: Is this tss "British Lancer" or does this ship not belong to the "British Queen Class" tankers, as I presumed?
Another question: Do you have a picture of tss "British Grenadier"?
It is a long time ago that these ships exists, but I hope that you can inform me. Again, my congatulations with your homepage.

294  Date: 2005-12-17 12:05:26
John Groat ( jgroat8767@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

excellent, takes me back a bit to when i was ro with P & O in 1960's having trained at Leith Nautical. Haven't seem many photos of the old Chusan but I did notice one in the Ships Monthly last month. I went from cargo to passenger then finally on to Trident Tankers before coming ashore in 67.

293  Date: 2005-12-17 11:40:23
John S Shield ( john.shield29@virgin.net / no homepage) wrote:

Ian

Excellent site - thanks. my father was MN Deck with Buries Markes and Western Canada during WWII and thereafter. I was at Warsash (Deck) from 1967 and then Blue Funnel (Ajax) out of Liverpool following the great dock strike. Stayed at Aulis for a while in Riversdale. Ended up with Ellermans (Cities of Chester, Winchester and Brisbane) still as a cadet and finally went on the coast with Rowbothams as 2 Mate (Anchorman). Now a College Principal in East Anglia!

Thanks for the site.

John

292  Date: 2005-12-17 10:15:51
Tom Spalding ( thomasjamesspalding@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, I am also an ex R/O. Was a 'Marconi Man' from January '65 to July '69 - although only 4.5 years at sea, it fulfilled my childhood ambition whih was to go to sea. Early 1970 I joined The Diplomatic Wireless Service (DWS) which was integrated into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1972. During my 32 years in the FCO I came to the conclusion that it was not too much different to being on board ship (when on overseas posting). Indeed, I have experienced the diplomatic equivalent of abandoning ship when in 1974 we had to be rescued (By the cavalry - 16/5 Lancers)from the British High Commission, Nicosia, (during the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus)being caught in the middle of the ground war, with the BHC suffering numerous hits from 'Shot and Shell' and being bombed by Turkish Phantom F4's. Who said a Civil Servants life was 'cushy'.
After a lifetime in Comms I had to finally hang up my 'Headphones' due to ill health four years ago at the not so old age of 55.
I would do it all again - You only live once, but if you live well, once is enough.
AR VA

291  Date: 2005-12-16 20:00:57
BRIAN HUNTER ( brian.hunter7@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Could you please tell me how i go about finding out my uncles shipping company he worked for as a donkeyman many years ago (WEST HARTLEPOOL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY and ROPNERS),tried usual search engines but to no avail, His name was JOHN HUNTER but got called JACK.
Please could you let me know via my e.mail address rather than your web page ,which is excellent by the way.
Regards BRIAN

290  Date: 2005-12-15 23:48:40
Captain Michael Kelly ( capkelly@eircom.net / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent - a great reminder of days past

289  Date: 2005-12-15 04:47:45
Peter Hewitson ( peterhewitson@bigpond.com / http://coastradio.info) wrote:

Thanks for a great site Ian. The photos of the radio rooms really took me back. Also pics of some ships I had served on. I started with Marconi in 1964 then went "freelance" with ZIM lines and others until '73. Then spent the next 28 years on Australian coast stations - VIS, VID, VIT, VIB until the final closure in 2002. Lot's of pics of Aussie coast stations at coastradio.info
Peter Hewitson, VK4QC

288  Date: 2005-11-28 17:31:29
Coos de Vries ( wcevanrijks-vliet@hetnet.nl / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian. Having a peep at the web. We are on highspeed now, thank goodness. You are still doing VERY WELL and I enjoy it.
Greetings, Coos and Helmi

287  Date: 2005-11-27 23:51:27
jed Hardman ( HARDMAN8@BTINTERNET.COM / no homepage) wrote:

I am reasearhing a number of ships which my grandad. Alan Hardman worked on during the 50s. i am having troble findig a nuber of the ships if any anyone has any info on the following ships it would be greatly appriciated if you could e-mail me with it. forgive me if i get the ship names wrong. . s.s. ixion . s.s. laomedon . s.s. lokoja palm . s.s. autolycus . s.s. ascanius . s.s. demodocus . s.s. biographer

286  Date: 2005-11-26 00:18:05
Peter Beveridge ( aquilabooks@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent site.

However the phot of the Port inverness is the Port Invercargill. There was never a Port Inverness
Peter Beveridge

285  Date: 2005-11-25 04:37:08
Peter Baird ( zlwman@ihug.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

From a Shore operator ZLW 1963 - 1993 and now part of the new coast station ZLM 1995 .
Excellent site and great seeing pictures of long gone vessels worked during the Area scheme days.

284  Date: 2005-11-22 23:03:06
Richard Ellerington ( richard@elleringtonn.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I looked with great interest at the Brocks ships having sailed on the Makrana, Mahanada it brought back pleasent memories. My father also sailed with them as a Radio Officer,then started Schools in Glasgow then Preston before working for the LCC in London.

283  Date: 2005-11-19 06:50:14
Alberto Camali ( albertocamali@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I was emotioned to watch to all of these vessels which have been part of my first sailing period.
I am collecting as well photos of those days, vessels built in the early 1900 up to max 1940.
Merchant marine, real merchant marine.
No gyros, sometimes no Radar, no VHF, max 8 Kt.
Steam engines, coal boilers converted into heavy fuel!!
Winter time North Atlantic !!
What a period! Few pounds and go around BurntIsland, Newcastle, Glasgow
Avonmouth, Liverpool,
My uncle purchased many ships from "Elder Dempster" shipping Co. and I started as deck cadet in 1963.
Thanks,
Alberto

282  Date: 2005-11-12 17:22:41
Helen Main ( helenmain@msn.com / no homepage) wrote:

My father, David Main, was a merchant seaman (engineer)in the early 1960's primarily with the Donaldson Atlantic line (I think) and specifically his ship the Laurentia. Im trying to find out more info about this vessel and in particular any images in order that I can do a painting for him as a gift. If you or anyone can help, Ild be most obliged.

281  Date: 2005-11-11 10:25:23
ian kemp ( icky59@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

great site.i was with ellerman lines from 1963-66 mainley on the manz runon ships such as city of auckland ,city of winchester etc usually being away from 10 to 12 months.in fact i met my wife in auckland in 1965 and i eventually settled here in 1967 been here ever since.

280  Date: 2005-11-07 22:00:40
Morton (Morty) Grant ( dunlop65@verizon.net / no homepage) wrote:

hi ian, I joined Clan Line in 1952 (Clan Cameron), 2nd 's ticket 1955, Chief's ticket 1958, Diesel endorsement 1960. I recall sailing senior 2nd on the s.s.Ayrshire, refrig. 12 passenger single screw turbine (built in Greenock 1957). Capt McMillan was the "Old Man" and he had a habit of sailing extremely close to headlands wherever possible to impress the passengers and occasionally alarm the engineers and mates aboard. I came ashore to work for a U.S. petrochem company in '62 with their Engineering Tech. Group retiring here in Texas in 1995. I came across your site tring to get some info on Clan Line and enjoyed your website tremendously. The real reason I write is to ask if you heard that the Ayrshire was wrecked off Socotra Isl. around 1965, she was my favourite ship, I could send a picture of her if you wish, hovever any info on the supposed wreck would be appreciated. Best Regards, Morty Grant.

279  Date: 2005-11-07 11:52:58
Brian Braithwaite ( brian.braithwaite@gregorshore.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I was an Anchor Line cadet between 1960 and 1964 whwn I joined Harrison Line. Looking at the photo of the Egidia brought back a dreadful memory. I was ordered to climb to the table of the mizzen mast and then up a rope ladder to the cross trees. This was to clean the masthead light;no joke in a force 8 at 0400 in the North Atlantic. Not much regard for H&s in those days. Loved your website.

278  Date: 2005-11-06 16:34:44
Doug Morris ( doug.morris@tesco.net / no homepage) wrote:

Fascinating site Ian - I was researching for my daughter's school project as she wanted to do something on the merchant navy as my late father (Alfred or "Dink") was in the P and O from (approx) 1947 - 74 going from a writer to Purser/Chief Steward. I have many happy memories as a boy visiting the ships, especially in Tilbury and the royal docks but lucky enough to do coastal trips to Antwerp, Hamburg and Rotterdam with him - I think on the Strathbrora. I also remember the Ballarat, the Dongola and many more as well as the glamour of the odd cruise ship, especially the Arcadia.

277  Date: 2005-11-06 01:23:22
geoffrey osborne ( osbornevg@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

apprentice tilbury 1950 sailed from london docks royal albert 1958 corfu very little left of london. tilbury now a few containers not a dry dock left.I witnessed all the bombing, and later the return to service after the war of ships that had been run on overload all in war.Strathnaver returned at two knotts two boilers one turbine one alternator and one main motorin service.

276  Date: 2005-11-04 15:22:02
ken buxton ( buxtonkenneth@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

i was a deck apprentice with the Athel Line part of the United Mollases for about and sailed all over the world the most memorable time was going through the panama canal i hope to go back there someday and hopefully transverse it again of all the foto's i took at the time i can not find any trace of them lost in time i suppose but then i still have my memories some good some bad especially transversing the Australian Bight in a force 8 gale. would like to see any fotos of any Athel ships especially the M.V.ATHELDUCHESS(1957) as she was my favourite.
i have enjoyed looking at your site brought a lot of memories back as i remember seeing some of the ships you have on your site in many ports around the world.
best of luck regards
ken

275  Date: 2005-11-03 22:21:30
Roger Lancaster ( roglanc@yahoo.co.uk / http://www.shiplifebeltmemo.com) wrote:

Very interesting site - nice to see Radio Officers well featured. I was R/O with IMR (Cunard), P&O, Union Steamship Co (New Zealand)and P&O again from 1956-69.

274  Date: 2005-11-02 06:39:01
Anthony Cox ( Herb ) ( daytonian@optushome.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Fb site Ian, which I found very interesting. I am ex-MIMC r/o 1938 - 48. My ham c/s is vk2fiq ( ex-
g3fiq 1938-1966 ) If you go up to QRZ on Google you will see me there under c/s vk2fiq.
Qth is Sydney in the land of Oz.
73 Herb

273  Date: 2005-10-30 12:44:50
george evans ( georgeevans@rwenpower.com / no homepage) wrote:

Siled as engineer with clan line from 1965.Also sailed on Rochester Castle.

272  Date: 2005-10-22 14:35:01
Bob Thorman ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Brings back memories ( happy & unbelievable) of yet another brief part of my life as an R/O between 62 and 67.

271  Date: 2005-10-22 08:48:21
Steve Hawes ( shawes@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

This website brings back some fond memories of my time as a Marconi Seagoing R/O. From 1962 to 1969.
Regards.

270  Date: 2005-10-20 23:55:36
Ron Pearce ( ronpearc@nb.sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

great site 17 years with Canadian pacific, your site was a good walk down memory lane

269  Date: 2005-10-20 11:21:59
David Benge ( linen@telpacific.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Great site.
I was a 16YO Bridge Boy on the Queen Elizabeth I had NO idea what beauty and splendor she had.
I only polished her brass and scrubbed her decks, and managed to get a steering Certificate off her.
The Port Fairy and the English Star. Also the MV Chatwood had good memories I then joined the Royal Australian Navy untill 1977. I also did Vietnam 69-70 RANHFV.
What a life at sea. Loved the MN. My son will more than likely join?
Dave Benge

268  Date: 2005-10-20 02:52:14
Bob Alexander ( bobalexandernz@yahoo.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Have just started reading thrubut it sure appears to be interesting & nostalgic as the name suggests.My time at sea was leaving NZ on a Norwegian tramp as 4th Eng for 14 months.Then in the P&O for 3years at my trade electrician.Maloja, Stratheden& Palana.One year on a Stanvac tanker & then back home on a delivery voyage as 2nd Eng. Regards

267  Date: 2005-10-16 15:59:59
Denis Campbell ( denaf7cc@gmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great website Ian. I was a Sparks with BPTC from 64 to 70 and Sparks and later Subsea Engineer with C&W 71-2001. I have a load of scanned photos of ships, including staff and radio gear.
73's
Denis
GI3TAC / AF7CC

266  Date: 2005-10-11 22:25:55
Christina McKerrow ( jmckerrow@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian Coombe: I have been reading your site on the White Empresses. I sailed on the Maiden Voyage of the Empress of England from Liverpool to Montreal, on April 18th, 1957. I am writing about my first visit to Canada and would like to find a picture of the Empress. Could you help? Thank you. Christina McKerrow

265  Date: 2005-10-08 23:14:00
Narve Sorensen ( narves@online.no / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations on your site, many memories of the past 45 years turn up when looking at the nostalgia parts. My attention to your website was drawn by a friend of mine, Mr. Per Otto Jensen, who worked in the Sandefjord head office of the Christensen Canadian African Lines (CCAL). I was educated as a radio officer in 1958 and I served nearly 28 years in the company, mostly at sea, but also in the main office. I'm now a pensioner after serving the last 15 years in the North Sea on oil rigs.
I served a few years on the CCAL (1964-1969)and had a wonderful time there on "the white fleet" of Thor Dahl. (I also met my wife there in 1968).
Looking through your list af captains and others, I know almost all of them.
If you are interested, I can get you original photos of many of the CCAL vessels and some radio stations as well.
Another thing which brought memories back was the sight of the burning mv. DARA in the Persian Gulf in 1961. (British India Steamships). I was then a radio operator on the oiltanker THORSHOLM, and we were the first to arrive at the disaster area. We saved 108 persons from the vessel, among them the captain and chief engineer. I was bound to be in the radio station almost all of the time, as we were in charge of coordinating the lists of rescued and missing persons, but couldn't avoid to see dead men, women and children. A long day I never, never will forget.
Our captain afterwards received the Emile Robin's legacy for participating in this rescue operation.
Regards
Narve Sorensen

264  Date: 2005-10-06 09:41:46
Carmel.T. Axiaq ( linomarine@nextgen.net.mt / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulation for your site.Full of nice memories.
I used to be a Sparky with MARCONI MARINE.
Those were the days.
Thank you so much.

263  Date: 2005-10-05 09:24:37
Geoff Taylor ( norna@taylor6939.fsnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

My time at sea was from 1952 to 1960. As your article states that was the best of it. I served on tankers, tramps and coasters. rising from Deck Boy to the dizzy heights of AB.

262  Date: 2005-10-03 17:16:23
phil earl ( crikey@hiflyers.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Do you have any information on the S.S. Waterland 1,107t I can find no references to the ship
many thanks phil earl an aphabetic ships list would be nice!

261  Date: 2005-09-23 01:44:54
Eric Wallace ( villagus11@netzero.com / no homepage) wrote:

My first trip was on board the Cape Rodney of Lyle Co in Nov 1955 as jr Eng.anyone who was on board then please contact me.

260  Date: 2005-09-22 06:54:01
Keith Douglas ( lulu_58100@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

My father was a deck officer RFA Salvage Tugs. I went to sea in the engine room with Blue Funnel. I was touched to see my old Ship Nestor, since my own Photographs got lost. I thank you Sincerely!

259  Date: 2005-09-19 01:41:36
Raymond Reynolds ( oldpinky@frognet.net / no homepage) wrote:

Great site
Thanks for the memories.
All the best Ian
Ray R

258  Date: 2005-09-15 17:16:33
Ian Candy ( iancandy459@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Interested in your photos of the Shell tanker Zaphon. I signed on as first trip junior R/o in Rotterdam sometime in September 1962. I believe there was a later Zaphon but the one I did my junior time on had a callsign of GWCY

257  Date: 2005-09-13 19:23:08
Dave Purvis ( ddavepurvis@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for the site - I found it because I was searching for pictures of the Bristol tug "Merrimac" and enjoyed looking through. I noticed in the caption to one of the pictures you mentioned the problem of pilfering in Glasgow docks, although I am a railwayman I heard the following tale from one of the Southampton Docks loco drivers, it shows it went on all over (and still does)....a group of dockies were walking towards the dock gate one night on their way out, when one of their number approaches the duty policeman. He tells him that "the boys" have aquired a crate of the best scotch whilst unloading a ship and are intending to sneak it out the following day, there will of course be a couple of bottles in it for the bobby if he can see his way clear to letting them pass through unmolested. The bobby, being ambitious, hatches a plan, but quickly agrees with the request and lets the dockies go with a nod and a wink telling them all will be well the following night.....but when they turn up at the gate next knocking off time a trap is sprung and they are surrounded by the boys in blue, and whilst protesting their innocence, are searched. The bobbies, much to their ambitious colleagus embaressment, find nothing, the dockies are allowed to pass on in high dudgeaon with muttered comments about their injurred pride and wounded characters. They'd actually walked out with the booty the night before whilst their decoy was distracting the copper with a scheme they knew he'd fall for.......mind you a couple of years back the security guard at our Fawley oil refinery stopped a white transit van at the gate and told the driver he'd have to search it, the driver agreed, jokingly adding they'd come quietly as they were in the process of stealing the pay office safe! Of couse, when the guard looked the van was empty, and sharing their joke laughed and waved them through. He stopped laughing latter when the theft of a brand new transit van was reported...But enough. Keep up the good work, it's an interesting site!

256  Date: 2005-09-11 01:43:49
Aimé Charest ex-RO ( ac.wto@globetrotter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Sept 10th 2005
Dear you all,
I greatly agree with Trevor Clements's comments on today's ways-of-doings in ship's wheelhouses concerning radiocommunications. Young mates believe that modern radio equipment have been there since Noah's ark era and that before that there was "nothing". I also really wonder how it works when the ol'man has to "supervise" the "abandon of the ship" and the radiocom assistance request in addition to the whole tension that the situatioin commands....On the newscasts, we hear of a ship's casualty but not very much of its causes and certainly not of the real situation during the SOS call and the accompanying turmoil that occurs at that very moment.
What is a sextant for a young mate, if not a museum artefact?
Us, ex-R/O's, have become a species on the verge of extinction, but what dinosaurs we were...!
Regards to all and 73's.

Aimé Charest

255  Date: 2005-09-07 15:27:24
David ( davidhollisuk@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Still the best site for revisiting never get tired looking

254  Date: 2005-09-02 15:01:21
Trevor Clements ( Basso@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations Ian on a very well constructed and interesting web site. Reading your memories brought back many of my own and made me realise that other R/O's had similar experiences to mine.

We cant turn the clock back, and although I often wish I had spent more time at sea, when I see what has happened in the past 30 years I am convinced that I was right to come ashore.

I recently attended a lecture for passengers on a well known cruise liner, at which the 2nd Mate glibly reflected on how much things had improved with GMDSS, and "No waiting around for the 'Sparks' any more, we just activate the GMDSS and next thing you know the 'Sea Kings' appear' he said.

I couldnt believe that he could be so naive. They should make maritime history a compulsory subject so that they are made to reflect on the lessons of the past. For a start it would take a hell of a lot of Sea Kings to evacuate a cruise liner!

Best wishes.

253  Date: 2005-08-29 11:03:04
David Thomas ( daveandsanthomas@yahoo.co.uk / http://uk.geocities.com/daveandsanthomas/) wrote:

Great site, found it searching all things Merchant Navy. Have one of my own (above)be honoured if anyone wanted to vist.

252  Date: 2005-08-27 07:25:29
Chas York ( chasanfield@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

BTW, I've got quite a few photos of ships I sailed on, and radio rooms if you'd like them e-mailed?

251  Date: 2005-08-27 06:21:29
Chas York ( chasanfield@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

GM Ian OM. Found the site by chance - I am exRO 1965-1993 first ship Ribblehead/MXFQ.. also sailed with Niarchos (World News, PhillipSNiarchos, World Banner), and on the Eucadia (coastal relief back in the 70s sometime. Bit QRL at mo, pls QRX 73 AR TUSU

250  Date: 2005-08-27 05:10:06
B.ALEXANDER ( bobalexandernz@yahoo.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Left N.Z.as 4th engineer on Norwegian tramp.Joined P&O as electrician sailing on Maloja Statheden &Strathmore as passenger to join Palana in Sydney.Returned to N.Z. as 2nd eng on Towai ex Purple Emperor.Nostalgic photos of P&O

249  Date: 2005-08-26 16:42:10
Bob LION ( robylofam@wanadoo.fr / no homepage) wrote:

Feeling really nostalgic, came back to your site, got big thrill seeing my friend WOTOT and myself on board good old WHBH... Thanks...
Best 73's from S of France
QTH: Port Vendres, on Mediterranean between Perpignan and Barcelona

248  Date: 2005-08-26 11:51:05
Mike Rogers ( mike.highlandhelp@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

What nostalgia. I was actually looking for something completely different when I stumbled on to your site. Well can I remember leaving the Watt College in 1962 and joining my first ship NIGARISTAN (GZDF) in East Ham London. (I can remember Corky (Corchoran ??) I think he did the practical. Coming from a wee village in the highlands this was all a bit overwhelming. I can recall that the first time I ws allowed to transmit 'live' was passing Gibraltar (it was only a TR) but a big milestone. The Bay of Biscay was pretty calm as I recall but I was violently seasick....they do say its all in the mind. I try to tell the youngsters with their GMDSS that what we did was a skill, long range and a lot more transmitters than now but I doubt they believe it - but WE know.

Anyway, best regards and a brilliant site

247  Date: 2005-08-24 21:01:23
Karen Porter Taylor ( kne1@cox.net / no homepage) wrote:

I was 2 (1950) on the Queen Mary and Oransay going to Australia to live with my grandmother. I was on the Queen Eliz I and the Himalaya on the way back in the mid 50s. Shipboard life was really neat and I have lots of good memories.

246  Date: 2005-08-23 05:48:38
tf hashim ( tfhashim@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

My mother sailed on P&O's Chusan III from Malaysia to Egypt when she was a little girl. She claimed that it was the Chusan's maiden voyage. i share her nostalgia for those days. i am now looking for chusan III momentos to surprise her with. any leads? thanks for a great website.

245  Date: 2005-08-17 19:30:55
Jack Munro ( jmunro@metro-mobile.com / http://www.metro-mobile.com) wrote:

Diary of a Sea Bum brought back a huge amount of memories, thanx Ian keep up the good work.

Still looking for some of the guys that attended Leith Nautical in the early fifties. Also any of the ROs that were at Hamble AST, in an around, '54, doing the MKV Radar course
Thanx again
Jack Munro

244  Date: 2005-08-16 05:57:27
Kevin Tape ( qfd333@comcast.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian, I found your site very intteresting. I was searching for information on a ship I served on-I found it. The Ship was the Santa Mercedes of Grace Line Inc/Delta Line and eventually the Mass. Maritime Academy. I attended the college from 1988-1992 and the ship was named the Patriot State. I would be interested in the name of the book for some of your pictures you posted of the "M" class ships (specifically the Santa Mercedes.)

Thank you

Kevin from Mass. (United States)

243  Date: 2005-08-15 18:43:45
Sharon Jordan ( jordan@ripnet.com / no homepage) wrote:

nice site. I like the photos!

242  Date: 2005-08-09 21:05:21
David Bridgen ( dmb06851@yahoo.com / http://www.davidbridgen.com) wrote:

Brookes Bar college via Marconi scholarship. Extra RO on Nigaristan. 2nd on Athenic. Solo on Sungate. Chief on Zenatia. Then, a bit later, solo on Darwin.

241  Date: 2005-08-03 19:59:10
Alan Jones ( ajones@brizzle.com / no homepage) wrote:

Good nostalga, re Union Castle. Enjoyed very much.
Ex Elec Officer, Carnarvon, Pendennis and Rothesay Castles.

240  Date: 2005-07-30 23:02:39
Jack Walker ( jewalker@ozemail.com.au / http://www.walkerwilson.com.au) wrote:

Good sight. Brought back memories. I was R?O Blue Funnel in the 60's. First deep sea was the Tantalus
on the round the world service. Good to see her photo. Do you have any pix of Glasgow Wireless College ?

Regards,

Jack

239  Date: 2005-07-30 03:09:08
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Ian: Thanks so much for re-issuing "The Diary of a Seabum" on the home page - it is well worth the effort! Kind regards, Doug H

238  Date: 2005-07-28 18:56:09
Des Cooper ( des.cooper@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed with Blue Funnel Line for some years Ships:
Jason Alcenius Persus and others

237  Date: 2005-07-28 04:05:44
dallas ( dallasanddonna@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

looking of a crew list on the ORSOVA in 1956 can anyone help?

236  Date: 2005-07-25 01:05:39
Peggy Watson ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

My grandparents sailed to London from San Diego on the Oriana in 1963 and I was lucky enough to go on board. It was pretty exciting for a 10 year old! It was wonderful to see the pictures. They brought back some wonderful memories. The trip was one my grandfather had always dreamed of.........P.S. They sailed home from Southampton on the Arcadia....

235  Date: 2005-07-24 05:16:01
Jeff Williams ( brucjeff@midcoast.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian
Great website, it takes me back to the 60s when I sailed out of Liverpool with Lamport & Holt. It is sad to realise that we were there at the end of the era of the general cargo ships when it could take a week or more to unload and load cargo, with lots of time on hand in some strange ports.
After leaving the the MN I worked for Caledonian Transport delivering whisky to Liverpool docks, and never without an accident to a couple of cases. At least I could be assured of jumping to the front of the queue.

234  Date: 2005-07-24 02:25:49
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Ian, When do we get to see Part 2 of "Diary of a SeaBum"?? It's nearly three months since Part 1 and I'm sure I'm not the only one who looks at every HomePage Update hoping for the next "enthralling episode" !!
Kind regards and keep up the good work on this great site. Doug H

233  Date: 2005-07-22 21:15:06
Ivor lloyd ( irlloyd@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

What a great site. Was R/O for some 20 years from 1942. First ship was City of Lille and so enjoyed the nostalgic pages relating to Ellermans. Kidnd regards 73's

232  Date: 2005-07-20 18:16:55
Chris Coope ( bcweston@att.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hello and thank you... I have been trying to find out more about my father Capt Geof Dyson-Coope , he worked for Saquenay Terminals, in South America, for a time, around the mid 50's and I think was an officer aboard the Sunrear or maybe it was the Sunray..any way I was just trying to find information..thanks for a great site

231  Date: 2005-07-19 05:14:26
allan headley ( alacoral@bigpond.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Wonderful site Ian
Cant remember you but I was at GKL in 1968 but due to the lousy two tier system I imigrated to OZ in early 69. Was at sea for 17 years before my stint
at Portishead and in Australia worked on coast stns
VIS VIM VIO and VIP until I retired in 1995 , now just play golf and fish . Best regards to you and yours - Allan Headley VK6OA

nnnn

230  Date: 2005-07-16 19:58:44
mario fontana ( mario@sanval.it / no homepage) wrote:

very interesting site for an aged captain

229  Date: 2005-07-15 12:11:22
PAUL BURDEN ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

EXELLENT STUFF,NICE TO SEE THE GOOD OL SHIPS.
I HAD THREE YEARS WITH ROYAL MAIL &FOUR WITH P&O

228  Date: 2005-07-06 01:41:44
Jill ( gto-girl@cogeco.ca / no homepage) wrote:

I found your website very interesting. My purpose was to see if I could locate any info on the Athlone Castle which is the ship that brought my mother as a war-bride to Canada. If you have any idea where I could locate some info I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You

227  Date: 2005-07-05 14:09:49
Bob LION ( robylofam@wanadoo.fr / no homepage) wrote:

ex sparks, from 1955 to 1965 aboard DK Ludwig's Universe Tankships/National Bulk Carriers. Would love to contact anyone having sailed aboard those DK Ludwig ships. From 1979 to 1990, as REO of the ROU(MEBA Distr 3) sailed aboard the 4 "M" Cruise ships of Delta Lines around latin America,some trips aboard the tramp tankers of US Sealift..; then aboard the Sealand container ships... Fanatic Merchant Ships nostalgia, looking forward to see other good old time merchant ships. Anyone has some photos of the Ludwig ships? Even under flag of Convenience/Liberia, those were well maintained, well crewed even if lacking some modern conforts and convenience. Anyone remembers them, ever met them? would welcome any contacts... Very best 73 to all old timers of our proud profession

226  Date: 2005-06-29 15:48:22
Hugh MacLean ( hughmaclean253@hotmail.com / http://www.sscityofcairo.co.uk) wrote:

Ian,
You have a very good site here. I have enjoyed reading about some of the shipping lines like Ellerman etc, now sadly no longer around.

I wonder if you or any of the viewers of this site would have a picture of the Reardon Smith Line SS Queen City lost during WW2.

Once again Great Site!
Regards,

Hugh ex Grey Funnel

225  Date: 2005-06-23 11:04:26
Peter Denton ( pet_mic2003@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I wonder if Mr Brian Denton is a relative. I was born in Stanley Co Durham. I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters. My father was born in Halifax, Yokshire. (1913). His family was very, very big.

Regards

Peter Denton

Salisbury
Wilts.

224  Date: 2005-06-21 08:34:29
Ann Hall ( annhall@btconnect.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian
What memories your site brings back. I sailed to Cape Town in Jan 1964 on the Edinburgh Castle and returned via the East coast in May 1966 on the last voyage of the Rhodesia Castle. I wrote up my experiences in 1966 and am now writing my life time memories and with the help of the internet discovering much about the Union Castle. My uncle was harbour master in Cape Town so I have many memories. I remember the purserette in the picture on Edinburgh Castle.

223  Date: 2005-06-17 17:33:31
Peter Mooney ( peter@employment-law.uk.com / no homepage) wrote:

My Father, Robert Andrew (Sam) Mooney was a Radio Operator with Blue Funnel Line. His first ship was the Nestor, and was at sea in 1939 when WWII started. After the war he worked for Blue Funnel in London, later he transferred to Elder Dempster Lines at Tilbury, where he remained until retirement in 1976. Any comments gratefully appreciated.

222  Date: 2005-06-11 16:23:00
Gwen ( ofice@searchline.ltd.uk / http://www.Searchline.ltd.uk) wrote:

Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories of the 'Cannonore' I had a very special interest in one of the cadets 1958.

221  Date: 2005-06-10 15:13:30
Chris Haslam ( deckie632001@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

your site has brought back some some good memories as I served on B.P. tankers, Union Castle Orient lines. Have you any info. on South American Saint Line as I Can't find anything.

220  Date: 2005-06-08 22:37:02
David H. Grover ( napagrover@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

As a writer I'm researching the Proteus and Nereus, about which little is known. Can the company provide any information relative to exact sailing dates from St. Thomas, proposed routes, or any other facts about their last voyages? Thanks. David H. Grover

219  Date: 2005-06-07 14:32:57
Myra Buck ( M.A.C.B@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi,
I very much enjoyed your site as I have the following testimonials for my Grand father who worked for the Anchor line. From your site I can probably work out on which ships he worked on....Thank you!
Testimonials :

1) 21st September 1889 Anchor Line of Steam Ships Henderson Bros.Stobcross Wharf (Stevedores Foreman) 6y 6mths

2) 16th December 1891 Donaldson Bros.Queen's Dock 14mths (Foreman Stevedore )

3) Anchor line 3rd December 1903 (22yrs)(1882-92 Stevedore's Foreman)

218  Date: 2005-06-07 01:41:20
David Andrian ( dandrian@ee.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hello

I appreciated your site and its information. I research missing ships and ship wrecks as a hobby and I am particularily interested in one of the companies you mention. Would you have a way to gain mor information about Sagueney Terminals LTD.? Specifically, I am looking for pictures of 2 ships which they purchased from the US Navy around 1910. Any direction you could give me would be much appreciated. Thanks David

217  Date: 2005-06-04 21:46:57
john molloy ( johnpmolloy@eircom.net / no homepage) wrote:

Would you please be able to tell me something about the F.V Shika that was bought by Salvesens when they owned the fishmeal factory at Mornington in Ireland . This factory was opened in 1968 or 1969 and subsequently sold by Salvesens but I don't know to whom it was sold. I would appreciate ny information about the factory and the Shika for a book that I am writing about the Irish Herring industry. I spent alot of time at the factory sampling the catches of the vessels during the 1970s. Thanks , Yours sincerely
John Molloy

216  Date: 2005-06-03 18:21:07
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

WElcome back Ian, Re the Port Said article, I wonder how many seafarers remember "Jock Macgregor" the demon Egyptian barber who could mimic almost any English accent/dialect?

215  Date: 2005-06-02 17:01:12
gary mellor ( gazo@gazo.f2s.com / no homepage) wrote:

brings back mermories,excellent site, my first ship was mv orbita pacific steam navegation company liverpool

214  Date: 2005-05-31 02:47:37
Ken Van Loh ( kvanloh@owensbrumley.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great reprise! I worked in San Francisco for P&O Lines (North America) beginning June 1968 until 1974 when P&O acquired Princess Cruises. I left P&O Princess in March of 1981, when I returned to Texas to work in our family businesses. Shortly after returning to Texas and believing that I had left P&O behind, I was driving from home to a recreational lake in North Texas, when I topped a hill and there were four oil tanks with the P&O house flag emblazoned on the sides of the tanks. Even today I frequently see P&O containers passing through here aboard eighteen wheel trucks.
Thoroughly enjoyed this website.

213  Date: 2005-05-30 18:46:14
Richard Miller ( miller@family5.eclipse.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian

As a young child I went to Mauritius with my parents. On the way back to England on 30th March 1955 I crossed the equator on board the SS Drakensberg Castle and have a ceritificate to prove it, although I was known as Richard Goodey then. I recently saw an Antiques program on the TV where someone presented a booklet as well as a certificate marking this event. I wondered whether the Union Castle Lines also issued such things. I'm not sure on which ship I travelled to Mauritius or even whether we went via the Suez Canal given the Suez Crisis, but I am almost certain that we went via Cape Town at least once. I would appreaciate any comments that might broaden my knowledge. Many thanks, Richard.

212  Date: 2005-05-30 16:46:40
Thomas Kraft ( tkraft3961@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi,

it`s very lovely !

Best regards,

Thomas, Hamburg

211  Date: 2005-05-27 02:53:30
Steve Catton ( scatton@telecom.com.co / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks Ian, for doing a great job and stirring up a lot of memories - most of them very good ones! Iwas with the B&C Group for 13 years, and your U-C and Clan Line collections were of particular interest to me. Do you know where I can find more stuff on King Line, Scottish Tankers and Hector Whaling?
Keep it up, and all the best,
Steve.

210  Date: 2005-05-25 20:03:09
Roy Clarke ( Burnsiderail@Yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Well what a web site that I have crossed. Many thanks it is so great to read of the past when ships looked like ships and we sailed in pea soupers without a noon sight for days. But we made it.

I spent my time with colliers, British Tanker Co, Clan Line and in the end Blue Funnel.

Memories of the close Board of Trade friends we had I am only sorry that I can not find my best man of 449 years ago. Who knows Fred Micheal John Duffy may read this. I hope he was an R/O with Marconi and left the sea to join RCA. Next year will be my Golden we would love to hear from him.

Also John Jrn Engr with Bluies.

To old for this great web site - old man tears starting, will go.

All the best to you old sea dogs and thanks.

Roy Clarke now in the Highlands of Scotland.

209  Date: 2005-05-25 11:03:29
Peter Steele ( petesteele@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,you have produced an interesting site. I was in the British MN from November 1957 to August 1961. A similar period to you I believe. After training as a steward at the National Sea Training School (Gravesend) I sailed with NZ Shipping Co, MV Surrey, then Royal Mail, RMS Darro. (1 trip) Port Line, Port Dunedin.(2 Trips) Hinakura, (1 trip), Nottingham (3 weeks) Cumberland, (3 trips)I now live in New Zealand. I am just renewing my interest in ships and the sea and have ejoyed browsing your site.

208  Date: 2005-05-19 17:50:53
David Bates ( bonfirehill@nf.sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, really enjoyed your site. Maybe you can help. I am building a model of the City of Manchester built by Cammell Laird for the Ellerman Line in 1935. I was really exited when I found your site, only to find it wasn't shown. I think it was lost in the war in 1952. Do you have any knowledge of her end.
Many Thanks. David Bates

207  Date: 2005-05-16 22:14:52
Lile Lundal Olson ( Idaholil@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

My father sailed from Liverpool England on the Andania in 1922 and I was trying to find a picture and some information on the ship Thank you

206  Date: 2005-05-15 07:30:20
ALBERT ( AEM@V21MAIL.CO.UK / no homepage) wrote:

HI IAN just to let you know i still monitor you web site i never get fed up looking at, always find something i have not seen before. 73 for now hope you are keeping well
regards Albert G0PIX LIVERPOOL...

205  Date: 2005-05-14 08:52:46
david mcdonald ( davidmcd@ihug.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

A great page of nostalgia. went to sea at 15 with cunard. Franconia (1920), Q.E.(1) mauretania , caronia and other companies in between .left at age 26 but still hanker after the REAL ships and the sea .
Cheers

204  Date: 2005-05-13 11:21:15
george carr ( georgedcarr@aol.com / http://www.shipsoldandnew.fotopic.net) wrote:

Just looked in again.

203  Date: 2005-05-11 19:43:30
George Carr ( georgedcarr@aol.com / http://georgecarr2444.fotopic.net/c536163.html) wrote:

Hi again,
Looking for the second time,still as interesting as the first time.

202  Date: 2005-05-10 02:23:18
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Welcome back Ian! We've missed you. Hope the trip went well.

201  Date: 2005-04-28 13:25:25
Marty Pezzaglia ( martypezzaglia@direcway.com / no homepage) wrote:

I spent eight years on the Prudential Grace and Delta Lines M-Ships traveling around South America. Thank you ever so much. I have forwarded your web site to others who are appreciating your work. Hopefully, many of us will ultimately lend stories and photos relative to the Santa's Magdalena, Maria, Mercedes, and Mariana.

Thanks again,
Marty Pezzaglia

200  Date: 2005-04-27 23:00:54
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Re the article by Bob Harrison, just so that he was not the odd one out, I also wore a battledress uniform, very good on old cargo ships and tankers, saved the wear and tear on the expensive doeskin. In those days with Marconi we only made 24.10.00 per month.

199  Date: 2005-04-26 18:13:16
Frank Delahunty ( frankdelahunty@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

An excellent site, thank you.

198  Date: 2005-04-26 15:21:46
Wiens ( moooohaha@mooohaha.com / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations on such a huge and thorough website Ian! John

197  Date: 2005-04-25 12:20:45
tony fox ( tonyfox@turmot.com / no homepage) wrote:

Who is the pretty boy at the beginning.
Nice site Ian,first time I had chance to go though the complete sight,very impressive,
mate.

196  Date: 2005-04-25 10:27:27
Ron Stringer ( rstri76699@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent mix of pictures and nostalgia. As R724849 I joined Marconi's in June 1960 as a very, very, fresh-faced junior R/O after waiting for 7 months for a ship!. Sailed out of Avonmouth to the West Indies on my first ship the Elders & Fyffes "Golfito". 100 first-class passengers, which at various times included the West Indies cricket team coming to the UK for a test series, and a member of the Royal Family going on holiday to Barbados. Left the sea in 1966 to go ashore with MIMCo. Great days to experience and I believe I was so fortunate to be at sea in those great days, before it all fell apart under the pressure of air travel, air freight and containerisation.

Best regards and thanks for a great site.

195  Date: 2005-04-25 08:15:03
Jenny ( jenniferyy@westnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Absolutely beautiful! I am forwarding this opportunity on to an old salt/merchant navy fellow who will appreciate them and follow up your new views as they arise. Thanks.

194  Date: 2005-04-24 23:03:33
donald more ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

many thanks for this valuable site,myself --- lecky
1973 to date -- ellermans, fyffes, irgens larsen ,farstad,

193  Date: 2005-04-24 18:10:03
les howarth ( ies@tbay15.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

very interesting and full of nostalgia as i spent 32 years at sea starting in 1962

192  Date: 2005-04-23 20:43:25
Billy Atkins ( wa002f0328@blueyonder.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian what an amazing site, thank you for the memory,s I was in M.N. 1953-1965 various companies and awide range of ship types, enjoyed every minute of my time at sea, would do it all again, let,s turn back the clock, cheers Bill Atkins

191  Date: 2005-04-23 09:37:13
ANTHONY SCOTT ( MOONRAKER-NZ@xtra.co.nz / http://boatswain.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk) wrote:

Very interesting site, enjoyed it very much. Ex Port Line in later years at sea prior to that many companies. wonder years as i recall. best wishes. Tony Bsn

190  Date: 2005-04-21 13:37:18
george carr ( georgedcarr@aol.com / http://www.fotolog.net/shipmate17/) wrote:

Anyone remember sailing with my late brother in law Tom Phillips from Tranmere.Merseyside.was a radio officer.Was on the Atlantic Bridge when a explosion demolished the bridge with casulties.Have paper cutting of the event.Also anyone remember sailing with my cousin Bill Boyd of Newcastle on Tyne.Engineer with Blue Funnel,mostly sailed on the Anchises.

189  Date: 2005-04-21 07:51:26
Michael Thompson ( mthompson@zeelandnet.nl / no homepage) wrote:

Very enjoyable

188  Date: 2005-04-19 14:03:17
george carr ( georgedcarr@aol.com / http://www.fotolog.net/shipmate17/) wrote:

Great site(I was a passenger on the following ships.Athlone Castle.Capetown Castle.Rangitata.Rangitoto.Have photos of both Rangi ships including inside shots if anyone is interested.
cheers.

187  Date: 2005-04-19 02:34:23
Ian Greaves ( igreaves@cogeco.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Ian, You have put together a terrific site. I was R/O (Marconi), sailing with Royal Mail, Shell, Port Line, and Esso. Spent time ashore as Marconi tech in Hull and then with Canadian Marconi in Montreal.Your web site brings back some wonderful memories of a time we all cherish, Ian Greaves, Toronto.

186  Date: 2005-04-18 19:27:45
david hollis ( davidhollisuk@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Brilliant site i am now using it when doing research.
Many thanks Davy hollis ex mn.

185  Date: 2005-04-17 13:45:20
Robert Dennis Williams ( rd.williams@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,I found this web by messing around and it brought back fond memories of my sea faring days althoug it was only four years, but i still enjoy sailing and fishing,I was on ED ship the ONITSHA for five trips to the west coast util i had yellow jaundice paid off at Lagoes came home on the Auriol, The other ships were Empress of france, Hemiglypta,Hinea,Aluco, Royal star,Flamenco,Governor,Always had an intrest in radioes so i got my amateur radio cert for the hell of it,by the way i was an EDH ,thanks for the grate web reagards Dennis

184  Date: 2005-04-17 09:37:51
Brian Spiller ( castleviewbandb@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great site and many of my old ships there.
I was with Union Castle/Clan Line 61-74.Sadly all long gone now.

183  Date: 2005-04-16 19:35:45
Tony "Paddy" Browne ( the_browne@yahoo.ie / no homepage) wrote:

Just read all the messages. What can one say except agree: excellent site! A Dubliner, I sailed with the Blue Funnel as a deck boy from '60 to '62, aged sixteen. Then followed some time with Shell, Cunard cargo and Moss Hutchinson. As someone has observed earlier, it was no match for today's sedentary computer-game culture. The sea stays with you, and myriad memories: my first encounter with Biscay in one of her wild Atlantean moods, the sultry and exotic spice islands of Java and Sumatra, the Black Sea in hard winter, the shipmates, the craic and the world's patchwork of sights and smells. As we say in Ireland, "God be with the days". Thank you for having the interest and taking the trouble with such a superb site.

182  Date: 2005-04-16 15:21:28
Captain John Howell (Clan Line & Union Castle) ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for the memories

181  Date: 2005-04-15 10:21:26
Michael McAviney ( mmcaviney@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I'm in my sixties now but I still remember my first trip as a 2nd R/O on SS.Bencleuch in 1965,my senior was Gerry Alston. A beautiful introduction to a life at sea oh how I miss it. A lovely website.

180  Date: 2005-04-14 16:28:27
Ian Richardson ( iano.richardson@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have just printed off some of web pages for my dad who worked for the clan line as a second / first engineer in the 50's / 60's. He doesn't quite understand the power of the modern internet and was quite surprised when I showed up with the information.
Excellent website
Best regards
Ian

179  Date: 2005-04-13 00:06:46
Peter Whittaker ( peirrewhitt@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ijoined the merchant navy 1972-1975 (gravesend)then onto P&O (NZS.CO.) Ships sailed on HAURAKI,HURUNUI,TREMEADOW,WILD AUK,OTAIO,SOMERSET,TAUPO,MELITA,MAKARIA. Some great times.GREAT SITE .Looking for some pics of the WID AUK,MELITA,TAUPO,TREMEADOW.OR.ANY INFO.MANY THANKS

178  Date: 2005-04-10 22:57:13
Terry Gardner ( tjgard@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi again Ian, Saw, with interest, your latest series of Pics on Ben Line. I served on one in the Davis Strait, a Drillship - Ben Ocean Lancer/GUUU. Unfortunately no photo, but very similar to the Explorer 3 (Canmar), also a Drillship, which drilled in the Canadian Arctic. Thanks again.

177  Date: 2005-04-08 17:02:18
Gordon Brooke ( gkandpe@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have been looking for a ship for a long While, the Cilicia of the Anchor Line. My father Stanley Brooke was stationed on her during WW11 he was a D.E.M.S. gunner with the Royal Navy
his sevice was No D/JX290038, he was stationed on her when she brought prisoners of war home after the war. What was her roll during the war? He has been dead for 43 years and I never got chance to ask him about his adventures.
I have enjoyed very much looking at your site it is first class I have added it to my favourites list

176  Date: 2005-04-02 13:08:20
Celso Martins ( acmp@lol.com.br / no homepage) wrote:

YOUR BOOK / SITE IS NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL. I´VE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH ... AMONG THE SHIPS PICTURES SEVERAL SHOWING CARGO LINERS OF THE 1950s JUST LIKE THOSE I USED TO WATCH ENTERING/LEAVING THE PARANAGUA BAY IN MY TEENS (MY FATHER WAS A HARBOUR PILOT AT THAT TIME)
CONGRATULATIONS!

175  Date: 2005-03-29 16:49:23
James Riley ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

In the 1960's, passenger aboard the following vessels: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, United States, Carinthia. Later, QE2 and Voyager of the Seas. Just love ships..... - Laconia, NH, USA

174  Date: 2005-03-27 12:47:24
Jenny Watson ( connecticut_yankee@xtra.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

I travelled from LA to New Zealand in 1959 at the tender age of nine with my family on the SS Orsova. Looking back, I would have loved to have been 19, but alas, not to be. As part of a group of youngsters left to the tender mercies of the stewards, while the parents dined at a later hour, we would steal the sugar lumps from the tea trolleys, go on deck and swim in the pool, harass the stewards in every way we could think of and were perfect little angels by the time the folks came back to the cabins. It was such a wrench to part from the friends we had made, and even harder to disembark in our new country, and leave the Orsova berthed in Auckland harbour, while we all went our separate ways.

173  Date: 2005-03-25 23:07:46
Alan Furse ( alanfurse@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great pictures, was steward with P&O 1960/1968
Ships Himalaya Strathnaver Media Canberra Oriana Oronsay, great ships/crew/times/adventures and all for in 1960 a pound a day all found!!!

172  Date: 2005-03-22 21:28:39
De Tiége ( marc.detiege@skynet.be / http://users.skynet.be/M.De.Tiege) wrote:

Was R/O o/b belgian ships during the years 1973-1980. Tks om to help us keeping all these memories in mind.

171  Date: 2005-03-22 10:41:43
Alan Mason ( alan@rexam1.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

MN sevice time 1956--1964 Engineer with Shell and Elder Dempster.Ian found your site a great pleasure like many others awakened memories. should any one recognize the name maybe make contact especially Johnny Leck off the tss Hydatina

170  Date: 2005-03-20 19:36:39
Peter Priestley ( peter@me159uy.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I was a junior electrical officer on P & O Orient Lines S.S. Cathay from 1962-1964. She was the sister ship to S.S.Chitral mentioned in your website . Does anyone know the fate of this noble vessel?

169  Date: 2005-03-19 19:37:24
Peter Coe ( petercoe@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations on a splendid site! Was R/O 1950/1962. All my stories have already been printed in the QSO Journal - those that could pass the censor, that is!

73s, Peter Coe

168  Date: 2005-03-19 11:42:50
D.C.Latham ( dc.latham@btopenworld.com / http://btopenworld.com) wrote:

I sailed in MN,1966-2002.in Lamport & Holt,Booth Line,Blue Star Line,CI Shipping.I found this a very interesting,and good site.

167  Date: 2005-03-19 09:56:52
Hans Breeman ( h.breeman@worldonline.nl / http://www.hansbreeman.nl) wrote:

Hi Ian, I am a dutch maritime painter specialised in ships from the 50"s and 60's. No doubt your website is of much importance for me, but for many otherswho sailed in those happy years when ships still looked like ships. Thx for that !!
I you like we can exchange links....
Maritime greetings from Hans Breeman.

166  Date: 2005-03-18 21:39:15
Frank Kelley ( frankkelley2004@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent site with an appropriate name. My first ship was SS "Barrwhin" in which I sailed from Liverpool in June 1941. Remained at sea until 1948 then after short spell in GKL back to sea with Bibby line until 1953 then luck to get back to coast-stations at GLV, GKZ and OC at GLD leaving there for London Ship Inspection 1963 - 1975. Your story reminded me of an incident when conducting a survey on a Shell tanker at the Isle of Grain Refinery, I was handed a note from the R/O of a Canadian ship to say that his equipment was not working and the old man would not authorise any assistance of repaif. When I had finished my tanker, I drove along to the "Irving Glen" and asked the old man if I could see his SRC etc. He produced a SRC which was valid for the Great Lakes only so I told him that he would not be able to clear customs with that certificate (none of the other certs were valid for a trip back over the Atlantic and I suggested that he should ask his agents to arrange for the necessary surveys. He expressed his confidence that he would get a clearance - as he had done in other ports, by "waving enough dollars" Within a day, the London Survey office were asked to survey the ship with the result that Irving Glen found herself stuck (for seven days!) in replacing her fire pump, one life-boat, and many hours of radio service time - which eventually included fitting a new main receiver. Apparently the Irving owner was of some repute and actually telephoned Margaret Thatcher to complain of his ship being delayed. This prompted a telephone call to The Principal Officer in London at 0230 who immediately said that the ship would be released when all the defects listed at survey, had been completely made good to the surveyor's satisfaction.

165  Date: 2005-03-15 15:00:53
william maguire ( wm009a4277@blueyonder.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

brings back memories, my uncle was dan morrison. he was captain on the eucadia in 52, i was born in anderston used to go down to yorkhill from school , was at sea for ten years retired now , thanks for the memories billy.

164  Date: 2005-03-15 12:38:38
Erkan Mizrak ( erk_mizrak@yahoo.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Hello.Iwant makes a cadet on tanker ship.How you can help me.so you can find me a tanker ship

163  Date: 2005-03-11 06:23:15
Bob Murdoch ( bob.murdoch@skynet.be / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, great story from Aime. Keep up the good work. Bob

162  Date: 2005-03-09 04:38:52
Tom Murphy ( bmieast@ix.netcom.com / no homepage) wrote:

I was directed to your site in reply to an inquiry about any James Watt Alumni on the Merchant NNavy old friends site.You have a great site!!. I attended JW 53 - 55. Left there in Oct 55 with a shiny new 1st CL pmg and a Radar Endorsement at the ripe old age of 18+. Joined Reardon Smith ship Leeds City in Glasgow and went off around the world on my first trip. If I remember, the head of the Dept was Mr. Fleming and he taught the radar class with a younger instructor I think called Perry. The radar was a Kelvin Hughes 286. So the Pictures brought back fond memories. The instructor "Corky" was a tremendous inspiration to me by getting me into modifying radios and repairing them, canibalizing them to make oscillators. Only classmate I remember was Bill Pratt. There was a Macintosh from Skye but other than that I can't remember.

161  Date: 2005-03-08 14:29:41
David Roberts ( davidroberts@ns.sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian,
I came across your sight while searching for Saguenay Terminals vessel "SUNRIP".Yours is the only sight that I have found so far with any reference to this ship.My father worked for Saguenay Terminals and was the engineering officer aboard "SUNRIP" when she was built.As a boy of four years, I can remember sailing aboard "SUNRIP" on the St.Lawrence River.My father died in 1956 and our ties with Saguenay Terminals ended.I have always wondered what became of the "SUNRIP". I still have some photos of some of Saguenay Terminals ships including a lovely one of "SUNVALLEY" entering Havana Harbour.


Dave

160  Date: 2005-03-08 05:06:38
Rich Waters ( richwaters@ameritech.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi: My father sailed on the Delta Lines Del Brazil ship. I saw your info about the 3 Dels. Do you know of any information about the Del Brazil?

Thanks, Rich

159  Date: 2005-03-07 14:18:44
William Hugh Nattress ( whnattress@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian, what a great find to stumble upon your wonderful site. In 1960, and as a 15yr old "schoolboy" I emigrated, with my brother, sister and mother to Canada aboard dear Carinthia. Arriving Canada Sept 14th 1960. In fact, this voyage, departing Liverpol on Sept. 8th(?)1960 "broke the strike" that was ongoing at the time and all passengers were "spirited aboard" with a "skeleton crew" and I remember standing "well back from the starboard rail" under strict instructions from an officer in case any passengers were seen aboard. Later, (next morning)and after several appeals from the Purser my brother (14) and I were "recruited" to work as waiters in the dining room because staff was so short and we were "experienced" because we had been brought up in a family "pub" environment in Co. Durham. Lots to tell about this particular voyage, including passage thru remnants of hurricane "Donna"; bun fights on the "poop"; illicit invitations to the crews quarters "bar"; awe-inspiring visits to the thunderous engine room and playing ping-pong on a wildly pitching, cavitating propeller, deck. WOW!! what a time it was for a young lad!!! Living now in UK / Switzerland would love to meet up with you and share some old b/w photos of voyage. Also, if you were aboard this particular voyage would love to try and get sources of passenger lists, newspaper articles, current whereabouts of China Sea Discovery and the like. Hope to hear from you soon. Best regards from one of Carinthia's youngest "shipmates".

158  Date: 2005-03-05 19:25:48
Bob ( g0fek@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Enjoyed Aime's stpry of life as an R.O Ian So interesting a site am going to ration myself to a page a day You are doing an excellent job bringing briney life to our P.C screens Excellent stuff cheuchter 73 Bob

157  Date: 2005-03-04 16:15:14
Laurie ( lhiggins@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Your website is fantastic Ian!! Congratulations!!

156  Date: 2005-03-04 05:18:50
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations and thanks to Aime Charest on a very interesting (and well written) "bio-story". I found it especially intesting as Aime must have been one of the last practising R/Os and the photos were really good too. Great to see it on this website - thanks Ian for selecting it and recognising its appeal to many of your regular visitors.
Is it possible that this and other R/O "bios" (such as that of Uwe Ohler last December) could be included permanently elsewhere on the site, either as a sub-section of R/O Nostalgia or in a new category such as "R/O Biographical stories" ??

155  Date: 2005-03-03 17:05:08
Ken Annan ( rk_annan@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,
Some beautiful ships indeed. I spent Season 1957-58 on board Salvesen's "Southern Venturer" as a
mess boy, and enjoyed the greatest adventure of a lifetime. The whole aspect of hunting, killing and
processing whales in such an organised fashion was fascinating. The factory ship always had an
attraction for me and searched your site for pictures of the Venturer or our sister ship, the Harvester.
The Sourabaya looks very interesting. I took 5 rolls of film on my whaling trip. But I'm hungry for more
pictures of those factory ships. If you have any, or know where I can find them, I'd like to hear about it.

Ken Annan

154  Date: 2005-03-03 14:29:42
Carmen ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

Once again you have found (or it found you)a wonderful story. Aime's story is a joy to read...especially the respect he has for the planet. It sounds like he continues to enjoy nature in the Gaspe/Rimouski area. I wish him a long and pleasant retirement.

153  Date: 2005-03-02 20:41:57
k russell ( scampyrus@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

superb site , its great to look back when ships looked like ships'and not like block of flats.l am
marine artist who paints ships ,modern ships dont inspire me one bit. many thanks again for a great site

152  Date: 2005-03-01 20:39:30
Steve Teare ( steveteare@blueyonder.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent trip down memory lane Ian. As ex GBSS circa 1960/62, Anchor Line "Caledonia/GCKR 1958/60 many happy memories, especially Gus McPhail who I knew very well and last saw at GK. I was engineer with IMRC L'pool 1967/81. Louis Montgomery ex senior engr. IMRC L'pool still going strong at 75. He was ex R/O on the "CAMERONIA" Were you on GBSS and if so when? I have a number of poems to do with R/Os, ships and coast stations. Rather nostalgic but right for the time when our profession is no more. Keep up the good work.
Steve Teare Ex-GBSS

151  Date: 2005-02-28 23:23:43
Alf Pettersen ( WB6TAW@sdccu.net / http://users.sdccu.net/apettersen/index.htm) wrote:

Thank you, thank you. My cousin Petter Hugo Pettersen was a Donkeyman (oiler) on the S.S. Sourabaya when she was sunk on 10-27-1942 by U-436 during the attack on Convoy HX-212. By some remote chance do you know of any one that may have a crews list for the Sourabaya?
Again thank you, this is the first time that our family has been able to acquire of photo of his vessel. I have already sent a copy of your page to my nephew in Nøtterøy, Norway.
Alf Pettersen\ San Diego California

150  Date: 2005-02-26 12:58:32
Alex Bird ( leila.bird@onetel.net / no homepage) wrote:

Thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the site, as a traveller, Blue Funnel "Automedon" February 1955 Amsterdam/Singapore, P&O "Sudan" September 1959 Southampton/Port Klang and P&O "Canberra" Freemantle/Southampton November 1969. Is it possible to obtain prints or colour photographs of these vessels?

Thank you for an interesting web page.

149  Date: 2005-02-24 22:33:20
John D Meadowcroft ( jdmeadowcroft@tiscali.co.uk / http://www.webspawner.com/users/jdmeadowcroft/index.html) wrote:

Hi.
Wonderful site.Will be back again and again when I get some spare time.Wonderful to see the Old "ML" mean and lousy ships again I sailed on about six of them + the Rowanmore Keep up the good work. all the best John G/Sec Gravesend Association.

148  Date: 2005-02-12 08:30:06
jean-marc Godin ( jea-marg.godin@wanadoo.fr / no homepage) wrote:

trés bon site aves de belles photos

147  Date: 2005-02-12 03:06:28
Jim MacIntyre ( jmacin5573@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

I've just spent a fantastic hour of nostaligia in your website. I'll definitely be back.
Did my pre-sea at Warsash. Apprenticed to Furness Withy. Took second mates in Glasgow (failed signals due to a hangover). Spent several months coastal with MacBraynes. Finally made it and went back deep sea with Shell. Swallowed the anchor with only eleven days needed on articles for mates...
After a four year hiatus decided to rekindle my maritime heritage and went to work as a tanker broker in NY, and eventually joined Panocean Anco (chemical tankers) in their chartering dept in NY.
Spent the last eighteen years of my career working in the chartering dept of Stolt Tankers in Greenwich Connecticut. Retired three years ago and loving it.
My hobby is model ships and to make it more interesting I am planning to build models of the ships I sailed on. I have spent many hours corresponding with various yards and museums in the UK and Holland, but one ship still elludes me - the "Pacific Fortune" my first ship with Furness so if anyone out there has pics or can lead me to plans I would be eternally grateful.
I will be writing to some of your earlier guests about Shell Tankers and Furness Withy. One site I higly recommend for Shell is helderline.nl in Holland run by Kees Helder - well worth linking to your site.
Enough for now - I'll be back
Regards
Jim MacIntyre

146  Date: 2005-02-11 15:36:43
Don Williamson (Jones while at sea) ( manimmo@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

This is the site I shall be returning to "U Done Good Ian" Thank you so much for giving me a little moment of fame . Don

145  Date: 2005-02-02 21:42:09
Gwenan Powell ( mic.powell@virgin.net / no homepage) wrote:

I am tracing my family tree and seeking information regarding my Great Grandfather Capt John Parry of Llangrannog, Cardiganshire who sailed with both the Bank Line and the Moor Line (Runciemans). I have photo's of the following merchant ships on which he served - Gifford', 'Thistlebank', 'Tweesdale', 'Monkbarns' and 'Newtonmoor'. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Gwenan

144  Date: 2005-02-01 09:19:57
Greg Copley ( Mail@Seaviewmarine.com / no homepage) wrote:

Very enjoyable site showing vessel's which in my opinion looked like ships. Not like most of the rather disappointingly bland vessels afloat today. I am pleased I had the opportunity of sailing in the vessel's of the 50s and 60s (Not the bulk vessels) Reefers are some of the few vessels worthy of more than a short glance today, and even they are steadily loosing their appeal.

143  Date: 2005-02-01 07:23:56
william bland ( shammick@0ptusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

at sea 1952 to1966 british ships as A.B. 1971 to 1993 australian lighthouse tender M.V. Cape Moreton. still very intrested in ships.there used to be an elderlygent in swansea who used to make calenders with aphoto of the ship one was on at the time. often wonder what happened to all his gear.thiswas in the early 1950's. will now brouse the rest of your site . thank you very much for what you have donehere. bill bland

142  Date: 2005-01-25 22:23:50
Terry Leyman ( terry@leyman.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks for bringing back happy memories of my time at sea, from 1955 to 1961 sailing with Bullard King & Co, Coulothros and finaly with Ellermans Wilson Line

141  Date: 2005-01-25 12:49:16
Carmen ( cheetah_8@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

You're doing a great job my PET. Even as a land lubber I can appreciate this site. The fellows story about the QM2 is very interesting. Maybe we should do that on our 50th.

140  Date: 2005-01-23 19:03:34
John Munro ( jmunro@metro-mobile.com / http://www.metro-mobile.com) wrote:

The pictures and anecdotes took me back fifty years to when I "joined my first ship", Clan Urquhart", in Tilbury. I finished, pre-sea training, fifteen days at AST, in Hamble, and told to report to Marconi Depot at West Ham. I sat like a dummy, in the waiting room reading a couple of magazines, and watching the constant coming and going of ROs, and being interrupted by short blast of morse. I guess I would have been there still if one ancient, hadnt said "Who the hell is GFBK', which meant nothing to me. However I finally twigged, and in short time was in front of the clerk.
I was barely seventeen, and just over five feet , and 150lbs soaking wet. The staff at West Ham were, very supportive and showed me pictures of "My Ship" etc.

I did one trip on the " Urquhart" to Australia via Cochin Chittagong Balikpappan then Cairns Newcastle the round to Freemantle then back via Suez .
It has been a long time since I have experienced the Channels, but reading yr comments brought it all back.
Thanx fer the memories.

I now live White Rock, just South of Vancouver B.C. Canada

John Munro

139  Date: 2005-01-18 04:47:46
Norman Finch ( jeanfinch21@hotmail.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed on as Electrical Officer on the Pretoria- Arundle-Durban-Bloemfontain- Reibeck-Rochester Castle- 1955- 1962 also sailed R.F.A.Pearleaf. Norman Finch

138  Date: 2005-01-17 03:10:20
Beverley Howard ( beverleycrabs@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Enjoyed your site, as a voluntary worker for the Mission to Seafarers it was very interesting. Is anyone out there collecting memorabilla of CCAL - I have a piece which may be of interest.

137  Date: 2005-01-15 19:26:57
mary hammond ( jo001h2335@blueyonder.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I am writing on behalf of my dad, he is 85 now and unable to use a computer. He was in the Marines during the 2nd world war he was put on a tramp steamer the Highland Chieftan and sent across the Atlantic and back to South Africa then up to Egypt. We would really love some information on this vessel could anyone help with this.

136  Date: 2005-01-05 13:54:09
Shaun Wadsworth ( S.Wadsworth@hull.ac.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Enjoyed looking at the ships and information.My late father was in the Merchant Navy all his life until retirement in the mid 1970s. Its wonderful to see some of the ships he sailed on and I only wish I had spoken to him more about his life at sea.
Despite having an artifical leg it never stopped him going to sea he always took a spare away with him.

135  Date: 2005-01-04 02:50:27
CHAREST, Aimé ( ac.wto@cgocable.ca / no homepage) wrote:

This site is a great idea. Have been searching such a site or similar for a long time. Happy to realize that R/O's are still "active" through that method of QSO. Have been serving mostly on Canadian Merchant Ships (and some foreign) for 26 years with great enthousiasm and was very sad to see the end of my life at sea to end up so adruptly. That was 11 years ago and I still feel a great nostalgia. Hoping to find pen-pals among the "survivors" of a tremendous era. Many and friendly regards to all OM's. Best wishes and many TKS to the "creator" of this site.

73's
A.C.

134  Date: 2005-01-02 12:03:21
bruce Corbin ( brucecorbin@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi again
I forgot to mention that my brother Chris Corbin was a radio officer with Marconi, serving on shaw savile and Bank line 1959-1966
He was th R/O when the Runic went aground on Middleton Reef whilst en route at 17 knots from Brisbane to New Zealand. I believe she was about 13000 tons and the largest refrigerated ship of the tims.
My brother is still alive and well living in Brighton UK. I live in Forest Row East Sussex.

133  Date: 2005-01-02 11:58:39
bruce corbin ( brucecorbin@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

I have had hours of pleasure on your website since I disovered it a week ago.
I was a deck apprentice, and third mate with Counties Ship Management, from 1961 -1966. SS Streatham Hill, Beech Hill. I was then then with FT Everard on the Astrality and then the Annuity as 2nd mate.!966-68 I have yet to find pictures anywhere of the ships I was on.
Your site has brought back countless memories of what was the best part of my life (am 60 now). I am still having a good time but not like those days.
I will be a constant visitor, the pictures of some of these ships can almost bring tears to my eyes.
thanks for everything.
bruce

132  Date: 2004-12-28 17:40:42
Robert Mann ( Rmcromerridge@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Many of my ancestors sail with the Bullard King shipping line in the early nineteen hundreds, most of them lived in the Norfolk village of Cley next the Sea where you will still find houses with name like Umtata, Umvolosi and Umgeni sadly Umona has had a name change as did Umvoti. Our family sailed ships from Newcastle to London with coal in the mid late eighteen hundreds.
Thank you

131  Date: 2004-12-28 10:04:22
donald jones (Now Williamson) ( manimmo@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Could any one help me in finding a Radio Officer by the name of David Wardley. Mind I am talking of a "Sparks" who sailed with me and kept us both up half the night playing scrabble, and that was 50 years ago !!!.

130  Date: 2004-12-28 09:57:15
Donald Williamson ( manimmo@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Loved the opening write-up in the Home page. It pretty well summed up THE life of a seaman whether on deck catering or engine room. I was one of the "US" from 1951 to 1960 and am so glad that I managed to sail on Two tramp steamers before my moves to the 'newer, type ships because, although they were bloody uncomfortable and hot in the tropics, they really did throb with life and fun, which is a constant offering on a ship mainly of Scousers. Listening to the reminiscences of my peers,whilst sitting on the top of the holds at night in that time of my being a snotty little cabin boy, was so instructional, and much of the instruction was good and a lot was aimed at my innocence and gullibility. I really did believe that the ship on the horizon was the mailship coming to bring us news of home. Oh that the boys of today could have a taste of the LIFE that there is away from their play stations and othe stuff thrown at them in the media. I would not swap my 10 years for all the tea in Chine. I left that life and went to work in the Post Office which was a very good job and sometimes even fun, but ,compared with my sea days, it was something akin to being dead for 32 years. AH! me, but cest la vie. Don Jones

129  Date: 2004-12-24 15:14:11
Frank Wandt ( webmaster@ruegen-radio.org / http://www.ruegen-radio.org) wrote:

+++ merry christmas + and a happy new year +
- staff & webteam of the ex coaststation Rügen Radio (Germany)
best rgds vy73 Frank +

128  Date: 2004-12-22 11:08:55
michael robinson ( mrob9697@bigpond.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

thank you for your site it has refreshed my memory from when I worked on the tug Racia. I'm sure I was on the racia when your photo was taken. I was a deck hand at that time. it is pleaseing to see the other tugs as well. Thanks again.michael.

127  Date: 2004-12-20 19:05:21
Bob Murdoch ( bob.murdoch@skynet.be / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations on you re-vamp Ian. Keep up the good work. Bob

126  Date: 2004-12-19 22:14:42
Paul Shepherd ( Paul@pshep.wanadoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great page, very interesting.
I inherited a lovely Longines watch that is inscribed with 'Presented to C Norman Shepherd by the directors of Union Castle Lines in appreciation of 48 years sevice 1920-1968. Is ther any way I can find out more about my relative, what he did and which ships he sailed on?
regards Paul

125  Date: 2004-12-18 14:34:56
Ramon Michen ( rmserv@mindspring.com / http://nohomepage.com) wrote:

Brilliant content! Brought memories flooding back. I hope to contribute soon with some pics from the 60's and 70's.

Ray - Former R/O 1971-1975

124  Date: 2004-12-17 23:44:30
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

An excellent, interesting and well-written bio from Uwe Ohler on the home page now (Thank you Uwe and thank you Ian for putting it up). I'm sure there are many other regular visitors to this site who, like me, are already looking forward to part two of Uwe's fascinating time at sea.

Meanwhile, I'd like to wish to you all, the compliments of the forthcoming Season and continuing opportunities for mnnostalgia in 2005.

Kind regards, Doug Howick (Former R/0 1953-1958)

123  Date: 2004-12-16 15:24:34
keith reed ( keith.reed@fourseasons.free-online.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

looking for information on availa star and norman star

122  Date: 2004-12-11 23:58:19
Tracey Jones (Scully) ( traceyscouse@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Best Wishes,

Tracey.

121  Date: 2004-12-08 17:47:31
Seamus F Casey ( scasey@lisp.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

A wonderfull site.Thanks

120  Date: 2004-12-05 18:43:00
Uwe Ohler ( uweohler@t-online.de / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian,
great site with funny stories and so many pictures of beautiful ships! Very enjoyable, thank you.
I have been r/o for ten years (1975-1985) on German freight ships.
Keep up the good work. 73, cheers, Uwe

119  Date: 2004-12-03 09:04:35
Hans C Polak ( hansp@scarlet.nl / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, two former German colleagues: Sylvester Föcking/DH4PB, Rolf Marschner/DL9CM and I have written a book called: "Sparks what's going on". It has been published by Sylvester and up to now about 600 copies have been sold. Am not completely sure but the price of this 300 pages book is EUR 13.00 ex handling and postage. In this book we have put the stories of a lot of colleagues from several countries in the world. The text is in English.
Your site is really fascinating and I go there almost every morning. Kindest regards, Hans

118  Date: 2004-12-01 14:02:12
Bob Green ( bob@trackdrive.fsnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Many Thanks for a fascinating site I was particularly interested in the Bank Line section as i sailed with them as an apprentice in the 60's. The Bank line section on the Red Duster site finishes at 1955.
Unfortunately most of my photos and logs have been lost in the intervening years.
Again , many thanks.
Bob Green

117  Date: 2004-11-30 23:07:44
mr leigh thorp ( leigh.thorp@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

very interesting and enjoyable reading. would like to hear from anyone with information regarding ss vienna during the war on which my late grandfather served. i have many photo's unfortunately no stories to go with them

116  Date: 2004-11-29 20:53:39
Cora ( CoraK@ig.com.br / no homepage) wrote:

I am absolutely delighted to find - at last -a picture of the ship 'Orcades' on which my family and I travelled from India to England in 1962.I have been searching with the wrong spelling - "Orchides" because I only remember hearing it being shouted at the docks when we were embarking. I was seven at the time, but remember the voyage well. If you have any other photos of the Orcades, or have any information about the ship, or could point me to any other sources where I could obtain more information, I would be very pleased to know.

Thank you.

115  Date: 2004-11-27 15:25:48
Roger Bentley ( rogbebo@nascr.net / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent site and will return to explore in full.
Currentley co editor of the Radio Officers' Association journal QSO, Best regards, Roger

114  Date: 2004-11-24 22:39:15
Allison Boon ( allisonb@actualprod.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi there,
I was wondering how you got that photo of the Fairtry III. I would like to use it in a program I'm doing on Commercial Fishing. Thanks!
Allison Boon
Actuality Productions
1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd. 4th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Tel: (310) 575-1212 x547
Fax: (310) 575-1211
allisonb@actualprod.com

113  Date: 2004-11-22 13:30:13
Hugh Shuttleworth ( hrshuttleworth@tesco.net / no homepage) wrote:

Have enjoyed what I've looked through so far, I keep coming back to look at more.

Read John McGinty's accounts of life with Brocklebanks with particular interest and nostalgia, it is possible he was sparky on Malakand on my first trip to sea. I'm on the scrounge for any photos of Brocklebank ships and would like to contact John for higher resolution photos, and for permission to post some of his shots on another site I'm contributing to.

Best regards

Hugh Shuttleworth

112  Date: 2004-11-22 13:09:50
HILARY HOPE ( hilary@hilaryhope.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

please can you help my father was a whaler with sALVASON in the 50s I would dearly love to get him something for his christmas that will help to bring back some happy memories can you help with any ideas thanks

111  Date: 2004-11-21 21:16:52
JOE AIKEN ( joeannaiken@elora.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

EXCELENT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK I AM A EX COASTER AND BEN LINE AND UNION CASTLE CREW MEMBER FROM THE 50(S) TO 1961 AND IT BRINGS IT ALL BACK.
DAYS OF YORE LONG MAY YOU KEEP IT UP.

110  Date: 2004-11-20 19:10:19
Tony Worthington ( worthold100@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

After making contact with you as VE2DOH and being very impressed with your knowledge of Watts Watts ships,I just had to spend some time on this very large site of yours. I will be looking out for you on 21360 where possible on Mon/Fri 3pm if home.Tony

109  Date: 2004-11-18 15:44:59
J-M Godin ( Jean-Marc.Godin@wanadoo.fr / no homepage) wrote:

Superbe site please, continuez
jm Godin

108  Date: 2004-11-16 20:20:40
Noel Patrick Pereira ( singascouseuk@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Lovely spread of shipping companies.Ever thought of starting a BRITISH COASTAL COMPANIES website?
Singascouse

107  Date: 2004-11-06 06:02:48
allan headley ( alacoral@bigpond.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks you for some great memories, I spent 17 happy
years at sea and the remainder of my working life as a R/O at GKL then Australian coast stations, retireing in 1996 . My regards to Montreal , I spent two years trading there from australia on the
Halifax Star in the mid 60's Regards et 73's
Allan Headley


nnnn

106  Date: 2004-10-29 23:43:31
Tony Hills ( hillstony@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

My dad served on the RFA Dingledale during WW2, he has a couple of pictures of the Dingledale at home. I was wondering if you have any other information available or would you be interested to contact my dad (Arthur John Hills)in relation to his time on the dingledale. Dad was on board in Toyko Bay for the signing of the surrender in 1945.

105  Date: 2004-10-26 07:07:52
Bob Murdoch ( bob.murdoch@skynet.be / no homepage) wrote:

Sorry, typo in e-mail field Correct one is
bob.murdoch@skynet.be
73s Bob

104  Date: 2004-10-25 19:13:34
Bob Murdoch ( bob.murdocj@skynet.be / no homepage) wrote:

What a great site. I was at the Watt Memorial a little before you. I got my 2nd class and MOT Radar andjoined Marconi in April, 1958 a few weeks bfore my 17th birthday. My path to the Watt Memorial was similar to yours, I still remember the brochure for the Glasgow Wireless College and the trouble I had convincing my mother that I was not mad. Fortunately my father was on my side!!!
I went back to Greenock in January 1959 and sat and passed part one of my 1st class in April that year. Finished it in New Zealand!!!
Again, thanks for a great site and the photographs.
Bob

103  Date: 2004-10-21 18:58:27
Chris Medland ( onenarflegs@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Thanks

102  Date: 2004-10-21 15:57:43
Andy ( andydmitchell@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian
I am sorry for using your guestbook as such, but was looking for some help.

My father fondest sea going memories were aboard an Elder Dempster ship the Eboe. I am desperatly trying to find where I could buy prints of ships such as these. Essentially I would prefer the Eboe but would also look fo the Kaladan, Oti or Apapa also.

I hope you can steer me in the right direction

Regards

Andy mitchell

101  Date: 2004-10-21 14:56:49
David Reynolds ( rr03dcr@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian,
First rate site. Easy to see that a great deal of work has gone into it. I served as a navigation cadet with Ellerman City Liners from 1973 until 1975. I joined my first ship, the S.S. City of Oxford, at King George V docks in my home town of Glasgow. Next came the City of Glasgow followed by Canberra with my last ship being the Toronto. I wonder if you can help me with two queries? Firstly do you know where I might be able to buy a photograph of the City of Toronto and secondly do any of your site visitors know of an Ian Smith, he would now be about 49 years of age. In 1973 he was a navigation cadet with Ellermans his family home being in Southend. It would be nice to say hello to an old friend.

Many thanks and keep up the good work.

David Reynolds

100  Date: 2004-10-21 02:22:09
Dick Brunner ( camper@quantumsails.com / no homepage) wrote:

Nice site-Looked at it first for Elder Dempster Lines-Would like to locate a Mate I knew by the name of Ian Bowers-He sailed for Elder when I knew him in 68-69-Any help drop me an e-mail-Thanks

99  Date: 2004-10-19 20:39:21
Allan Leaver ( pci@on.aibn.com / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed in march 1957 Liverpool to St. John NB Canada on the Empress of France.Is there any way to get copies of the "passenger lists' for the classic old vessels. Good article and keep up the good work. Al Leaver

98  Date: 2004-10-19 07:20:08
Lachlan (Lachie)Macdonald ( lachie@auststor.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Ex Watt Memorial, 1960, sailed R/O BI, Ben Line, BP, P&O, Elder & Fyfe to name a few.

97  Date: 2004-10-10 11:12:42
David Hollis ( davidhollisuk@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

such an excellent site thank you for the memories.
i was an engineer with port line, head line,bowrings,everards to name a few it was a wonderful life proud to have been a merchant seaman.

96  Date: 2004-10-09 12:24:13
Martin Cadman ( Martcadman@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
Was at sea from 1963-1971. Started as Apprentice on general cargo ships, finished as Master on tankers for my last 25 years.Now a Pilot and see on a regular basis that those were indeed the Good Old days. Thanks n'regards, Martin

95  Date: 2004-10-05 18:38:43
howard hunt ( huntatsea@charter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Was an Asst Purser on Rhodesia,Transvaal and the Reina in the mid 60's. Brought back very happy memories.

94  Date: 2004-10-03 19:43:30
David Oakden ( david.oakden@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Like your web site. I am ex R/O B & C (Clan Line/Union Castle/King Line etc) 1962-1980
73s de David G3UFO

93  Date: 2004-09-30 10:21:38
Dave Davies ( dafydd.davies@ntl.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ian,
Have found your web site most interesting.
I was at sea from July 69 to Feb 86 and still miss it like hell.
Found your letter from Niarchos offering employment very interesting, as I sailed with them from 71 to 73, and the signature on this letter was from the infamous Ivor Davies, whom I knew very well. As I live in West Wales, his parents were buried in Tregaron. As he lived in London, I went along to the chapel where they were buried and took some photo's of the grave, sending him these prints.
He was very touched by this, and we got on really well after that.
I eventually left Niarchos, where the food was absolutely abysmal, and wenmt to work for an American Co, and we were based in Oakland Calif. The company was called Kaizzer International Shipping Corp and stayed with them for nine years.
I could go on for a long time but will cut it short.
Again, thanks for the brilliant web site and looking forward to hearing from U B4 2 long.

Rgds = Dave

(GW3YAF, see QRZ.com)

92  Date: 2004-09-27 18:06:18
Bob Wilson ( g0fek@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Ian how can you turn out such a magnificent web-site after drinking that freebie pint of Irish Water hi hi Congratulations on your new format
Has the Largs Cheuchter signed in yet I do not mean the Pledge Cheers and beers Bob

91  Date: 2004-09-26 13:10:47
Ken. ( KJWKatsina@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

A great site you have here Ian, A mates dad worked on a "Tritonia" 142616 believed to belong to ( Anchor / Donaldson ) lines in 1928, does anyone have a photo of her please.Any photos of these other ships would be a bonus. 1929. "SS Veletta" 1926 "SS Rimouski" 140589. 1934 "SS Geraldine Mary" 151629. T in A. Ken.

90  Date: 2004-09-21 09:43:49
Peter Sharpe ( bosun65@ntlworld.com / http://www.looksharpe.co.uk) wrote:

What a fantastic site, really brings a lump to your throat browsing through it.
Like the author, I was only at sea for a short time (4 years)but seeing all these pictures has brought the memories flooding back.
I was a deckie on Orsova and Oriana from 65 to 69.

89  Date: 2004-09-17 20:42:35
Bob Green ( bpb@trackdrive.fsnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

THanks for a brilliant site. Saw out my apprenticeship in the 1960s with Andrew Weir Bank line so was particularly interested in your Bank Line section . Brough back a lot of happy memories .

88  Date: 2004-09-17 16:33:04
graham lee ( graham@lee3274.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

hello, my dad was a chippy on the union castle line ships between 1957ish-1968. if any one remembers him or has any stories i would be pleased to hear them

87  Date: 2004-09-17 13:14:21
rob ( robbiewaman@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

lovely site. i am trying to find details of mv dunnard or mv norscot, believe these are correct spellings. around 1950s for an elderly drinking buddy of mine. pictures would be great, can anybody help?

86  Date: 2004-09-13 17:31:30
Mark Rigby ( mrigby@indiastreet.fslife.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

thanks for bringing back some childhood memories. my father was in the army in Singapore 1959-63 and i went to junior school there. we travelled out on the Empire Fowey (ex German) and back on the Nevasa (BI troopship with a P&O shop). The excitement of passing other ships. There wers so many Blue funnels, but also remeber red funnels. While in Singapore it was an outing to have tea on the liners in harbour. Remember in particular the Himalaya and also the William Rys (really ornate lounge). No idea she ended up as the Achille Lauro until i read your site.

85  Date: 2004-09-12 01:11:59
Doug Howick ( doug.h@aepma.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Just experienced a wonderful voyage into the past!!
The Radio Officer nostalgia section is excellently descriptive of what so many of us experienced.
I was there from 1953 to 1957 - Elders & Fyffes, Royal Mail Lines, P & O, Palm Line and Shaw Saville before Australian Coastal ships and then ashore in Australia ever since.

I'd be very interested in making contact with fellows who trained at the School of Marine Radio & Radar at Hamble (Hants) from (say 1952 to 1954).
Most of ud joined Marconi I think and many sailed out of Southampton.

Ian, you do a great dervice to us all with your website. Tks. I be really pleased to get some Emails.

Doug Howick

84  Date: 2004-09-10 23:08:27
john ellis ( jdellis45@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

loved your info but In regsrd to Salvesens I was on both the Tana and Glitra. the ship shown is the Tana the Glitra had all accomodations aft

83  Date: 2004-09-02 18:57:33
colin green ( colingreen155@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site . it was about time someone dedicated some time to Fyffes. Thank you.

82  Date: 2004-09-02 02:52:48
jenny bergin ( jennybergin@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

So glad I found your pages; I've been trying to find out what happened to the Carinthia, who I will always remember with the sweetest memories of my first trip ever alone at the age of nineteen in June of 1957. That ship was alive, I could sense her youth and freshness. She gave me one of the happiest weeks of my life. I'm so glad to know she has not been destroyed but also sad that she should come to the life she has now. If only Cunard could bring her back - I'd be one of the first to travel with her again. I don't fly anymore and would love to go home again on that lovely ship (much nicer than the Queen Mary). Thank you again. I'm going to look out for more news about her. Jenny.

81  Date: 2004-09-01 15:02:37
Trevor Roberts ( trevor@kidsworldonline.co.uk / http://www.kidsworldonline.co.uk) wrote:

Nice site and great to see pictures of a couple of the ships I served on in my, long ago, youth. (x HMS Conway 62-65)

80  Date: 2004-08-25 09:30:08
J>A>Gray/GTZM/GKA/GPK ( jan.gray@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

GM OM. What an article. Parallel paths just don't come into it. It was like reading my own autobiography. Was Brian Singleton on the Carinthia when you were (1962)I enjoyed it for 12 odd years and then went to the P>O, so I saw the job from both ends. Would I do it again, damn right
I would! I still listen out on S.W, but it's old hat now. 73's su soon kkk

79  Date: 2004-08-25 09:22:21
J.A.Gray/GTZM/GKA/GPK ( jan.gray3@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Almost brought a tear to my eye. Parallel paths just don't come into it. It was like reading my own autobiography. Was Brian Singleton on the Carinthia with You (1962). Youv'e made a superb job of this. Well done 73's...KKK

78  Date: 2004-08-20 19:31:44
Steve Catton ( scatton@telecom.com.co / no homepage) wrote:

Congratulations on a very enjoyable but nostalgic site!!!! I am ex-B&C, deck-department, and recalled many memories browsing through the Clan and U-C pages. (Pity there´s nothing on King Line, Hector Whaling and Scottish Tankers!)
Cheers,
Steve

77  Date: 2004-08-13 14:37:55
Alf ( alf-prestatyn1930@tiscali.co.uk / http://shipsoflongago.co.uk) wrote:

Hello,
My name is Alf,
I've just been looking at your
very interesting shipping site.
I am ex merchant navy, and in my
retirement I am building a
chronicle of all the ships that
I sailed on during the 1940s.
Perhaps you would look at my own
information site, and if you think
it worthy would you please consider
giving it a link to your site.
The site is,

shipsoflongago.co.uk

Let me know what you think,
All the best,
Alf

76  Date: 2004-08-12 12:12:06
Ron Formby ( ronformby@scottiepress.org / http://www.scottiepress.org) wrote:

Ian You have a very interesting and enjoyable website which I applaud and which I have linked to a Projects webpage entitled 'links With Maritime Museums' on the Scottie Press Community Newspaper's website www.scottiepress.org
A great many men and women from the Scotland Road area Liverpool found employment as seafarers and a great many seafarers when in Liverpool visited the Scotland Road area. The hopes are that the 'Links With Maritime Museums' webapge can serve as a history/heritage resource and be the means by which former seafarers world wide can reunite by using either the facilities on the Scottie Press website or by visiting the other maritime associated websites linked to the Scottie Press website.

75  Date: 2004-08-11 12:08:30
PeterJ Murphy ( taymur@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

G`day Ian,just been talking to my old shipmate Davey in U K,plenty of laughs as always one was when we were doing lay up on the Q M in southampton Christmas1960,long time ago eh but we still live the good times ,we had to serve the engineers on Christmas day,we`d both had a few and Davey made the sarnies up,cut like bloody great door steps,slid them on the table and this junior 996 with a nice posh accent said "I say steward what did you cut these sandwhichs with a f#$%^&* axe,we rolled around in fits of laugther I can still see his face now,so if your still around junior up your pipe ha / ha /ha / take care have fun I do

74  Date: 2004-08-10 15:06:57
George Griffiths ( exseafarer@iinet.net.au / no homepage) wrote:

G/day ian. from perth west oz. came a cross this smashing sit by M.N.links and isn't great to see what ships should look like instead of the floating boxs what i see when i pop down to the wharf at fremantle . i course i expect to see a portboat or bluestar. or shaw's swivels . no luck i'm afraid \.
but we still have that great memory lads.
vindi nov52to jan 53.
a mate of mine is looking for a pic of the city of birkenhead if anybodies got one they could email to me. plus i have plenty of old tramp pic's (black'n'white. george down here in the colonies.
thanks again ian for this great site.

73  Date: 2004-08-08 11:47:10
Tim Wilmshurst ( t.j.wilmshurst@derby.ac.uk / no homepage) wrote:

As a child I sailed on the Elder Dempster Aureol from Nigeria to Liverpool. We landed at Liverpol April 3rd 1961! I was 8, and still have the diary somewhere. Found your site when writing a little thing for my Dad's birthday, age 90. He also sailed on the Apapa and Calabar I believe. The picture of the Aureol on your site just matches that childhood memory! Except I want to see the steamer of the boat train waiting to take us away!

Many thanks indeed, Tim.

72  Date: 2004-08-08 10:44:59
Keith Hewitt ( dikeith@aol.com / http://www.whiskygalore.us) wrote:

I have a particular interest in the T&J Harrison Line, SS Politician which sank off Eriskay in 1941. The film Whisky Galore Aka Tight Little Island was later produced.I have an original intact whisky bottle and jamaican shillings from the wreck. I conduct talks on the subject and would be pleased to hear from anyone who has an interest in the ship.

Great site congratulations, my website will be availabe soon.

Keith Hewitt

71  Date: 2004-08-02 12:38:34
news- ( news-1860@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

<a href=>news </a>

70  Date: 2004-08-02 07:53:18
guenter klepke ( g.klepke@gmx.de / http://www.guenter-klepke.de) wrote:

Hi OM Ian, amazing story "RUNNING AWAY TO SEA IN STYLE".
I wrote some stories [most in German, but ...Halifax... is in English].
73' de Guenter +++

69  Date: 2004-08-01 07:07:32
Chris Woods ( chris.woods@eidosnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Great site ... and fascinating for all us olde salts.

I'm trying to find anything about a small shipping company called Ballard, King & Co. of Tower Street, London founded by Capt's S. Bullard & D. King in the 1850s and operating initially coastal sail traders. Around 1860s they formed the White Closs line trading to Morocco and the Med. About 1858 they opereated a joint service to Natal with the Aberdeen Direct Line.

White Cross name was abandoned in 1869 but the paternship was continued until 1879 when Bullard Kig built their first steamer and continued services to Suth Africa.

The company was aquired by Union Castle Mail SS Co. in 1919 although keeping their separate identities.

My interest is in that my gt grandfather sailed as Master on 3 of their ships
JOHNS (80 t, Schooner H.B.R.K.) around 1872,
SARAH KING 123 t. Brigantine H.B.M.D.) on which he was sunk in the Bristol Channel 25/1/1873
FORMOSA o.n. 20189 97 t.schooner from 1873 to an unknown date when he left her after encountering "severe privitations in a storm". As a result he left the sea and became a small time ship owner and broker in King's Lynn

i would very much like to find out what happened on the Formosa but have had no success so far on the usual maritime web sites and message boards.

i wouldalso be interested inthe origins of the two owners as I suspect the D. king may have been a norfolk man.

Any suggestions for further research or do you know of anyone specialising in early union Castle shipping aquisitions/histories etc?

Any suggestions most welcome,

Chris
retired from BP Tankers

68  Date: 2004-07-27 08:54:46
Wayne ( wayneskain@ihug.co.nz / no homepage) wrote:

Ian,
Great pics. Particularly love the Blue Star Ships,have my own collection of them from Fotoflite - Skyfotos,as my photography only started 15 years ago,but remember seeing them at New Zealand ports when i was younger.

67  Date: 2004-07-26 14:02:10
Rolande Howey ( rolandehowey@yahoo.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Smashing site. I like you was a RO of a short time 70/71 on the Benarmin and RFA GREY Rover. I could see the writing on the wall at that time for the British shipping industry(the seamans union has a lot to answer for),but there was other factors contributing to the demise of British shipping.
I particularly like the site for the passenger ships of the 1950's. As a child then I travelled to the Far East and Africa with my perents on the P and O Chusan and Canton and Edinburgh Castle and Rhodesia Castle. These ships were great adventure play grounds for kids, and the trips ashore were so exciting and interesting before the world all started to look the same.

66  Date: 2004-07-25 17:29:38
Richard Evans Hogg ( shipshape@worldonline.co.za / no homepage) wrote:

Hi, What a sroke of luck finding this excellent web-site you have put together, I was surfing the web to find some of the British Shipping Companies I had sailed with during the late 50/60's. I came across your sight and Saguenay Terminals, I was 3rd Mate aboard the MV SUNGATE of Turbull Scott Shipping of London which was on charter to Saguenay Terminals.(your site)
I joined the mv Sungate in Rotterdam in March/61 and we sailed for Suriname Dutch Guyana to load bauxite for Port Alfred (Saguenay River)We traded between Great Lakes and West Coast of USA and Canada one year later I was discharged at Jarrow Dry Dock Newcastle Upon Tyne March/62. Please if you can assist me with information with regards to Turnbull Scott and also Wm Cory's of London I will be very grateful. The picture of the mv Sungate is no longer on the web page.
Best wishes and look forward to news from you.
Regards
Richard Hogg
PORT ELIZABETH. SOUTH AFRICA
Sunday, 25/07/05
hoggie@worldonline.co.za
shipshape@worldonline.co.za

65  Date: 2004-07-22 11:32:42
PeterJ Murphy ( taymur@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

I never stop looking at these ships, a fair few I sailed in from my first ship a deep sea tug in 1958 to the biggest at the time the Queen Mary I finished up in Thursday Island on the ozzi navaids in 1981,I loved every second of it from the work ups to the piss ups ha/ ha/take care have fun I do

64  Date: 2004-07-16 23:38:28
Peter Nicholson ( exseaman@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Wonderful photographs Ian. All 'my' kind of ships.
I take pleasure in looking at them all. All of the shipping companies featured here are familiar to me. Many of the ships too.
A truly well done website. Many thanks, Peter. (oldbosun)

63  Date: 2004-07-14 16:44:20
Geoff Woolley ( woolley422@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

S S OTRANTO 1952-53 S S ORSOVA 54-55

62  Date: 2004-07-12 12:40:52
Robert L Drain ( drainar@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

A great site, wonderfull to see some of the ships I sailed on, (which was quite a lot), as I was a one-trip, one-ship man, wanting to see the big wide world.Did a lot of trips to South America on 'Royal Mail' lines, Darro, Douro, Deseado, Amazon etc, but, don'see any of that line here.Left The MN in 1973, after 13 years service, having started as a 16 year old in 1960, My first 'Deep Sea' was the 'Andes' cruise ship.( as a Steward ). Love this website and visit it often.

61  Date: 2004-07-09 20:41:28
Frank Kelley ( frankkelley@lineone.net / no homepage) wrote:

A lovely site just discovered while searching for Bibby Bros present postal address. although I thing anyone going to sea without actually being paid to do so is mad, I succumbed to the Maritime Memories cruise aboard "Discovery" in April and met several other ex seafarers and had a superb time, so much so that at least seven of us are repeating the experience in December with a cruise from Lisbon to finish in the River Plate (CWA and LPand hope that this time the Old Speckeled Hen will last the whole trip.

60  Date: 2004-07-08 12:39:01
jim cullen ( poppytheone@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

my dad is a survivor of the duchess of atholl torpedoed 10.10.1942i am looking for a picture of the ellerman lines hms corinthian rescue ship

59  Date: 2004-07-08 00:59:26
John Sabourn ( sabourn@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Ref. Saguenay Terminals,have quickly perused list of Sun vessels and cannot see Sunprincess.I have a photo of her,she was an old C 1a (I beleive if my memory is correct, built during the war for the American MN, and was capable of 16 knots)I was Ch.off.on her 68/69.If you want photo I will get put on a disk and forward.Your site is excellent and must prove very advantageous to many people. Thanks John Sabourn

58  Date: 2004-07-07 18:31:08
Stan Bowles ( sbowles@direct.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Great site - memories!

57  Date: 2004-07-07 11:58:50
Paul Strathdee ( paul@karatina52.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Just got round to looking at your site after you mentioned using my CALEDONIA shot.
A fine collection of "real" ships,sometimes not the best to operate but still a part of a different age which I am glad I was able to see and in part record.

56  Date: 2004-07-07 00:50:18
Ieuan Dolby ( seadolby@yahoo.co.uk / http://www.seadolby.com) wrote:

I'm still at sea but your site makes me nostalgic already!

55  Date: 2004-07-01 15:52:37
Brian Brown ( wynner01@yahoo.com / no homepage) wrote:

I sailed as a midshipman in the early 1960's with Palm Line. I sailed on the Niger Plam and the Lobito Palm in the trade from Europe to West Africa. Anyone who can direct me to a photo and/or info on the Niger Palm would be greatly appreciated. I now live in Canada and drive a Greyhound Bus.

54  Date: 2004-06-30 10:10:07
Colin Torrie ( torrie@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed on Empire Clyde`s last trip (Deck crew)prior to scrapping.It was to ferry troops from Christmas Island (Pacific).I believe they were testing Britains A Bomb.

53  Date: 2004-06-28 23:50:15
greg maclean ( gregorm7@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

i joined the merchant navy in 1964 as a deck boy 34 years deep-sea, im now on the pilot boats in the firth of forth.

52  Date: 2004-06-26 18:21:35
Haydn Crockford ( haytch@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Your site brings the memories flooding back, I was employed as an R/O by IMRC back in the sixties and one of my ships (and one of the best) was the OREPTON, what a good time I had on her. Your mention of Port Talbot, Melille, Oran brings back a time that I would do all over again. I also joined my first ship, Booker Venture in uniform and came in for some ribbing, but you live and learn The Carinthia was a ship that I travelled as a passenger to Canada and back again. Them were the days.

51  Date: 2004-06-25 22:35:37
Notrman Howle ( normanhowle@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Thank you, thank you , thank you for a wonderful site.
I'll need to point my son to it who is just starting out on his voyages and give him an insight into what it was like for us.

50  Date: 2004-06-23 20:47:41
terry hartley ( terry.hartley@merseymail.com / no homepage) wrote:

found your site very interesting i was abourd eucadia 1970 as j.o.s. got caught up in india pakistan war at the time and spent nine months on the indian coast have some bad memories of trip and some good ones.however i am pleased people like yourself are keeping what is now a sad demise going in memory i was a liverpool seaman who sailed out of lpool for 10 years . but can honestly say i really enjoyed the comorardory and company of the jocks i sailed with on the mv eucadia. could u plz if possible let me know her final fate thank you keep up yhe good work t hartley.

49  Date: 2004-06-23 12:06:39
greg maclean ( gregorm7@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

i went to the vindi in 1964 as a deckie, i then spent the next 34 years deep-sea(including r.f,a.) im now on the pilot boats in the firth of forth.

48  Date: 2004-06-22 20:57:57
Paul de Keizer ( dekeizer@wxs.nl / http://home.wxs.nl/~pa3aql) wrote:

As a former marine engineer from the 1950s, I enjoy this website very much. Nice job!
Paul

47  Date: 2004-06-16 04:07:23
Robin Baddock ( robinbaddock@primus.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

What a pleasant surprise to come across your excellent website!
I served my time with the Clan Line. I would like to get Part 2 but cannot find it. Can you help?
Having been with Canadian Pacific, Glen Line and United Baltic I still have plenty to study! Beats doing the washing up!

46  Date: 2004-06-13 17:13:53
nick clibborn ( nick-carol@alderwey.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Can only echo what others have said. You have captured the essence of what being at sea meant in the 50's thro' 70's. I did some 12 years with Ocean Fleets, and though I had forgotten little of it, you brought it back into focus in a wave of nostaglia.

Well done.

Nick

45  Date: 2004-06-12 22:34:45
Bill Lowe ( directdriveguard@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, Fantastic site bringing back so many very happy memories. I started as Cadet with Currie Line in 1964 then Moss Hutchinson, Manchester Liners (10yrs)finally Denholms before going ashore as surveyor in Houston Tx. I wish you all the luck in the world with your site and keep up the good work, appreciated by so many.
Kindest regards
Bill

44  Date: 2004-05-31 09:00:35
greg maclean ( gregorm7@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

i joined the merchant navy in 1964 as a deck boy, i spent 34 years deep sea mainly on tramps, im now on the pilot boats in the firth of forth.

43  Date: 2004-05-17 16:09:43
Karen McKnight ( grishko@bigpond.com / no homepage) wrote:

Found your site, great pics, looking for ships my Great Grandfather Capt James Stewart Adams ex Scotland, sailed on and my Great Grandfather Edward Thomas Forne ex USA both ending up in New Zealand. One The Star of China, another The Lady Ruthven,Loch Tay, The Scottish Prince & the SS Fairey to name a few, would love to hear anything about these ships, pics etc.

42  Date: 2004-05-11 07:27:28
David Lawton ( davbron6@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Used to sail with Manchester Liners in mid 70's great to see your site thanks from a grateful nostalgia buff

41  Date: 2004-05-08 20:21:40
vic mcclymont ( vicmac21@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

very interesting site some superb photos.
vic

40  Date: 2004-05-06 23:26:14
Mike Teague ( teaguemj@rogers.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian,

Enjoyed greatly the pictures of British India ships, particularly the Sirdhana and Carpentaria, both of which I sailed on as an Engineer during the Seventies. Seems a long way removed now from my present domicile in Whitby, Ontario. Many thanks for your efforts in maintaining this site.

39  Date: 2004-05-03 14:23:48
Bob Richards ( robert@robertjames1.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian,
As an ex. Lecky with British and Commonwealth i was on some of the "Ships" shown and mentioned.Time 1964-1967.Clan Line,Union Castle(Pendennis Castle) and some Home Trade.I have been trawling the net for Phtos of Ships i was on and have found some here.I was at West Mersea standing by in 1964 and will never forget going aboard "Clan Urquart" every other day to assist in Turning Over equipment.Keep up the good work and if anyone who0 reads this would like to get in touch please do so at my new e.mail,seadogbob@fsmail.net.
up spirits.Bob Richards.

38  Date: 2004-05-01 10:51:11
Coos ( coosjl@ca.inter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian
Now that we are "on the home stretch" with C.C.A.L., it is time to write in your visitors' book again to thank you not only for your work on CCAL but also for the overall effort that you have put into "mnnostalgia". It really is a very important web page for now and for the future and it is a part-mirror of my own shipping career stretching 40 years.
Well done my friend. Congratulations and I hope we can continue our long friendship for many more years to come.
Sincerely,
Coos

37  Date: 2004-04-30 18:51:35
margaret Speer ( Flatland56@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Iwas looking for a ship name Thorshope, that sailed from Sandefjord Norway in 1962 I had the privlege to come over from Sandefjord to Montreal.We lived in Sandefjord and were guest, Im now residing in USA.I was only 16 and I never forget the trip I guess I have Norwegian blood in me and love ships. thank you so much.. Margaret.

36  Date: 2004-04-26 12:53:40
david saile ( david.saile@shell.com / no homepage) wrote:

Just stumbled across your site and am very impressed.
I was an engineering cadet (via Birkenhead Tech) with T&J Brocklebank (later Cunard-Brocklebank).
First ship was Masirah in 1968; then Mawana, Mahsud and Maidan (or was she Mangla?). Left in 1970 to go to university and a new career but I'll never forget my times at sea. If there's anybody out there with Birkenhead Tech or Brocklebank experience (1966 to 1970), I'd like to hear from you.

35  Date: 2004-04-24 05:41:25
Hans Breeman ( h.breeman@worldonline.nl / http://www.hansbreeman.nl) wrote:

Dear Ian,

I am a dutch maritime artist and I noticed your website. It is really fantastic and it is going to help me, since most ships I paint are from the 50's and 60's. The time ships still looked ships (!!) So I have seen already so many beauties on your site, that it is difficult to make a start were to begin ! Thanks very much for this. May I put a link to your site and please would you be so kind to do the same to my site if your are interested?

Thanks again and I will keep looking at this site!
Regards,

Hans Breeman
Rotterdam, The Netherlands

34  Date: 2004-04-20 18:15:50
Ted ( g4tuo@embaley.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian Will search for some of my long forgotten photo's and put Shell Tankers on your list
Ted

33  Date: 2004-04-18 15:07:43
Jimmy McEachran ( capehowe@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Long time ago R/O ( Watt School )....Marconi then in 1952 IBM Greenock for nearly 35 years.

32  Date: 2004-04-16 17:23:53
Dave Donaldson ( dave@canbulk.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian, Really enjoyed the part of your site that I have explored so far. Like a good wine it should be enjoyed slowly. Especially enjoyed the Saguenay file having served all my sea time with them. I was mate on the SunWalker which I see in the background of your "Thanks for rigging the aerial, Bosun" photo. Where was that taken, can you remember? Thanks for all the effort to put the site together. You have done yourself proud. Best regards, Dave

31  Date: 2004-04-15 22:20:58
Pat Hunte ( pated@aei.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian,
Dave Donaldson sent me this very interesting site.
I worked at Alcan from 1962 to 1992 in raw materials and other departments. Fond memories of the Sagships era. I've been at sea a lot. Most recent was a jaunt up and down the Caribbean aboard the mv Amazing Grace which used to do lighthouse duty in the North Sea - she was built in Scotland in 1955 and was number six in the "Pharos" series.
She went into service with the Windjammer group in November 1988 and is now doing French Polynesia, etc. It was a fun trip. Will enjoy browsing onsite.
Best regards,
Pat

30  Date: 2004-04-08 14:00:29
Robbie Roberts ( bodafon@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

Having a great time with your site: many thanks. Still interested in all things maritime although it is a long time ago. Joined my first ship as 2nd R/O in may 1940, and my last in 1946.2 cargo ships- 2 Tankers - and 3 Convoy Rescue Ships, and never got my feet wet. Please keep up the good work. Regards. Robbie

29  Date: 2004-04-06 04:29:02
Graham Proud ( grahamproud@macmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

As an ex -Ellermans cadet and Third Mate I found your site very nostalgic. It brought back a lot of good memories.

28  Date: 2004-04-05 09:10:27
Terry Thomas (now Scott-Thomas) ( terval@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Good morning from a dull and overcast Poole Dorset.Many thanks for introducing me to your site.I went to sea first in 1950 with Reardon Smiths for 8 years then Denholms until foreign flag meant all of us were redundant, then to Sealink for 5 years out of Weymouth and Poole. After 36 years at sea I am now approaching my 70th birthday and live on many fond memories.I would like to hear from other old salts.

27  Date: 2004-03-30 22:11:17
Andreas Gjevik ( gjevik@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian,
I think the CCAL part is coming along very well. Lots of work for you. Many other interesting things too. Congratulations
Best wishes, Andreas

26  Date: 2004-03-29 06:41:58
Graham Waller ( graham_waller@telus.net / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian...great site..seeing all the old gear brought back alot of memories.
Worked for IMR from 1970 to 1981,when I saw the writing on the wall and dropped anchor in Vancouver Canada.
My first trip was to Kingston Jamaica where we spent 10 days and my last trip, and sign off, was in Long Beach,where we spent 10 hours...

keep up the good work with the site

25  Date: 2004-03-24 20:26:29
TOM SCOTT ( no email / no homepage) wrote:

THANKS FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO PRODUCE AN EXCELLENT WEBSITE. A PLEASURE TO SEE.

24  Date: 2004-03-20 15:41:14
mick charlton ( gclb.woodchurch@tiscali.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

enjoying looking at your project, I was 2nd operator aboard the BI ship Sangola when she went aground in 1953, I stayed aboard her for (I think) 6 days after the grounding then, after a spell living aboard a BI ship in Calcutta, eventually joined the Pachumba (another BI). gclb was the Sangola's callsign.

23  Date: 2004-03-17 18:47:56
BOYD BAYNE ( b4bayne@shaw.ca / no homepage) wrote:

good morning i have a cup that reads s.s carare it was made in sheffield english pewter it might have been of the ship i will send pics if you e mail me back thank boyd bayne prince george b. c. canada

22  Date: 2004-03-14 21:21:56
Brian Purvis ( brian.purvis@ntlworld.com / no homepage) wrote:

Sailed with Anchor Line 1957 - 1962. Tarantia, Elysia, Egidia, Eucadia, Circassia. Enjoyed the site and remembering the good times.

21  Date: 2004-03-12 23:41:03
Rex Dowlman ( rex.dowlman@hotmail.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great fun going back to those carefree days at sea, brings back shooting the breeze with the Third mate on watch at night.
Sparks from 1969 -1975, Cunard-brocklebank/Port Line and first Electronic Officers with CP Ships

20  Date: 2004-03-12 15:29:20
Angus Davidson ( Norsea@AOL.com / no homepage) wrote:

Nostalgic,to say the least.Missed my old Company ships (Houlders 25 years),in the Royal Docks.

19  Date: 2004-03-10 14:57:25
Carmen Grosse ( cgrosse@selectagendas.com / no homepage) wrote:

What a great site...you must spend hours at this...thank you for your efforts they add joy to many lives.

18  Date: 2004-03-09 02:17:06
Peter Hosford ( phosford@pathcom.com / no homepage) wrote:

Just great- so many memories of a real people at their best - and their worst. RN 1942 - 46 MN 1947 - 57.

17  Date: 2004-02-27 09:01:31
Mike Vale ( mike@vale51.fsnet.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Ex R/O 1981-1992, served with Safmarine, Unicorn, CI Shipping, Grimaldi Lines, can't remove the nostalgia from my mind. What a life, although I was always conscious that my career would be terminated. Eventually could not find another contract and had to return to a life of almost poverty until Telecoms provided opportunities. Think the British Govt has a lot to answer for!!!!!
Wish to return to sea at the drop of a hat (still single and can board at a moments notice - but where to find the contracts!)
Embarassingly, upgraded to GMDSS Operators, but no jobs!!!!

16  Date: 2004-02-26 15:52:53
Andrew Rennie ( dlw125@sympatico.ca / no homepage) wrote:

I was born in Prestwick,attended Stow College for my 2nd/1st class certificates(Motor) sailed on the Egdia as Jnr 2nd Eng...Cilicia as 2nd/2nd Eng. in 1955>1957 era. Have been in Toronto,Canada since 1957....now retired. Enjoyed your lengthy portrial of Anchor Line and realise the amount of work involved...Thank You

15  Date: 2004-02-25 21:08:51
Vernon Clark ( vernon@belmont-coms.com / http://www.belmont-coms.com) wrote:

Ian,
Great web site Ian. Can I have your permission to download part of it for a presentation to Historic Scotland. The Radio Officers Association is trying To obtain listed building status for StonehavenRadio Station to be turned into a Maritime Radio and Merchant Navy Museum

Regards

Vernon Clark (GM3WSR)

14  Date: 2004-02-24 22:01:17
Charlie Wood ( charlie@foweypilots.com / http://www.foweypilots.com) wrote:

Just found your site, Ian. Will spend some time exploring. Now over 50 the nostalga bug has kicked in!!

13  Date: 2004-02-24 16:04:54
David Caunce ( dcaunce@mainecoon.freeserve.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian. A wonderful site - it was lovely to see Ellermans 'City of Lichfield' again - my Father (I.R. Caunce - Master Mariner) was Mate in late 50's. You're so right .... these vessels had a grace and souls which are so absent from todays 'slabs'.

Cheers,

David

12  Date: 2004-02-19 23:04:05
Gary Smith ( gary@northendhouse.demon.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

I found this site by chance whilst searching for some of the ships I sailed on during my time with Shell Oil Uk Ltd between 1977 to 1983. I cannot recall all the names of the ships however I do recall Opalia ( training ship), Limatula, and a gas carrier on the Brunei to Japan route.

I would be grateful if anyone could contact me who served with Shell during these years. Thanks

11  Date: 2004-02-17 09:44:24
Coos de Vries ( coosjl@ca.inter.net / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian,

It is 4.00 AM on Feb. 17 (the birthday of my paternal grandfather after whom I was named). As usual I can't sleep and as life is crazily busy and goes by so fast, what a perfect time, in quietness, to scroll over your magnificent work with the sound of the calm sea splashing gently on to the beach!
Great work and I value so much our friendship.
Best wishes for further expansion.
Yours sincerely,
Coos

10  Date: 2004-02-11 23:02:49
Russell Glen ( russell.glen@rcglen.co.uk / http://www.rcglen.co.uk) wrote:

What a site -- I was also at the James Watt college in Greenock your write up brings back some memories - went on to joining B&C and sailed on Clan, King and Union Castle ships in the 60's -- what great days they were - thanks for a great site
Russell

9  Date: 2004-02-11 11:44:56
Pat Caldwell ( patbob2@optusnet.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Hello Ian,
Terrific site. Could you tell me where I wiould be able to get a copy of the photograph of the Cameronia(11) and the Calafornia(111) docked at the Yorkhill Quay. I lived so close to the Quay and would love to have a copy.
Pat

8  Date: 2004-02-09 01:33:26
John Asome ( jasome@ozemail.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

Excellent.
I have come across many MN websites now, and yours is closest to 'home' for me. The RO pages are just so nostalgic. Some pics do not seem to come up. Would it be possible to identify the different pieces of equipment in the pics? The old Oceanspan 4 in the College photo? Were there any Mercury and Electra receivers? What are the different items in the newer pictures?
Great work Ian
John

7  Date: 2004-02-06 01:24:49
Michael Ray ( munga@relax.com.au / no homepage) wrote:

G'day ian. What a great site / sight! Many memories brought back to life. Was a 'Sparks' 1957 - 1961 before coming to live in Australia. Did time with Strick in the Gulf (my first trip), Royal Mail, BP, a bit of coasting, and the last two years with Stanvac Tankers - when I first fell in love with Oz. Are you interested in receiving a few pics from those days? Cheers, Michael

6  Date: 2004-02-05 15:24:13
Bryan Miles ( BEMMILES@aol.com / no homepage) wrote:

An excellent site have spent many hours looking at all the shipping companies, brings back memories of my sea going days as an engineer with P&O,Canton/Iberia. Union Castle Good Hope Castle.
Cunard SS Co Queen Elizabeth. The site is now on my favorites list.Have been on QM2 and had a look around, the engineers on on board hold Motor certificates.

5  Date: 2004-02-05 15:08:47
Alastair Helme ( alastair@mercat.com / no homepage) wrote:

Great site..I am former Port Liner (apprentice through second mate) left after getting Masters in 77. Still miss those days and the ships, very sad that it has all gone. Father was Clan Line master and as a five year old experienced my first ship. I did a coastal on the Clan Kenneth and was hooked even at that age. It's sad that one of those fifties/sixties cargo liners wasn't preserved.
Best wishes.

4  Date: 2004-02-03 18:35:38
DEREK LEWIS ( dee.makem@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

Hi Ian Like new look of the web site and the new pics. of QM2 Notice in the plan of the bridge that the OFFICERS ?? have plush seats now but the heelsman still has to stand, the class war must still exist?? Most of us readers of this site will still recall the open bridges Ha! Ha!

3  Date: 2004-02-03 16:00:46
Simon Bang ( mail@simonbang.com / no homepage) wrote:

Dear Ian, Wonderful site you have made! Spending hours scrolling all these beautiful pictures! My grandaddy was a capt. and for 24 years he sailed and command the S/S Otto Petersen (Danish vessel, from 1930), which was sold to Cia. Nav. Haverbeck & Skalweit S.A. Valdivia(Chile) in 1954 and renamed 'Tornagaleones'. Do you know about this vessel or have any pics of her crossed your own research?

2  Date: 2004-02-03 12:12:41
Andrew J Mercer ( andy.mercer@swisslife.co.uk / no homepage) wrote:

may I say you have a very interesting and well kept site. I am an ex "Vindi boy" who only spent a short time at sea and had to leave for domestic reasons. I have a great passion for sea and consider myself very fortunate to live so close to the sea and the docks of Liverpool which is a costant joy to me to be able to see the ships plying there trade up and the Mersey. I make the pilgrimage every year to the Vindi reunions and afew of us go twice a year, I am actually leaving for a visit this coming w/end. Keep up the good work and once again thank you.

1  Date: 2004-02-03 11:31:34
John Croucher ( johncroucher@btinternet.com / no homepage) wrote:

What a great website - I was put on to it by another Old Worcester (Capt Barnes from Westport NZ)
Pity there's not much on Furness & Prince Line though !! well done

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