Ships'n'Sailors

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Originally Posted by captain kong

I sailed on the Manchester Merchant in 1961, we did the yanky coast, Halifax NS. St Johns NB, Norfolk Va., Hampton Roads, and some others in Chesapeake Bay, Wilmington NC, Charleston SC , Savannah Ga. Jacksonville Fla.and some others. a good run.
My mate Jack Lomax, from Bolton was Bosun on the Lake boats for many years. He is Dead now.

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Hello Brian,

I did the same run on a couple of Manchester Liners, as you say "a good run" but hard work especially on deck. Just 12 hours between some ports, work all day then sea watches and arrive at another port.

I sailed with your mate Jack Lomax on the Manchester Fame for a couple of years, in fact we were watchmates. Jack was a good shipmate ex. RN. I think. His nickname was "dhobi" Jack as he was always washing his gear, he was immaculate even when we were up to our eyes in sh-t overhauling the running gear Jack looked as if he had just come out of Burtons window.
He must have become bosun after I left the Liners as he was always AB. when I knew him.

I replied to your inquiry about Jack last year on another site, BMN, but you never replied. I find that site difficult to get around as it is full of Personal Messages etc. You probably missed my reply about Jack. As I say though, a good shipmate, sorry to see that he has passed away.

Alec.

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Originally Posted by brian daley

Good read Alec, brought back many memories. look forward to seeing some more,
BrianD

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Thanks for that Brian but I don't think that I can come up with the likes of your stories.:)

Anyway, to carry on with my memories of the Manchester Ship Canal.

I left the Manchester Vanguard and joined the Manchester Port which was on the "yankee coast" as we called it and as Brian(Captain Kong) has described on another post. East coast of the States, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Newport News, Norfolk Virginia, Wilmington Delaware, Georgetown N.Carolina, Charlestown S. Carolina, Savannah Georgia and Jacksonville and Miami Florida. A good run, only away about two months and usually ten days in Manchester.

I got fed up with the USA and thought I would have a change and so joined the Uskmouth, a chatty old tramp which had just brought a cargo of timber from Archangel. She was what was called a "West Hartlepool Jeep" built during the war on a Canadian design. An old triple expansion steamer top speed about 10 knots all out.

We went back to Archangel and picked up another cargo of timber for Garston, (I thought that would get your attention Brian Daley:shock:). After discharge we went down to S.Wales to load coal bricks for Genoa then on to Livorno (Leghorn) to load copper pyrites for Barrow in Furness. From there back down to Cardiff to load 6,000 tons of coal for Madeira. We spent nearly two weeks there discharging. There were no cranes so the coal was discharged by our own derricks using baskets which were tipped into small lorries and sometimes horse and carts. (This was in 1959). In contrast, I had a phone call from a Greek seaman friend of mine today who has just docked in Europort, Rotterdam, with 170,000 tons of coal and expects to have finished discharge in less than three days. It makes you think.

Just off to bed again, will finish off tomorrow.

Alec.

Thanks for that fascinting insight into the working conditions faced by dockers in those bygone days of steam. Does anyone out there remember bunkering in Belfast? made Madeira look positively high tech. The poor old dockers had to run up a plack with a sack of coal on their back.
Yes Trader, Garston did strike a chord,I'll be getting stuck back into reminiscences about that lovely old place very soon,
BrianD

Hi Alec.
Thanks for all that ,
Some funny memories of that Yankee Coast when I was on the `Merchant`.
Yes Jack was in the RN first, Always a bit serious, never laughed a lot. he lived just around the corner from me about 100 yards away living with his sister. Last time I saw him he said he had a heart attack so I told him to get down to the Dreadnought Hospital at Greenwich. I never saw him again, I went away for six months on an Esso tanker and when I came home the house was empty and no sign of him or his sister. He was bosun on those small Lake boats, `Faith?.`
I was in Savannah,on the `Merchant`, in a club, had a few bevies, I came out and going to walk back to the ship when a car pulled up and two girls were inside. "Are you a Lymie? ``yes`, "then jump in Mother loves Lymies`. it was dark, I didnt notice, They were both crosseyed and twins. We got to the house and they took me in. " Hi Mom, we have found us a Lymie` Mom came into the lounge and she looked like Ben Turpin, she was crosseyed as well. They gave me a Bourbon, then another and another until I was getting crosseyed.
I said to one of the twins, `Come on lets go to bed`, the other one said `OK`. I said, " I wasnt talking to you". then the Mom said,
"I never said a word"
So Mom said "If your going to bed with my daughters then I am coming to"
What an unbelievable night, I eventually got up out of bed, around five in the morning, and left the three of them snoring, I crept out of the house and got a taxi back to the ship.

I always found it fascinating that ocean going ships could sail halfway across America in those huge Great Lakes - and when in the middle of them you do not see land either. Some of the biggest ships in the world sail those lakes (massive bulk carriers), but cannot get out as they are too large - some of the ships look ugly too with no splayed bows as ocean going vessels have. Some of the oldest used ships in the world are there too, as the water is not corrosive salt water.

I always wondered if a ship canal could have been built from Duluth (Bod Dylan was born there) to the Pacific. Then no need to use the Panama Canal and ports could be cut in off the ship canal too.

Well it looks like it is going to be a bit quiet on here for a while;what with the credit crunch,falling fat stock prices and Captain Cong going off to Antartica.
(Does'nt he know Amundsens beaten him to the South Pole) I guess we'll just have to get stuck in with more of our tales,how are things going with Novena Fred? And where is our favourite electrician Ron,is Kevin repairing a bilge pump. Our Jeff must have jumped ship,the old messrooms looking empty;c'mon on fellers ,stop hiding,
BrianD

Not gone yet,
Off in the Morning to Cape Horn then on to the white continent.
Amundsen did not get to the South Pole. I have done a check with my sat nav and he was 407 metres out so I am going to plant the Union Jack where it should be.
Jeff Glasse is not around. I had him executed in Walton, unless his son, Jeff Glasse turns up in the mean time.
There is no Satelite comunication down there so I wont be able to send emails.
Tatty Bye every one. I will bring the photos back.

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Originally Posted by brian daley

Well it looks like it is going to be a bit quiet on here for a while;what with the credit crunch,falling fat stock prices and Captain Cong going off to Antartica.
(Does'nt he know Amundsens beaten him to the South Pole) I guess we'll just have to get stuck in with more of our tales,how are things going with Novena Fred? And where is our favourite electrician Ron,is Kevin repairing a bilge pump. Our Jeff must have jumped ship,the old messrooms looking empty;c'mon on fellers ,stop hiding,
BrianD

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Hi Brian,
I've been in and out of a few threads, so not hiding. Off to Greece tomorrow (Thessaloniki) and won't be back until next Monday so will be awol.

+Have a happy holiday Kevin. Get down on the Mataxis.
Cheers
Kong.

Happy hols to both of you,come back refreshed and full of stories!

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Originally Posted by brian daley

Happy hols to both of you,come back refreshed and full of stories!

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Not a holiday - I'm a speaker at this conference:

http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/28927

They've paid my flights and booked me a suite in a 5* hotel - all for a 20 minute presentation on Saturday morning.

Paying a scouser to talk - how soft is that?
:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Very intereting Kevin, not bad work if you can get it.
Enjoy.


I am off to the big South, taxi is here. Sayaonara.
Cheers. Kong

Don't have to do without my daily fix of Yo. Got internet access in my room.

Just posted this on another site, and thought it might raise a chuckle here also.

A junior engineer joined us - think it was on the Novelist - and over time we learnt that he'd been raised by his grandmother but she'd died a couple of years ago. One night in the bar he'd had quite a few and told us his gran used to drive him mad by squeezing the toothpaste tube at the top.
The next day he was on watch and someone went into his cabin and squeezed the toothpaste at the top. For the next 2 weeks it was done everytime he was on watch. He never said anything but did tentively ask a few if they'd seen anyone going into his cabin. He never guessed we were doing it as he didn't remember he'd told us what his gran used to do.
After two weeks he was looking very jumpy and we asked him why. He eventually admitted he thought his gran was haunting him. We asked why and he told us about the toothpaste. We couldn't keep straight faces and eventually told him what we'd been doing. He was too relieved to be angry!

Adventure in south america.

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HERE IS AN ADVENTURE WE HAD IN 1958, HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

In 1958, I arrived in Rio Quequien in Patagonia on the Houlder boat, `Urmston Grange`.
Just a small town on the river with a few wood shacks, stockyards, an abatoir and one pub with an ugly old bartender.
We had a beer in the pub and asked the barman where was all the life around here. He said the next pub, `Hotel Nova Pompaya` was up the road about 15 kilometers, we didn`t know what a kilometer was but Charlie thought it was less than a mile ,so we didnt have far to go. We got the only taxi in town and after an hour of bouncing on a rough dirt track through the pampas we arrived. It was dark and in the moonlight we could see a couple of small shacks behind a saloon with a hitchin post outside, and a wood side walk. A few horses were hobbled, with their front legs tied, grazing.
A dim glow of an oil lamp showed through the batwing doors. This was the Hotel `Nova Pompaya`.
We walked through the batwing doors into a dim bar room only lit by two oil lamps, a group of gauchos sat around a table. They wore baggy keks made of white canvas, Boots up to their knees, a gun belt and big sombreros, we thought that we had walked onto a John Wayne movie lot. Behind the bar was a very attractive young barmaid , she was serving a gaucho with four thimble sized glasses of Anis,
`What are you having , Men` I asked, `The same but big ones`,.they replied.
The barmaid smiled at me "quatro bottelos Anis y quatro grande vasas por favor mia querida." I said squinting my eyes trying to smile like John Wayne.
The barmaid was amazed and the gauchos got up to look at us , muttering , Mucho loco hombres.
We started on the four bottles of Anis, we`ll show these Gauchos how to drink, they dont call me Alehouse for nothing.
We emptied the four bottles andCharlie ordered another four, on the bar was an old gramophone with a big horn on top. I went to the barmaid and asked what her name was, Theresa, and if she would play a record.
She smiled at me and put on a scratchy old record of a tango, turned the handle and wound it up. I asked her to dance, after a bottle of Anis I was a fantastic dancer, I held her in my arms and swayed to the music and the Anis, I could feel the warmth and contours of her body as I held her close and as we danced she responded and pressed herself against me, I could smell her perfume. It felt good, it had been two weeks since I had held a young lady in my arms and that was Cleopatra in Buenos Aires, I hoped Theresa wasn`t like `her`.
I whispered in her ear that I wanted her , like now. She told me to go outside and wait but not to let the gauchos see me. I went back to Charlie and Martin and told them I was going outside to see Theresa. `I fancied her` said Charlie, "I fancied her as well` said Martin, , "Too late this time I got in first."
I slowly walked to the door and slid outside when the gauchos weren`t looking.

A minute or so later Theresa whispered from the darkness, we met and kissed passionately. `Come`, she said, holding my hand leading me to a small shack, we went in and she lit an oil lamp, it was just a small room with a bed a chair and table. We fell into a passionate embrace onto the bed, she was panting with desire,
" Mucho rapido, mucho rapido" she gasped, "Dos minutos". So I mucho rapidoed as fast as I could. Her long finger nails were scratching my back as she screamed and threshed about underneath me, she was fantastico.
Dos Minutos later we were getting dressed breathlessly. " Go" she said and mind the gauchos.
I strolled back into the bar as casually as I could with my legs still trembling.
Then Martin and Charlie were shouting " how was it , was she good".?
The gauchos didn`t like it, they knew what was going on, Two minutes later Theresa walked through the back door and a gaucho went to her shouting abuse at her then he belted her across the face , she screamed in pain and a trickle of blood ran down from her lips.
I jumped up and went over and smashed the gaucho in the face with a big iron fist knocking him over his table and knocking the drinks and all his mates on the floor. I stood over him, " You Barsterdo, don`t ever do that again".
I was walking back to the lads when there was a hell of a bang and crack and a bullet whistled past my ear and hit the top of the bat wing door splintering the wood and leaving the door swinging.
" Kinnell" I turned around and the gaucho was stood there pointing a revolver at me. The smell of gun powder in the air, Martin and Charlie had disapeared through the door as fast as the bullet, this was not in the script.
I was wetting my knickers, " Take it easy , Hombre, Que pasa, que pasa nada." I said as I was walking backwards towards the door, as I got there I dived through the door as there was another bang and the door frame splintered...
I found Martin and Charlie hiding outside in the darkness, fortunately the gauchos didn`t follow us , we stood there trying to figure out what to do, there was no telephone or electricity up there so we couldn`t call a taxi.
We were stranded 15 kilometers from the ship,. "Here`s another fine mess you`ve gotten us into " said Charlie.
Just then Theresa called from the back of the saloon, I went to her, she flung her arms around me and we kissed, I could taste the salt of her tears and blood on her lips. She put a card into my hand, and whispered, " Via con dios , mi amor, hasta la vista." I kissed her again for the last time "Adios mia querida," I said as I slipped the ring , that Magnolia had given me last year when I had been thrown off a train, (another story), onto her finger, then she was gone into the darkness.
I stood there choked, if I had transport I would have taken her with me.
I walked back to the lads, " What are we going to do now` said Martin. We were stood by the horses, `Lets take these` I said,
`We can`t ride a horse `said Charlie. `It`s the only chance we have if those gauchos come out we are dead. OK lets go.` we took the ropes off their legs and I climbed aboard one, Martin managed to get onboard his but Charlie dived on his and fell off the other side and landed on his head, he eventually got on and we set off at a swift cantor, with a couple of bottles of Anis down us it was easy and soon we were yeehawing and yahooing as we galloped across the pampas. It was just like the charge of the Light Brigade
We arrived at the jetty and and straight up the gangway in single file and onto the after deck , we climbed off and went into the mess room " Kinnell, what a night" we told the other sailors. I pulled the card that Theresa had given me out of my pocket.
It was printed, " Theresa y Diaz y Llanos. Hotel Nova Pompaya, Rio Quequien,
on the back she had written, "Mi Amigo Brian, con simpatico y mucho amor, Su Amigo, Theresa." I still have the card fifty one years later and often look at it and wonder what ever happened to her.
I went to have a shower before turning in and found that I couldn`t take my shirt off, it was stuck to my skin with dried blood, Charlie said ",Have you been shot?" No it was from the scratches from Theresa when she was in her frenzied passion.
I had to stand under the shower for a long time until I could peel the shirt off my back.
Next morning at 6am the Bosun and the Mate were banging on our cabin doors, " All hands on deck, muy pronto,"
We all staggered out on deck feeling as rough as a badgers bum, Our bodies were wracked with pain from the long horse ride and the effects of the Anis..
When we got there we were surprised to see the afterdeck full of people. There were four gauchos, two Vigilantes, the Captain, Mate, Engineers and stewards and three large horses galloping around.
They were all shouting and gesticulating and when we appeared the gauchos started shouting and pointing at us.
The Captain was trying to get order out of chaos, he said to us " Did you steal these horses last night?" We told him that the gauchos were shooting at us and trying to kill us so we had to take the horses to escape.. Meanwhile the Peggy brought out a large jug of coffee and we had a mug each, next thing we were staggering about as drunk as monkeys, The advantage of drinking Anis that it stays in your stomach and when you have a drink next day it reactivates it again Two drunks for the price of one.
The Vigilantes wanted to arrest us for horse stealing and said there was a death by hanging for horse theft, this wasn`t unusual at that time . In Argentina, around that time about 15000 `Deschemisados` the shirtless ones, had gone missing in Argentina and were later found in mass graves,
At this we were rolling over laughing, then the gauchos said they wanted to shoot us, and when the gauchos tried to get the horses down the gangway we were hysterical laughing at their performance The horses were rearing up on their back legs and neighing, We were saying what kind of horsemen are these, us Sailors could get them up the gangway and they couldn`t get them down. The whole afterdeck was in complete chaos, The Captain who was fluent in Spanish had a word with the Vigilantes and gauchos, he then got the Stewards to go with him amidships and a few minutes later returned with six cases of Grants Standfast whisky. We just happened to have a cargo of Grants Standfast Whisky, There was one each for the Vigilantes and the gauchos. and they went down the gangway happy, The Mate got the sober AB`s to rig the derrick and with some canvas slings they swung the horses over the side and landed them onto the jetty. The Captain told the three of us to turn in and he would see us on the bridge in the morning.
All shore leave was stopped while we were in Rio Quequien.
The following morning Charlie, Martin and me went up on the bridge and met the Captain, He said we would be logged a days pay for being drunk and another days pay for missing a days work. also it would cost us two weeks wages each to pay for the whisky. "What?" we said , thats half a months wages we can`t afford that." "Do you want to make it one months wages?`, He said, `those Vigilantes could have taken you away and that would have been the end of you. I saved your lives not because I wanted to but I didn`t want to be short handed on deck for the rest of the voyage. "
Some times you just can`t win.

Vintage stuff Brian, I could smell the cheap cigars and taste that anis,as for Theresa,eh muy bueno!!
BrianD

FAREWELL TO BOB FAIRLEY

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Today I recieved the very sad news of our old friend and shipmate Bob Fairley, He has passed over the Bar. I recieved the sad news from Malcom on Vancouver Island. Bob lived in Ontario. Canada.

Bob Fairlie has crossed the bar. His daughter informed me of his passing, on Thursday. Bob was a veteran of the Second World War, and a man who
was proud of his participation in those exciting days, particularly serving on
the Murmansk run. Bob left the sea in the early fifties, married and emigrated to Canada, where he and his wife raised a family. He was also a member of the Canadian Merchant Seamans Assoociation, and it was when he came to Victoria to attend their general meeting that I got to meet him, having got to know him on the old Sailors Home site. Captain Kong and Ernie Higham recently hosted him at the Eldonian - see photos on the ships gallery thread,
and Ron Manderson did the same last year when Bob visited Merseyside.
So, those of us lucky enough to have enjoyed his company, however briefly,
can look back on it with a smile, as Bob had an a dry sense of humour that
really cracked you up.
So, let us all raise a glass to a fine man. Cheers Bob.

Ernie and I met up with Bob just over two weeks ago in the Eldonian Club and I posted his photos on the Gallery, It was a great pleasure to have met him, he always had a good sence of humour and kept us entertained with his jokes, sadly no more. It was a great shock to hear the news.
Bob served on the Russian Convoys during World War 2.
All the best Bob on your new venture. Cheers.

1, Bob with me and Ernie, 2, Bob with a fellow Russian Convoy Veteran,
3. Bob and his mate from Wallasey. three weeks ago.

Hi Brian.
Very sad to read that your friend and shipmate has passed away.
Regards Reg.

A SAILOR DIED TODAY
He was getting old and skinny
and his hair was falling fast
and he sat around the alehouse
telling stories about the past.

of a war that he had fought in
and the deeds that he had done
in his exploits with his buddies
heroes everyone

and tho`sometimes to his neighbours
his tales became a joke
all his buddies listened
for they knew whereof he spoke

But we`ll here his tales no longer
for old Bob has passed away
and the worlds a little poorer
for a sailor died today.

He wont be mourned by many
just his children and his wife
for he lived a very ordinary
very quiet sort of life

He held a job and raised a family
quietly going on his way
and the world won`t note his passing
tho` a Sailor died today

Kong - excellent, thank you.
I'm sure Bob would be thrilled.

Hi chaps,
Not that I think you'll miss me or anything, but off to Brittany tomorrow (if I ever get the car and roofbox loaded) so won't be posting for a couple of weeks.
Adieu,
Kevin

Have a nice time :037::celb (6)::celb (23)::wynar:

Back again. Rather wet and I've now got gills behaind my ears and webs between my fingers and toes.
Going MUCH further south next year!

Is it me or does anyone else seem to think all the sailors have gone AWOL.?
I have'nt been too active of late because I have been having setbacks in my recovery (consultant said I had to have another op) so I have not been feeling too bright.But, I miss the banter that usually takes place here. I am awaiting the next chapter of Far Kinnell and look forward to some more cyber duelling between Cap'n Kong and his arch nemesis The Glasser!
I'll just have a stroll round the poop deck,might bump into someone we know...........see you at No 5 hatch later,
BrianD

They'll all be 'tucked-up' in their hammocks by now Brian! where you should be at this time -o-day! OK for me , my days is only just started!!!:PDT11Cheers , and look after yourself!:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Hi Brian, where did you go when you were at sea? Did you have a regular run or wherever you were sent? Where was the place you used to look forward to?

Hi Brian, Been busy in and out of hospital. I have to have an Op. on the 1st of October for the shoulder injury caused by the attack by the Big Bull Sea Elephant when I was on the Antarctic continent in March.
The bones have now healed and I now have to have the ligaments and tendons stitched.
All that because I got too near his cows, surely he didnt think I could fancy one of those, they stink something `orrible, a bit like Port Boat Mary in Sydney. I was hoping to go back to South Georgia in October when the season opens again to help with the salvage of the old Hull trawler that was abandoned there, a five month trip. but the injuries prevent me from going,.
I had a chat with the Glasse when I was at the Vindi re union, and so when he gets over the writers cramp I will have to have him destroyed again.
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Here is a Pathe News link, it may bring back some memories to anyone who did the Cape run, it is the `Windsor Castle` built in Lairds, Birkenhead.
also a few other ships. it is silent but very interesting
Click on the Icon for FULL SCREEN much beter to watch!
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=74945

Hi BrianD Think you should get back asap, Captian Kong is out of control.
Reg

I came across this in one of my old books, a patriotic poster from WW11. Seamen were wanted in those days..................if only........,well we can dream can't we?

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Originally Posted by brian daley

I came across this in one of my old books, a patriotic poster from WW11. Seamen were wanted in those days..................if only........,well we can dream can't we?

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And their pay stopped when their feet hit the water. What price heroism.

HENRY LARSEN 　
QUEST TV(Channel 38 Freeview) and SKY TV Channel 167
Mighty Ships Henry Larson

The Henry Larsen is one of the Canadian Coast Guard's icebreakers; join her as she sets sail for a seven-day mission to patrol the treacherous North Atlantic.

Tues 3rd Nov. @2100
Weds.4th Nov. @1400 and 2200

That was a good one, Larson cracking ice off the coast of Newfoundland, reminded me of the Canadian Pacific and Manchester Liner days.

On again at 10pm tonight.Wednesday

Thanks Captain.

Today, Sunday 13 December, 2009 is the 56th anniversary of my shipmate, Ken Hignett`s death. same day and date, 1953. I have just had a few Rums as I always do on this date, a drink to his memory.
Ken was 20 years old, he lived at Number 1, Mill Cottage, Mill Road, Birkenhead. We had arrived in East London in the Eastern Cape in South Africa the day before.
The Seamans Mission had a picnic arranged for us off the New Zealand Star and a coach complete with some lovely Mission girls and a hamper of food took us to Bonza Bay about 15 miles up the coast.
We went into the sea for a swim before the food was served. Ken couldnt swim and soon got into difficulties, he shouted to me to help him, he was just waist deep. I stood next to him and held his arm and tried to walk up the beach. A large wave hit us and when we surfaced we could not touch the bottom and then we were swept by a fast current out to sea. I shouted to another mate, Ronnie Vickers, of Cromwell Road, Birkenhead to go and get some help from the beach.
Meawhile the tide took us out beyond the surf, huge waves battered us swirling us around under water. after what seemed an eternety, I lost Ken, I couldnt find him, another lad turned up to help, Mo Riley, Ronnie must have got the message to the beach. then I saw Mo with Ken and then he was gone, Mo said he thought Ken was dead then and he lost his body.
I became unconcious and it all went black, meanwhile a South African lad swam out and rescued me with a 800 metre reel of rope and I was towed back to the beach. and taken to hospital.to be resuscitated. Meanwhile the South African lad, David Brinton, swam back out and rescued Mo Riley.
A very brave lad.
Ken was washed up the following Friday and buried by the Mission in the East Cemetery in East London.
In 2001 I went to South Africa and to East London and found Ken`s grave, and laid a Merchant Navy wreath on it. In 2002 I appeared on the TV show with Esther Rantzen and she introduced me to David Brinton who had saved my life and also Mo Rileys life, a fantastic experience to be able to thank the man for giving my life back.
Every year on this date I always phone him and sometimes go to see him on this anniversary. Thanks David.

the rescue.

Good story Captain. What a sad ending.

Here are some old photos from the 50s.

No.1 In 1959 on the Good Hope Castle, Me at the top of the Top Mast fixing a new main mast Navigation light.
My mate Ted is on the `table` below me. Ted and I went to school together and sailed for a few years together. I saw him last week and he is dying of leaukemia.

No.2 In 1956 on the Corrales, a Fyffes banana boat, off the coast of West Africa, with a shark we had caught. Wish I was as fit now as I was then.

No.3. In 1957 on the Adelaide Star in the Southern Ocean, bound for Australia, with a Flying fish that had decided to join us by flying onboard.

Nice pics Brian,keep them coming,
BrianD

Here are three photos from the Blue Funnel ship Euryades, a Sam Boat, in the Spice Islands in 1960
No.1.
Me with Charlie Kakatoa on my shoulder. He was a cockatoo [ kakatoa ] I got in Java and became a good mate, only problem, Charlie was a plonky.Always drunk on Javanese brandy.Good talker, good drinker.I left him in a bar in Padang Sumatra, after six months, and felt awful.
No. 2.
The deck crowd , this is a Sunday, we always wore our best sarongs on a Sunday and for going ashore in, Blue Funnel uniform in those days. My avatar is my working sarong.We had a stand to hang the parrot cages on, Charlie had no use of cages, he could tear one to pieces in seconds.
No.3.
This place had no name, just a latitude and longitude, a small lagoon in an island where we loaded teak logs from Borneo, that is the deck crowd fooling around as we were slinging the logs loaing them. No dockers there.

Happy Days.

Nice one Captain.

No.1.
Heilicopter from Court Line loading stores off Cape Town onto Esso Caledonia, 280,000 ton tanker.
No, 2,
Learning to fly in Cape Town.
No.2.
just landed a badly injured Norwegian Seaman in Cape Town.