Wilfred A. Nicholas
This is a tribute to my father, Wilfred Anthony Nicholas, otherwise known as 'The Forgotten Man', who sailed with Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel and Glen Line as an Engineer for 8 years.
Dad was born in 1929, the first of three children, to a British father and American mother. At the outbreak of WW2, the family was living in Malaya, where his father was working as a health officer. After the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941, the family travelled down the Malayan peninsula to Singapore. There, on 3rd January 1942, Dad, with the two other children and their mother, were evacuated on board the Dutch passenger / cargo vessel "Poelau Tello". At Emmahaven (Padang) in Sumatra on 27th January, while loading, the "Poelau Tello", along with other shipping, was attacked by Japanese dive bombers. After the second attack, the ship was evacuated and the passengers fled to the hills. There Dad sat and, as he recounted to me many times, watched as the "Poelau Tello" was bombed. After the fourth attack, although the ship had not been hit, the near misses had ruptured the hull in way of the oil fuel bunker tanks causing oil to leak into the sea. Added to this, the quay and godowns were by now ablaze, so the ships mooring lines were eased to keep the ship away from the fires. After the fifth attack, the Captain ordered the remaining crew to clear the ship, and on the sixth attack the ship took direct hits and was set on fire throughout and burnt out.
"Poelau Tello", of N.V. Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland
"Poelau Tello" bombed and burning
The family were taken in by a convent, made their way to Surabaya, Java, and found passage on board another Dutch vessel, the passenger ship “Tjinegara”. Eventually, the family arrived in the USA where they stayed for the duration of the war with his mothers relatives. His father was captured when the Japanese invaded Singapore and as a result of being a Captain with the volunteer defence force spent the war years in Changi Prison and Sime Road internment camp.
After the end of the war, the family returned to Singapore to continue where they left off in 1942. Dad returned to Singapore in 1947 after completing his schooling in the USA to stay with his father, his mother following on later. In Singapore, Dad started an engineering apprenticeship with the Singapore Harbour Board. In 1952, after completing his apprenticeship, he joined his first ship, the “Memnon” of Blue Funnel, as ‘Assistant Engineer’. Dad sailed with the “Memnon” continuously for 19 months, leaving her as 4th Engineer.
Dad pictured (centre, looking up) while taking a stowaway ashore from, I believe, the "Mentor". The stowaway is marked with red circle.
The Voyages
"Memnon" - three trips, 1952 - 1953, 1953, 1953 - 1954.
Single Screw, 2 Double Reduction Geared Turbines by Westinghouse, Pittsburgh, 15 Knots.
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Dad joined ship |
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Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
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1952
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5 Mar |
7 Mar |
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3 Oct |
6 Oct |
Jeddah |
9 Mar |
10 Mar |
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Port Swettenham |
7 Oct |
8 Oct |
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12 Mar |
12 Mar |
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9 Oct |
11 Oct |
Belawan |
22 Mar |
23 Mar |
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Djarkarta |
13 Oct |
17 Oct |
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24 Mar |
24 Mar |
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Samarang |
17 Oct |
18 Oct |
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26 Mar |
28 Mar |
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19 Oct |
20 Oct |
Djarkarta |
30 Mar |
2 Apr |
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Macassar |
22 Oct |
23 Oct |
Samarang |
3 Apr |
3 Apr |
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24 Oct |
26 Oct |
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4 Apr |
6 Apr |
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Macasar |
28 Oct |
4 Nov |
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8 Apr |
12 Apr |
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5 Nov |
9 Nov |
Tjilatjap |
14 Apr |
16 Apr |
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Samarang |
10 Nov |
11 Nov |
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19 Apr |
20 Apr |
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Djarkarta |
12 Nov |
15 Nov |
Macassar |
21 Apr |
29 Apr |
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17 Nov |
21 Nov |
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30 Apr |
7 May |
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Port Swettenham |
22 Nov |
22 Nov |
Banjuwangi |
8 May |
8 May |
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23 Nov |
24 Nov |
Probolinggo |
8 May |
9 May |
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Belawan |
26 Nov |
3 Dec |
Panarukan |
10 May |
11 May |
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Port Swettenham |
4 Dec |
4 Dec |
Djarkarta |
13 May |
15 May |
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8 Dec |
9 Dec |
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17 May |
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10 Dec |
11 Dec |
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18 May |
22 May |
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16 Dec |
16 Dec |
Belawan |
23 May |
26 May |
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17 Dec |
17 Dec |
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5 Jun |
5 Jun |
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21 Dec |
22 Dec |
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9 June |
10 June |
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1953 |
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20 Jun |
25 Jun |
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7 Jan |
7 Jan |
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26 Jun |
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8 Jan |
11 Jan |
Dad signed off 26 Jun, signed on 27 Jun |
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12 Jan |
13 Jan |
Voyage 15, Capt
Puirichard (suspended |
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14 Jan |
18 Jan |
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20 Jan |
23 Jan |
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30 Jun |
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29 Jan |
31 Jan |
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30 Jun |
3 Jul |
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1 Feb |
4 Feb |
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3 Jul |
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8 Feb |
11 Feb |
Dad signed off 6 Jul, signed on 25 Jul |
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12 Feb |
19 Feb |
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26 Jul |
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Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
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5 Aug |
6 Aug |
1954 |
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10 Aug |
19 Aug |
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6 Jan |
7 Jan |
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19 Aug |
21 Aug |
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7 Jan |
8 Jan |
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Belawan |
22 Aug |
25 Aug |
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9 Jan |
10 Jan |
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Port Swettenham |
26 Aug |
26 Aug |
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11 Jan |
16 Jan |
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27 Aug |
29 Aug |
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17 Jan |
19 Jan |
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Djarkarta |
31 Aug |
10 Sep |
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2 Feb |
3 Feb |
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Tanjung Pandan |
11 Sep |
12 Sep |
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4 Feb |
5 Feb |
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Tjirebon |
13 Sep |
13 Sep |
Jeddah |
7 Feb |
9 Feb |
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Samarang |
14 Sep |
15 Sep |
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11 Feb |
12 Feb |
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16 Sep |
19 Sep |
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12 Feb |
13 Feb |
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21 Sep |
21 Sep |
Belawan |
22 Feb |
24 Feb |
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Macassar |
22 Sep |
26 Sep |
Port Swettenham |
25 Feb |
26 Feb |
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28 Sep |
2 Oct |
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27 Feb |
1 Mar |
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Djarkarta |
5 Oct |
8 Oct |
Djarkarta |
3 Mar |
8 Mar |
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10 Oct |
14 Oct |
Tjirebon |
9 Mar |
9 Mar |
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Port Swettenham |
15 Oct |
16 Oct |
Samarang |
10 Mar |
13 Mar |
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16 Oct |
17 Oct |
Tjilatjap |
15 Mar |
17 Mar |
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Belawan |
18 Oct |
22 Oct |
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19 Mar |
20 Mar |
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26 Oct |
27 Oct |
Probolinggo |
21 Mar |
22 Mar |
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Alleppey |
28 Oct |
29 Oct |
Banjuwanggi |
23 Mar |
23 Mar |
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29 Oct |
29 Oct |
Probolinggo |
24 Mar |
26 Mar |
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30 Oct |
1 Nov |
Panarukan |
26 Mar |
29 Mar |
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6 Nov |
6 Nov |
Probolinggo |
29 Mar |
29 Mar |
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10 Nov |
11 Nov |
Panarukan |
29 Mar |
30 Mar |
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25 Nov |
27 Nov |
Probolinggo |
30 Mar |
30 Mar |
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29 Nov |
5 Dec |
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31 Mar |
8 Apr |
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6 Dec |
10 Dec |
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10 Apr |
12 Apr |
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15 Dec |
22 Dec |
Port Swettenham |
13 Apr |
13 Apr |
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22 Dec |
26 Dec |
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24 Apr |
24 Apr |
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28 Dec |
31 Dec |
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28 Apr |
30 Apr |
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31 Dec |
2 Jan |
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9 May |
11 May |
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11 May |
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Dad signed off 13 May |
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Notes: Voyage
13, Capt HH Sanderson. Voyage 15, Capt Puirichard,
commenced Voyage 16, Capt HS Clarke,
commenced Records seem to indicate
there was a fire on |
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"Helenus" - 1954
Single screw, 3 double reduction geared turbines, 14,000 shp, 106 rpm, 18.5 knots, 2 oil fired Foster Wheeler boilers of 525 psi.
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Dad signed on |
Dad signed off on |
It seems that Dad was intended to sign on the "Helenus" again at Glasgow, but instead transferred to the "Perseus".
"Perseus" - two trips, 1954 - 1955, 1955
Single screw, 3 double reduction geared turbines 14, 000 ship at 106 RPM speed 18 knots. 2 foster wheeler boilers 525lbs per sq. ins.
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Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
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Dad signed on |
1955 |
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1 Nov |
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3 Jan |
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2 Nov |
6 Nov |
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4 Jan |
5 Jan |
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7 Nov |
13 Nov |
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7 Jan |
8 Jan |
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20 Nov |
22 Nov |
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12 Jan |
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25 Nov |
25 Nov |
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13 Jan |
17 Jan |
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Port Swettenham |
4 Dec |
5 Dec |
Port Swettenham |
18 Jan |
18 Jan |
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6 Dec |
11 Dec |
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19 Jan |
19 Jan |
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15 Dec |
16 Dec |
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22 Jan |
24 Jan |
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17 Dec |
19 Dec |
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28 Jan |
29 Jan |
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23 Dec |
25 Dec |
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31 Jan |
2 Feb |
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25 Dec |
27 Dec |
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10 Feb |
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28 Dec |
28 Dec |
Dad signed off
on |
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29 Dec |
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Notes: Dad paid £53 10s pm Voyage 15, Capt R Parry (then FM Wilkes). |
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Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
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Dad signed on |
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27 Apr |
2 May |
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7 Mar |
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5 May |
6 May |
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9 Mar |
13 Mar |
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9 May |
15 May |
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21 Mar |
22 Mar |
Port Swettenham |
16 May |
17 May |
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Aden (?) |
25 Mar |
25 Mar |
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18 May |
19 May |
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3 Apr |
6 Apr |
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22 May |
24 May |
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Manila (?) |
9 Apr |
11 Apr |
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29 May |
29 May |
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13 Apr |
15 Apr |
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1 Jun |
2 Jun |
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? |
20 Apr |
20 Apr |
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? |
14 Jun |
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22 Apr |
24 Apr |
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17 Jun |
21 Jun |
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? |
25 Apr |
25 Apr |
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24 Jun |
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? |
26 Apr |
26 Apr |
Dad signed off |
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Notes: Dad 3rd Engineer £53 10s pm. Voyage 16, Capt FM Wilkes |
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As befits someone who has sailed on both ‘H’ as well as ‘P’ class ships, he was intimately knowledgeable of the differences between the two, which to myself appeared to be, outwardly anyway, the same. Dad was proud of having sailed on these ships, which were the largest powered single screw ships of the time. Reciprocating engines were interesting, diesels dirty and smelly, turbines were the ultimate.
One of his more interesting trips, Dad has recorded, was as Refrigeration Engineer. I don’t know which ship this was, possibly one of the ‘H’ or ‘P’ class.
"Automedon" - 1955
S.S. 2 Str D/A 8 cyl oil engine, by Kincaid, 6800 bhp
One of the six Mark II 'A' Class with special accommodation for pilgrims.
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Dad signed on |
Dad signed off |
The time Dad spent on the "Automedon" I believe to have been in port at Port Said. If this is so, I don't know how he got to Port Said to sign on, presumably passage on another ship.
“Tyndareus” – two trips, 1955, 1956
Twin screw, 2 x triple expansion, 6000hp.
Pilgrim (Hadj) ship
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Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
Port |
Arrive |
Sail |
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Dad signed on |
Port Swettenham |
28 Oct |
30 Oct |
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31 Oct |
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4 Aug |
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2 Nov |
9 Nov |
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Jeddah |
6 Aug |
7 Aug |
Port Swettenham |
10 Nov |
13 Nov |
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10 Aug |
10 Aug |
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24 Nov |
25 Nov |
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Djarkarta |
? Aug |
23 Aug |
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29 Nov |
30 Nov |
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Samarang |
25 Aug |
25 Aug |
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1 Dec |
2 Dec |
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25 Aug |
25 Aug |
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13 Dec |
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27 Aug |
30 Aug |
Dad signed off
13 Dec, on again 22 Dec |
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12 Sep |
12 Sep |
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22 Dec |
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Jeddah |
? |
18 Sep |
Avonmouth |
24 Dec |
30 Dec |
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21 Sep |
21 Sep |
1956 |
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3 Oct |
4 Oct |
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2 Jan |
7 Jan |
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Djarkarta |
6 Oct |
6 Oct |
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8 Jan |
20 Jan |
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8 Oct |
10 Oct |
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22 Jan |
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Sungei Rejang |
13 Oct |
25 Oct |
Dad signed off
on |
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Pulo Bukom |
27 Oct |
27 Oct |
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Notes: Voyage
29, Capt EC Radford, commenced |
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Dad particularly enjoyed sailing on the ‘Victory’ ships “Memnon” and “Mentor”, as well as the ‘H’ and ‘P’ class, but he always said he found the Pilgrim runs of the “Tyndareus” to be the most interesting. I guess this was from a ‘human nature’ point of view, to see a dedicated people most of whom would have been comparatively poor, making probably the only long journey of their lifetime to carry out their religious duty in circumstances that we would find trying.
Some photos that Dad took when he was on the “Tyndareus” showing these pilgrims are shown below. I don’t know where the photos were taken, my feeling is that they were taken at Aden / Jeddah / Suez rather than Indonesia.
Arriving by the truck load ! - they appear to be boarding the ship.
The masses thronging to come aboard - in this picture they are certainly boarding.
Again, more of the faithful boarding.
My feeling is that the pictures may have been taken on two occasions - the top one seems to be Port side looking fwd from the front of the boat deck, while the other two are Stbd side.
From the look of the rivets, I believe these two pictures were also taken on board the "Tyndareus".
I am not sure what is going on here - at least two boats have been swung out and lowered, and they are being boarded from pilot ladders. Those boarding seem to be dressed uniformly with hats and back packs, possibly soldiers, In the lower picture the two boats are seen pushing off without being overly full. Maybe some sort of exercise ? I think Dad did tell me once, but unfortunately I can't remember now.
Although Dad considered turbines to be the best form of ship propulsion machinery in many, if not all, respects from a marine engineers viewpoint, the reciprocating engines of the "Tyndareus" were certainly another reason he found his time on her interesting. She was another of his favourite ships.
Dad met Mum on the 29 January 1956. A few weeks later on 5 Mar, he joined the "Mentor" and Mum did not see him again until he arrived back in the Mersey on the "Lycaon" on 17 Dec, having been away for over 9 months.
Go to Part Two