1

The Tasman Sea (Māori:- Te Tai-o-Rehua. is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures approximately 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) across, and extends 2,800 km (approx) from north to south.

The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, who was the first recorded European to encounter New Zealand and Tasmania. The British explorer Captain James Cook later extensively navigated the Tasman Sea in the 1770s as part of his first voyage of exploration.

The Tasman Sea is informally referred to in both Australian and New Zealand English as The Ditch; for example, crossing the ditch means travelling to Australia from New Zealand, or vice versa. The diminutive term “The Ditch” used for the Tasman Sea is comparable to referring to the North Atlantic Ocean as “The Pond”.

The Tasman Sea’s mid-ocean ridge developed between 85 and 55 million years ago as Australia and Zealandia broke apart during the breakup of supercontinent Gondwana. It lies roughly midway between the continental margins of Australia and Zealandia. Much of Zealandia is submerged, so the ridge runs much closer to the Australian coast than New Zealand’s. And wow what a great place to visit, New Zealand that is…..

Newsletter 8 - March 2015 Sec/Editor: Jack Secker (jake11a@optusnet.com.au) Ph: (07) 3134 3678

12 Hampton Street, ALEXANDRA HILLS QLD 4161

www.seq.vindicatrix.comwww.seq.vindicatrix.com

Anchors AweighAnchors Aweigh

S.E. Qld. VindicatrixS.E. Qld. Vindicatrix &&

MN Mariners Association Inc.MN Mariners Association Inc.

2

General Meeting 18th February 2015

Well, it was the usual chat noise and pandemonium at 1030hrs until the President called the meeting to order at 1102hrs. We had 15 members and two Vindi Girls. We also had three visitors from the A.O.O.B. Association, and also a Gentleman that helped to install the Memorial to the AHS CENTAUR at Point Danger, NSW. This was Mr Warren Keats who gave us short speech about the meeting and Service that is an annual event for the Centaur School.

The visitors from A.O.O.B. were Brian Stevenson. Ron Morse and Evelyn Rigney. They suggested that both groups could join forces arranging bus trips to interesting places about four times a year. The response to this idea was polite but not over enthusiastic. Perhaps when the suggestion has had time for thought, there may be a better response. The idea is sound, but the cost of the first trip in March was $40 per person, and then the cost of a club lunch seemed to cool the idea somewhat. Oh, in case you don’t know of this group, with sections of ages to match ours, they are the (Australasian) (Order) of (Old) (Bastards) They are in to helping children’s charities, the fight against cancer, disaster relief - all these and more have been helped by the AOOB.

At this time there was a good discussion regarding this years Christmas Lunch. The overwhelming thought was that the venue at the Secret Garden had, at short notice, slotted us into their busy schedule. Also the tucker was very good, and of course the ales were nice and cold. As the party slowly melted away, homeward bound, a few of the hands and some of the ladies decided that a cup of coffee was in order and about eight of us moved on to the coffee lounge and spent a very pleasant couple of hours talking about this and that. Very enjoyable and I would like to see this action become part of all of our outings.

We all helped Walter Backhouse to celebrate his 92nd Birthday due on Saturday 21/02. There was a small cake, and a pic shows a couple of the lads discussing the best way to eat a piece of sponge cream cake.

There being no further business the President declared the meeting closed at 1140hrs, and we dispersed in the general direction of our different abodes.

Cheers to one and all Jack Secker (HonSec(V ‘51)

Walter Backhouse Rob Armstrong Graham Moon

More pics on our webpage

3

Calendar of Events for 2015………..

Wednesday 18th March:- Lunch Date to be held at the Fox & Hounds, English Pub, Wongawollan. They have English Food and ENGLISH BEERS! WOWIE, corner of Oxenford/Tamborine Mountain Roads, Wongawollan. Meet at 1100hrs for a lunch about 1200hrs QLD time.

Wednesday 15th April:- General Meeting, in the Anzac Room, at Outrigger Resort, Tweed Heads. Meet 1030hrs. Commence meeting 1100hrs QLD time. Any items that you would like to have on the agenda, send it to me for inclusion, as a letter or an email. Ideas are welcome.

Saturday 25th April:- ANZAC DAY. Our Vindicatrix Group has been invited to participate in the RSL Parade at 1030hrs QLD time, from Goodwin Park Coolangatta to the Memorial at Chris Cunningham Park, Tweed Heads. The march is approximately 600 metres. We are positioned immediately behind the leading Royal Australian Navy contingent. This being the 100th Anniversary of that landing on the Turkish Coast, Please let our group make an impression for all the Seafarers that didn’t make safe haven all those years ago.

Should you wish to park your car in or around the RSL precincts? You may then wait at the Main entrance to Twin Towns and a bus will take you to Goodwin Park, at 0950hrs promptly. Should there be enough people for a second trip, that will be arranged. There will be Parade Marshals to direct you in the direction you need to travel

Wednesday 20th May:- Social Outing. River Trip on the Brisbane River. Take train to South Brisbane station, walk 500mtrs to South Bank Ferry Dock 1. Then travel downriver to Bretts Wharf. Disembark and walk 300mtrs to the Hamilton Hotel for Lunch. The Menu has “Chefs Specials” also other meals. Full price meals attract a 20% discount for pensioners. Please arrange your travelling time to arrive at South Brisbane Station at about 1000hrs, as the Ferry leaves at 1007hrs.

Wednesday 17th June:- General Meeting to be held at the Outriggers Resort Twin Towns in the Anzac Room. Commences 1100hrs QLD time. Any items that you would like to have on the agenda please send it to me for inclusion, all ideas are welcome.

Wednesday 15th July:- Social trip to Ballina Maritime Museum, lunch at the RSL, details to follow.

Wednesday 19th August:- General meeting and AGM to be held at the Outriggers Resort Twin Towns in The Anzac Room. AGM commence at approximately 1130hrs QLD time, immediately after the General Meeting. All positions will be declared vacant for members to stand for election should they be inclined.

Thursday 3rd September:- International Merchant Navy Day, Service in the Outriggers Resort Twin Towns in the ANZAC Room meet at 1030hrs QLD time for 1100hrs service.

Wednesday23rd September:- Escape to the Country Day with Pizza’s at Dave & Meg Witcombe’s house, Kyogle. more details closer to the date.

Sunday October 4th. Daylight Saving Starts at 2am. South of the border loses an hour of sleep this night. Don’t forget to change your clocks.

Wednesday 21st October:- General Meeting, in the Anzac Room, at Outrigger Resort, Tweed Heads. Meet 1030hrs. Commence General Meeting 1100hrs QLD time. Any items that you would like to have on the agenda, send it to me for inclusion

Wednesday 18th November:- General Meeting, in the Anzac Room, at Outrigger Resort, Tweed Heads. Meet 1030hrs. Commence General Meeting 1100hrs QLD time. Any items that you would like to have on the agenda, send it to me for inclusion, ideas are welcome. This meeting will be brief and then we will adjourn to the "First on The Wharf" Cafe for a talkfest and maybe some nuts or something. More details later.

December 9th 2015.:- Social Outing. Xmas Social at the Secret Garden Restaurant. Start 1100 hrs QLD time. South Tweeds Sports Club, (Sth Tweed Bowls) This will be for our group to meet to wish each and everyone else a Merry Christmas. There will be a meal of course, of your own choosing and we will see if our funds can stretch a little further this year. Who ‘nose’ what sort of roses we can stop and look at. This being the last get-together for the year, let’s make it a good day out.

4

“I didn’t know that”

More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.

The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world’s oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined.

Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety percent of the world’s ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert; the average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, ice.), Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

Brazil got its name from the nut, NOT the other way around.

Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada is an Indian word meaning Big Village.

Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world.

Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

Durban, South Africa, has the highest concentration of Indians overseas. Therefore, outside of India itself, more Indians reside in Durban than anywhere else in the world.

Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on two continents.

Los Angeles full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula -- and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size: L.A.

New York City. The term ‘The Big Apple’ was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression ‘apple’ for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple.

There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland, more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia, at just 1.75 sq. miles/4,53 sq. km.

The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B.C. There is a city called Rome on every continent.

The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts and, as of 2001, has a population of 80 -- 20 less people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is.

In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, Algeria, which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years. Technically though, the driest place on Earth is in the valleys of the Antarctic near Ross Island. There has been no rainfall there for two million years.

The water of Angel Falls (the world’s highest) in Venezuela drops 3,212 feet ( 979 meters ). They are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.

World’s biggest ship docks in Hamburg

Chinese container ship ‘The Globe’ docked at the port of Hamburg on 13th January 2015 as part of its maiden voyage.

The Globe, owned by Shanghai-based China Shipping Container Lines, is 56.8 metres, 73 metres high and 400 metres long - about the size of eight Olympic-sized swimming pools. It weighs 186,000 tons. The gargantuan size allows it to carry as many as 19,100 standard 20-foot (or roughly six metre-long) containers.

According to the BBC, that means the ship could carry 156 million pairs of shoes, 300 million tablet computers or 900 million standard tins of baked beans. It is the first of five sister ships that the Chinese company will use to ship products between Asia and Europe.

The Globe began its trek from China in early December and is expected to return by February 25th. The Danish Triple-E ship was formerly the world’s largest cargo ship, able to carry more than 18,000 standard containers.

The Globe is due to lose it’s title as the world’s largest when the Oscar, owned by the Mediterranean Shipping Company and built by Daewoo in South Korea, launches on January 25th. The Oscar will be able to carry 19,224 standard containers.

5

SS Balmoral Castle

Owner Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Port of Registry: London Propulsion: Steam. Twin screw - 2 quad expansion 12.5000 ihp - service speed approx 16.5 knots Launched: Saturday, 13/11/1909 Ship’s Role: South African Mail Service Tonnage: 13361 grt Length: 590 feet 9 in Breadth: 64 feet 6 in Passengers: 320 First Class, 220 Second Class, and 270 Third Class

Balmoral Castle was the first company ship to be fitted with Marconi wireless telegraphy and made her maiden voyage at the end of February on the mail service. She acted as the Royal Yacht when the Duke and Duchess of Connaught travelled to South Africa for the opening of Parliament. At the beginning of the First World War she remained on the mail service but carried troops northbound to Europe. During March through to May 1915 she carried troops to the landings at Gallipoli. After the Armistice she assisted in the repatriation of the Australian and American troops. She made two trips from Liverpool to New York on charter to Cunard in 1919 and then reverted to her normal mail service where she remained for the next twenty years. She was broken up at Newport in Monmouthshire in June of 1939.

The Union Line was founded in 1853 as the Southampton Steam Shipping Company to transport coal from South Wales to Southampton. It was renamed the Union Steam Collier Company and then the Union Steamship Company. In 1857, renamed the Union Line, it won a contract to carry mail to South Africa, mainly the Cape Colony.

Meanwhile Donald Currie had built up the Castle Packet Co. which traded to Calcutta round the Cape of Good Hope. This trade was substantially curtailed by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, and the Castle Line started to run to South Africa instead, later becoming the Castle Mail Packet Company.

In 1872 the Cape Colony gained “Responsible Government” and its first Prime Minister, John Molteno, ordered a re-negotiation of the country’s mail services. In 1876, keen to avoid either of the two main companies gaining a monopoly on the country’s shipping, he awarded the South African mail contract jointly to both the Castle Mail Packet Company and the Union Line. The contract included a condition that the two companies would not amalgamate, as well as other clauses to promote competition, such as alternating services and speed premiums. This competition led to their shipping services running at unprecedented speed and efficiency. The contract was eventually to expire however, and the period of intense competition was later to give way to co-operation, including transporting troops and military equipment during the Boer War. Finally, on 8 March 1900, the Union Line and Castle Shipping Line merged, creating the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Ltd

Union-Castle named most of their ships with the suffix “Castle”. They were well known for the lavender-hulled liners with red funnels topped in black, running on a rigid timetable between Southampton and Cape Town. Every Thursday at 4pm a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Southampton bound for Cape Town. At the same time, a Union-Castle Royal Mail Ship would leave Cape Town bound for Southampton.

The combined line was bought by Royal Mail Line in 1911, but continued to operate as Union-Castle. Many of the line’s vessels were requisitioned for service as troop ships or hospital ships in the First World War, and eight were sunk by mines or German U-boats. The Royal Mail Line ran into financial difficulties in the 1930s, culminating in the prosecution of its director Lord Kylsant, and Union-Castle Line became an independent company again. Many vessels were again requisitioned in the Second World War. Three – Dunnottar Castle, Carnarvon Castle, Dunvegan Castle became armed merchant cruisers. Pretoria Castle (1939) was also first requisitioned as an armed merchant cruiser, but later served as an escort aircraft carrier.

Union Castle took over the King Line in 1949, and merged with Bullard King and Clan Line in 1956 to form British & Commonwealth Shipping. It merged with South African Marine Corporation in 1973 to create International Liner Services, but competition with air travel adversely affected its shipping activities, and cargo shipping rapidly became containerised. The final South African mail service arrived in Southampton on 24 October 1977, and International Liner Services withdrew from shipping in 1982. British & Commonwealth continued in other fields, and acquired Atlantic Computers in 1989, but accounting problems soon became apparent and British & Commonwealth was liquidated in 1990

The last few surviving Union-Castle Line ships were scrapped in the early 21st century, the former Kenya Castle in 2001, the former Transvaal Castle in 2003, the former Dunnottar Castle in 2004, and finally Windsor Castle in 2005.

6

The Rohilla Disaster

On 29th October 1914 the hospital ship Rohilla with 229 people on board left Queensferry for Dunkirk to pick up the wounded from the battlefields of France. At 4am on the 30th October she ran onto the rocks at Saltwick Nab, about a mile south of Whitby. A warning morse-code signal was sent by the Whitby coastguard and was ignored by the ships captain who believed he was seven miles offshore.

At the time the sinking was attributed to a German mine, this was propaganda, When the ship hit the rocks most of the crew where below decks asleep and would have known nothing until the point of impact.

All the internal fitting began at once to rend and tear, it is likely that those crew members on the lower decks would have died quickly as the sea flooded in.

Weather conditions were very bad and it was impossible to launch the Whitby No.1 Lifeboat and row her around to the wreck. Instead, the No 2 boat John Fielden which was kept afloat in the harbour was hauled over the beach to a position opposite the Rohilla and, despite the awful conditions, was launched at 7am and eventually reached the wreck after great difficulty. 5 nurses and 12 men were rescued on this first trip, followed by a second trip when a further 18 men were rescued. During this second trip, though, the John Fielden was so badly damaged that she could not be used again.

The Upgang Lifeboat was then lowered down the vertical face of the cliffs but by this time the sea was so rough that it was decided that any attempt to reach the wreck would end in disaster.. Meanwhile telephone calls had been made to the Scarborough & the Teesmouth Lifeboat Stations asking for assistance.

The Scarborough Lifeboat Queensbury, towed by a steam trawler, arrived at Satwick Nab at 6pm but by then it was pitch dark and this combined with the severe weather and the fact that the wreck was surrounded by jagged rocks made it impossible for an attempt at rescue to be made. They waited nearby in case they could make such an attempt and the following morning they did so, after 18 hours at sea, but were driven back by the high seas. They then had to give up the attempt and return home to Scarborough. An attempt was made by the motorised Teesmouth Lifeboat Bradford IV to make the 22 mile journey to Saltwick, but she was badly damaged in the attempt and her crew had to be rescued by a tug.

On Saturday 31st October 1914 at 7am the Robert & Mary Ellis of Whitby was launched into Whitby harbour and Cox Thomas Langlands took her out to sea to await the arrival of the steam trawler Mayfly from Hartlepool which was to tow her to the wreck. Unfortunately they could get no closer than half a mile from the wreck and had to return to Whitby. The Upgang Lifeboat William Riley was then launched at 9am but after an hour of battling with the seas Cox Robinson and his exhausted crew had to give up the attempt.

It was now quite clear that only a motor Lifeboat was going to be able to effect any further rescue attempt and the Henry Vernon from Tynemouth (44 miles north) was called upon. At 4.15 pm on 31st October she set out from Tynemouth under Cox Robert Smith, with assistance from 2nd Cox James Brownlee and Captain H.E.Burton, Honorary Superintendent at Tynemouth.

They arrived at Whitby at 1am on 1 November and at 6.30am set out with Whitby 2nd Cox Richard Eglon as Pilot and assisted by Lieutenant Basil Hall RN, District Inspector of Lifeboats. About 200 yards from the wreck the Lifeboat discharged a large quantity of oil into the water to calm the huge waves, then went in to attempt the rescue.

They managed to get some 40 men on board the lifeboat before both the Rohilla and it were hit by two huge waves. However, she managed to rescue an additional 10 men from the wreck - 50 in all. In total, of the 229 people on board the Rohilla, 84 were lost.

7

Several of those involved in the rescue attempts received RNLI Medals - Gold to Cox Thomas Langlands of Whitby, Cox Robert Smith of Tynemouth & Captain Burton of Tynemouth; Silver to 2nd Cox Richard Eglon of Whitby, 2nd Cox James Brownlee of Tynemouth, Lieutenant Basil Hall & George Peart, who had repeatedly helped men who had managed to swim ashore from the wreck; RNLI Thanks on Vellum were awarded to Cox Pounder Robinson of Upgang & 2nd Cox T. Kelly of Upgang; monetary awards were made to all the Lifeboat men involved and to the crews of the two trawlers which had acted as tugs.

What makes the Rohilla incident so poignant are the accounts of the prolonged rescue attempt to save those still on board. It was 50 hours after the stranding that the last survivors were brought ashore in full view of the hundreds of townsfolk who came to watch the rescue from the beach and cliffs above the wreck, waving lanterns and cheering on the rescuers.

The first of many inquests took place on the Saturday following the sinking and Mr George Buchanan was appointed Coroner, many witnesses were called including the ships Officers most notably her Commander, Captain Neilson. Captain Neilson was adamant, as were his Officers that Rohilla had struck a mine and he made the judgement to drive his ship for shore before she sank.

Lessons from the sinking of Titanic two years previously had set in train improvements in ship safety and equipment. The Rohilla disaster was to have similar effect. The coroner had focused on the failure of the rocket brigade to get a line successfully attached to the wreck from the Nab cliff. Had this been achieved early on, more people might conceivably have been saved.

The first funeral took place on the Wednesday after the sinking and was attended by most of the inhabitants of Whitby along with rescuers, company representatives and local dignitaries. Of those that lost there lives, and where bodies were recovered most were interred at Whitby Cemetery in the following days, others were claimed by relatives and interred in their home towns.

Efforts where made over the next few days to try and recover the bodies of those still missing, but where prevented by rough weather. At a later date divers descended to the wreck but failed to locate any bodies. Weeks after the incident some bodies where washed ashore but where too badly decomposed to identify.

Rohilla’s company, British India Steam Navigation Co., Ltd erected a memorial a short while later dedicated not only to its thirty-one Officers and Crew that lost their lives but also to the sixty men that perished along with them. There is a marked difference to those alleged to have lost their lives, it ranges from 83 through to 91 whose names are on the monument.

The Merchant Navy in WW1

We should not overlook the contribution of the merchant seamen during the Great War.

In wartime, nations with extensive global interests involved in such confrontations look towards their merchant ships for sea lift capabilities in the transportation of their military personnel, equipment and supplies to wherever—and whenever—they are required; to sustain them for the duration with the necessary arms and ammunition, fuel and food and all the paraphernalia of war; and then bring everyone safely back home again.

We in Australia and New Zealand commemorate 25 April as ANZAC Day, setting aside the day to remember and to pay homage to our fallen comrades. This day was born out of the Gallipoli campaign, but how many people are aware of the involvement of the Merchant Navy in that campaign. The merchant ships took all of our troops to Gallipoli, 100 years ago, and in many cases landed our troops on the beach at ANZAC Cove in the ships’ lifeboats - manned by merchant seamen, who also came under the deadly fire from the Turkish guns.

It is also interesting to note that the great majority of wounded in that campaign were taken in the ships’ lifeboats - with merchant seamen manning the oars - to the hospital ships which were waiting offshore. The merchant ships evacuated most of our troops from Gallipoli to Alexandria, Lemnos and Cyprus and then transported the wounded home to Australia.

In the foreground, French troops training on Lemnos Island prior to the Gallipoli landing. In the background the troopships which transported the Allied forces lie at anchor in Mudros Harbour.

8

Adios Amigo by Evan Lewis

Recently, whilst listening to a local radio station, they played a song by Jim Reeves and that being his Birthday anniversary, they announced his day. This took me back many years to a Sunday evening in late 1951, aboard the tanker ‘Red Bank’. This was a British Tanker Company’s vessel. B.T.C. for short. In seamen’s jargon of the day, that transformed to ‘Better Times Coming’!

In those days, B.T.C. owned some ninety plus tankers. The popular belief and it could well have been fact, was that should they increase the fleet to 100, they would then be responsible to the British Gov’t. to maintain a Royal Navy Cruiser. The greater majority of the Fleet, held the prefix British. Such as, ‘British’ Chivalry, Bulldog, Scientist, Workman etc. There were some nine exceptions. These were the eight T2’s and one T3.(the Cottonwood Creek).

The Red Bank, being one of their eight T2’s, built in the U.S. These particular ships, (all carried names associated with American Civil War battles). Such as, Rouge River, El Morro, and Mesa Verde are names that immediately come to mind. They were the tanker equivalent of the Liberty Boats, if you will. All very functional, and to be honest, the one I was on, had a certain “Aura” about her. To this day, I can recall the feeling of safety about her as she churned her way through those varying seas and Oceans. One of the best ships and trips ever!

Back to the Story………… Some couple of months earlier a “Townie” and I, having recently left the Cragmoor, a Runciman’s cargo tramp ship on the Aussie run. Towards the end of our leave, decided to go to the Cardiff Pool rather than our own designated Pool at Port Talbot. I had said, “look John, Cardiff gets a number of fly-out jobs, with up to two years on the Aussie Coast”.

So to Cardiff we went and where did we finish up? In front of Mr Bill Henke, the highly esteemed, though ‘Controversial Legend’ had us on the 10.pm train from Cardiff Station, to arrive in Falmouth am next morning. He really was a legend the amazing Mr. Henke. Tales were rife of episodes on Cardiff Station on those evenings, where daytime at the Pool, chaps, would accept a “B.T.C. at Falmouth”. OK, here is your PC 5’s. “I’ll meet you at Cardiff Station 2200hrs this evening. Don’t Forget”. “Thank you! Mr. Henke!”

Of course, between depositing one’s gear at the “Left Luggage” and some hours to fill in. the local pubs were beckoning, as it were. “Train doesn’t leave til 10’oclock anyway!” There were often times, apparently, when at the station, Mr Henke had his work cut-out. He would help some on board the train only to find them emerge a little higher up the platform, then, a mad sprint for another attempt to get them on the train. Not always successful.

Anyway, John and I arrived a.m. at Falmouth and signed-on the Red Bank. We sailed the next day, for Morocco, a small port in the Straits of Gibraltar. Ceuta.

It coincidentally turned out that the Chief Officer, Cliff Jenkins was also a Bridgend Boy. Three crew men from the environs of the same small market town. Not that it made any difference, no favouritism on that ship, townie or not. Our Captain, being the company Commodore and in his eightieth year, was a bluff, gruff and remote character, feared by his Officers, yet I found him to be quite reasonable.

There were two reasons why I thought him reasonable. 1st. One evening, while doing my trick on the wheel, between the Persian Gulf and Cape Town. I was full of the flu. I was shivering and shouldn’t really have been up there. Had it been a shore job, I would have had a sick day or something. He had thrown open the other door, creating a severe draught. Stuff this! I thought so I called to him. “Could you please close that door Captain”. He had a bit of a speech defect and said something like, “Wassa Matter, can’t take the cold?”. I replied, “I’m full of flu as it is Sir.” He dutifully obliged.

2nd Reason. We had arrived in Trinidad about noon on a Saturday. After lunch, we were all getting anxious to go ashore. At that time no indication of a sub was made. So I went along to the 2nd Mates cabin, and knocked on his

9

door. “Yes?” he called. So I called back, “what about the subs 2nd?” He replied, “Sorry but the Captain has turned in”. So I replied “Well wake him up”. Invitingly he said, I can’t do that, but you can”. So I ambled up the alleyway and knocked on the Commodores door. There was a bit of mumbling. He talked through his nose a little. Then opened his door and I explained the situation regarding us all waiting to go ashore. It took some twenty minutes but then the cry was, “Subs Up” at the ships Office. A true case of his bark being worse than his bite.

From Ceuta, the inevitable, where all the Good B.T.C’s and most others went, The Persian Gulf, via the Suez canal. Those were the days when the Canal banks were lined by British Army tent camps. They were mostly conscripts, doing their National Service out there. The repartee between the servicemen and sometimes women was not always flattering to either side. ‘Go home, soldier”. “Get stuffed you army dodgers”, might be the reply.

For those of us on deck duties, painting the funnel was often a usual task, whilst traversing the Canal. B.T.C’s funnel colours then denoted the Iranian flag colours. So when going aloft, the paints needed were, black, red, white, green. If I recall correctly, it went like this black, top, then white, then a thin black line, a red line, a thin black line and ending with green. Finito! We had more gear going aloft, than a modern day Aussie cop has wrapped round his waist.

Mena Al Ahmadi, (Kuwait) has just a few berths at the terminal. Not being allowed outside the terminal, after tying-up and tea, a number of us were in John’s and my cabin partaking of the beer issue with the door was wide open to cool the cabin off. Occasionally, one of the Pakistani terminal workers would interrupt offering to sell some sort of rubbish. Eventually, one A.B. (big chap) named Thomson, got annoyed enough, jumped up, pushed the would-be pedlar from the doorway and in no uncertain terms, told him, to get “Well and Truly”.

Astern of us was a Shell Tanker. The beer issue was almost depleted. Someone suggested, “Let’s try that Shell job. Some of them have a crew bar”, so a little later, down the gangway, on to the brilliantly lit wharves. Hadn’t gone far, when something gleaming came towards us, it hit Thompson’s shoulder and tumbled to the ground, a dagger! Fortunately it was the handle of the spinning knife that connected. To top it all! The Shell job, had no bar either.

Our Cargo was for La Plata, Argentina via Cape Town for bunkers and stores. So we all settled down now for a couple of weeks at sea. Arriving Cape Town I was elated to hear “We were over-nighting”. Great!

Having heard so much of the fabulous Delmonico’s, both on here and previous ships. Couldn’t wait! And was not disappointed. It more than fulfilled any expectations. From the breathtaking décor to its realistically starlit ceiling, giving the impression of an

open-air building. Its elegant turbaned Sikh waiters. It’s range of drinks, meals if required and the wonderfully entertaining Cherie Wainer at the organ. Belting out songs, in particular, “You Rascal You”, an oft requested number. I was to listen to, and see her again often when on the Cape-Mail Boats. And all this very affordable, even on a seaman’s wage.

For John and I, our first visit. Everything lived up to all expectations, except, “We didn’t score”, as the saying goes! That was to come later, when I joined the Cape-Mail Boats. The Winchester Castle and Cape Town Castles. A dream run as it transpired. I had one of the last drinks’ there. On New Year’s Eve 1958, when it unceremoniously closed at 10.30 pm. so anyone who says they went in Delmonico’s after that were only Dreaming”?

Here’s the REAL Story. Homeward bound on the six weeks round trip from Southampton. We would spend five days at Outer Harbour, I think it was E Berth. Anyway posted on the notice board at the bus for Town Stand, all that week, was displayed an elaborate notice announcing the closure of Delmonico’s. “Trading to cease at Midnight, 31st December, owing to expiry of lease. Management would like this opportunity to thank you all, for your patronage over the years. In appreciation, Free Drinks will be provided, from 8 pm. New Years Eve ‘til closing.

NO Contest! Where else would anyone care to be. New Years Eve arrived and a couple of mates and I duly made our way to, The DEL. The polite turbaned waiters moved to and fro taking our orders and returning with laden tray. Gradually the place began filling-up. Never mind the expense! It’s the Festive Season. “The Management will be “Pushing the Boat out” later on. Another Brandy-Square there our kid? “Same again, please waiter” The whole atmosphere was jovial. The noise of conversations and laughing, increasing even. Time flew. “Must be eight-o-clock by now? Yes!

Anyway, it may start a little later on. Could have given the wrong time perhaps on the notice board? Look, they’re still charging for drinks on the other table. O.K. Get another round in. Service was becoming decidedly slower. Time between ordering and receiving was extending. The atmosphere was dropping. The lights here and there were dimming. The waiter service was non-existent. “Sorry Sir, we’re collecting the glasses. No More Orders”

The time was 10.30 p.m. We were being gently directed towards the exits. “The lease finishes at midnight. You must leave, please. So that was the end of an era. The famous Delmonico’s, was no more.

Note:- Delmonico’s did open again for a few short years in a new location near the railway station. gone though was the splendour of yesteryear though quite comfortable and patronised by seamen of course. Ginger Squares being a most popular drink with Cape Brandy, ginger and ice………...

10

The ship that totally failed to change the world

Fifty years ago the world’s first nuclear-powered cargo-passenger ship NS Savannah sailed from the US to Europe on a publicity tour to persuade the world to embrace the atomic age. It didn’t quite work out like that. Sleek in shape, painted red and white, its interior decorated in what was then ultra-modern chrome, the NS Savannah wasn’t quite like any other cargo ship. It had facilities for passengers. The 600ft, 12,000-ton ship boasted a cinema, veranda bar and swimming pool. The cabins had no curtains. Instead, polarised windows, designed to cut glare, lined the sides of staterooms.

The ship was one of the few to spring directly from the imagination of a US president. In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower had made his famous Atoms for Peace speech, attempting to balance the growing fear of nuclear apocalypse with optimism about the possibility of civilian use of atomic energy. The NS Savannah, which cost $50m, was launched 55 years ago. It was to be an ambassador of sorts - the world’s first nuclear-propelled merchant ship and a symbol of safety and faith in the fuel of the future.

Despite the excitement, the Savannah failed in its diplomatic mission. The ambassadorial voyage ended a year later but Savannah had failed to persuade the world that nuclear-powered ships were the future. Just three other nuclear merchant ships were built - the German oil transporter Otto Hahn; Japan’s freighter Mutsu; and the Russian ice-breaking container vessel Sevmorput. Like the Savannah, they are no longer in service.

Unlike the commercial shipping industry, the military did embrace nuclear. Of the estimated 700 nuclear-powered vessels which have seen service over the years, including the 200 currently at sea, the majority are military ships and submarines. Dedicated Russian ice-breaking ships are the only civilian examples.

The nuclear ship pioneers suffered problems. On its maiden voyage in 1974, the Mutsu started leaking radioactive material 500 miles (800km) off the coast of Japan. It was allowed to return to the port of Ohminato for repairs despite lengthy protests by fishermen and residents. A faulty reactor shield was blamed amid a wave of global publicity.

The Savannah itself experienced similar problems. It was set up to store a volume of radioactive waste that was quickly surpassed. Just in its first year, 115,000 gallons of low-level waste was released into the sea. Storage space was subsequently increased but small volumes of waste continued to be released.

The spectre of environmental damage would always count against nuclear ships. What can float, can sink and as we have learnt with oil spills, it is not if, but when. And when it does happen, it could be an environmental catastrophe. Cost was another downside. A ship with a nuclear reactor is always going to cost more. While the US’s Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are all nuclear-powered, it was decided that the UK’s new Queen Elizabeth super-carrier would use a combination of gas turbines - fuelled with kerosene - as well as diesel engines instead for cost reasons.

The cost concerns of nuclear are obvious. The reactor costs much more to build than a diesel engine. But on top of that, maintenance and eventual disposal of redundant reactors present unpredictable costs. Nuclear cars: A number of concept cars were proposed after WW2, although none were ever produced. Most famous of these was the Ford Nucleon in 1958, which was to be run from a small nuclear reactor in the engine - based on the assumption that this would one day be possible.

During the Cold War, both US and USSR researched possibility of building nuclear aircraft which would be able to carry bombs and stay in the air for extended periods of time - the idea was superseded by the advent of inter-continental ballistic missiles. Russia has reportedly expressed interest in the idea of nuclear-powered locomotives over the years; in 1956 the USSR’s ministry of transport suggested such trains could be used in remote areas of

11

Siberia. In 2011, another project was said to have been given the go-ahead

The initial price of a nuclear-powered ship would be considerably more, but because commercial uranium is cheaper than conventional fuels, the fuel cost for a nuclear ship is much less. Nuclear-powered vessels can go years without refuelling, covering great distances. The Savannah was capable of circling the planet 14 times at 20 knots without needing additional fuel.

But despite the massive practical obstacles, blue-sky thinkers are starting to again discuss the concept in an age of concern over climate change and consistently high oil prices. Nuclear power ships emit no CO2 and greenhouse gas.

In due time it will happen, the prospects are reasonable for a resurgent of nuclear power, there is a future for nuclear power ships, it’s just a matter of time. But several challenges must be met. Ports with facilities for accepting nuclear waste and refuelling ships with uranium would need to be built. And the fiendishly complicated issue of insurance and accountability when an accident occurs must be settled.

On the Beat By Ex-Constable Ron Kerr

Do you believe in ghosts? I don’t. I said that to a guy once and his response was, “Ah, you are just not receptive.” I don’t know what sort of an answer that was but I still don’t believe.

There were stories about all sorts of spooks around our town and I never saw anything which I couldn’t explain.

There was the story of the phantom lorry driver who was supposed to seen at the junction of Progress Road and the Arterial Road as you come into Southend from London. He was said have been killed in an accident and had stayed around there in ghostly form. Well, I think that is what was supposed to happen but I wish I had a pound for every time I went past that place in the wee small hours without seeing anything of the kind.

Not all the policemen I worked with were as disbelieving as me, I would have to say. I have one example which quite surprised me at the time of a colleague chickening out of a situation which I, and others, for that matter, took advantage of, and enjoyed.

It came about that there was murder in a block of flats in a place on Chalkwell seafront. It wasn’t so much a block of flats as a converted house into flats. One of which had been occupied by an elderly lady, the murder victim. While the CID did their forensics, naturally the place was unoccupied and as the crime was all over the local paper, it was necessary that the place was secured. The night duty boys were each rostered to do a turn of a couple of hours and, as it was winter, it made a nice break from being out in the cold. I was very happy to sit

in the warm and I was surprised, as I said, to find that the bloke who was to relieve me didn’t want to know. He didn’t want to sit in a place where there had been a murder, apparently, so I was even more happy to do his spell too. I couldn’t get over that a policeman would have such fear, but I liked taking his place.

Oh, by the way, it was the milkman who did the dirty deed. He thought, rightly or wrongly, the old dear had money. I don’t know about that but I know she had some nice books for me to read – and in the warm too.

The Belfairs Golf Course Club house was darker than Hades but it was on my patch and it had to be checked so I did. I will admit to being somewhat nervous and always did what I usually did when mooching around such places. I loosened my truncheon and was ready for action, but again, I never feared ghosts. It was the living which worried me.

Graveyards were no problem either. Ah, I had some advance training in graveyards! Training which the police didn’t offer. When I was a lad in Ireland, graveyards were great places for taking your girlfriend. Nice soft grassy banks. It didn’t matter if there was a body or two buried beneath it. They don’t interrupt anything. If it rained, or was too cold, there was always the church porch. They even supplied seats!

I did have one experience which puzzled me for a long time and to which I don’t have an answer but it doesn’t really matter and I am sure that there is, or was, some simple explanation.

Again it was in the deadest time of night, about 2.00am. I had got off my old police bike, leaned it against the kerb near the Blue Boar Public House at Prittlewell when there was an almighty crash. It fair made me jump out of my skin. I stood for a moment in a state of shock and waited for some reaction from the houses and shops about. Most of the shops had people living over them and I full expected to see lights coming on and maybe even someone coming out into the street to investigate this tremendous sound.

Nothing stirred. No lights! No people! I walked around the back of every shop, up every alleyway, shook every door handle and didn’t find a thing which in any way could have caused the racket. In the end, I just shook my head and tried to imagine nothing had happened. Well, maybe nothing had happened. That particular place is one of the oldest places in the whole of the Borough of Southend. St Mary’s Church, across the road, dates from the 11th century and some of the shops are almost as old. A lot of strange things had no doubt happened about that spot through the last thousand years or so. So maybe it was a ghost making a point to an unbeliever. I’m glad I didn’t think of that at the time.

SEQ Vindi lad Ron Kerr as a young man on leaving the MN worked as a Police Officer in Southend and has many tales to tell and in fact led a very interesting life which was printed in an earlier newsletter.

12

A lady walks into Harrods. She looks around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more

closely, she unexpectedly farts. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone noticed her little woops and prays that a sales person was not anywhere near.

As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her - good looking as well. Cool as a cucumber, he displays all of the qualities one would expect of a professional in a store like Harrods.

He politely greets the lady with, ‘Good day, Madam. How may we help you today? Blushing and uncomfortable, but still hoping that the salesman somehow missed her little ‘incident’, she asks, ‘what is the price of this lovely bracelet?’

He answers, “Madam - if you farted just looking at it - you’re going to sh*t yourself when I tell you the price!”

When our lawn mower broke and wouldn’t run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first,

the shed, the boat, brewing beer etc... Always something more important to me. Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point.

When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.”

The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.

Brian Hunt

Son, someday you will make a girl

very happy, for a short period of time.

Then she’ll leave you and be with new men

who are ten times better than you could ever

hope to be.

These men are called Sailors.

IT’S about time the authorities did something about older drivers on our roads. For far too long older drivers have caused havoc as they hog the left lane, stick to the speed limits (even the road work limits) and stop at stop signs, causing great inconvenience and often preventing others from doing whatever they like.

Another major concern is that by avoiding fines and demerit points, they are not doing their bit for the revenue of our state, and are therefore placing a further burden on younger drivers.

Until older drivers can prove that they are proficient at weaving in and out of traffic, driving while texting, tailgating, using drugs or doing burnouts, they must be banned from holding a licence.

A drunken man walks into a biker bar, sits down at the bar and orders a drink. Looking around, he sees three men sitting at a corner table. He gets up, staggers to the table, leans over, looks the biggest, meanest, biker in the face and says: “I went by your grandma’s house today and I saw her in the hallway buck-naked. Man, she is one fine looking woman!”

The biker looks at him and doesn’t say a word. His buddies are confused, because he is one bad biker and would fight at the drop of a hat.

The drunk leans on the table again and says: “I got it on with your grandma and she is good, the best I ever had!” The biker’s buddies are starting to get really mad but the biker still says nothing.

The drunk leans on the table one more time and says, “I’ll tell you something else, boy, your grandma liked it!”

At this point the biker stands up, takes the drunk by the shoulders looks him square in the eyes and says “Grandpa,.......... go home!”

When I was young I decided I wanted to be a doctor so I took the entrance exam to go to Medical School.

One of the questions asked us to rearrange the letters PNEIS into the name of an important human body part which is most useful when erect.

Those who answered spine are doctors today