To south america on a british liner

[Doc Vernon]

WSS - Aragon at UK.jpg

Busily, I am scribbling yet another new book these days, this one on the passenger ships of London-headquartered Royal Mail Lines. The Company itself is, of course, long gone -- as are their ships.


But I shall nostalgically write about the likes of the Asturias, Alcantara, Atlantis & Andes, among others. And their last passenger-cargo ships built for the UK-South America trade: the Amazon, Aragon & Arlanza. Commissioned in 1959-60, those three ships were in fact the last British liners to have three classes.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
I remember someone once saying something like, "The likes of these will never pass our way again." I don't know if it was said about those graceful ships but it should have been.
Cheers Des

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[dave moore]

I sailed on the Aragons maiden voyage,I think prime minister McMillan was on board from Harland and Wolfs Belfast to London .The trip was to their usually S American ports ,at Buenos Aries arrival their was a lot of bullmuck ,aMillitary band etc plus ambassadors,previously I had been on a coal burner coaster,of constantines.Aragons crew accommodation was 5star could not believe it , did 2 trips as a pantry boy one as scullion ,but found the voyages boring,It was certainly a change from an old coal burner.all part of my ,MN experience.

[Frank Mattocks]

I was on Aragon in 1966 as Baker's Boy. Anyone remember the baker - tall bloke (quite old in 1966) with white hair? Thanks for the photo - the old girl looks a bit sad, was the photo taken at Z shed Victoria Dock?

[John Arton]

Those A ships were certainly a fine sight to see tied up in the Royal Docks. Used to see them when I was cadet on the Beaverfir of C.P.
One trip on the Beaverfir we had two A.B.'s who were regular Q.M.'s on one of them but were having to spend some time off them as (according to them) they were being hunted in S. America by the police for some misdemeanour they had done in B.A.? They were a couple of characters whose life ambition was to build their own yacht and sail around the world to Australia. They had started their voyage a couple of times but had never got further than the Canary Islands before lack of cash and a love of alcohol had forced them to abandon their dreams and return home.
Some years later I was on a ship discharging steel up the Shatt Al Arab when a sheep carrier came in and tied up astern of us discharging thousands of bleating sheep from Australia and if I recall correctly it was one of those A boats that after ending its life on the S. African run had been converted into a sheep carrier. Think I am correct in that though that sheep carrier could have been the Princess line cruise ship that had a fire in the Caribbean and was then converted into a sheep carrier due to the damage caused by the fire in the passenger accommodation.
Can anyone confirm whether it was an ex. A boat or an ex. Princess cruise ship that caused all that stink and noise astern of us?
rgds
JA

[Dennis McGuckin]

#4. Hi Frank. I did one trip as pastry chef on the Aragon in 61.
Never heard of bakers helper rating?
Must have come after my time, or I just wasn't aware of it.
It was the only ship I sailed on that I disliked.
Chief baker was a real a***h. An Irishman to boot.
Rest of the bakers were Scots and peed half the time.
Rotten 2 berth cabin. Port holes battened down as had A/C.
Couldn't wait to sign off.
Good looking ships though.

[happy daze john in oz]

#4. Hi Frank.
Couldn't wait to sign off.
Good looking ships though.

Now I know what the stain is by the anchor, not rust at all more likely 'Rum Essence' Can stain badly I am told.

[Brian Charles Williams]

I think John that the Port Auckland was renamed and converted into a sheep carrier ....Fremantle to the middle East.
Name change was something Express I believe.Regards Brian W.

[John Arton]

I think John that the Port Auckland was renamed and converted into a sheep carrier ....Fremantle to the middle East.
Name change was something Express I believe.Regards Brian W.

Brian
Thanks for that but I am fairly sure that the one causing us so much pain with the noise and smell was definitely built as a cruise liner and converted to a sheep carrier after suffering a serious fire.
rgds
JA

[John Arton]

I think John that the Port Auckland was renamed and converted into a sheep carrier ....Fremantle to the middle East.
Name change was something Express I believe.Regards Brian W.

Brian
Found the converted liner but she was a Cunarder not Princess P & O. Wonder if the sheep got the same level of service that the Cunard Passengers did?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Cunard_Ambassador
See on the news that there is a fire on board a livestock carrier in Perth at the present moment.
Rgds
JA. (apologies for going off the original posts in this thread)