Where were you on your 21st birthday

[luke Horwat]

Hi, I have just seen the list and one said "Where were you on your 21st Birthday", I recall that on my 19th Birthday 12 August 1969 I was joining on that day, The Tucarinca, a Fifes Banana boat. The Bursar reminded me as I handed in my joining docs that it was my Birthday. I gained my starring cert. going through the Straights of Gib. I bet some of those monkeys ate some of our bananas Also, I was on the Northern Star and apparently, it had the largest swimming pool mural of any passenger ship at that time, It was beautiful. You felt like you were on a beach. I was a swimming pool attendant for a while, a lovely job as you can imagine. I wonder if the mural was saved before the Northern Star was sent to be turned into other things, very sad, it only had 4 years as the engines were breaking down a lot I believe.
I am not sure if this was on the Northern Star or SA Vall, but one day they had a clay pigeon shooting off the stern, I was helping and there was a massive crowd behind us, I was so embarrassed, every time the gun went off, I jumped out of my skin. Great memories, at least I entertained the passengers, a double whammy, they enjoyed the shooting and me.
The Captain of the SA Vall was nicknamed Swivel-eyed Lloyd, he was a terror. I had to clean the toilets ready for inspection. I was nervous. He came in and rubbed his finger around the top edge of a toilet bowl and there was a lot of cleaning gunk on his finger and he gave me a serious look and a wink. He wasn't that bad.
Oh yes, on the Tucarinca the Chief Engineer died and he was buried at sea. I was on Edinborough Castle, Pendiniss Castle, Northern Star, Tucarinca, and SA Vall.

Kind regards
Lucian aka Luke Horwat

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks for the Story, always nice to read what happened to us all in past times etc. Captain Lloyd ! Well he was so well known wasnt he , a very strict one , but to say at least he was a fair Man!
But he did have one hell of a reputation!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Logger Llyod and Swivel eye two skippers not to get involved with.
Not related so I was informed, but well related when it came to trouble.
was said swivel could see more out of his one good eye than many with two.

[Stan Carter]

Where was I on my 21st, I have no idea, couldn't have been that special.....

[Derek Chadburn]

On my 21st Birthday at midnight we were emerging from KG5 into the Thames, the Old Man came up to me and said 3/0 you're a man now. The next morning on the 8 to 12 we were crossing the traffic separation zone in the Channel bound for Le Havre. He left me to it, bet he spent the morning at his port! The ship was Shaftesbury of Houlders and the Old Man was Rex Leach a great Old Man. Good do in Le Havre that night.

[Russ Swinburne]

At sea in the Indian Ocean onboard the RFA Tidesurge. Still have the Tankard (51 years later) and the gold pen the Mess bought for me. Didn't get any time off though...

[john middleton]

July 13 1955, Half way across rhe Western Ocean, rwo bottles
of Mann's brown ale, still I had a better day than Ruih Ellis
last woman to be executed , not such a bad day after all.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I know I was on the British Piper, but where? Probably anywhere between the Med, The Persian Gulf , Atlantic , New Orleans, probably had such a good time between taking salt tablets or drinking a mug of sea water I can't remembr.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

This must be the Sequel to the other Thread started by our dear and departed Friend Dennis! One great Guy!
RIP Den! Thoughts are always with you.

Where were you on your 21st Birthday? (merchant-navy.net)

FFL Recruiting Barracks . The old Fort de Vincennes

Me well all i can say is i was sitting in a barrack room full of rather nasty looking guys,the bed i was sitting on had a rounded edge hard coir filled mattress,(apparently to teach one to sleep very lightly,if you moved too much you would fall off) the Bed was also about waist height above the floor,i was smoking a Gitanes, and had a Tin Mug full of Vin Rouge,and a piece of French Bread,my late Brother at least was beside me,so i didnt feel all that lonely!
Not something i really wish to remember, but it sticks in my mind till this day! At times though i do look back on all this and my life, and wonder just how i have managed to stay Alive! Been through some things in my days !
Cheers
Vernon

[happy daze john in oz]

July 13 1955, Half way across rhe Western Ocean, rwo bottles
of Mann's brown ale, still I had a better day than Ruih Ellis
last woman to be executed , not such a bad day after all.

Not such a bad day after all, maybe for you but for Ruth a bit of a let down, quick one at that.