Finding Friends of Joseph Refalo from Malta

[Bernice Refalo]

Hi, my Grandpa was a British Merchant Seaman I believe in around the 1960s - 1970s. His name was Joseph Refalo and he was from Malta. I am trying to reconnect with his living friends or relatives of passed friends of his. Unfortunately, my grandpa died four years ago of a sudden heart attack and I wished to let his friends know of his peaceful passing. When I was young he used to tell my stories and list the countries he visited, but as I grew older I had less time for frequent visits due to my education. My wish is to hear stories from those who met him or enjoyed his friendship in his better days. Below are few photographs he kept in an old album, maybe someone is able to identify themselves or others.
17454840_10154703560084039_397256350_o.jpg17475202_10154703560334039_1183950237_o.jpg17475346_10154703560549039_1574459668_o.jpg17499591_10154703560044039_1634303382_o.jpg
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[j.sabourn]

Bernice have sailed with a few Maltese seamen, but wouldn't have a clue to remembering their names there was one on the Ravensworth in 1966, but unless you have some sort of list as to what ships he was on will be a hard one to remember, unless some particular pal of his remembers. Regards JS

[Bernice Refalo]

He has two pictures with two different life buoys, one says Norbyrn and the other says Wave Victor London. I'm afraid his sailing documents have been misplaced. I am attaching a couple of photos of himself alone hoping it helps. Thanks a lot for replying. 17453286_10154703559964039_788551156_o.jpg17521560_10154703559994039_950500309_o.jpg

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Bernice.
Welcome to the site, and thank you for the pictures, there may be someone who sailed with your granddad you never know what will turn up, especially with him serving on a RFA supply ship.
When I saw your post I at first thought it might have been one of two ABs I sailed with from Gozo; both were named Joe but I cannot remember the surnames, It was on the Trevose in 1949/52 we went to Australia. I served on the Wave Baron.
This is a picture of the Wave Victor.
Cheers Des

Wave Victor two.jpgWave Victor.jpg

[Gulliver]

[QUOTE=Bernice Refalo;258090]He has two pictures with two different life buoys, one says Norbyrn and the other says Wave Victor London. I'm afraid his sailing documents have been misplaced.QUOTE]


Hi there Bernice,just a few details of the histories of those ships you mention.

Norbyrn is actually NORBRYN, a general cargo ship (5089 gross tons) of Norwegian registry (company A/S Viking,registered Farsund,Norway).She was quite an old vessel,being built as the DOMINION MILLER for British owners in Feb.1922 at Doxford & Sons,Sunderland. Motor vessel ,12 knots.Owners Norfolk & N.American SS Co,London.Change of name in 1925 to PACIFIC COMMERCE,and of owner in 1936 to Bryn y Mor SS Co,London.In 1937 sold to Norwegians as stated above.

'convoy references, including at least 6 (& maybe more, difficult to tell) N. Atlantic crossings, service to W. Africa (Freetown, Takoradi) & Mediterranean (Port Said), Caribbean, & limited service in Indian Ocean (Colombo, Bombay). Also to Seine Bay, France, re Normandy landings in Sep. 1944. Too slow for some N. Atlantic convoys. WW2 cargoes would seem to have been nitrates, coal & war stores.
In Apl. 1950, the vessel was sold to 'Skibs A/S Lundegaard' with no change of manager. At a date in early Jun. 1955, Norbryn approached a dock head-on at Quebec, Canada, with a pilot aboard. But fighting strong winds & a running tide it did not stop! It crashed into the dock, became suspended in mid air when the tide turned & was towed off by 4 tugs at the next high tide, with a 6 in. hole in her bow. The dock suffered significant damage also. A writer, unaware I think of the detail above commented:- probably the Doxford refused running 'astern'! Much later, the vessel was laid up for about a year, then sold for scrap in 1958. And on Jan. 14, 1959, the vessel arrived at the Grimstad, Norway, facilities of 'Norsk Skipsopphugnings Co. A/S' to be broken up.'

So she lasted a creditable 37 years including excellent WW 2 service.
DOMINION MILLER .jpgNORBRYN ex Dominion Miller.jpg



The photos and above information are courtesy of The excellent Sunderland Built Ships site.



In addition to photos supplied by Des in his post ,here is a bit more info about WAVE VICTOR.
Official No.169126,steam turbine tanker of 12,000 tons deadweight and 14.5 kts.completed Feb.1944 for British Govmt at Furness Shibuilders,Haverton Hill,Teesside and registered in Sunderland.Named EMPIRE BOUNTY.
After the war she became the WAVE VICTOR IN 1946 for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Last reported hulked at Gan in the Indian Ocean (8/60) and from 1975 was reported at Manila,Philippines.

[Bernice Refalo]

Thanks for the reply and the photos Mr.Jenkins. My grandpa was actually from Gozo, he grew up in a village called Xaghra (pronounced: Sha-Rah). Indeed Joseph or Joe is a very common name in the Maltese islands and so is the surname Refalo. When I'll have the chance I will drop by my grandma's house to search for more pictures of himself and ships he has sailed on, maybe I am lucky enough to find someone who remembers him and cares to share some stories about him. Have a nice day.

[Jim Brady]

Hi Bernice my brother did 3x 3 year stints in Malta working at GCHQ's listening post I believe he used to go over to Gozo for a drink.He first went to Malta in 1951 and the last time I think was in the 70's,Malta being a small place he had many Maltese friends there.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Hugh]

Hello Bernice and welcome,

Is this him: R745111 REFALO J 01/09/1942 GOZO MALTA | The National Archives

If so he has records in the UK archives.

Regards
Hugh

[Bernice Refalo]

Hi Mr.Hugh, I have came across those records and I have sent the National Archives an e-mail to confirm if they match my grandpa's birth date and birth place. As I explained above Joseph is an extremely common name in the Maltese islands and so is the surname Refalo. Hopefully they will get back to me soon with a positive match. Thanks for your help Sir and Have a nice day.

[Hugh]

Hi Bernice,

If he was born 1st September 1942 that will be one of his files but the main file that will hold a list of all his ships will be this one: BT 382/2833 This file will be difficult to obtain online though and you may need a researcher to get it.

Regards
Hugh