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Thread: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    mmmm...OK, thank you.

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    I never actually saw the Gold but did see them loading it at Durban ,as said lots of Guard and Guns around at each loading of a Ship.
    But yes i have also seen pure Bars of Gold when on the Gold Mines in South Africa where i worked for a few Years at some 17000 feet each day,and in Stopes not Higher than 3 to 4 foot.on hands an knees for 8 solid Hours a day,and as hot as hell.
    Was taken to the Smelting Area that is where i say the Bars and boy what a sight! Melton hot Gold being poured it was awesome!
    Cheers

    My apologies the old Brian is not what it was.
    Yes indeed the Gold was loaded at Durban i was getting mixed up.
    Cheers

    Added here is an interesting Site
    Capetown Castle
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 13th April 2020 at 06:42 AM.
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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    Have a photo somewhere of Gold being loaded in Durban, only place it was loaded onto ICL ships as far as I know.
    There was one incident when the gold went missing on one of the ships, may have been the Cape Town Castle.
    Cannot recall all the facts but think it was hidden under something in the engine room, not sure if it was recovered.
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

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  5. #14
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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    Thank you for all the anecdotes, chaps. Very interesting. I think I can conclude that the details of Soton are now so hazy that I can come up with a reasonable scenario myself without too much challenge from average readers. Many thanks everyone.

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    I was on the Pendennis in 1971. It was about this time that there was a theft from one of the Castle Rs. We used to carry about £10M. SA had a build up so they used a Castle R and it was stolen . Eventually caught the crew members responsible but it was a few years later. Now that would make a good story.

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    Think it was a few Years before 71 around June of 65
    https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...26894/14521118
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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    I was on the Rustenburg Castle when we loaded a million pounds worth of gold as a Southhampton liner was doing a lay-up. The gold was placed in the paint locker and a new padlock was attached. At Suez and Genoa we had machine gun posts, armored cars and assorted guards. Leaving Genoa we ran into the worst storm I experienced [including being in the Channel in 1953] we arrived in Southampton in a battered condition and about an hour later a policeman on a bike arrived, the gold was loaded into a canvas topped lorry and set off for London.
    Terry Sullivan R340406

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    Hi Sean,
    Happy to help. I sailed out of Southampton on the Windsor Castle and Reina Del Mar on a regular basis between 1967 and 1971 as Deck Officer (Fourth to Second Officer). Good days indeed!
    Regards
    David Pike

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    Hello Sean.. I sailed on the Good Hope Castle for 2 trips..Around 1970 if thats any help? I was a Steward.....Russell STEWART..
    Last edited by Mike Hall; 18th April 2020 at 10:27 AM.

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    Default Re: Union Castle at Southampton 1963

    That was a very unusual thing to happen Terry and must have been possibly the only time that Gold was shipped on an Intermediate Boat.
    They took a big risk i would say with such a Cargo on board!
    Its a wonde that the Gold got to its destination LOL.

    As i worked on both Mail and Intermediate Runs, although i liked them both, i think there was nothing to beat the Round Africa ones, with all those lively Exotic Ports we stopped at,and we were also very lucky to be able to go ashore most times to experience things that sadly many others of our age then would never !
    Oh yes those were the days!
    Cheers
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