My Dad George Ernest Quilliam

[Christine quilliam]

Hi all
Sad to let people know that my Dad, George QUILLIAM, died last Sunday aged 84. He served in the Merchant Navy in the early 50’s to early 60’s. He served on many ships and his claim to fame was running the Reina del Pacifico aground on the Bermuda flats (I do not have much more information than that unfortunately it was a story he told me often ) . He was a big, strong man, fit and active right upto the day he died and will be sorely missed by all. If anybody knew him or of him and can contact me, that would be fantastic.
20 /12/35 .........22/3/20
Please all of you keep safe in these difficult times

Lots of love
Christine

[Ivan Cloherty]

That grounding would have been circa 55/56, she damaged 2 propellers (she had 4) but carried only one spare, so we sailed full speed direct to Bermuda from Liverpool with another propeller for her, I was on an 'S' Class but cannot remember which one. I think it was Salinas as she was the fastest of the 'S' class, as we got her up to 19 knots on the way to Suez with a Frigate escort who signalled 'will proceed ahead of you at 14 knots, try to keep up' which upset the old man and rang down with double full speed, which normal signal for emergency speed, as we overtook the frigate, he signalled 'point taken' resume station' we never had another signal about speed. I, a cadet, was acting yeoman at the time.

Alas never met your father

[Christine quilliam]

My dad also told me a story last year about a ship sailing from Liverpool,they were volunteers to take a ship full of explosives and ammunition somewhere I think he may have mentioned suez but not sure he was on the ship ...I would love to know more about this x

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Aww Thankyou for replying to me x

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Thankyou for replying x

[Captain Kong]

So sorry to hear of your Dad, Christine.
I am the same age 84 and sailed out of Liverpool in the 50s and 60s. as AB. His name is familiar but a long time ago

here is the story of the grounding of the Reina Del Pacifico

There then followed a series of minor incidents- engine trouble and the like - which culminated in the grounding of the ship on Devil's Flat, Bermuda, on 9th July 1957. With 400 Liverpool-bound passengers on board, the REINA DEL PACIFICO was aground on sand, listing some twelve degrees to starboard. A spokesman for the PSNC said in Liverpool: "We have received no message that would in any way suggest the ship is in danger, Captain E.C. Hicks has reported that the liner is not taking on any water. It is expected that the REINA DEL PACIFICO will be refloated on the next high tide."

However, this was not to be. The US Coastguard cutter CASTLEROCK joined two local tugs in refloating attempts.. The passengers were retained on board because it was considered too risky to land them ashore by tender, and because of difficulty in finding hotel accommodation for them.

Two days after the grounding, cargo and fuel oil were being discharged from the stranded liner, and ground tackle was laid down to assist in a further refloating attempt. Over 22 tons of salvage equipment was air-freighted to Bermuda.

The REINA DEL PACIFICO was successfully refloated in the early hours of 12th July, Steel hawsers were passed under the hull and attached to ballast tanks on each side of the vessel. The tanks were then filled with compressed air. The list had been reduced to just four degrees by the removal of cargo and fuel oil. Three lines attached to anchors were dropped near the stern and connected to capstans on the vessel's stern. Each of these lines, according to salvage experts, supplied leverage equal to the pulling power of four tugs.. Heavy steel rollers, flown in from England, were placed on the reef. The local tugs JUSTICE and BERMUDA took the strain of pulling the REINA DEL PACIFICO into deeper water.

After being successfully refloated, the Reina moved to an anchorage in Grassy Bay, in the Great Sound at Bermuda, so that 700 tons of cargo could be reloaded. The REINA DEL PACIFICO resumed her passage to Liverpool on 14th July and arrived back in her home port on 24th July 1957.
cheers
Brian

The REINA DEL PACIFICO being refloated at Bermuda on 12th July 1957,
with the aid of the local tugs JUSTICE and BERMUDA
The REINA DEL PACIFICO aground on Devil's Flat,
Bermuda, in July 1957

[Christine quilliam]

Thankyou for this ...Quilliam is not a very common name ,I’m glad it jogged a memory for you .....my dad was a big strong man big hands that always made us feel safe .....I’m going to miss him so much I’m 62 this time but still a child at heart .....when we get back to normal my hubby and I are going to Kew national archives toget a list of ships he sailed on , I have a few but would love a full list I hope your are well and again Thankyou for getting back to me xx

[Ivan Cloherty]

If the grounding was in 57' then I would have been on the Sarmiento and the Reina's prop was in #5 tweendeck, as I remember we had to rig guntackle to discharge it, Funny what you can remember from 60 years ago but cannot remember what you had for breakfast yesterday.

1956 Suez invasion voyage was 'Salinas' we sailed out of Birkenhead (where we had spent 5/6 weeks fitting out) for Malta and picked up a RN Frigate escort to Limassol, anchored for circa 30 days, sailing as convoy lead ship arriving Suez 5th November '56 action still going on. We had on board 6000 tons of explosives, consisting of Naval shells, aircraft bombs, detonators, about 2000 tonnes of steel jerrycans of aviation fuel, fuel bowsers, half tracks, 4wd troop carriers and Bedfords etc, On passage we had been signalled to expect E-Boat attacks from the Egyptians. We were anchored off canal entrance and saw the troops greasing DeLessops Statute, to stop the locals climbing to destroy it, We were also taken ashore on 6th November by Paratroopers we carried out to Cyprus, to El Gamil airport, whilst fighting going on. There are photos I took and put on site, but where they are I don't know as they have been moved around a bit by administrators.

[Chris Allman]

Ivan the photographs you posted are under your name in the Personal Albums Index in the Gallery -- HERE




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[Doc Vernon]

Hello Christine
So sorry to hear of the sad loss of your dear Father,i know it will be hard ,but one must stay strong and remember him for all the good times.
Please accept my Condolences to yourself and the Entire Family.
May he rest now Peacefully.

Now just to help a wee bit, once you get to Kew and start the search for his Ships etc,here is a Link and reference to his Seamans Pouch will will help.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C8384725

Reference:	BT 372/1593/77
Description:	R580133 QUILLIAM G E 20/12/1935 LIVERPOOL
Date:	1913-1972
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	R580133
Legal status:	Public Record(s)
Closure status:	Open Document, Open Description

I will look and see if i can locate a Link as well for his CRS10 as that will be the better bet as far as his Entire Records are concerned.
Cheers

Added

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C10991046

Reference:	BT 382/2822
Description:	Quigley A to Quinn Wilson
Date:	1941 Jan 01 - 1972 Dec 31
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	800
Legal status:	Public Record(s)
Closure status:	Open Document, Open Description

Above is Link and Reference to his CRS10
This will make things easier to find his Records
Hope this helps.

In addition to once you have the Documents and list of Ship, you will then need to get the Voyage Record Cards to see where the Ships actually went, as his Discharge will only show the Ports the Ships sailed from.The VRC are available from here in the section shown.

https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/thin...e-history.aspx

Guildhall Library holdings

• Lloyd's List from 1741 to date (some early years are missing).
• The years 1827-1945 and 1976-2010 are held on microfilm.
• All other holdings are in hard copy format until December 2013 when publication in hard copy ceased.
• Voyage Record Cards 1927-c1975. A minimum of four working days' notice is required for consultation.

[Doc Vernon]

My dad also told me a story last year about a ship sailing from Liverpool. I would love to know more about this x


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Aww Thank you for replying to me x

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Thankyou for replying x

This could well have been when the crisis started with the Suez Canal in 1956 , possibly Ships would have been sent there for the purpose of trying to keep it open in some way??
But i do not know too much on this so possible others that know more of this will post info for you.
Cheers

[Ivan Cloherty]

But i do not know too much on this so possible others that know more of this will post info for you.
Cheers

See '
#6 Doc, if all else failed we were due to be scuppered at canal entrance as with our volatile cargo, we would have been difficult to refloat. They still haven't managed to salvage 'Richard Montgomery' off Sheerness sunk in 44, she had a similar cargo and if she goes off could take Sheerness with her. So we knew we were sailing on a floating bomb, we were paid sixpence in the Pound danger money, I was on £6 per month, as we were four months on service amounted to 2 shillings, a tin of 50 Capstan cigarettes was 2shillings and sixpence , but of course smoking was only allowed in your cabin, and I didn't smoke, can't remember what I spent the two shillings on: could have been bars of Yardleys soap as that was better than currency in the bars of Valparaiso!!, our next trip.