MN Pool, Dock Street London

[Alan Blyth]

Hi all
My uncle signed on his last ship in 1941 in the Merchant Navy Pool, Dock Street, London.

I’ve visited the street which has one or two buildings that could be the Pool building, but also much redevelopment. Does anyone know if the 1941 building still exists, or has the full address or street number? TIA.

[j.sabourn]

Alan see you live in Kingston on Thames, what years are you referring to as regards your search . I lived in the same in Richmond Park Road and had other relations living in Acre Road and much later in Birkenhead avenue however I was very young going back to 1941 , I also went to St. Luke’s C of E and was a choir boy believe it or not. You sound as you are much younger than this . The only seafarer my family knew at that time was John P. Hogg later Captain J.P. Hogg who was torpedoed twice and mined once. However my family plus the seafaring side were all from the NE and those who had hibernated to the South were all in the army. Hope someone can help you in your requirements. The only memories I have of Dock street crews commenced from 1953 and were no better or worse than any other supplier of ships crews , I can remember one instance in 1973 when they joined in Rotterdam and must have all been on their third knock back. Cheers JS

[john mc dermott]

Hi Alan, in the 60s and 70s the pool was located in Prescott Street next to the Princess of Prussia on the right .A few years ago it was a restaurant . The building was commonly known as the Dock Street pool and the seamen who shipped out from there were commonly known as the Dock street flying division . The Prescott Street building still exists. Not Shure if a Dock Street pool existed. I hope this helps.

[Alan Blyth]

Alan see you live in Kingston on Thames, what years are you referring to as regards your search . I lived in the same in Richmond Park Road and had other relations living in Acre Road and much later in Birkenhead avenue however I was very young going back to 1941 , I also went to St. Luke’s C of E and was a choir boy believe it or not. You sound as you are much younger than this . The only seafarer my family knew at that time was John P. Hogg later Captain J.P. Hogg who was torpedoed twice and mined once. However my family plus the seafaring side were all from the NE and those who had hibernated to the South were all in the army. Hope someone can help you in your requirements. The only memories I have of Dock street crews commenced from 1953 and were no better or worse than any other supplier of ships crews , I can remember one instance in 1973 when they joined in Rotterdam and must have all been on their third knock back. Cheers JS

Hi JS, I live on Willoughby Road so very much in your patch, but a Dundonian originally (though not for long)

My enquiry is specific to 1941 when Uncle Norman signed on SS Induna (she gets a mention here from time to time). Norman is commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial and I find it intriguing how close he might have been when he signed on - that’s if the Dock Street Pool was actually on Dock Street

[Alan Blyth]

Hi Alan, in the 60s and 70s the pool was located in Prescott Street next to the Princess of Prussia on the right .A few years ago it was a restaurant . The building was commonly known as the Dock Street pool and the seamen who shipped out from there were commonly known as the Dock street flying division . The Prescott Street building still exists. Not Shure if a Dock Street pool existed. I hope this helps.

Hi John, very interesting. I’m away from home for a few days but will check the crew list when I get home to see if there are any other clues. From Google Maps it looks like Princess of Prussia is still there, and not that far from Dock Street.

[john mc dermott]

Hi again Alan ,i have some more information for you ,there was a shipping federation office in Dock Street until the mid 50s when the pool was moved to Prescott Street. The building was opposite the main entrance to the Red Ensign club. After the move the building was used as offices and the ground floor was used as an estate agents(felicity & lord) i think they were called .Looking on google that building is now gone ,being replaced by a block of flats .The Red Ensign club is still there and now used as a female hostel, before that it was used as a hostel for the homeless .I have a picture of the Dock Street building but i am unable to upload it. Looking at google maps the Prescott Street and Princess of Prussia buildings are still there but with new development taking place right up to the left hand of the pub i wonder how long they will last.

[j.sabourn]

Prescott street rings a bell. The crowd we got in Rotterdam beleive were maybe from there, but always not knowing better always referred to them as Dock Street. Force of habit I suppose. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

In London last year on top of one of the big buildings.
It overlooks Prescot street and there are a lot of new buildings going up there.
Not sure if any buildings we knew still exist there.

[Johnny Kieran]

If I remember rightly, the Prescot street building was called the "Dock street pool". The only time I went in it, was when I joined up to go to the vindi. I often staggered past it in later years, when out on the fizz up town.