Allan Bickerdike More Pics

[Tim Bickerdike]

As promised plus an abstract from dad's service record

Cheers
Tim B

[jimmys]

Hi Tim,

Go into gallery on top of page menu just under British Merchant Navy, then search gallery for jimmys and you will enter.

I was on five ships that your dad sailed on but at different times, Dolius, Antenor, Melampus, Diomed and Achilles.

In 1969/70 Blue Funnel was massively downsizing and I was advised to leave and I joined Texaco a tanker company. I had sailed with JR Walker who is in one of your pics and I knew him. I have met you father but it was a long time ago. The canal had shut in 1967 due to the six day war and it gave the company a huge hit. My contract had finished it was a two year deal and there was no renewals. Your dad was maybe the same. It went very quickly.
Was your dad a blue flu apprentice or did he serve his time ashore??

regards
jimmy

[Tim Bickerdike]

I know very little about my dads life prior to joining the navy. i believe he trained as a draughtsman after leaving Ossett Grammer School.. I think he joind the navy instead of doing his national service trying to avoid bullets i guess...
This was odd as he told a tale of when he was in the Bitter Lakes about shells and bullets flying over ..

I have a copy of the book produced about the GBLA postal service and a few examples of some of the stamps...

And for a long time we had the bell from Glengyle in our pub...people knew when dad called time ..

Tim B

[jimmys]

I did the same as your dad, served my apprenticeship ashore and away to dodge the call up. Dodging waves was better than dodging bullets. You had to serve five years in the MN or they called you up.
Look at the Anchises when he left in June 1967 the six day war broke out on June 5th he just got through the canal probably dodging the bullets he was there to avoid I dont think she was caught. He paid off 14th JUne. It was a bad time, I was on the other side in Gulf of Suez. The middle east was on fire.
It just goes to show dont disregard your old mans stories they were true!!!

regards
jimmy

[Tim Bickerdike]

He used to pretend his scar from his smallpox shot was a bullet hole ..as kids we believed him for years.

When he left the navy he did the typical ex seaman thing and got a pub....

He was in the pub for 24 years ....