Bowater Ships

[Jim Brady]

Never sailed in Bowaters but sailed with a few guys that did.They were reknowned for being good feeders,when the daily rate was four bob in most companies Bowaters was seven and six a day.Fruit juices for the crew for breakfast,I never seen that for the officers on the ships I sailed on.A story I heard,a Chief Steward joined the company (doing his first trip with them) when the ship got back to the U.K. he boasted to the Catering Super how he had got the rate right down.The story goes the Super told the C.S.the food was put aboard for the men to eat they prided themselves on being good feeders and the C.S got fired!!!
Regards.
Jim.B.

[yorkie1952]

Joined Phyllis Bowater as a Deck Hand in Ellesmere Port on 27 July 1972.

Stuck in Ellesmere Port for five weeks due to dock strike until 31 August 72 .

11 days in Glasgow dry dock 01 - 12 September 1972.

7 trips from Liverpool Nova Scotia to Alexandria Virginia.

1 call only at Cornerbrook Newfoundland from 12 to 15 December 1972.

Arrived Hartlepool Christmas Eve 1972.

Vessel sold to Greek buyers.

Never been so damn sea sick in all my life !
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[william anthony gartland]

hi john,hope you are well,my name is billy i served with you on the margret bowater, for 4 or 5 trips as a galleyboy.do you recall the baker of one of the queens

[john walker]

I wonder if any of you guys that sailed with Bowaters/British & Commonwealth ever sailed with an ass/stwd. called EDWARD GEI HAMILTON or know the true story of his death. He was a South African by birth and a great character. I first met him on the Tintagel Castle in 1968. In 1974 I was on a ship in Cornerbrook loading for Australia, at the same time a Bowater ship was loading. I got talking in one of the local bars to some of the crew of tthe Bowater ship (I do not remember which one) We were swinging the lamp about ships in general and B&C in particular when Edward's name cropped up in the conversation. One of these guys said that Edward had been allegedly murdered by the bosun on one of the Bowater ships whiile in a port in the U.S.A. This guy was not sailing on the ship at the time but had heard about it. We all know that these things can end up like Chinese whispers when being repeated. So if any body has any knowledge of this incident or Edward I would love to hear about it.

[Stan Hackett]

Hi I did one trip on the Markland in 1962-3, joined her in south shields,heading for Liverpool Nova Scotia,ended up being towed by the Sarha Bowater to Newfounland. broke down half way across the Atlantic,one of the most memorial trips Iever did,liked the run,especially newfounland. regards Stan Hackett.ps Iwasan EDH at the time.

[Ollie Fenlon]

Hi again Trevor,

Many happy memories when I sailed on the Phylis, 1970 -1971 a few names that I came across since I mailed you.

Trevor Gray, Angus Mckenzie, Denis ?, Ted Bisset

John Gibson, Alec Yeates, Mick Simpson, Jim Wylie.



Ollie

[Dennis McGuckin]

Now THATS a ship.
Den.

[John Albert Evans]

I couldnt agree more. I was second cook and baker on her in the early 1960s.

She really was a good ship.

I was on the Phyllis as well, another good ship.

John Albert Evans

[Dennis McGuckin]

Same rating 1956
First single berth cabin I ever had.
Eight month trip. Paid off with 15 pounds.
Great times.
Den.

[robpage]

I worked by in Dry Dock for a couple of weeks on two of the Bowater Ships , The were the cleanest Engine Rooms I have ever seen , and a total credit to the guys who worked on them , a lot of the engine room men seemed to be Hebrides guys