British Chemist explosion in Grangemouth 1929

[martinedwards]

Hi folks, I'm researching my Grandfather who was a 3rd then 2nd mate on British Tankers before ww2 then in the RNR during the war rising to temporary commander of the corvette HMS Violet (K35) for 6 weeks in '42

He was on various tankers, including Yeoman, Union, Chemist, Freedom,Chivalry and Gunner, mainly Abadan to UK.

3rd mate until 8th June 29, then 2nd on his next voyage 21st June 29.

he was on harbour watch aboard the "British Chemist" a tanker which suffered an explosion at Grangemouth dock in 1929. according to the numerous newspaper clippings, he "was blown 10 feet in the air and landed on his feet, uninjured, on the dockside"

he went on to man a hose to keep the fire under control until the fire service arrived. he was always very modest about it to my Mum, claiming that he was on the quay and the explosion blew him ONTO the ship, but we all know that that isn't right!! he was awarded a really nice sextant by the company as an acknowledgement of his efforts in fire control......

reported in the Bradford Era.... Pensilvania

Bradford Era, November 26, 1929 : Front Page : NewspaperARCHIVE.com

and the Salt lake Tribune.....

Salt Lake Tribune, November 26, 1929 : Front Page : NewspaperARCHIVE.com

and even the New York Times.....

Two Hurt as Tanker Explodes at Scottish Port - Blast of British Chemist Shakes Grangemouth - Article - NYTimes.com

he gets a name check in the Glasgow Herald..... but they mess up, because his name was Ernest govan McMillan, they mistakenly call him Ernest McMillan, Govan, and say he's the only scotsman aboard, even though he was from Donegal......

he was invaleded out of the RNR in 42 and went back to Moville in Donegal where he got up to all sorts of shenanigans back & forth across the border..... including signalling ships in Lough Foyle uning his hall light during blackout, and being told off by the guardi for flying a union jack on his house on VE day.....

anyway,

I want to write a book of his life, dramatising it into a novel sort of thing rather than the folder of loose sheets and photocopies that we have now. I want to get it done before my mum and her 4 sisters drift off into dementia, as they're all in late 60s or 70s......

the war time escapades on board corvettes and destroyer service vessels I can compare & contrast with "the cruel sea" and the military buffs on WW2 talk but the civilian stuff in his younger days is what I'm looking for here.......

give that if HE'D survived he'd be 105 now I'm not expecting too many shipmates to come forward!!

what was life as a 2nd or 3rd officer on a tanker in the 20s like? I'm just starting out on this project so I have a little info, (basically wikipedia!)

plodding through the Atlantic fully laden, would he have been on watch alone overnight, in charge of the ship and cargo or would they have been in teams?

4 hour watches, yes?

I know he smoked.... was there anywhere on a tanker where he would have been allowed to smoke or was it not as "health & safety" a world back then?

any info or direction anyone can give me, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks!