British Tanker Company

[Stuart Henderson]

Remember my second ship to sea in 1948 was British Might which was I believe a wartime built vessel. Whilst on her ,two trips taking twelve months we used to go to the main port in the Persian Gulf which in those days was Abadan. Most of the others werent even built Ras tanura etc Just been reading the Athel Line forum and it mentioned funnel amidships tankerthe Athelmere which brought to mind the British Sailor and British Sol dier which were real oldtimers with funnel amidships and whose job was to top up the big ships ??? after thay crossed the bar out of the river. Big was about 10000 tons in those days...
Anyone remember these old veterans ?
Stuart

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Stuart
Cannot say i recall those oldies mate,a wee bit before my time,but i am sure they were good ones,and i bet you had many good times aboard too!
Not sure if these are the ones in question,but i see the Stacks at the rear!
Cheers

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...0Might-01.html

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...Sailor-01.html

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...oldier-01.html ???????

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...oldier-02.html In beautifull Cape Town Harbour!

[James T. Chalmers]

Thourghly enjoyed all the pictures of ships Found 9 of the ships I sailed on only one I didnt find was the British Scientist. This was too bad as that ship was haunted Honestly, I met a second Mate at a latter date & he said this was what he had found when he was on it tell you about if your interested
James T. Chalmers

[Gulliver]

British Scientist (1948)

There isn't a pic of the 1948 British Scientist on the Photoships site,but there is one of her when she was renamed CLYDE SCIENTIST from 1957 until scrapped in 1963.

Pic here:-
http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20Ci/slides/Clyde%20Scientist-01.html


Best Wishes
Gulliver

[Albert Bishop]

Often heard mention of a BTC during the war, that had a dummy flue amidships to try to make look a bit more like a cargo job
when tankers were a prime target. I believe a samson post on the after end acted as the real flue. Cheers Albi

[tsell]

I joined the British Caution in '52. Still BTC then, but funnel was aft.

Taff

[Daniel Lloyd]

Yes Stuart, I well remember the old British Soldier. Just as Iran nationalised her Oil Industry I joined the Soldier in Bombay and served as RO on her for about a year. We kept many of the ports around the Indian Ocean topped up with crude oil. She was built during the first World War as a fueler for the Royal Navy. She was a very happy ship with a Geordie, Capt Appleby in charge. She was sold to the Vivalet Shipping Co. of Panama and sailed under that flag for the Greek Owners. I stayed on with the Greeks with a very handsome salary. She carried on the same trade for six months and I left her in Venice for the ex "British Engineer". She was named "Marina" by the Greeks. I never actually sighted the "British Sailor" but saw her smoke many times up the Gulf. Like ourselves she generated plumes of smoke and everyone in that region recognized us by that signal. She had no fridge, only an ice box and once in RasTanura the local radio station read a request for three tons of ice as three tons of rice and had that awaiting us on arrival.
Some years ago I was doing a radio survey on a BT vessel in Dublin and when they heard that I had served on the "British Soldier" they produced an old chief engineer who had also sailed on a "British Soldier" but it turned out that it was a later ship he had been on. I guess mine was a long time ago- about 1951. As they say in the days of iron men and wooden ships. Best Regards. Daniel

[Stuart Henderson]

ref post #7

Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your reply. Its really unusual for me to get an answer when talking about those days of forties/fifties. I never sailed on either Soldier or Sailor but remembered them because of admidships funnels it was so unusual in tankers but I believe many early ones were like that. I saw them in 1948 I see in my discharge book thats when I was on British Might. Then Abadan was best run ashore in Persian Gulf,Well the seamans Club anyway. When some mates and I went up the souk we were stoned and beat a hasty retreat.
Cheers
Stuart

[Stuart Henderson]

Hi Vernon,
Thanks buddy, yes number three on your photos was definitly the one. Midship funnel. Expect Danial in later post will be real interested as he sailed on her.
Cheers
Stuart

[Albert Bishop]

Hi Stuart. Agree with you. As gulf ports went in the early 50s, Abadan wasn't a bad run ashore, At least in the seamans club we could get a few beers. watch a film and use the pool. I put a photo of the pool on the gallery a while back if you want to renew your memories/ Cheers, Albi.