Gordon Jones Markhor1953 Mahanada`1955 Malakand 1956 Makalla 1956

[gordon jones]

I met many good people during my time with Brocklebanks. Engine Dept. I cannot believe that none of them are "looking in" to this
site. What happend to Gordon Palmer, Les Cowle , Les Derrick, Don McCallum They can't all be dead !!!
Let's hear from some Brocks Engineers.

[Ron B Manderson]

Gordon
Welcome to the site.
There is a few brocks lads here.
I was lecky from on variouse brock ships from 67 until 71
Ron the batcave

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Gordon
Another Welcome here from me as well!
May be now with your post it may awaken a few old Hands with Brocklebank Lines,who knows!
Hope some will now post in reply !
All the best
Cheers

[gordon jones]

I have read the reply from Ron Manderson. Thank you Ron. I don't find this site easy to understand but I am hoping that this "reply" is going to get to YOU. 1967 is ten years after I left ! Most of the Lads recognised that Brocks had (unofficially) 3 divisions of ships. The 1st
division ships were the the ones with air conditioned cabins. It must have been Heaven.! The 2nd division ships were the ones that didn't have Air conditioning but for some inexplicable reason carried more Engineers than the 3rd division and were in not too bad shape generally. The 3rd division ships were the ones built to go on Russian convoys with next to no extra comforts and one cabin Fan to keep you cool. These were the ships I seemed to be posted to !!! They carried no electricians . It may in hindsight, have been good for experience but I always felt it was completely unfair to have 2 electricians on the 1st division ships ,which were in good order and none on the 3rd division Ships which were lets face it, rust buckets. I finished up as 2nd eng on the Makalla which was probably one of the last triple expansion engines in service. Wonderful experience. I only wish I could have had a say in the Ships staffing quotas. Water under the bridge Eh? REGARDS Gordon Jones PS A lecky is a wireless operator is it not. Very confusing.

[Ron B Manderson]

Gordon
The Matra /mahseer /maidan etc had some air con. With cabin fans no less. And boy did we have some. 2 people in cabin = open the porthole lads.
Off all the brock ships I liked them best. Your cabin was always open , where air con i.e. Markor/ mahout etc could be a bit lonely.
But saying that the company bar was great.

The radio( the only officer on a MN ship) was always called the sparks.
So I started as 2nd lecky trhen ender up 1st on Maidan/mapuri. markor/ mahhout.+ 4 drydocks in liverpool.
You will find your way around the site, with this great bunch.
They are always helpful to other members.
Enjoy
Ron the batcave
.

[gordon jones]

Thanks for your further comments Ron. Where did you get the title Ron the Batcave? You are of course right about the titles given to
various people aboard ship. I must remind you that it is 56 years since I left the MN and the brain gets a little rusty. However it came as a surprise to me, when joining a ship, to learn that Radio Ops were called sparks; when ashore, "sparks" are electricians. It does make more sense to call an electrician a "lecky" The carpenter was called a "chippy" but that is his title ashore so no confusion there. I always felt that the Engine Room crew titles of Fireman, Donkey man, and Greaser totally lacked any glamour and completely hid the skills required, not to mention the hard work required to do the job. In this day and age their titles would be far more attractive. Are there any suggestions out there ? eg Lubrication Technician for Greaser. Another question for you -- why are some members called senior members?
Regards Gordon Jones.

[Don McCallum]

I met many good people during my time with Brocklebanks. Engine Dept. I cannot believe that none of them are "looking in" to this
site. What happend to Gordon Palmer, Les Cowle , Les Derrick, Don McCallum They can't all be dead !!!
Let's hear from some Brocks Engineers.

I served my time with a Gordon Jones at G Allisons in Birkenhead 1947-52. I also sailed with a Gordon Jones on the Markhor, Brocklebank Line.

He was a first class engineer, I would't say he was mean but he was a bit tight and he owes me a beer from when we last met in Calcutta. Is that the same bloke?

Don McCallum

[Kevin Mercer]

Burra Salaams sahibs,
I can't believe it....I gave up looking for Brocks Engineers some time ago and now all this! I was in Brocks from 62 to 66 and sailed on the Maskeliya, Malakand, Makrana, Manipur and the little Florence Holt for Guina Gulf who Brocks took over.I got my 2nds ticket but couldn't get a move up the ladder so went up the canal to Manchester Liners.
I had some great times like all of us. I think Brocks had great camaraderie, especially between ships when we met, but that was probably because the runs were so bad.
I remember Jim McCallum. Charlie Ball, Tom Beddows ( bellowing Beddows) Bill Tigh, Phil Roe and the faces of many more but not thier names.
We used to go to the Calcutta Swimming Club for a Rocklands Gin Gimlet and watch the airline officers and their stewardesses fooling around in the pool.....lucky sods.
I remember when we were sailing up the Hoogly on the Malakand and slipping past the wreck of the Martand which had sunk in the river after apparently swinging onto her own anchor. There were agmies on board nicking the stuff off her and two of the lifeboats had been stolen!
Happy days, gone forever!
Does any one remember Charlie Drought.....he was involved in the Falklands War on the Atlantic Conveyor and still suffering.

I hear one bell....better sign off for now
Cheers
Kevin

[gordon jones]

Good to hear from you Don. Of course I remember you. They were good days at Gordon Alinsons. Brocklebanks was one of the
shipping Co's that was a favourite for choices for 1st trippers to join. I suppose it was because they did most of Brocks repairs when they docked in Birkenhead. I remember the trips with you on the Markhor. There were a number of characters on that ship. Willie Atkinson the
chief engineer and Douglas Ruddick who had the nick name "the duke of bootle" He was the 2nd Engineer. I think there must have been
a NEW Markhor following our days because people on this site talk about the Markhor many many years after. According to my memory
you must be at least 107 !! now? I'll buy you that beer I owe you if we ever meet! Good to be in touch. Gordon (the tight one ) Jnes.

---------- Post added at 08:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:10 PM ----------

Hi Kevin. It is as if Brocks Engineers have suddenly come back to life. I too could not understand why there were more comments etc
on the Brocklebank site. You are of course from a different generation to myself. Brocks had just started to take on engineering apprentices towards the end of my time with them (mid 50's) I well remember the Calcutta Swimming club. The thing that impressed me about that place was the VERY young babies that used to be swimming, I'm sure they were only weeks old. It seems that babies will swim quite naturally if they are introduced to water soon after coming out if the womb. I was of course interested in watching the air stewardeses but they were almost untouchable. Did you ever go to the Cheherasard ( I think that was its name) It was always full of the
Burra sahibs and their daughters.!! I was only ever posted to the then 3rd division ships, no air conditioning or electricians. The 3rd was, on top of all his normal duties, the electrician. Hard work! Cheers Gordon Jones.

[gordon jones]

Further to my first reply I see you called the old firm Alisons and I called it Alinsons. I looked it up in the records and your name is correct.
Another beer I owe you ! I was thinking about the routines on the Brock Ships and I was trying to fathom out whether the Tail waller
oiled the steering engine during the watch. He must have done but I cannot remember the drill. Can you? Gordon J.
For a 107 year old your memory is good.!