My life with buries markes

[Ian Baeckelandt]

I suppose it's time I put my own record into the site.
I started as a cabin boy on La Chacra on 20 November 1963 and paid off 4 February 1965.
I then joined La Marea as Assistant Steward on 15 May 1965 and paid off on 18 August 1965 (taking VW beetles from Hamburg to the US).
I then joined La Estancia in Belfast, where she was built and being fitted out, and worked-by for a few weeks unpacking all the crockery, linen, etc. This was September 1965. I then sailed with her on her maiden voyage, and paid off in Belfast (because of the strike) in June 1966.
I enjoyed my time on all three ships, we went to some wonderful places (the world was a pretty good place at that time).

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Ian B
Would just like to give you a warm Welcome to this very good site!
Here you will find lots of info,good Crew and with luck also find a few old Shipmates!
So sit back,relax and just enjoy the trip!
Hope we will have you here for a long time!
A site truly worthy of the British Merchant Navy!
Cheers


Note Well

If you would like to join in and have your Full name R Number and First Ship
Included in the Flag project then please pass it on to Mike Hall who is doing a Main Flag for all
to be displayed some time in one of the UK Museums!
We need your names to get the New Flag full,so please do respond!
Thank you
Vernon (castleman)

Please go to following Link

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=1974

Or reply to me in person! Via Private Message Link above below I will pass on the info!


http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/p...?do=newpm&u=18


If you have already done this then please accept my apologies!

[David Edwards]

Great times with Ianb on the La Chacra, La Estancia, La Maria seeing all the great wonders of the world before we were 20 , we havent had contact since 1966

[David Herd]

I joined the la Marea (Buries Markes) in March or April 1965 as 7th engineer and lasted only 2 trips carrying VWs from Germany to the USA and returning loaded with grain.

I left the ship in July (as the 6th engineer) having achieved my goal of earning enough money to pay for my voyage back to my home in Australia.

It was quite a funny story being hired as an engineer when I had never been in an engine room in my life. I doubt if anyone ever got themselves into more scraps and trouble as I did during that short period on that rust bucket. I have so many great memories of my rather unconventional experience on the La Marea.

[Jack Sutherland]

Hi. I also joined the La Estancia at the H&W yard in Belfast in '65. It was my first trip (I was an apprentice) the Old Man was Eyre-Walker and the Mate was some hard case Geordie. I also paid off when the ship returned to Belfast about 6 months later. I do recall the two stewards and a cabin boy. The two stewards were tall lanky guys (one from Kent) and played the guitar and got really lucky with the girls when we had an extended stay in Vancouver loading grain for Japan. I finished my time with BM and then went on the pool sailing on coasters and the likes of McAndrews ships.
I hope that you found a good job ashore after you left the Merch.

John Macleod.

[Ian Baeckelandt]

To David Herd.
We were obviously on the Marea at the same time, unfortunately, my memory is very unkind to me, and I can't remember you. The only engineer I can remember with any kind of clarity was one we called 'Taff', he may have been 4th, and was very quiet. Can you remember the places that we went to at that time? I remember Bremmen and Emden, and on the US coast, seem to remember Duluth.