Brian Rattray

[Brian Rattray]

SHIPS NAME AND SERVICE RECORD

Full Name

Brian Rattray

Discharge Book Number

UK019149

Department

Catering

Your Rank/Rating

Assistant Steward

Which Ships were you on and When

Crystal Sapphire -July-September 1974

RFA Olwen 3 different occasions 1974/75, 1977/78,1979

La Sierra 1975,

Temple Hall 1976/77,77/78,

Swedish Wasa 1977,

Rfa Resource 1980,

flowergate 1978,

RFA Black Rover 1979,

cape shore 1979,

Bengloe 1979

Notes:

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[Jim Brady]

Hi Brian,I joined the Crystal Sapphire at Cammell Lairds right off the blocks,it rolled like I dont know what on the way out to Salt River and Savvannah La mar if thats how to spell it,it'l be alright on the way home when she is loaded was the cry!! It was worse loaded than light ship.Despite the fact that it was about a months trip I can tell there was more to write home about in the 10 days that we were in Jamaica than your average 6 month trip.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Brian Rattray]

Hi Jim, aye rolled like hell, my 1st trip to sea & we hit a norwegian ship in Jamaica & spent 6 weeks anchored off Port royal to get bow repaired
was a trip & a half, but fair learnt how to drink the appletons rum,oh dear oh dear .

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Brian
You will notice that i have closed this as there is an error somewhere in the System,no one except Admin,or Mods are allowed to reply to Crew Lists!
We are looking into this!
Thanks
Vernon

[Doc Vernon]

This Thread as all other Crew List Threads have now been opened to all Members to reply to,this decision was made by the Site Admin (Brian)
Sorry for any misunderstanding!
Thank You
Doc Vernon

[Ivan Cloherty]

Think that was a good move Vernon, as it keeps the list of ships served upon close by and easier for ex shipmates, or people who served on the same ships easier to find and communicate

[Bob Petty]

Crystal Sapphire 3-62 Appleton's Estate Rum heaven in a bottle.

[stewart morrison]

Hi I was on the crystal cube a few years earlier and it seems the run to Jamaica never changed much from your time. Salt river, Savanna la Mar,black river too I think and our skipper would not let us have any subs anywhere. The upshot of this was that everything got flogged in Sav la mar, blankets, soap,cutlery,crockery then we had to go ashore in native log canoes to usually the first and last to drink the lovely rum. It was funny watching the goods being lowered on a rope from an aft porthole so nobody would catch us. i met a young lad about my age called Leon who took me to see the real Jamaican life before settling for the first & last and he took me to a field where loads of women were catching land crabs & throwing them in sacks they had on their backs. It was just like watching an old hollywood movie as they all had lighted pitch torches & singing, what an experience it was.I think they were stone crabs least that was the colour of them.
We left there for Montreal with the cargo where shortly after three assistant stewards got hauled off by the mounties for smuggling hash & our cabins were all ripped apart in the searches. There was a good side to all this excitement as us two pantry boys got immediate promotion to assistant stewards at seventeen. Yes you certainly see some life at sea or you did so in the old days, cheers