Joseph Paul Connor

[joseph connor]

SHIPS NAME AND SERVICE RECORD

Full Name

Joseph Paul Connor

Discharge Book Number

R 778052

Department

Deck

Your Rank/Rating

SOS

Which Ships were you on and When

Menelaus 62
Machaon62
Antenor63
Automedon63 x2
Clytoneus63
Antilochus63
Chirripo x2 63-64
Empress of Britian64
Hinnites64
Elizabeth Holt64
Empress of Canada64
Grecian65
norwiegian ships
Fisons Realf66-67
Tom Stromer67-68

Notes:

I know it was frowned upon going into foreign ships but the pay was so much better than ours £12 per week as opposed to £21 in Norwiegian mind you , you had to be a lover of fish. [ the Tom Stromer I believe sank in s America a few years later]. I got to Matros [ab] here.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Joseph.
welcome to the site.
I was thrown out of Blue Flue after the Strike in 1960, I walked off the new Melampus for her maiden voyage. and sailed on the Empress of Britain a couple of times.
Cheers
Brian

[John Arton]

Joseph/Brian
I had an interview with Blue Funnel the same day as one with C.P.
At the Blue Funnel interview I was asked if I had any homosexual tendencies, at the C.P. interview I was asked what day I could sail, so I guess you can guess which outfit I went with.
One of the first letters I received on my first trip to sea (started 72 hours after the interview) I received a letter from Blue Funnel saying I had been accepted by them as a cadet and was to report to their training establishment in Liverpool. It was once again reiterated in the letter that how lucky I was to be accepted into the finest British merchant navy company going and how privileged I should feel.
I wrote back a very polite letter declining there offer employment as I had already gained a position with another British company and was some months into my first trip.
The letter I got back was almost smouldering basically telling me that how dare I turn down their offer of employment and that hell would freeze over before I would ever get a chance to work for them in the future (or words to that effect). Strangely enough though a number of years later when I was visiting one of Blue Funnels super tankers with our Chief Officer in order to show them how to load a super tanker, they almost tried to hi-jack me into sailing with them ( I was third mate on a VLCC by that time).
rgds
JA

[gray_marian]

#3, 'I was asked if I had any homosexual tendencies,'

Wearing the "Old spice" again John?

[Captain Kong]

I think it must have been a requirement in Blu Flu, I only ever sailed on one, the EURYADES, a SAM boat in 1959 to 1960. six month trip to the Spice Islands.
The Lamp Trimmer had some strange habits of taking Javanese Dockers into his cabin, locking the door, and staying with them all night. The Dockers always came out smiling wearing nice white Nylon Shirts. He must have had a suit case full of them, they were worth about 200 Rupiahs ashore then, he could have had a very beautiful young lady ashore for less than 50 Rupiahs.
Brian

[Ivan Cloherty]

Yes Brian, but the shirt was new, the lady had been worn before!

[Charlie Hannah]

I did two trips in the Grecian,in 57,good crowed top job.

[j.sabourn]

A Chief Engineer I knew when going for an interview for Fifes Ship management, they asked him if he drank, he said yes please I'll have a gin and tonic no ice. He got the job no bother. JS

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Joseph
Welcome the site and thank you for listing your details and Ships
Always nice to have new Blood aboard! No not real Blood LOL!
Hope you will find lots here to take your interest!
Enjoy!
Cheers

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
Now now stop slavering, as they said at the Vampire cafe "Blood's off the menu dear"
Cheers Des