Gino Griffiths

[Gino Griffiths]

Ships Name and Service Record

Your Name Gino Griffiths

Discharge Book Number R801839

Your Rank/Rating Assistant Pantryman

Department Catering

List of Ships

Aragon 1964

[dave moore]

I did maiden voyage on her in April 1960 had great times in BA I did three trips on her ,also in the pantry.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Dave
Just to let you know that this Lad was on last in 11th September 2010, 04:56 AM
Cheers

[dave moore]

Thanks,Doc I'm in the process of going through the crew list to try and locate anyone that I sailed with .i wish all the best at this festive time, Dave

[Gino Griffiths]

Ships Name and Service Record

Your Name Gino Griffiths

Discharge Book Number

Your Rank/Rating Assistant Pantryman

Department Catering

List of Ships

RMS Aragon 1964

When I joined up I was first put in the catering dept as utility steward (working under tall guy named Frank Crew - or Carew). I remember the chef was a big guy who had a wife and family in the UK but also had more kids and another woman in B.Aires. I did wonder what happened to him when the "A" boats stopped sailing to Argentina. On my 2nd trip the Asst.Pantryman (a guy we all knew as Mary Queen of Scots) tipped a bowl of iced water over the Chief Stewards head. He was fired immediately. Tne C.Steward approached me and because I had previous catering experience (burger flipper in a Wimpy Bar !! ), I was promoted to Asst Pants - and into a better cabin. I landed ion my feet with the Aragon. I loved my time at sea but eventually my girlfriend said "You must pick - the sea or me". I picked her, married had two boys and 50 years of happy married life until my darling died 8 years ago in Januiary 2015. Luckily the government can't tax our memories - yet!. I also remember a deck hand, named Ian, who had a small pet monkey. He was injured in a storm and I seem to remember was put ashore to be hospitalised in Las Palmas (I think) with a badly broken leg. Never saw him again.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Gino
I see that you dont list your Discharge Book Number? Have you forgotten it , if so what Year were you Born, and Where!
I can look up and see if it is listed on the NA Database at Kew!
Cheers

[Gino Griffiths]

Hi Gino
I see that you dont list your Discharge Book Number? Have you forgotten it , if so what Year were you Born, and Where!
I can look up and see if it is listed on the NA Database at Kew!
Cheers

Hi, thanks for that. My date of birth - 26/7/45. Place of birth Forio-di-Ischia, Italy. (My late father John Griffiths, was in the RAF met my late mother Concetta Amalfitano on the island in 1943. Got married there in 1944 and I came along 10 months later). Hence Italian Christian name, Taffy surname. Gino Griffiths

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks Gino

Here is the Link to your Seamans Pouch with your R Number .

Cheers

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C8576650

Reference:	BT 372/2580/202
Description:	R801839 GRIFFITHS G L V 26/07/1945 ITALY
Date:	1913 - 1972
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	R801839
Legal status:	Public Record(s)
Closure status:	Open Document, Open Description

[Gino Griffiths]

Thanks for that. Sorting out some wedding telegrams my late wife kept from 1965 and came across one from a former shipmate on the Aragon - nice guy Brian Bunker and his lovely wife Maureen. Last saw them 58 years ago at a party in London - can't remember where in London though. .
This in turn prompted another name to come to the fore - Joe Aguila. He was Spanish but lived in London. Bit much to expect to hear from any of these guys. All were a fair bit older than me and I'm in my 77th year. BTW I did enjoy seeing the old photos of the Aragon.

Thanks Gino

Here is the Link to your Seamans Pouch with your R Number .

Cheers

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C8576650

Reference:	BT 372/2580/202
Description:	R801839 GRIFFITHS G L V 26/07/1945 ITALY
Date:	1913 - 1972
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	R801839
Legal status:	Public Record(s)
Closure status:	Open Document, Open Description

[j.sabourn]

#9 Glad to see you can appreciate your past Gino and a belated sorry for your sad loss. I was married in 1962 and back at sea a week later , we often go through old black and white photos , next week on the 27 th we celebrate our 61 st and the day after is my birthday and I always call her my birthday present . I was only home for two weeks and away again my best man was the third engineer off the ship a Maurice Bennett from Low Fell , Gateshead . Who I have never heard of since . Unfortuanetley any arrangements I had made have to now be adjusted as both our driving licences are not going to be renewed without a further medical and both will be expired . I feel let down by the doctor who forgot to send in the completed medical forms over two months ago , and just sent in today. So celebrations be they only fish and chips will be on hold. Cheers any way JS....
The way I see it , if I hadn’t of phoned up to ask the dept.of transport what was going on nothing would of happened now to cover himself he is asking for a second opinion. If he had done that 2 months ago all well and good. There is one thing for sure if I have no licence he is too far away to visit. His reputation by a lot of people I should have listened to. But that is the law , if a motorised invalid carriage is the answer then so be it. JS
Life does sometimes get complicated as one gets older and it very often is not the older persons mistake . Give me the wide open spaces anytime and not the cloistered way of shore life. JS.