Welcome aboard Wendy.I hope you find someone who remembers your Dad.
That was a very sad tragic incident you mentioned about the CHUSCAL.
Just one example of seafarers being called upon to 'do their expected duty',...and next minute they've been taken.....a great tragedy for their families-their loved ones never came home and,a very sad loss for their shipmates,imagine the feelings of those on board,who would have to continue to sail with the vessel home,leaving behind their shipmates...
Seafaring was,and still is a very dangerous profession.Hardly any of us realised it at the time,we just knew we loved the life....and it could never happen to us......
I Found the following on Ships Nostalgia Site,and must credit their members Dave Beaumont and Willie Mac for details and picture of the plaque from CHUSCAL.
A Plaque to the memory of the five lads of the Fyffes banana boat "Chuscal" who were lost overboard in 1966. According to a newspaper report at the time the "Chuscal was 520 miles South East of Newfoundland. Around midday the lads were out on deck attempting to lash down a loose horsebox when a huge wave engulfed them and swept them all overboard. A crew member described the seas as mountainous with waves over seventy foot high. Because of the atrocious weather conditions the captain was unable to turn the ship round to search for them. (Photo courtesy of Dave Beaumont)
Bosun ANDREW SELF
A.B. WILLIAM LESLIE HARVEY
Deck Hand MICHAEL SYDNEY SMITH
Apprentice ALAN ROBERT McLINTOCK MOODIE
Apprentice RICHARD MARTIN WILLCOCK
R.I.P.
Gulliver