MV Tremeadow

[Bob Medd]

Hi to all
I joined the Tremeadow during refit at Redheads dockyard in South Shields October 62. I wondered what I had let myself in for being a rookie Sixth engineer of just 20 years old who had opted to finish my "time" early to go to sea. My first contact was the second engineer called Bob Thompson From Gourock, Scotland. I could not understand a word he shouted at me and spent most of my time keeping out of his way if at all possible. We sailed late November for Panama up to the gulf of California and Mexico. We had a mixed crew of Geordies and Mackum and Tackums, fun alive down aft I believe. This was the precursor for twelve and a half months of eye opening character building. The engineers were, CH eng D. Simpson, 2nd R Thompson, 3rd M Stanley, 4th geordie lad who suffered terrible home sickness? 5th another first trip geordie lad called of all things George but hated being called it, and me Bob Medd, sixer. The master was a certain Samuel Olds Watkins, initials SOW, it suited him. The mate was Dennis Loud, what a character, he got sent home after about 8 months I think. The third mate was Dougie Green a West Ham supporter, another character. I went away engaged to be married but came back single and fancy free, it would never have worked anyway. I also sailed in the Treleven,Tremorvah,Trefusis and Treneglos. I came ashore in 67 to get spliced (different girl) and carried on working in ship repair till taking early retirement in 98. To all the uninitiated a life in the British merchant navy was the finest thing you could ever do and stood me in good stead for life to come. Regards Bob.,

[Red Lead Ted]

I joined the M V TREVAYLOR a few years later i made two very good friends from your kneck of the woods Terry Owens @ Digger Bell would be interesred if you have any info on them Regards from Liverpool mate Terry all the best for xmas and new year to all my Geordie friends were ever you may roam Terry.

[Phil Wiggs]

Hi to all
I joined the Tremeadow during refit at Redheads dockyard in South Shields October 62. I wondered what I had let myself in for being a rookie Sixth engineer of just 20 years old who had opted to finish my "time" early to go to sea. My first contact was the second engineer called Bob Thompson From Gourock, Scotland. I could not understand a word he shouted at me and spent most of my time keeping out of his way if at all possible. We sailed late November for Panama up to the gulf of California and Mexico. We had a mixed crew of Geordies and Mackum and Tackums, fun alive down aft I believe. This was the precursor for twelve and a half months of eye opening character building. The engineers were, CH eng D. Simpson, 2nd R Thompson, 3rd M Stanley, 4th geordie lad who suffered terrible home sickness? 5th another first trip geordie lad called of all things George but hated being called it, and me Bob Medd, sixer. The master was a certain Samuel Olds Watkins, initials SOW, it suited him. The mate was Dennis Loud, what a character, he got sent home after about 8 months I think. The third mate was Dougie Green a West Ham supporter, another character. I went away engaged to be married but came back single and fancy free, it would never have worked anyway. I also sailed in the Treleven,Tremorvah,Trefusis and Treneglos. I came ashore in 67 to get spliced (different girl) and carried on working in ship repair till taking early retirement in 98. To all the uninitiated a life in the British merchant navy was the finest thing you could ever do and stood me in good stead for life to come. Regards Bob.,

Hi Bob,
Only just joined this site, so I don't know if you're still checking back to this note. I reckon I joined the Tremeadow the trip after you came back. I joined in King Edward's Dock London in December 1963 for my first trip as Deck Apprentice with Hain Steamship Company. If you respond I'll see what I can dig out from my unsound memory. We did a four and a bit month trip Med/East Africa/South Africa and back to the same Dock, so only a short one to start with. Came back rather different from when I left and I hope a lot better! Did a number of trips on Tremeadow, also Trecarrell, Trecarne, Atherstone, Buccleuch, Treneglos before moving on as Second Mate; probably a mistake. All the best, Phil.

[Keith Tindell]

I joined the Treworlas, 1958, real oldie, i believe she was scrapped shortly after that trip i did to Newfoundland and back. This was an era of real tramp ships and Hains were a real tramping company. Happy days, would not have missed them, KT

[Gulliver]

I joined the Treworlas, 1958, real oldie, i believe she was scrapped shortly after that trip i did to Newfoundland and back. This was an era of real tramp ships and Hains were a real tramping company. Happy days, would not have missed them, KT

An interesting Snippet of past history of your TREWORLAS here,Keith.
I think you were already aware of this but others may find it of nautical interest....

Built as HARPAGUS (5) 1942 by Wm Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland .7,271 gross tons.Diesel 11 kts.
1944 sold to the Hain Steamship Co. Ltd, 19.8.1944: struck a mine 1 ½ miles North of the West Breakwater, Arromanches Harbour, France, whilst on a voyage from Southend to Arromanches with a cargo of military stores.(Convoy ETM.62 with wire meshing & rolls of hessian )-.One casualty, her master Captain Brown reportedly lost. She broke in two at the deep tank bulkhead, and the fore part quickly sank about 2 nm NW of Arromanches.. The after part ,containing the Engine Room was beached, but later refloated and towed to Southampton for discharge. She was taken in tow for the River Tyne, but grounded again on West Barrow Sand in the Thames Estuary. After refloating she was beached off Sheerness where overhanging obstructions were removed. The tow to the River Tyne was restarted and she arrived 1. 12.1944, having put into Leith on account of bad weather. A new 190 feet fore part was ordered and launched 5.1946. After fitting to the original after part, the vessel was renamed TREWORLAS (2)

Treworlas (ON 168347) )1946-1960 ex Harpagus 1942-1946.jpg

1956 transferred to P & O Steam Navigation Company, 1958 returned to The Hain Steamship Co. Ltd, 1.6.1960: Grounded on Madira Reef,south east of Kuwait in the Persian Gulf in position 28.49 N, 48.45 E, and 7.6.1960 refloated. Sailed under her own power for Falmouth where drydocked and declared a constructive total loss. Sold to British Iron and Steel Corporation for demolition and sailed from Falmouth 18.9.1960 in tow of the tug TRADESMAN 592/44.21.9.1960: Arrived at Briton Ferry where work was commenced by Thomas W. Ward Ltd.

Gulliver
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

[Keith Tindell]

Thanks for that info Gulliver, that was all totally new to me, she certainly had a chequered history. She was my very first trip to sea as a deck boy, and as peggy was hard work, carrying all food from midships to aft messroom, etc Regards KT

[Paul Ruffles]

I was on the helm of the m.v. Treworlas on June 1st 1960 when she grounded on the Madira Reef in the Gulf between Bushire and Kuwait. WE brought her back to Falmouth where she was scrapped. Now I am secretary of the Felixstowe Master Mariners Club see home. Ruffy Ruffles

in the

I joined the Treworlas, 1958, real oldie, i believe she was scrapped shortly after that trip i did to Newfoundland and back. This was an era of real tramp ships and Hains were a real tramping company. Happy days, would not have missed them, KT

[j.sabourn]

#4.. Keith. The picture of I assume is the Treworlas that Gulliver has put up is almost identical to the Avonmoor ( you have something in common with Cappy re the distance from galley to aft) The Avonmoor was however flush decked, and also had no topmasts ( cappy may have stolen) She was built also at Doxfords in 1942/3 and was a 3 cylinder doxford. Good to know others sailed on similar ships, Cheers John S