Hello all,

I'm new to this site and finding my way around ....very slowly!

I posted my dad's ships in the crew lists tonight and I'll also post them here. Could you please let me know if I'm putting things in there right places.

Also just to let you all know how this started. I started looking on the web for information on how to get dad his medals that he is due for and I found this site. He applied for them back in 2001 but the archives were being moved and they couldn't help him. I have just now taken up the cause as dad is 86 and I think he deserves to see something for his long service. We are currently waiting for his records to be sent from the National Archives. Although we have his discharge book complete except for three ships.

It's very interesting for me as until now we have hardly spoken about all this time he spent at sea.

I wont go on too long here but it's a very interesting story. Just to give you a taste though. Dad could very well be the last crew member still living from the Penolver his first ship which was sank on the 19th of October 1943! He was picked up by the Delisle at station #22 which was hit 15 minutes latter.

another interesting story is that his last ship the Soon Bee sailed into Australia on the 31/01/1954 his first son ( me ) was born 9 months earlier on the 24 May 1953. he's last trip home was also the last time he saw his parents! I'm sure there are many seaman with similar stories.

I hope I haven't been too long winded here but I find it amazing!!

Here is his list of ships with a little bit of explaination at the start.

TS Vindicatrix Mid 1942
SS Penolver Late 1942 or early 1943 - 19th October 1943.
Fort Pic approx December 1943.
Dads first ship was the SS Penolver but he trained on the TS Vindicatrix. He does not have records of the Vindicatrix, Penolver or Forte Pic. All of his records were lost aboard the Penolver. When his records were updated inMay 1948 the above ships were not included. His replacement Continuous Certificate of Discharge book incorrectly states the reason for replacement as 'stolen' when in fact they were lost through enemy action. He joined the Penolver in Greenough in late 1942 and sailed to Halifax where she was sunk of Newfoundland on October 19th 1943. He joined the Fort Pic in Quebec in approximately December 1943.
The following is a list of his other ships which he has records of. Also we are currently waiting for his records to be sent from the National Archive Kew.
Port Campbell 146580 From 12/06/1944 - 13/08/1944
Lady Connaught 132019 From 7/09/1944 - 18/11/1944.
Empire Granite 164844 From 4/12/44 - 31/05/1945.
Miralda 162134 From 25/06/1945 - 03/02/1946.
Dunnottor Castle 164637 From 27/02/1946 - 23/09/1946.
Norman Star 143398 From17/10/1946 - 26/01/ 1947.
Horby Grange 181528 From 12/02/1947 - 20/04/1947. & 28/04/1947 - 20/10/1947.
Brittany 181513 From 21/07/1947 - 20/10/1947.
Port Campbell 146580 from 10/11/1947 - 29/05/1948.
Port Sydney 138660 From 06/1949 - 26/10/ 1948.
Beaverburn 166217 From 15/11/1948 - 15/12/1948.
M.V. Port Jackson 165383 From 20/12/1948 - 08/06/1949.
27/06/1949 - 06/12/1949.
30/12/1949 - 15/06/1950.
18/07/1950 - 28/12/1950.
16/01/1951 - 30/05/1951.
Port Alma 160315 From 11/07/1951 - 17/07/1951.
M.V. Port Jackson 165383 From 26/071951 - 02/08/1951.
19/08/1951 - 27/01/1952.
M.V. Port Huon 149842 From 28/03/1952 - 12/04/1952.
Port Brisbane 182957 From 12/05/1952 - 23/05/1952.
Port Nelson. 184526 From 21/06/1952 - 30/06/1952.
08/07/1952 - 19/11/1952.
08/05/1953 - 26/05/1953.
04/06/1953 - 01/11/1953.
M.V. Port Auckland 183007 From 20/11/1953 - 26/11 1953.
Soon Bee 373 From 09/12/1953 - 31/01/1954.