Sea Time Deck Crew

[j.sabourn]

Thinking back and as the memory is not always as good as it was. Now that Capt. Kong has said he has a 1950 NMB book can he or anyone with a better memory than mine remember how long a Deck Boy had to do before he got his rating to J.O.S. and how long he had to do for S.O.S. I believe it was 3 years before he could take his EDH and AB had to have a lifeboat ticket, and so many years sea service, I think it was 4 ? On the same subject how long did a catering boy have to do before he got an Assistant stewards rating. I have memorys of first trip deck boys and catering boys receiving their rating during a 6 or 7 month voyage, which was always an excuse for celebration as it meant a rise in wages. Cheers John Sabourn

[Jim Brady]

John I can only give you the side of the Catering Boy.The main thing was you had to be 18 years of age to become Asst.Stwd or Second Cook if you wanted to stay in the galley.The situation was if a lad was jumping around from one ship/company to another he would never get his rating,it was not automatic because you were 18.You would get in a ship as pantry boy and be a good lad,work hard and providing you were 18 ask the Ch.Steward if you could come back as Asst.Stwd.depending on theChf if you got made up.Maybe a deck rating could be promoted during the course of a voyage but a catering boy certainly could'nt the only exception being if for some reason they became an Ast.Stwd short the kid could be made up.A lad could be 17years 9 months and sign on as pantry boy that ship could be away 2 years so he would be just on 20 years of age and still be pantry boy on boys money.I've just had a look at my bookI got my rating when I was 18yrs 4 mths old on the Oregis,I was turned 18 when I joined her and was on her for 3months before I got my rating.Those kind of ships were handy for getting your rating as they were short trips with a turn over of crew.I was Asst.Stwd for 3 months and paid off in Manchester,when I went to pay off the Shipping Master said to me "When you go back to the Pool in Liverpool you will be put back to catering boy you havent got enough sea time in".What it had todo with him i dont know,I told the captain he told me to go and pay off and if i have any trouble in Liverpool just go to Houlders office and tell them Captain Neal sent me.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

I have the Book somewhere in my chaotic office, I am sorting it out at the moment, The BT man is coming on Monday to install the new Broadband system. I will find it.
When I started in 1952, the program was,
Deck Boy for 12 months,
JOS for 12 months
SOS for 12 months ,
after the age of 18, a lad could then go and do his EDH and Lifeboat exams, took two weeks.
Then sailed as EDH for four years before recieving his ABs Certificate. Wage for a first year EDH then was £24 a month with one pound yearly increments until full AB after four years, on £28 a month. There was no AB Examination, it was the EDH and Lifeboat certificate that was transferred to the AB Cert. on application at the BOT Office.
.
I did one four month trip as Deck Boy then went on the `BEECHFIELD` a coaster, I sailed as OS then made up to AB, then Cook , then Fireman, This was possible on the coast.
When I went deep sea again six months later I was JOS and then when I was 18 did my EDH and Lifeboat Certs and then sailed as EDH for four years becoming AB. after that time.
Cheers
Brian.

[Neville Roberts]

I started late at 17 did three fgn trade and one home ,on the Forester as cat boy then joined the Tacoma Star in liverpool my home town as cat boy, the asst stwd quit before we sailed and I asked the chief for the job and got my rating on the second ship after one year on my first , at 18/1/2

[happy daze john in oz]

John I can only give you the side of the Catering Boy.The main thing was you had to be 18 years of age to become Asst.Stwd or Second Cook if you wanted to stay in the galley.The situation was if a lad was jumping around from one ship/company to another he would never get his rating,it was not automatic because you were 18.You would get in a ship as pantry boy and be a good lad,work hard and providing you were 18 ask the Ch.Steward if you could come back as Asst.Stwd.depending on theChf if you got made up.Maybe a deck rating could be promoted during the course of a voyage but a catering boy certainly could'nt the only exception being if for some reason they became an Ast.Stwd short the kid could be made up.A lad could be 17years 9 months and sign on as pantry boy that ship could be away 2 years so he would be just on 20 years of age and still be pantry boy on boys money.I've just had a look at my bookI got my rating when I was 18yrs 4 mths old on the Oregis,I was turned 18 when I joined her and was on her for 3months before I got my rating.Those kind of ships were handy for getting your rating as they were short trips with a turn over of crew.I was Asst.Stwd for 3 months and paid off in Manchester,when I went to pay off the Shipping Master said to me "When you go back to the Pool in Liverpool you will be put back to catering boy you havent got enough sea time in".What it had todo with him i dont know,I told the captain he told me to go and pay off and if i have any trouble in Liverpool just go to Houlders office and tell them Captain Neal sent me.
Regards.
Jim.B.

Correct abouut the 18 year age for winger ect. But on one voyahe with the Lavender Ladioes we had a bell boy mae up to winger at the age of 17 years 8 months. Homeward bound we were short of a couple of wingers so the head waiter appoached the second steward who agree after talks with others thta the lad should get his rating then and not in four months time. It is the only time I have heard of it happening.

[Peter Trodden]

As Brian said #3
Same,Same Me.
ttfn.Peter

[John Albert Evans]

I couldnt remember the 18 year age time limit so I had to get my Discharge Book out and check.

Again only speaking for catering. At 16 years of age I sailed as cabin boy for a month on a coaster. The went deep sea with the Eagle Oil Shipping Company as catering boy (Galley) for 2 trips. Just after my 18th birthday got Assistant Stewards position for 6 months then 2nd Steward for 16 months, then 2nd Cook and Baker for 3 years till I got my Cooks Ticket. Then one trip and I packed it all in and got a shore job.

John Albert Evans.

[DeepSea]

It had all changed when I joined in 1980. You actually took your EDH ticket while at the NSTS/C at Gravesend, but would not come into effect until later. regarding sea time

Deck Boy to JOS was four months sea time as long as you had a Steering Cert. JOS to EDH was 12 month sea time as long as you passed your EDH at Gravesend and had a Lifeboat Cert. and Steering Ticket. Those who failed their EDH at Gravesend could retake it at a later date whilst on leave, but if EDH not achieved by the time you reached 18 you were classed as SOS. From EDH to AB was three years sea time.

Even after this the rating system was changed to:

Deck Boy was classed as Junior Seaman
JOS became a Seaman Grade II, SOS was discontinued and became Seaman Grade II, but on a higher pay structure if over 18.
EDH became Seaman Grade 1B
AB became Seaman Grade 1A

[Capt Bill Davies]

The way I remember it and certainly applied to me.

Deck Boy to JOS : 9 months sea time
JOS to SOS : 9 months sea time

SOS was rarely attained as many had attained the age of 18 well before they had 18 months sea time in and in any case 12 months is all that was required for EDH.

36 months sea time for AB

Brgds

Bill

[Lou Barron]

As for myself my frst trip galley boy could not peel spuds so went on deck as deck boy that would be late December 1940.Made a Jos in April 1942 then signed on the Gloucester castle as a SOS after the war my last trip was a AB my time in the Japanese Navy must have helped