Desertions, DBSs, and stowaways

[j.sabourn]

Ref. Desertions what is the greatest number in one go that anyone can remember. Mine was about 15 Chinese crew in States.
D.B.S. ( Distressed British Seamen) what is the greatest number anyone can remember at one time. Mine was I believe 3 from Australia.
Stowaways. What is the longest anyone can remember being landed with a stowaway and unable to get rid of. Mine was about 3 months stowed away in West Africa to Australia. Refused permission to land in Australia. Times have certainly changed. Company had to pay his air fare back to West Africa. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Captain Kong]

On the Tectus, Shell T2 tanker in Curacao, we had orders for the far east, in those days in Shell if you went east of Suez you stayed east of Suez for up to two years in some cases. Three Firemen jumped. We went to Trincomalee and the Gulf then to the Thames, home in a few weeks.
I met one of the Firemen in Liverpool by the Pool, he was like a skeleton. He was amazed that we were home so soon. He said in Curacao you didnt get any food in gaol if you didnt pay for it and they were starving for a few weeks before the British Consul found them and paid for them to eat. Then he had them shipped home. I went Fireman Watertender on the ship.
.
I missed my ship, TILAPA, a Fyffes Skin boat, in Kingston and so I stayed with my Jamaican girl friend, Gloria Campbell for a while, I was eventually found by the Police, locked up and then sent home on the TILAPA when she was in Port Antonio. On the way to Avonmouth Two Jamaican Stowaways appeared and the three of us lived in the Canvas locker.
In Avonmouth a Society came and brought new clothing for these two and took them away to look after, I asked for help and I got Nothing, The Sailors had a tarporlin muster and I got the fare back home.
Happy days.
Brian.

[Tony Frost]

Picked up two stowaways up from Levuka(Fiji) Retured them the next day (Which happen to be the same day they got on board because of the date-line)

[Gordon Turnbull]

2 of us, me and a guy from Wick in Oz. Funnily enough we split up but both ended up as DBS going home as well. Most stowaways was 2 from Dakar.

[Lou Barron]

The Ship i was on i we had six Desertions (jumped ship ) that was before they sent you back home two went back home after a few months in NZ two have since have died after living a married life here for a long time and myself and a Mick Williams are still here both of lost our wives a short while ago

[j.sabourn]

Used to hear the tanker men talk about the East of Suez Bonus. Was this monetary or just the female company or both. Cheers John Sabourn.

[len mazza]

Hi J.S.
Iwas on contract with Shell,a rating,and spent a long time East OF Suez,definately no cash bonus for us,the chance of a cargo to Hong Kong, or Japan was enough to keep me satisfied.

Cheers,

Len Mazza.

[happy daze john in oz]

We had two DAS on the run to Australia in 1964. Two distressed Australian seamen making their way back home. One claimed to be the son of BHP chairman! Neither did a stroke of work all voyage, got rid of them in melbourne.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, talking to my old shipmate Laurie 87yrs the other night down the club, he did a trip to aussie {wartime} on the port phillip and going ashore one night he met up with a D.B.S. a school mate in a bar he knew from Cardiff he lived in the next street to him, after a few drinks he told him his tale, he was kept by a lady who owned the bar ,he missed his ship due to himself beening lock up in her bedroom ,she took a strong fancy to him ,her late husband was killed in action, and she did not want the same thing to happen to him , so Laurie try to help him out he had words with his Captain, who agreed to take him back home as D.B.S. the ship was sailing the next dayor two , so he was allset to do a runner? but he never made it, she found out !!! one off the girls told her, so see had him put into the cellar locked untill the ship sailed, he met him again after the war in a book shop in bridge street Cardiff he came back to see his family he took Laurie for a drink, to thank him and tell him what happen the lady who owned the bar had pass-away she became his wife ,and left him all the money. but he never did made it back home {wartime} dont think he had any probelms with anyone over that?

[Evan Lewis]

M.V. Cragmoor. Geelong Oct. !950

Eight ,walked off . One from Bridgend two from Swansea,the remainder Leith Pool.

The two catering Boys,from Swansea had jumped in Melbourne the previous Trip. They were actually in St Vincents Hospital visiting my Oppo
from Bridgend ,an S.O.S (PNUEMONIA) They vacated via a Stairway,as Captain Hogg ,was arriving to visit fhe patient.
before leaving for Leith.
I
The very next Trip ,the ex> Patient came aboard on arrival. I was over the Wall on a Stage. John sticks his head over.Big smile. "Are you staying this time"? Considered it , and answered in the negative.John was re_signed. On hearing of this ,Ginger and Vince appeared within days .App
roached the Captain .He advised them if they still felt the same when we were loading at Geelong,to come and see him.
They duly arrived And were signed on .
As time went by .correspondence John and I received, wtith newspaper cuttings, showed Ginger was married ,at the prestigious St.Pauls Cathedral. Vince later had joined the Army and went off to Korea Had been engaged , returned to a job at Essendon Airport Subsequently was arested for twice deserting the same ship.became headlined in the Paper< and was then later allowed to stay. Good Result!
Must admit though that the Captain's good intentions and trust was somewhat sullied. Though what"s that expression? " A standing __has no conscience"