Possibly of Interest from Brenda Shackelton

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hello Vernon

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Thanks Doc.

The MN Stamp of Approval was a bit of a campaign, took some time but achieved.

Many thanks to Joe Earl:

The Year of the Convoy (2013)

A MERCHANT NAVY STAMP of approval:

Defeat was mighty close in the second greatest war,
Five thousand ships with cargos sent to the ocean floor,
Merchant men were slaughtered sustaining our lifeline,
The Country issued ration books so desperate was the time.

A crisis at the home front, foodstuff very short,
Rations and provisions scarcely making port,
Convoys steaming steadfast under Red Ensigns,
Faced demise from U-boats, the bombers and the mines.

There were many heroes on land and sea and air,
And thirty thousand Seamen gave their lives out there,
Transporting reinforcements, resources and supplies,
And fuel to fly the spitfires fighting in the skies.

Perhaps we should commend them by illustrating stamps,
The freighters and the liners, the tankers and the tramps,
It would be a special tribute, rather overdue,
To mariners who manned them and a way to say thank you.

J.S.Earl Nov. 2009

http://joesverse.simplesite.com/160596387

Captain Joe Earl penned the above in tribute and commemoration and in hope for a stamp of approval. Any reproduction in remembrance / tribute and commemoration is welcomed:

There were a fair few involved, thanks to all that took part.

http://blog.norphil.co.uk/2013/06/me...rs-arctic.html

Merchant Navy Postage Stamps

Don Staddon apparently also was campaigning to get the Post Office to authorise the creation of a set of Merchant Navy Stamps which has paid off. The launch date was September 19, 2013. He had hoped that the Battle of the Atlantic would be commemorated. I have no idea to the extent of his campaign, but again thank all that were involved. K.

[Evan Lewis]

Hello ! Brenda. In Your Posting. Note a reference to a Capt. Williams .Believed to have been with Cunard. My first Master aboard Queen Mary, as a Q.M.was a Capt. Williams. The time frame re. his age fits in. As this was 1956. A quiet unassuming gentleman. What struck me most, was his accent being decidedly Liverpool. As opposed to the more Public School, superior, if you like, of some of the Castle Line .P&O etc. Seniors Was very impressed with his demeanour . No Side! As the saying goes.

[Brenda Shackleton]

Hello Evan,

I heard s/one say that he was with Queen Mary but I didn't have a conversation with him or hear him speak. It was very difficult to have a conversation with anyone as the photographers kept moving the Veterans about.
My Dad was invited to go on board the Queen ( around the early 50s,) and we all went with him to Southampton. We had tea with the Master, whom he knew, but I can't remember who he was. I only remember that we had the most wonderful bread and butter! It was so thin and light that I could not be persuaded to have a cake ! Gosh, that memory had almost slipped by . I went on board again in California where she was permanently moored after being turned into a hotel. Don't know if she is still there.

Capt William's name suggests Wales and there were plenty of Taffys in Liverpool~ the greatest city in the world !

Regards
Brenda

[Captain Kong]

Hi Brenda. the Queen Mary is still there in Long Beach I go quite regularly on her. Loveley ship well worth the visit, I usually stay on board for a few days.
see queenmary.com
always lots of events on board and beats any hotel in California.
Cheers
Brian

[Ian Malcolm]

Extract from my book SHIPPING COMPANY LOSSES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

ATHELSULTAN (Captain J.D. Donovan). Bound for Liverpool from Port Everglades, commodore ship of Convoy SC.100 which sailed from Halifax on 12 September, 1942. Torpedoed and sunk by U.617 (Oblt. Albrecht Brandi) at 0019 hours on the 23^rd, in position 58º42´N 33º38´W. Fifty died. Three picked up by the corvette HMCS Weyburn (T/A/LtCdr. T.M.W. Golby), 7 by HMS Nasturtium (Lt. C.D. Smith) and landed at Londonderry.

Other ships sunk in Convoy SC.100

Empire Hartebeeste (Captain J.F. Travis). By U.596 (Kptlt. Gunter Jahn). Five died. Survivors picked up by the Norwegian ships Norhauk and Rio Verde and landed at Oban and Liverpool respectively.
Tennessee (Ex-Danish) (Captain A.H. Albrechtsen). By U.617. Fifteen died. Twelve picked up by HMS Nasturtium. Eight picked up from a lifeboat on the 26^th by USCGC Ingham and landed at Reykjavik on 2 October. Pennmar (US) (Captain S.C. Krolikowski). Straggled. By U.432 (Kptlt. Heinz-Otto Schultze). Two, plus 1 who had been previously been killed in an accident, died. Sixty picked up by USCGC Bibb and landed at Reykjavik on 2 October.
Roumanie (Belg.) (Captain E. Morbée). Straggled. By U.617. Forty-two died. Sole survivor was Mr Suykerbuyk, the Chief Engineer, who was rescued from a raft by the u-boat and taken to St. Nazaire.
Empire Soldier. Sank after colliding with the F. J. Wolfe on 16 September. None died.

[Evan Lewis]

Thanks for Your reply Brenda. Does the name Capt. Donald Sorrel ?,perhaps ,a possibility, as he was Regular Master for some years in the early fifties .He resided at Southampton .Sadly Passed on , some six months after retirement. At age sixty five Roundabout 57 -58 time. Recall reading of it in the So'ton Echo. Glad You've visited ,"The Old Girl" in Long Beach. I concur fully with Capt .Kongs recommendation. The Hotel accommodation more than favourably, exceeds, price-wise .Plus, the uniqueness of being Aboard. She has a Personality. We must all be indebted to ,initially ,the City and Citizens of Long Beach for having the foresight to recognise ,and preserve such a great ship .Amongst Her other achievements being the Ship that ,With , the amazing determination of a Glasgow M.P .Enabled Its Building .Which really brought to the end the Depression of the 1930's

[Brenda Shackleton]

Sorry Evan. I have no idea who the Captain was. As a little girl my only interest was having my tea!

I was often on ships after they had been docked in Liverpool as my Dad was a Dock Master after the War.If it was a Saturday and we had behaved ourselves we ( my brother and I ) would be allowed to go with him to watch him dock a ship. Then we would usually be allowed on board. Fabulous childhood. I was so lucky. I loved everything to do with ships ~ still do.

Regards
Brenda

[Captain Kong]

Hi Brenda,
A few years ago I made an album , with photos and bios of all the Cunard Captains of the RM,S Queen Mary, with all the dates from 1937 to the end of her seafaring days. for the Queen Mary Foundation in Long Beach, they were used in a Display of them in the exhibition Room down aft. Lovetta Kramer, Director of the Foundation, now retired , was very grateful for it.
Unfortunately my computer with all the information fell in a heap two weeks ago and all my info has been lost amongst a lot of other stuff.
Cheers
Brian

[Stuart Henderson]

For information of all readers especially all those interested in the Queen Mary; There is very active and interesting association based in Southampton the Queen Mary Association which has members which Im sure could answers the Question of names of past Masters of this great ship. The president is Captain Warwick whose father was one of the last serving masters of QM,

[Evan Lewis]

Hi Brenda,
A few years ago I made an album , with photos and bios of all the Cunard Captains of the RM,S Queen Mary, with all the dates from 1937 to the end of her seafaring days. for the Queen Mary Foundation in Long Beach, they were used in a Display of them in the exhibition Room down aft. Lovetta Kramer, Director of the Foundation, now retired , was very grateful for it.
Unfortunately my computer with all the information fell in a heap two weeks ago and all my info has been lost amongst a lot of other stuff.
Cheers
Brian

Point of interest re .the Queen Eltzabeth2. Captain. Recently read a book (Captain of the Queen.) By Capt. Bob Arnott. Note that you have travelled extensively aboard Her. Have you met? He refers to Fleetwood as Home. So not too far from Bolton an . Also ,one of the many interesting facts mentioned, is writing a cheque for $82,000 to transit the Panama Canal. A Top Deck Suite ,in the eighties, World Trip, being $quarter million .Amazing!