MN Careers Open Day.

[j.sabourn]

The Advertising Brochure that John has put on web makes my past very obscure. Would have put me off probably as don't know what some of the abbreviations are and makes it look very important. First off, the term Cadet and Apprentice were 2 distinct and different aspects of the job in my time. As said once before an apprentice was apprenticed to the company/ship for 4 years, and for this he was paid peanuts, and fed sometimes. A cadet was a person who signed on as a crew member under the rank of Cadet, could leave the vessel at close of Articles and if so wanted could proceed to a different company, he probably also received peanuts but at least was free to make his own choices. Believe he had every entitlement to work and feed with the officers. A cadet received discharges in his book, an apprentice did not. I would put the most relevant position on an Indian ship to the rank of apprentice as Topaz. Cheers John Sabourn P.S. To put it bluntly there was as much difference between Cadet and Apprentice as a Motor ship and a steam ship or even a Windjammer all different. The only thing they had in common if under 18, was that you came under the young persons act as did the deck boys and JOSs in most cases. JS

[j.sabourn]

REF. Apprentice. I was talking to a fellow company ex apprentice last year. He was 5 years before he got back to UK . The crew no doubt being paid off and sent home every 2 years to the UK, the same as a Cadet would of., The only consolation he had he said was that he had a year on ABs money. Needless to say he did not stay in same company. He joined the Canadian Navy and came out a full Commander, his son followed him and at the time was a Commodore and expecting to go up to Admiral which by now no doubt he is. Apart from Louis in NZ has anyone done a longer trip. John Sabourn

[cappy]

REF. Apprentice. I was talking to a fellow company ex apprentice last year. He was 5 years before he got back to UK . The crew no doubt being paid off and sent home every 2 years to the UK, the same as a Cadet would of., The only consolation he had he said was that he had a year on ABs money. Needless to say he did not stay in same company. He joined the Canadian Navy and came out a full Commander, his son followed him and at the time was a Commodore and expecting to go up to Admiral which by now no doubt he is. Apart from Louis in NZ has anyone done a longer trip. John Sabourn

that's not a long trip john ....that's a bloody life sentence

[cappy]

after about 9 months on a Geordie tramp out of shields ....we got back to Santander with grain ,,,,the apprentice who had been a good kid got on the vino and as we were ready to sail stood on the quay tellingthe old man what a c..t he was and the mate was even worse and they could all eff off and he wasn't coming......he was told we were going back to shields...but off he went ,,,,,2or3 weeks later he was at the pool inshields he hadn't dared go home he said his old man would would have sorted him he was at the mission so must have got money from somewhere......he was a decent kid.......came from devon or down there......gave him the price of a pint never saw him again always flt sorry for apprentices seemed to have a hard time no shore leave very often working all hours rgards cappy

[j.sabourn]

Cappy, The bloke from Canada I may be a bit out when I last spoke to him face to face and the email may have been longer than a year ago. The year was 2009 because Gwen wanted to go up the Tower in Toronto for Dinner for her 70th. So have friends in London Ontario who went over to see, and had also been in touch with this bloke ex Runcimans App. May have even been through this site. He lived in Tynemouth with his Aunt and wont say his name as may not want anyone to know. Anyhow he worked for Manchester Liners for a very short time and reckon the old man sacked him 3 times coming down the seaway and reinstated him the same number when he realized he would have to stay on the Bridge. I did have a photo of a Canadian Destroyer visiting the Tyne a number of years ago which he sent but have changed computers 3 times since then and cant find. He was the commanding officer on her then. Must have done something for him coming back to his roots in such a manner. We had dinner with him a couple of times whilst in Canada and of course did splice the mainbrace. The friends we stayed with his father had a bakery in S Shields years ago and his surname was Crowe, believe he may just have sold recently as his father left it to him donks ago. You get these geordies everywhere hinny. Cheers John Sabourn

[John Albert Evans]

I have read the above replies with interest and it got me thinking and trying to remember.without result.... I am sure someone here will be able to answer my question.
I joined in 1957 aged 16 as a cabin boy, eventually went into different departments on the catering side and ended up with my cooks certificate.
Others the same age went into the deck department starting as a deck boy and working their way to obtaining an ABs certificate and even like some others on here went onto to be Masters.(Congratulations to them, a fantastic achievement)
My question is, I cannot seem to remember any boy ratings going into the engine room and becoming firemen/stokers etc. When the replies come in it might trigger my brain into action.

John Albert Evans.

[cappy]

hello john will ask about crowea bakery inshields ......went on that Toronto tower a few years ago with some friends ...height never bothered me ... but didn't like standing on that glass plate.....can inmagine trying to get down stairs in the twin towers from that hight what a frightener ......big frost here today ...will be watching the cenotaph in the next hour or so .......suppose the merchant navy will be at the back behind the bus drivers ....and some apprentice or should I say cadet marching out of step nothing changes much

[Jim Brady]

George ,there was (still is)Engineering Apprentices.I remember a couple used to come to our house with my son who was a deck apprentice.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

I never sailed with any boy ratings in E.R. so cannot really answer your question. Brian Kong if still has federation book with rates of pay etc. would be able to answer, for if there is a boy rating for such will be in there. Cheers John Sabourn

[cappy]

firemen in shields had to be a certain age ...at the firemans school they learnt a bit about boilers but even in the 60s were still having to throw coal threwa barrll suspended from the deckhead,,,,,,me mate did this and his fisrt job was on one of the queens ....he sat on deck outside the funnel on his watch and had to ring the engineroom and report black smoke.....it was his only trip on big ships he said he was happy to sit on his chair...that many hoofs about one trip and back to shields on a coal burner collier there were all sorts of tiles fireman...graser water tender then they got more technical names like engine room mecchs and other things