Shipping Federation Office, Dock Street

Thanks Brian and everyone who have contributed so far, even the non-related conversations I have found interesting!!

My father (Bill Champion) trained at Gravesend Sea School during July to September 1946, and served in the Merchant Navy from 30 September 1946 through to 9 November 1955.

He sailed on the following ships:

S.S. Hazelbank, Sep 46 to Feb 47, Galley Boy
M.V. Oakmore, Nov 47 to Mar 48, Pantry Boy
S.S. Corabank, May 48 to May 49, Galley Boy
M.V. Crosbian, Aug 49 to Sep 49, Assistant Steward
Samaria, Oct 49 to Dec 49, Waiter
S.S. Churruca, Jan 50 to May 50, Assistant Steward
M.V. Grebe, May 50 to Aug 50, Assistant Steward
S.S. Leo, Sep 50 to Dec 50, Assistant Steward
S.S. Woodwren, Jan 51 to May 51, Assistant Steward/Cook Steward
M.V. Drake, Jul 51 to Oct 51, Cook Steward
S.S. Rinaldo, Nov 51, Assistant Cook
M.V. Purbeck, Nov 51 to Dec 51, Ships Cook
S.S. Freecrest, Jan 52 to Feb 52, Assistant Cook
M.V. Moreton Gorbet, Mar 52 to Jul 52, Cook Steward
Tavistock renamed Southwick, Apr 52 to Nov 52, Chief Steward
S.S. Yorkbrook, Dec 52 to Jan 53, Chief Steward
S.S. Lord Gladstone, Feb 53 to Aug 53, Chief Steward
M.V. Goldfinch, Dec 53 to Jan 54, Cook Steward
Rhone, Feb 54, Nov-Dec 54 & Aug-Nov 55, Cook Steward
S.S. Lloyd Crest, Feb 54 60 to Jun 54, Chief Steward
Bosworth, Aug 54 to Oct 54, Cook Steward
M.V. Ortolan, Jan 55 to Mar 55, Cook Steward
M.V. Lapwing, Mar 55, Cook Steward

Would like to hear from anyone who sailed on any of these vessels during the time my father served on board. I am compiling a book based on his memories, but would love to hear from anyone willing to share their memories and photos.

Chris

Hi CHRIS
You may be able to get the ship photos off the `OLD SHIP PHOTO` SITE.`

I am a little short of time at the moment, or I could find some for you.
I am away from tomorrow until Tuesday.
Cheers
Brian

Back to the Middle east for your Holidays Brian.... Cheers John S

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------

#11.... Chris judging by most dates given for the various ships, seem quite short. Especially re the Hazelbank and the Corabank which I assume were Bankboats and was rare for them to do short voyages. Maybe a lot of the ships he was on were relieving on the coast. You obviously have his Disharge Book so as to have found the dates. In the voyage section are they marked as FG or HT. The ones where there is about 4 to 6 months look about right for a round voyage that is UK to UK. Cheers John S

Hi Brian,

Not to worry I have all the ship pictures, thanks.

However, for anyone reading this thread I am interested in pictures or information relating to crew, places visited, ports, ship's cargo etc for the following ships:

Hazelbank - London, Antwerp, Hampton Roads USA, Tampa, Panama Canal, Australian Ports, Pacific Islands visited (especially Fiji where the crew played a football match against the locals), New Zealand Ports, and Balboa where my father was discharged to hospital

Oakmore - London, Malta, Alexandria, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Cyprus, Liverpool. Particularly interested to hear about transportation of RM Commando's and equipment to Tel-Aviv, and Airbourne Division equipment from Tel Aviv to Limassol.

Corabank - Victoria Docks London, Trinidad, Galveston, New Orleans, Australian Ports (especially collision with Brisbane Bridge and re-placing damage mast at Newcastle, NSW), Pacific Islands, New Zealand Ports. Also very interested to hear about a cricket match between the ship's crew and Dunedin Boys High School.

MV Crosbian - approach to Porto and loading of Sandeman's Port, Leixoes, London

Churruca - London, Southern Spain, Tangiers, Gibraltar, Liverpool. Particularly interested in a religious festival which my father and some of the crew went to see in Northern Spain (possibly Bilbao or Ferrol),

Leo - London, Kiel Canal, Baltic Ports, and port where ship was frozen in for 4 days (possibly Pitea, incident occurred near Finish Border), London

Freecrest - Rotterdam, West African Ports, Birkenhead

Tavistock/Southwick - Barry, Liverpool, New Foundland, Liverpool, West Africa, London

Lord Gladestone - Antwerp, Spain, Suez Canal, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Canada, Panama Canal, Hartlepool

Lloydcrest - London, West African Ports, Victoria Docks London

Chris

Hi Chris,
It was many years ago about 50 or so, please bear with me, The "Red Ensign" club was in "Dock St", the "Pool" or "Shipping Federation" was in "Prescot Street", (it was often called "Dock Street Pool" wrongly by some) also it was not opposite the "Red Ensign Club".
Sometimes because of all the "Fly out" jobs from the Prescot Street pool Seaman often joked when leaving with their signing on dockets "I thought I joined the Merchant Navy not the bloody Air Force.
For others , NO it was not named after a MP of the same name

Hi Chris, I have a letter dated - NOV 1970, the address is as follows:


MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT,
Department of Trade and Industry
MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICE,
LONDON - DOCK STREET


Department of Trade and Industry & LONDON - DOCK STREET are a blue inked stamp.


MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, & MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICE, are both typed with a line typed through MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT


Prescott Street, mentioned above, and also Leman Street are both familiar names from that era, but I can't remember why.

Hi John,

Yes, I do have my fathers Discharge Books.

Sorry completely slipped my mind to mention voyage details. So here goes;

S.S. Hazelbank, Fgn (the dates I quoted are wrong, my father sailed Sep 1946 and was discharged Feb 1947 with acute appendicitis. After six weeks recovering in Auckland he signed back onboard at Lyttelton on the South Island in Apr 1947, only to be discharged again to an American Army Hospital in Balboa due to a leg infection resulting from an injury suffered while playing football in Fiji.

M.V. Oakmore, Sea Service
S.S. Corabank, Foreign
M.V. Crosbian, Fgn
Samaria, Fgn
S.S. Churruca, R. A.
M.V. Grebe, Fgn
S.S. Leo, R. A.
S.S. Woodwren, H. T.
M.V. Drake, Fgn
S.S. Rinaldo, Fgn
M.V. Purbeck, H. T.
S.S. Freecrest, unmarked
M.V. Moreton Gorbet, H. T.
Tavistock renamed Southwick, Fgn/Fgn R.A.
S.S. Yorkbrook, Fgn R. A.
S.S. Lord Gladstone, Fgn
M.V. Goldfinch, H. T.
Rhone, H. T.
S.S. Lloyd Crest, Fgn
Bosworth, Fgn R. A.
M.V. Ortolan, H. T.
M.V. Lapwing, R. A.

Regards

Chris

---------- Post added at 05:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:52 PM ----------

Hi Graham,

Thanks for that, when I see dad next I'll double check with him.

A large number of his discharge entries are stamped or hand written Dock Street, and his General Service Contract and BS Identity Card are stamped Dock Street.

Regards

Chris

- - - Updated - - -

I went there to join the MN back in 1960. The guy on the gate told me to be very careful with the guy doing the interviews. Unsuspecting I went in and there he was as camp as could be and me so inocent at the time. When i came out the guy on the gate aked me how I got on, I told him in no uncertain terms that I would never 'get on' with him or any others like him. Then the first ship I got was with UCL, AAghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Some bugger with a warped sense of humor no doubt.

Hi Chris & Don
you are both correct, the Board of Trade/ Merchantile Marine Office was in Dock street, it as where you were issued with a Discharge Book & Red ID card also EDH & AB certs etc.
Prescot St was where the "Pool" or "Shipping Federation" was based.

#1... Thanks Chris. Assume you understand the meaning of letters after voyage. F.G. Foreign Going. ( 2 years articles, were only entitled to discharge on return to UK or any port between the Elbe and Brest on the continent) H.T. Home Trade. RA Running agreement usually 12 months agreement which could be broken by 72 hours notice being given by either party on return to a UK port. Saved opening and closing Articles on short sea trades. Cheers John S