The Pool

[gray_marian]

#80, No need whatsoever to apologise John. Certainly did not mean to relay that experience but reading JA's post #71 brought it back...........As you can tell no lasting damage

[happy daze john in oz]

Before going to sea, even before realy considereing it, I was taken by my mothers cousin for a tour of KGV. he had been at sea for many years and spent many more as bosun on the Woolwich ferry. He said to me, you will see many women who are not really women, be very wary of them.
When I first fronted the pool in London the guy on the gate siad to me, as a new one be careful of the officer on duty on the desk today.
When I went in for the interview I knew why, the warning by the cousin came to mind when I saw him. This gut was as camp as a row of tents asking why such a good looking lad as I wanted to go to sea? The interview lasted about 10 minutes and on the way out the gate guy asked me how I got on with the officer?
Cannot recall all the medicals but the one at the Vindi was held in a freezing cold room with 20 of of us in just our underpants waithing to see the doc. One after one recieved an injection, no such thing as a new needle for each, by the time it came to my turn the bloody thing was blunt and I ended up with agreat big bruise on my arm. Such was life way back then.

[john walker]

The pool employees who gave out jobs would always emphasise any good points about a ship (whether true or not) Does any body have any good excuses they gave for NOT wanting to join a ship? The following are two that I have heard of in the past. The pool guy is trying to talk a young E.D.H. into joining a Survey ship that is about to embark on an extended tour of the South Atlantic and the Antarctic. He has been describing the delights of the solitude and beauty of the southern lights and how those very short days and very long nights are good for your health, and the benefits of how you can save money without the usual distractions of runs ashore to bars of ill-repute when the E.D.H. decides he has heard enough and replies ' F**k that what do you think I am a bloody penguin'.
A young Seaman turns up at Prescott Street with an electric guitar, a state of the art radio and a bloody great big stereo system and a small holdall with a change of clothes. Ready for the usual fly out jobs you get from that pool. He has turned down jobs on a general cargo ship on the West coast of South America and a Tanker in Singapore. The reason given is that he does not know if the ships have a/c or d/c power systems.

[Red Lead Ted]

John, I remember paying off the Eucadia 1972 after a 12 month voyage, Long story but we were caught up in the India/ Pakistan war, We had cargos for both countries so were back and forth to Aden to discharge one then back to load the other to prevent us being compounded by either country, Cut a long story short we were alongside in Karachi xmas 1971. Ships agent came aboard and we were ordered to slip our moorings that evening as soon as the dockers stopped work and drop our hook until further orders a few miles off the coast. That evening a bloody big ex Royal Navy cruiser trawled the coastline absolutely hammered the port of Karachi. A stray missile from an Indian gun boat blew the British ship M.V. Harmattan Harrisons of London to bits. Lives lost along with other countrys Merchant ships over the course of the month of December. The Harmattan was towed along side us on 26th December. Total write off the surviving ships crew were put ashore and flown home. A few years ago I posted the story on another forum only for the ship owners son to post the tale when he was in the office on the morning of the 9th of December and received the news they had lost one of there ships and how sick they were that the crew had been put through this terrible ordeal but assured me after asking what the company had done for those who lost there lives and the survivors who never returned to the sea that the whole insurance from the ships hull a cargo of fertilizer was split amongst the surviving crew and those loved ones who lost family. I got this checked out by a member of this site who new a survivor, Only to be told when they were taken off the wreck they were each given £100 each and a plane ticket home. I sent this lad some very strong worded emails because he wouldn't reply to any more posts. After my 30 odd days leave I reported back to the pool, Neither the N.U.S./ Any of the pool agent staff/ Or anyone else could tell me any information on the tragic event. Its something I think about for maybe just a moment every day of my life what became of those poor soles who went through that ordeal. I have over the years managed to contact survivors through forums like this. Sadly Robin Marsh the ships radio operator who forwarded the whole story and excuses from the Indian Government of the day passed away 2 years ago. But as you say Ship owners/ N.U.S./ And the shipping federation/ It was just another day in the office. Who said life at sea was a walk in the park. Regards Terry. p.s. This is the only surviving picture taken on an old polaroid camera taken by one of her crew as they were put ashore.

Well lads as I said, My quest for any information regarding this incident will be with me until I meet my maker. Just found this on You tube never new it existed. As I said in my original post we were told by the ships agent to slip our moorings while alongside in the port of Karachi, Its all coming together know that must have been on the night of the 8th December 1971, If you Listen carefully Operation Python into the video 8th December, You wont hear the Harmattan mentioned along with another 3 Merchant ships U.S. How can you glorify war in this way is beyond me they became affectionately known by the Indian Navy as the killers. Still I am glad I found it Regards Lads, Terry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZcEf6-7Uw0 p.s. the pic was the last known taken by a crew member 09/12/1971 SALVAGE TUGS ALONGSIDE.

[Red Lead Ted]

Rod, As I said this incident will never leave me and its something I give a moments thought to every day of my life, Its not the most traumatic experience I had dealt in my pack of cards. Its just that at this time of year when you log onto forums like this you tend to let your mind wander back over the years of Christmases gone by. This one I will never forget. If by any chance any more survivors read this post please get in touch Regards Terry.

[Lesley Mason]

I'm working from my late father's notes & he doesn't mention anything about a limited number of knock-backs, but he does say that the Pool paid a retainer in addition to the usual unemployment benefit, so it would make sense that they limited how many times you could say no.

[j.sabourn]

Thinking back all those years ago Lesley and to what I heard , think you were allowed 2 knock backs and had to accept the third , but a lot can change in the 70 year interval . JS.

[Brenda Shackleton]

Hello
I've re-read these posts from 2014 ~ 10 years ago ! How can that be?
It was good to read the wisdom of friends long gone; but not forgotten. Jim, Terry, Lou were the ones that I had the privilege to correspond with and to meet
May they rest in peace
Brenda

[Mo Docherty]

Just give guys behind desk baccy and you could ship out anytime

[Kenneth Kenny]

Hello Brenda, I was at Jimmy, Funeral, Yourself Brenda,Terry,John,Church was Full.Four of us had chat.You drop Terry off.John gave me a Lift to the Bootle Strand.Did not Know that Terrry R.I.P. passed away, until Six Months ago.He was great Bloke.Worked with his Dad on the Docks.All the best Brenda.R634898.