Scotland's Navy

[Red Lead Ted]

#115... Terry you did well to get 80 pounds a shift. The year that you mention some British seafarers in the so called high earning sector of the North Sea were on 23 pounds a day. Some of the cheaper outfits believe it or not were on 18 pounds a day. The oil Companies and such when they come out with their various statements are as bad as politicians. The 18 pound a day companies gave 3 days paid leave after 4 to 5 weeks, and was either back to sea or on the dole. Most had too much pride to go on the dole. A total different generation than what we have at present by the looks of it. At the time I was well off by some standards as was on 31 pounds a day and a weeks leave after 4 away. JS

John, When i went down there to London in 83, The City was booming, £80 A day was the norm but not the exception I went down with my ex Brother in law who was and still is a Carpenter Shipwright, Merseyside had nothing to offer either of us at that time. My B.I.L. Was working in a hospital fitting new fire doors in 1983 he was earning £110. a shift I have mentioned this to John Strange before John is pretty clued up on it, Through the Irish centre were all the lads would go on a Saturday morning to get there cheque cashed. Don't get me wrong mate you earned your money it was bloody hard work and the job I was doing , Bison block roofing not everyone would do. It was a dangerous job and no Elf and Safety was never seen in those days, The shopping complex I worked on in West Hampstead had 13 floors, And every day the building got higher and higher you had to have a head for heights to walk the steel beams to put in place the Bison blocks which you were hoisted up while standing on it by the site crane. Regards Terry. p.s. this pic gives you an idea of what the job was but the Blocks we worked with were 6 times the size of these Terry.

[Roger Dyer]

[QUOTE=Roger DYER;189461]John (Happy Daze),

........................Now, increasingly, we hear of unscrupulous employees who make a very healthy profit from the manipulation of others who for their labour receive minimal reward............................Roger[/QUOTE

In the second paragraph of post #119 (see above) where I referred to 'unscrupulous employees', I did , of course, mean 'employers' and do apologise for any confusion this may have caused. Although, come to think of it, during my working life I did come across a few 'unscrupulous' employees too , as I'm sure we all did.

............Roger

[happy daze john in oz]

[QUOTE=Roger DYER;189497]

John (Happy Daze),

........................Now, increasingly, we hear of unscrupulous employees who make a very healthy profit from the manipulation of others who for their labour receive minimal reward............................Roger[/QUOTE

In the second paragraph of post #119 (see above) where I referred to 'unscrupulous employees', I did , of course, mean 'employers' and do apologise for any confusion this may have caused. Although, come to think of it, during my working life I did come across a few 'unscrupulous' employees too , as I'm sure we all did.

............Roger

Roger of course i fully understand.

But consider this, the last state Labor gov commisioned a desalination plant to be constructed on the south east coast of Victoria.
A total union job, as all such constrtuctions are, but at a terrible cost to the state.
There is a river there that each year floods the surrounding region, one that is a fertile cattle region. The experts told the gov that to damm the river would end the floods and provide ample water supply for Melbourne. But no, the premier then declared the region a nationl park region so no damm could be built. So the desalination plant went ahead.
A very good friend of ours has a son who is an electrician, it took him almost two year to get a job on the plant, not what you know but who you know, he spent two years on the plant earning, with all the union 'add ons' such as living away from home allowance etc, $1,000 PER DAY, yes Roger per day. The people of Victoria will be paying additional costs on their water accounts for the next 25 years to pay for it. To date no water has come from it and under current conditions may never.
In WA they built two in less time and for less cost than the one in Victoria.
Now you may understand why we do not have time for the unions here.

[peter gratton]

Hello all

My Grandfather was born in Partick in the early 20's and he mentioned being aboard the HMT or SS Cameronia and the Regent Tiger. I am struggling to find any crew lists that could have him on. My family are saying that he made stories up but I want to prove them wrong. He mentioned to me years ago abouit being torpedoed well before the internet. Can anyone help me prove Peter Gratton was aboard one of these merchant ships and assist me in getting hold of his service medals? This is a great thing that you are all doing. I have a picture of him on the Cameronia with a chefs hat on with his arms around a couple of girls, he was a bit of a lad...hehe

Many thanks...Kevin

[Evan Lewis]

The Cameronia ,was an Anchor Line ship. Sailed regularly out of Glasgow in the Fifties. She was on the Aussie run at that time.Had a bit of a reputation . Mostly ,one Trip .or Skinning out.
The Regent Tiger ,most probably ,Regent Oil Co.
Many on here ,I'm sure could give you more detailed information.
Cheers!

[Hugh]

My Grandfather was born in Partick in the early 20's

Hello Kevin,

The best place to start is with his service records from the National Archives if they have survived. They will detail all of his ships.
Can you tell me if this date of birth fits please?

To obtain service medals will require proof of service which can only be had by obtaining his CRS 10 and then the movement cards for all of his ship.
Myself and Billy McGee are quite used to the process so help is here should you require it.

R252967 GRATTON P 29/05/1922 GLASGOW | The National Archives

Regards
Hugh