China sea salvage tug

[John Arton]

This popped up my internet feed. Interesting story about a Liverpool man who became well known in salvage circles in and around Hong Kong.
Rgds
J.A.
https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-b...ain-tug-times/

[Lewis McColl]

Thanks John well worth a read that article.

[John Arton]

Lewis
The guys story of how he ended up in the salvage tug industry is very similar to my father's.
In 1941 he left Blue Star line and signed up to the RNVR and was immediately assigned to the Deep Sea Rescue tugs as the navy reckoned that all MN guys would know about towing as they always used tugs when berthing or sailing. He was captain on those rescue tugs throughout WW2 initially in campbelltown and later Milford haven, carrying out convoy duties and salvage in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian oceans and was also part of the PLUTO operations.
After the war he joined overseas towing in Falmouth and then Blands in Gibraltar where we lived for a couple of years, my younger brother was actually born there.
After leaving Gibraltar we returned to the U.K and he rejoined BLue Star. He died as master of the Australia Star departing Durban and was buried at sea. I was only 10 at the time so never got to spend much time with him not to talk with him about his service on the rescue tugs.
Rgds
J.A.

[Lewis McColl]

Sorry John I meant to tick thanks for that post. Losing your Dad at age 10 had to be tough.
My Dad was on a Salvage tug during the war, the Salvage Chieftain. He was down below as 4th Eng, I know he did not stay on her as he ended up on the Russian convoys. He never talked about the war, but he also did not have a lot of time for our next door neighbour either. Apparently this was because mr Fleming was RN but also he was HM submarines. They were even in the same Masonic lodge later in life but they always remained distant. It was not until my Dad died that my Grandad told me my father had been been sunk in the Atlantic during a convoy crossing from Halifax. I have Dads medals here at home and he has the Atlantic star and also a ribbon with 2 small stars pinned to the ribbons. Someone told me those stars represent the number of Atlantic crossings made during the battle of the Atlantic?

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks John and Lewis.

A different breed of men.

Keith.