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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
Brian.
He was an Oxford Don, but never a socialist, many used the term to get into politics, when they couldn't get in the Conservative Party they joined Labour, we have them out here. The former Liberal Prime minister tried to join the labour party. These type of people are only in it for their own ends, you have quite a few back home.
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
#19. From my first time in Australia in 1953 until sometime in the 60s on British flag ships there were always desertions . Later on foreign flag ships I can’t remember any. Replacements if needed were got from approaching the custom house who kept lists of those being deported as DBS. As 2 Mate it usually fell to me as deputised by the master to go and find out who was available. Many who jumped were allowed to remain as long as they kept their nose clean. The shortest desertation I can remember was a bloke called Nelson , he jumped in Cairns and told me later he got a job cutting sugar cane. We left with a full cargo of sugar for the UK for Dagenham . Paid off went home and was on the local train going from Whitley Bay to Newcastle the day after arriving home, and whose on the train but Nelson , he had been home a couple of weeks already..Nelson was not a figure of my imagination and bore no resemblance to the original one armed one eyed one. He may of been some family relative , but even that I doubt. Cheers JS. This has gone twice and can’t get rid of one of them JS
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
#19. From my first time in Australia in 1953 until sometime in the 60s on British flag ships there were always desertions . Later on foreign flag ships I can’t remember any. Replacements if needed were got from approaching the custom house who kept lists of those being deported as DBS. As 2 Mate it usually fell to me as deputised by the master to go and find out who was available. Many who jumped were allowed to remain as long as they kept their nose clean. The shortest desertation I can remember was a bloke called Nelson , he jumped in Cairns and told me later he got a job cutting sugar cane. We left with a full cargo of sugar for the UK for Dagenham . Paid off went home and was on the local train going from Whitley Bay to Newcastle the day after arriving home, and whose on the train but Nelson , he had been home a couple of weeks already..Nelson was not a figure of my imagination and bore no resemblance to the original one armed one eyed one. He may of been some family relative , but even that I doubt. Cheers JS
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
Hi.
Yes it was Gordon Morris, I was on picket duty at the Royal docks NSU office,I was an AB, and the only member present to have a car,l was asked you become a driver for the use of the NSU, I said yes and took,Gordon to many meetings ,one that stands out was a visit to the FORD factory at Dagenham.
As I recall,we were all accused of being communist for being on strike.
I did appreciate the loss of the 56 hour week.
Alan Moore
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
Alf, one of our members now in Fiddlers Green jumped ship here in Oz way back in the late 50's.
His only experience was basically at sea.
Looking for work he went to one of the five car manufacturers we had here at the time looking for work.
As he told me, no experience but within a day was spraying new cars.
There was plenty of work here then for any one skilled or not.
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
What month did the strike start in 66 was it May.
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
May 16 th. JS
Dec. 6th. Same year I was signing on a ship in Halifax of Liberian Registry. Through choice. JS
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
Possibly of interest:
Strike 'blockades' Britain (1966)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUAOTHz0hnY
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
#21. He had enough knowledge to declare a National Emergency , which was probably more panic than anything else. Reminds me of Laurel and Hardy him and George Brown, “ Another fine mess you’ve got me into Ollie” JS
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Re: 1966 Seaman's Strike
1966 was a good year for the FA.England won the World Cup beating Germany ,was not the only game of the tournament making the headlines` of that time .I was serving on Royal Mail Lines Arlanza on the BA run we were due into London same times as the world cup 1966 games. In 1966 due to the Seamens strike we were sailing out as the world cup progressed instead we sailed in. I had tickets for a few games my Brother accepted them. The game in London July `66 England v Argentina where Rattin the Captain was sent off in the first half, was in the Argentina press as the ''el robo del siglo'' the robbery of the century . game stopped for 8 mins as Rattin wouldn 't leave the pitch eventually escorted off y police, we are bound for BA for a 10 day stay or so ,wow did we get stick from the locals upon knowing we were crew from a royal mail ship however did't stop us enjoying the bifi de lome in Lavalle