Your first job at sea

[Michael Black]

Can't recall my first job, probably helping to clear away, stowing mooring ropes or washing down. As for being Peggy I was one of two deckboys so we did week about, galley and accommodation both midships so no dashing aft balancing dinners. We had a messman so we only had to look after the P.O.s, 5 of them bosun, chippy, lamptrimmer, engineroom storekeeper and the donkeyman. I once forgot to take the butter out of the fridge and the donkeyman (who sat next to it) came into the crew mess to tell me to put it out.
Regards Michael.

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes Vernon, then later it became early morning scrub outs all over the tourist section of the ship, but still had to do a section of the dinning room, all the wingers had to do it.
But was then put on to day watch so no more scrubs for me.

[Doc Vernon]

Yes John
I know all about those daily Scrubouts mate, but the one i talked of was a one off thing, i think it was just to initiate me into the how things were going to be ! LOL

Besides the Morning Scrubs before the Meals there was the early Linin and Beer Carries , and we had to carry two crates at a time as well. Then the Portholes Cleaning (Brass) and the Silverware checked and cleaned . it was all go mate no rest , then it was a dash to the Cabin get Shower and S AND S , get all togged up for Serving Brekkie! By the time all that was done and dusted it was at last our Meal Time, and Boy did we home in!
Full English plus! The Works for me, and i always had at least three Fried Eggs that was my normal!

After that on it went , after a short Break the to the Lunches, Kids Teas and then the Dinner , what a days work we had!

Pooped after all that at least it made one Sleep like a baby!
Cheers

[cappy]

like that ...ist laugh of the day marion.......cappy

[Fouro]

I dont actually recall the first task I was given, but I do remember vividly the forst thoughts that went through my mind.
On opening the door from the engineers changing room into the top of the engine room, to be hit with a blast of hot air then stepping through and looking down at the maze of pipes running here and there and everywhere it seemed, the involuntary thought was "what the feck have I let myself in for"
This was in July in Hamburg, three weeks later I was to find out what real heat was in Puerto Miranda doing a boiler shut down.

Hi Tony,
Was this the first of your 'H' boats?.

Fouro.

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes Vernon, people laugh when you tell them we often worked a 12 hour day.
On the odd occasion such as a dinner dance it could go to 14.
Pay was not great but we enjoyed what we did and came back voyage after voyage todo it all over again.

[James Jones]

I joined my first ship Alsatia in KGV dock London as a deck apprentice in 1953. The first morning after joining, the mate sent me down with a broom and shovel onto one of the barges into which we were discharging grain to remove some sh*t from the barge hatch boards. Although it was forbidden to use the toilets on board whilst in the dock someone had usd one of the toilets on board. The mate was petrified that it would get reported and the company would be penalised.
I don't remember being phased about it I just got on with it and thought it was par for the course. I don't know that that would be the case today. Of course there are no fleets of barges drifting around the dock and indeed no docks and floating grain elevators either !

[James Domleo]

About an hour after joining my first ship at Millwall Docks as cadet I was sent down the engine room and shown how to operate the fresh water pump to top up the the tank above the accommodation.This was a twice daily job for the junior cadet.I soon became much fitter going up and down from from engine room to up top to sound the tank umpteen times a day.
Jim Domleo
R610327

[Tony Taylor]

Hi Tony,
Was this the first of your 'H' boats?.

Fouro.

yes Fouro, Harpula. First trip apprentice then three years later first trip 5/e, joined Bombay after waiting a week in the Bombay Seamans club then 2 months on the Indian coast (absolute pits), then up the Gulf, down to Singapore, Aus coast, Japan, HK, Philippines, Indonesia.

[Tony Taylor]

Yes Vernon, people laugh when you tell them we often worked a 12 hour day.
On the odd occasion such as a dinner dance it could go to 14.
Pay was not great but we enjoyed what we did and came back voyage after voyage todo it all over again.

only 12? When I recounted to some enquirers, they didn't believe me, common comment was, you been in far east / caribbean etc, where is your tan?