By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum
-
23rd May 2022, 08:22 PM
#1
Hell Below Zero
Channel 5, movie about whaling ships, model in the office was of a Hector Whaling, whales catches.
Vic
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
24th May 2022, 06:52 PM
#2
Re: Hell Below Zero
Hi Vic. Missed that one. When I was Fifteen I wanted to go whaling and the Hector Whaling Co. was advertising for crews. Mother said no, so served an apprenticeship in engineering.
On the NLS web site there some footage on whaling, most you have to go to Edinburgh but one on line. From 1947 no sound but worth watching.
https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/3537
Bill.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
24th May 2022, 08:10 PM
#3
Re: Hell Below Zero
Hector Whaling became part of British & Commonwealth.
After the initial opening scenes, the film moves to offices where Hector trawler is shown.
Different trawlers were used in the film.
Vic
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
24th May 2022, 09:13 PM
#4
Re: Hell Below Zero
Just before i joined the Merchant Navy, i had an offer to go on the Whaling Ship Willem Barendsz in Cape Town, she was at that time a Regular there!
But for the lack of me having a Valid Passport and Police Clearance at the time, and it would have taken a few days to get i missed that opportunity. Mind you now that i think back, i wonder just how i would have gone with all those Big and Hardy Guys aboard! LOL
Yet as things had it, not too long after i managed to get a spot on the Dunnottar Castle out of Cape Town, and believe it or not got my Travel Docs, etc all fixed up in a day! I was so determined not to loose another chance!
Cheers
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
25th May 2022, 01:18 AM
#5
Re: Hell Below Zero
Well you will have been at home with the numbers on board Vernon similar to a passenger vessel although they were all workers , I assume the Willem Berendsz was a factory ship similar to the Southern Harvester and Southern Venturer . There could be at least 1000 crew on board at one time if my memory is correct , Butchers Bakers and Candlestick makers one might say , not to mention the flensers and other assorted trades. A Captain McGoughlin wrote a book about these vessels whilst he was doing time as mate on a vessel I was an apprentice on in 1955. He had previously been the working mate on the Harvester and then master on one of their transport ships running to South Georgia where he threw one of the office staff of his bridge so the story went , so a change of company’s was in order. He decided to write a book and me being the educated person that I’m not he decided I had to proof read for him , his handwriting and spelling was atrocious and I wouldnt recommend to anyone . Anyhow the book was printed and called the Deep South if I remember correctly , it was too expensive for me to buy , so have to rely Memories are made of this , however if you wanted to know the life of a whalerman circa 1955 it was the book to have . Cheers JS
PS It was a non fiction book and dealt in facts and figures , and proved once again that the truth can be stranger than fiction. JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; 25th May 2022 at 01:26 AM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules