Red duster

[j.sabourn]

#10 Noel I spent 4 years with a Naval Party. On the swing I was on and also the other crew don’t think there were any naval reservists in the MN half of the crew , but the other half were serving RN officers and crew. We flew the blue Ensign by special permission and design of the Admiralty. It wasn’t the RMAS flag which was I believe an anchor on its side, but something else on its fly, just cant remember but may have been a Bruce Anchor which would have been more appropriate. For those who don’t know RMAS =Royal Maritime Auxillary Service , Naval Party’s are something different. Cheers JS
The ship itself was civilian and the MN crew came under that discipiline , the naval crew came under their own discipline through their Own naval officers. However for comparison it was like having the Charterers on board 24 hours a day. JS.
One might also compare a Naval Party back to the times of Nelson, where most ships of the line had their own Sailing master and Merchant Seamen grabbed ashore coming out of the pub by a press gang to work the ship ??? !!! Best job I ever had, pity about the money. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
I was only on one blue ensign job a RFA Wave boat, but I was pressed ganged into a few rust buckets having joined the pool in Swansea;
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Des, press ganged, did you get your shilling from the crown?????

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Better than that 30 quid a month,and all the salt water you could swallow across the North Atlantic at no extra charge. whaow.
Des

[pete wright]

I was that peggy Tony! i got demoted by the captain for being naughty and taken off watches and made crews peggy, didn't mind that at all it meant i got a good nights sleep, on the down side i did get a DR when paying off. Happy daze Tony.

[Doc Vernon]

well my late brother was laid to rest with the red duster over his coffin with four grandsons carrying him?be back soon sorting things out?jp

Well got mine all ready JP. Have had t for quite a long time now! Also also have the RAF Flag, so will have two draped over me ! Keep me warm ! LOL

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John'
Sad times mate , a poignant time for the family.
Des

[pete wright]

I remember it well i was the Peggy who gave you that red duster !

[Matthew Childs]

Sounds like you had an epic adventure on the M.V. Gloucester! Those memories really stick with you, don’t they? I love how you've kept that red duster close all these years. It’s cool that you transitioned from seafaring to trucking and still got to connect with fellow seamen. It must have been quite a ride, literally and figuratively! Cheers to countless miles and memories!

[j.sabourn]

I may be wrong about this and never really looked up, but in my memory banks information From others was that the red ensign was the predessor of the white ensign and flown by British warships of that era. Believe also that the Red Ensgn was the original,national flag of The Australian settlers before the appearances of the present day flag. Cheers JS