Bloods

[Albert Bishop]

It has probably come up before, but does anyone know why passengers were called "Bloods", Cheers, Albi.

[Doc Vernon]

Dont know if i am correct,but i recollect the Term (Bloods) coming from the fact that because they took it all out of us (Blood Sweat and Tears) especially on those really hot and humid days,this sort of stuck!
But there could well be more explanations!
Cheers

Just seen something else on site which states that the Passengers were called "Bloods" by Officers and Crew alike because they were a "Bloody Nuisance"

From Google Books!
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=...bloods&f=false

[happy daze john in oz]

Remember reading something about this years ago, it goes back to the times when people with money could afford to travel by sea in comfort, others went steerage or worse. People of the gentry who had this money were often refered to ashore as being people of blood, meaning they were of wealthy stock.

[Neil Morton]

Hi fellas, it could also mean that getting a tip out of them was getting" blood out of a stone"

[John Wallace]

Yes I could go along with that I had a family of four,for four weeks looked after them like family and at the end of the trip,the husband came up to me and gave me one and six pennce,so I told him to keep it and buy the children an ice cream, a short time after he came back and said sorry and gave me five pound.

[Doc Vernon]

I know this has been done before,and i am stull amazed at the various replies (not here particularly) but on the subject of Tips!
I must have been very fortunate or good to my Bloods (well mainly Souties haha!) as i cannot recall a trip that i didnt get good Tips after a Trip!
Even the ones that were only going along the Coast of South Africa.
I was always in front with my tips from the Bloods and came out with more than my wages on all occasions!
Every Passenger (well Family) and the Single ones too,always handed me an Envelope with a good reward!
Made on average for a one way trip from Southampton to Durban about 40 to 50 Quid and thats no bull!
Back in Southampton,always was very flush,dressed to the tee and that on top of sending cash back to my Mum each trip!
So there it is Guys! Not too bad at all!
Cheers

Remember we most of the time had 2 sittings of Fourteen Bloods!

The couple of Round Africa trips were even better!

[happy daze john in oz]

Vernon mate two sittings of ten for a Tikie each was about the going rate basck in the early 60's on UCL. Best I can ever recall wasa about ten bob with a following wind.