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I forgot about my late brother Bobby,he was in the M.N.1957-60, sailed in the Cunard,he was Tommy Steel's double he even sailed with him one of the Cunard ship's.My dad in M.N.1914-52.Dis A issued.927737.Myself1955-61 Dis.R634898.Brother's Bobby 1957-60.Alex.1959-2001,four of us sail in the fifty's,any one beat that.Ken.
For me a choice army navy sort of limited choice and no good at taking orders but it really dated back to when i was about 7 years old living in Weaste Salford running across the fields (well they were fields to us they had grass growing on them ) and railway tracks to get to the raft we had on the Manchester ship canal a few of us did fall on there remember the days before it was cleaned up nobody ever fell in :rolleyes:
When i told my dad what i was planning he tried to get me to apply for catering said i would be nice and warm working inside ^^ looks up to first line no good at taking orders ^^ a few years on deck sometimes hot sometimes cold good and bad weather loved working outside and glad i never took his advice , Even my first trip Glasgow to Montreal grey seas grey skies occasional icebergs but when all that was past cold foreign beer and hot foreign women i was hooked
'60-'61 things got pretty tight work wise (Fitting/Turning) in Oz and I was in southern NSW, when P&O were advertising for engineers
I guess that was about the time engineers that had dodged National Service were going, so a lot of us from the Antipodes signed on.
BI copped a lot of us and it was one of the best unplanned things I did. Did a few years with BI then some time on the Aussie coast
before getting married and then spent most of the rest of my time in road transport on fuel and LPG tankers.
I don't think I would like sea life much nowadays though.
Most of my time with BI was on the Persian Gulf to Japan run which was not hard to put up with.;)
Cheers John Robertson (Melbourne)
Hi shipmates , just a small point everyone on here has a very good reason why they were at sea, family history, war, travel, adventure,and many others but not one shipmate who just wanted a job to escape the factory or white collar work?
Hi everyone. I went to sea because my Dad wanted to make a man of me and see the world.
It wasn't what I wanted to do but I had to go. First off I went to TS Indefatigable in Anglesey at 14. This was more of an approved school really but my parents did not realise this. Only my Grandfather knew about this but no one took him seriously since he was mentally ill.
My first ship was the Canberra Star in 1969, which sailed from Glasgow bound for the Panama Canal and the West Coast of S.America.
Growing up I could never accept that the end of the world equated to the end of my road. I was due to go to the Arethusa but screwed up. Luckily somebody must have seen some redeeming feature to me and I managed to get sent to Formidable at Portishead.
First ship was the African Prince and a bit of a comedown to find I was Peggy! Wouldn't change a thing.
What wonderfully written humour,sir !:clapping2::)Quote:
Originally Posted by Wagga
Hi Lads,
Just browsing as always and saw this thread. Thank you all for a lovely half hour reading your reasons for going to Sea.
I recognize some of them as the ones My late husband Ken told me when I asked him why he went to sea.
One was not wanting to go into the Army or Airforce as lads had to in those days for 2 years. Better to see the world in the Merchant Navy.
He enjoyed his Five and a half years and then came out and met me so did not go back. We had 49 Very Happy years
together during which time he often told me of his time seeing the World. Reading these posts I see you all have happy memories as he had.
I wish you all many more happy years with your memories of being in the Merchant Navy sometimes called the Forgotten Service.
Take care all of you.
Fondest Wishes
Tiger Jean xx:thumb_ship2:
Hi Jean
Thanks for the Email.
All back to nornal now!
PS Irene did not go with me it was a sort of quick MN Meet and a few other things i had to do!
Take care
We are both very well!
Thanks for this Post too!
Vernon xxxx
Welcome home Vernon, hope you enjoyed your trip.
Cheers
Brian.