M V Port Alfred - 1968

[gray_marian]

Hello Jo, Welcome to the site. Unfortunately without your father's name I doubt I personally would be of any use to you. However the chaps on here may be able to answer what rank in the Merchant Navy would hold a business card. Your mothers name at that time as suggested would help perhaps in activating the little grey cells of your father or his friends if they are members on here. Do you have the name of the ship he was on? If you do have any personal details of him but don't wish to make public then by all means send me a private message with those and I'll gladly have a wee look. Best wishes, Marian

[Jo Jackson]

Hi - the name that I have may not necessarily be my father's one - there was a business card located at mothers house with the name W. M. Campbell - Chief Engineer. He may know someone who could help. Stab in the dark I know.

[Doc Vernon]

Stab in the dark OK ?? Here is yet another Stab in the dark?
Going by your Year of Birth 1968 there is only one I can find registered with NA in Kew that possibly would fit the dates, He was Born 1943 which would be close enough to have been your possible Dad ???????? Now as said possibly only! Would have made him about 25 at that time enough time to become Chief Engineer although young not unheard of I am sure!
So there is another possibility!??
R816323 CAMPBELL W M 30/04/1943 GREENOCK
Only way now to find out anything about him is to obtain his Records from Kew!
Depends if you want to take that gamble and cost!??

[Ivan Cloherty]

Somehow I wish you had read #5 Marian, lets hope you haven't opened a can of worms for some poor man, who may or may not be trying to forget the past, I always things like this should proceed with caution until the man is found by researchers privately and the man has been contacted by a researcher to see whether or not it is prudent to proceed. I know you do untold good work and I sincerely admire your efforts and knowledge, but sometimes the desire to please needs a different path

[Jo Jackson]

The name I have is W. M Campbell - Chief Engineer.

[Doc Vernon]

See POST #13 Jo

[Jo Jackson]

Totally agree - just hoping to find any info ��

[Jo Jackson]

Sorry should have been more descriptive. The name on the business card nay well not he my birth father jut maybe can help me delve further. W. M. CAMPBELL - Chief Engineer - M. V. Port Alfred.

- - - Updated - - -

I most certainly do not wish to cause any distress to anyone. My mother's name Beverly
C Joyce Harrington - I believe she used her middle name. I know that I may have left this too long but would be most appreciative of any help. Whomever my father is most probably doesn't know I exist.

[gray_marian]

Somehow I wish you had read #5 Marian,. I know you do untold good work and I sincerely admire your efforts and knowledge, but sometimes the desire to please needs a different path

I did read it Ivan and as before [previous quests] did not agree, this time, on two points.... One, what Jo does is of no consequence to a search I certainly don't ask anyone else to provide this info and two if any man fathers a child regardless how many years ago or present day he has a moral responsibility to acknowledge that fact for the childs benefit. I am aware that may irritate yourself and quite a few others on site Ivan but my loyalty as I've said to you before is always with the child. I did also offer Jo to send me a pm with his details if preferred as I do others in similar circumstances and I have never disclosed any private details of a living father on site......''the desire to please'' is patronising in the extreme. I was very kindly advised by several of the chaps on here when I joined and I'm simply returning the goodwill. I haven't even started looking yet and even although Doc and others are helping too I'm being taken to task!!

- - - Updated - - -

18, No worries Jo. Just going to have a wee look now.

[Doc Vernon]

Funny thing Marian you beat me to it but I was honestly going to say this part too
if any man fathers a child regardless how many years ago or present day he has a moral responsibility to acknowledge that fact for the childs benefit.
This case reminds me of my long lost Daughter whom I found as many here know after some 40 odd Years,and what a Reunion it was! Its so uplifting and hard to describe ones feelings!

No agro about your post though Ivan as I can understand your point as well!
Cheers