Trying to locate this Port from 1930's (I think)

**Zach Tidy** · 25th January 2025, 10:11 AM

I know it's a very, very long shot, but am trying to locate my Grandad's location (Harry Crowe) in this photo. Sadly I know very little of his time in the Merchant Navy, as he died in 1980 at quite a young age. But whenever he'd had a couple of drinks he'd talk very fondly about Sorrento and also the Bahamas. Unfortunately when my Nan died years later we pretty much lost everything of theirs after a mix up with a house clearance company. But this photo has always had a special place in our family and would love to know where it is as would love to go and find the spot somehow.

Port photo.JPG

Any suggestions, based on perhaps the style of bus or possibly the architecture, would be appreciated. He was born in 1913 and so would guess this photo is 1930's roughly.

**Doc Vernon** · 25th January 2025, 07:18 PM

wHERE AND WHEN WAS HE bORN PLEASE!
cHEERS

**Des Taff Jenkins** · 25th January 2025, 11:50 PM

High Zach.
Looks like he is either going or coming back from a swim with his rolled towel under his arm, so it could be the Bahamas, single deck buses and white buildings.
Des
PS
Bing a quarter master he was possibly on a liner.

**Zach Tidy** · 26th January 2025, 08:57 AM

Thanks both, he was born in Norwich I believe on 10/03/1913. Plus yes, I too spotted the towel and know from him having grown up in Cumbria and the stories that he liked a 'dip' whenever he could. I also love that he's got a ciggy too and so assuming maybe he's just got off the ship. Interesting about the Quartermaster, as I have absolutely no idea what he did. Certainly later in life he worked in the building trade, but other than that I have no idea.

**Zach Tidy** · 26th January 2025, 11:00 AM

Thanks so much, he was born in Norwich I believe on 10/03/1913.

**Ivan Cloherty** · 26th January 2025, 11:02 AM

I am guessing somewhere in South Africa, passenger doors for the buses are on the left side with a rear entrance for segragated passengers, I would plumb for Durban or Port Elizabeth as in the distance you can see sea and another shore suggesting the location is in a Bay

**Doc Vernon** · 26th January 2025, 07:23 PM

Just going off beat a bit here, looking at the gear he is wearing, is it not possible that it is rather RN, rather the MN ? I ask as i cannot find any trace of records at the NA, in the Seaman Pouches, which seems strange??

Just a thought!
Cheers

However if he was for sure MN, then possibly there may be a CRS10 Record held for him here ??

Crouch K A to Crowe W M | The National Archives

Then too there are the Records held at the Southampton Archives, which if reading could well have some ??

Our collections

<body id="cke_pastebin" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; left: -1000px;">

Merchant Navy RecordsHIDE

Southampton Archives hold a wealth of Merchant Navy and shipping records, including records of merchant naval personnel, crew lists and records of shipping lines. Sources include:

Crew lists for Southampton-registered vessels (or some other vessels which regularly sailed from the port), 1863-1913
The Central Index Register of Seamen, including over a million and a quarter record cards with details (and sometimes photographs) of those serving on board British-registered vessels 1918-1941
Records of shipping lines, including Furness Withy Shipping Line (incorporating Royal Mail Line and Prince Line); Shaw Savill & Albion service records

Records are available to view in the Archives; additionally, the Central Index Register is available via Find My Past, which is accessible for free in Southampton City Libraries. We also offer a research service to search the Central Index Register on your behalf.

</body>

**Des Taff Jenkins** · 26th January 2025, 11:50 PM

Vernon.
No name on his hat band and no badges led me to him being a Quartermaster.
Des

**Ivan Cloherty** · 27th January 2025, 09:13 AM

In my time at sea I cannot recall any MN crew member, regardless of rank or rating who ever went ashore (for leisure time) in uniform, but then again I never sailed on Liners

**j.sabourn** · 27th January 2025, 11:05 AM

#9 In 1978 to 1982 I served on a vessel hired by the Admiralty with a complement of Half RN and half MN. I never even saw a RN matelot ashore in uniform in fact when we went to the continent they were advised by their officers to go ashore in mufti to lower the chances of a terrorist attack on their person. The only time I saw them in uniform was when a visit by the high brass to give out good conduct medals and the likes. Naval discipline was there but not to the extent that most think. It was not three bags full sir and all the bits that go with it. JS
Mind a lot onboard apart from regular crew were were Special Forces from different Commonwealth countries, and American forces , with a smattering of SBS ( special boat service) JS

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