Re: Sea Training school Gravesend
Reply to Robert #38
"Shows in London?" The only shows I saw in Gravesend (apply named) were scousers or Geordies thumping on someone or each other in the toilets. Next you are going to tell me there was doors and seats on the toilets and printed menus and soft music in the mess hall.
When I went it was bloody miserable. Newbies had the shock of their lives at the food, fixed by three females (not ladies). Cabbage water for soup. Newbies pushed the food away in disgust and the rest of the table damn near fought over the leavings. Guess what? next week we joined in for the newbies leavings and so it went I guess until they built a Hilton hotel in for your class. (Just teasing).
I was in catering. On my 8th week I was picked to be the officer's steward. I had the Chief Instructor and the other instructors/officers to be their slave. My first day of duty which started at 5am, was to wake them up with tea and bickies, then clean the quarters and serve and clean up breakfast, then a break (sitting in a small room with no door in the quad, in December, very homey...not). When the buzzer went I had to run to the officers' quarters to do such things as empty the ashtray. Or to put a new toilet roll, ready to roll, in the toilet. These bastards took delight in messing with a sixteen-year-old boys mind. My day ended at 9pm,
The next and last week was lifeboat skills and dreaded by all catering boys as we were told if you didn't pass the finals you had to do the week over. Of course, nobody ever failed but all worried anyway.
Except...The heads of shipping companies were visiting for an inspection the next Monday and staying for lunch. So the graduating mess steward, me, along with the captain's tiger had to stay over for another bloody week. 14 days of slavery.
Of course, the big shots had to have a top menu for lunch and the three witches fresh out of Macbeth, cleverly disguised as cooks were to dish up to we two waiters.
Amongst the attending was the head of Port Line and I had a letter introducing me to the company and a letter from them guaranteeing employment as a catering boy.
Now just as I was about to take a plate from a witch, the chief officer said to the Port Line big shot. "Young Mills here is joining Port Line next week. I with my hand out for a plate forgetting my napkin, smiled inanely, as Port Line mumbled something to me and the witch placed a red-hot plate in my napkin less hand. I dare not drop it as it cooked my hand. I looked at the witch and she bloody well smirked at me.
I had blisters for a week on my fingers and thumb.
The front gate out was always left open just with a deckie on guard at parade rest. Our introduction speech was that any time we wanted we could go home to mother, the gate out is always open, what wasn't said was we could wait at home until we were eighteen and meat for the army as conscription was in effect.
I do not remember my weeks at Gravesend with fondness. It was a pleasant surprise at life aboard my first ship the Port Jackson and all the ice cream I could eat, hard work yes, long hours yes, but good mates, lots of laughs, wonderful places to visit, found my love of reading which has never left me and just writing this post, brings back a thousand memories and potential posts.
Cheers, Rodney.
Rodney David Richard Mills
R602188 Gravesend
