Captains of SSGothic

[Brenda Shackleton]

Sorry not to have read the post properly, Hugh ! Do you have the citations for Lloyds medal? I am interested in William Moffat, Bosun
regards
Brenda

[Keith at Tregenna]

Thanks for such an interesting thread, again somehow missed this at the time.

Regards Keith.

[j.sabourn]

Just to clarify for. Those getting mixed up. The incident I am referring to occurred 6 July 1988. The awards as such were distributed April 1991. These for Maine crew were were 7 George Medals, 2 posthumously , 4 Queens Medals for Gallantry, I was told in April 1991 . That 4 miissing ctrew members were occupied elsewhere at Lloyd’s , and was trying to find out, being a nosey parker what if anything they were doing there. The 4 I was enquiring about were the Chief and 2nd Engineer, the Mate and the Cook. Cheers JWS.

[happy daze john in oz]

Thank you Do you know any information on him I know that he was awarded the George Medal but not the ship he was on and I have a silver plated tray given to him in 1961 by the pilots of Port Philip.
I am trying to put together a story of his life. Any help most appreciated
Humphrey Palmer.

If that was Port Phillip here in Melbourne then there would be a record held by the port authority.
If you contact them they may be able to assist.

Port of Melbourne Authority
Melbourne
Victoria
Australia

That should be enough to obtain some initial contact.

[Hugh]

Sorry not to have read the post properly, Hugh ! Do you have the citations for Lloyds medal? I am interested in William Moffat, Bosun
regards
Brenda

No worries Brenda - attachment below.

Regards
Hugh

[Brenda Shackleton]

Thank you very much, Hugh.

The citation is pretty much what I have found from my Dad's notes. Such a difficult and deeply upsetting rescue.

I have the Crew List from the SS AYMERIC and 6 Lascar seamen died on board COPELAND. Another trauma for everyone on board were the Sea burials. There is a great site run by Brian Watson Benjidog Historical Research Resources|Home Page . He has photos of every panel on Tower Hill and also a complete list of all the seamen lost aboard each vessel; many with family details as well. From that I know that these Lascar men are commemorated at the Bombay and Chittagong Memorials.

Thanks again for your usual efficient help. You are a great asset to this site and to those of us who keep asking questions ! My parents called me ,' The Why Child ' ......

Regards
Brenda

[j.sabourn]

#17... Hugh tried 3 times to that email address keeps getting returned. Have just tried for the third time with a slightly different version of email address , as is a gov. Dept. if third time unlucky will leave it . Thanks anyway. Cheers JWS.

[Hugh]

Try this online form John - https://cityoflondon-self.achieveser...b6f4eb76&id=18

Also, if you have names and ship we could try and search the London Gazette.

Regards
Hugh

[j.sabourn]

Hugh have been going through old paper cut outs but the names of the 4 members and their spelling I can’t find as of yet. Their visit to Lloyd’s however would have been on the Tuesday the 12 March 1991, when I said April it was incorrect. As said were Cook, mate ch. and 2 engineers. If I saw them face to face today their names would probably appear like magic. The mate is more than likely not with us today as in 1988 he was 69 years of age and an ex trawler skipper who had served during the war on minesweepers , he must have thought he was back on one on the 6 July with the explosions and heat and the very visible deaths occurring. 167 in total. If alive today he will be 99. Think his name was Wally Mitcheson From Fleetwood. Will be across hopefully in June so if knew he was still with us would like to get in touch with. The same with the others. That would be a real piss up. I have to come back to give Cappy his 1/6 d. He reckons I owe him. I’ve opened up that email address you sent but after seeing it entailed going deep into the site may upset the computer which the wife accuses me of all the time. Regards JS.

[Howard Eastcott]

In 1958/9, aged 10, I went aboard the SS Gothic one evening in Wellington Wharves as the then captain was a friend of my Dad's. Quite how they became acquainted I have no idea as my dad was a GP in the Hutt Valley, but had served in India and Burma during the war.

I remember going to the Captain's cabin and up onto the bridge and seeing the complicated loading table in operation for correctly stowing and balancing the cargo. For the life of me I cannot remember his name but my brother might know as he had been working on the docks during his school hols.