Blue Jeans ??

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates,Jeans were workwear in our time ,not a fashion item but time has moved on today every one wears' them? I had a jean jacket at sea, levis? with hand stichening on all the seems it looked great under disco lights, remember them? I sold it in Cardiff to a mate made another one next trip.sold that one too.

[happy daze john in oz]

Mort mate i have a selection of hats, none of whch I wear in bed.

[raymond]

jeans have gone but still have lee jacket i got in delhousie 1960 redlead and port line grey spots and all great days

[Captain Kong]

Hi Pete, talking of buying American surplus gear, I had an experience in Jacksonville, Florida.
1961 we tied up there one Saturday in July 61, on the Manchester Merchant, I was schooner rigged and the only dungarees I had were covered in red lead. I went ashore shopping on my own and arranged to meet the lads in a bar in town later.
I went into JC Penny`s Store and saw the US Army KDs. I got a shirt, still with the insignia on the arms, a pair of keks and brown shoes. all for a few dollars. I got the store to bin my gear. I felt like a million dollars, I went into the Flamingo Bar and the barmaid was a beautiful Puerto Rican girl, Maria.
We chatted all afternoon and into the evening, drinking Rum and cokes, and was feeling quite happy. Then I remembered I was to meet up with the lads in another bar and then staggered out into the night.
I stood on the corner swaying while trying to figure out where I was going when two US Navy shore patrol men in white helmets and swinging their clubs were walking towards me. Both giants of men one black and one white. One shouted ,"Come here boy". Having seen the size of these two, I legged it across the intersection, cars were blasting their horns, I was jumping over car bonnets and then I fell after tripping on the kerb.
These two were upon me like a pair of maniacs, beating me over the head with their clubs. I kept shouting, `I`m a Lymie, I`m a Lymie` they say "Yea heard that before Mac" then hit me again with a club. That put me down.
I was coming round with blood running down my face, head hurting very painfully and these two big fellows going through my pockets "Well goddam," said one "He realy is a Lymie, here is his shorepass." They had found that white immigration pass.
They got a jeep and took me to hospital and they shaved my head and inserted twelve stitches in the cuts.
and cleaned me up, sponging off the blood on my new shirt.
The two men were waiting for me, they said they were sorry for the beating, they put me in their jeep again and took me back to the Flamingo Bar and said "Stay here we are off duty in a few minutes, we will come back for you." `What for` I said, `so you can beat me up again?` `Naw just wait`, then he said to Maria, the barmaid , `Give this guy any thing he wants, on us`.
I just wanted to go back to my ship, I was in pain and worn out,just wanted to lie down.
Maria gave me a exceedingly large rum, ` This will help the pain` she said.
Half an hour later these two big fellas came back in civilian clothes, ` Come on with us, then I was in a taxi and they took me to a restaraunt, `Anything you want on the house` they said, `Have a big steak `
I had to force it down, I wasnt feeling too good, I didnt want to upset them any more, I finished the meal and then they took me back to the ship. I turned in with a pounding headache. looking like a Sikh with a turban wrapped around the head. All hands laughing at it. I was off work for a couple of days then the Chief Steward took out the stitches a week later.
I have never worn American army surplus since.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Hi Captain Kong,
Had a run in with the US Shore Patrol myself in Bermuda.
Our crew got in a bar fight with a bunch of US Navy guys.
All got tossed in the meat wagon without even checking to see who we were.
Ended up in the Brig for the night. Got sorted out next morning then escorted back to the ship in Jeeps.
Skipper was NOT impressed.
Den.
PS Was on the Manchester Merchant in 59.