Winchester Castle grounding February 1936

[Errol Chandler]

The Union Castle vessel WINCHESTER CASTLE ran aground at Portland on 16th February 1936.

I have read the board of Inquiry report. The Capt. John Holman Kerbey was held to be responsible.

The 1st Office was a witness. He is identified as "Mr. Chandler". (No name or initials to be found in the report). He was not on duty at the time of the grounding.

Can anyone give me information or a lead to finding out the full name of 1st Office CHANDLER ?

I ask because I am researching my fathers history and know that he was a deck officer with Union Castle and at one time served on Winchester Castle.
I was under the impression that he had left the sea in 1935, so finding the same surname on that vessel in 1936 makes me wonder if he did indeed leave the sea in 1935.

Of course it would be fantastic to find someone among you that knew the vessel the and possibly knew Captain Kerbey and First Office Chandler.
The court also recorded that they found the wireless office, Mr, Haslam, did not render full assistance to the Captain prior to the grounding.

Gentlemen, I require your help!

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Errol
Welcome to the site and i hope that you may get that First name from somewhere!
I have read that repot as well,and yes only the Surname is mentioned,i wonder why that is!?
Anyway as said hope something comes up.
Cheers

Very interesting reading all the same!

Union-Castle Line - A Staff Register.

Evne in the UCL Staff Register there is only a Surname !

[happy daze john in oz]

There was a cheif officer with UCL, on the Windsor 61 onwards by the name of Chandler or Charnley, cannot recall exactly. Later became skipper with the company. Last i heard he had retired to Durban and died a few years ago.

[robpage]

Pretty sure that was Charnley

[happy daze john in oz]

Pretty sure that was Charnley

On reflection I think you may be correct Rob.

[robpage]

John I cannot find teh thread but did you not put a story up about Chuckles Charnley and an incident over an Engineer with a Bush Baby . I also think someone else put up a Thread about him . I think he went on to be master of the Windsor and possibly the last Fleet Commadore wioth UCL , I sailed with him on the Pendennis , and Chuckles was not meant as a compliment , think his name was Harold , but that is a hazey memory . I think he was a bit of a stickler for observing company rules , even the petty ones .

[Errol Chandler]

There was a cheif officer with UCL, on the Windsor 61 onwards by the name of Chandler or Charnley, cannot recall exactly. Later became skipper with the company. Last i heard he had retired to Durban and died a few years ago.

Could not be the same man, the Chandler I am interested in died in Port Elizabeth on 30 November 1957.

[robpage]

Well I would start my search at Kew doing some research there was a Clement Chandler with UCL and if he is the one you are looking fopr then go to

Merchant navy seamen 1835 - 1941 | Findmypast.co.uk I think you can get the same details at teh Kew site , but have used Find my Past before , These are all pay per view or sucbscription sites .

In doing a general search I spotted this one Merchant Navy Association Guestbook

And that will take you to the C Chandlers with similar Birthdates , there may be a list of the ships he was on there , If that is not the man , then go into the Kew Site and enter the details you have


the book was written by E.F. Knight "The Union-Castle and the War, 1914-1919 "

319 June 15 2010 at 14:47:17
Full Name: Robin
Chandler
Email: rundog@tiscali.co.uk
Home Town?: Clevedon, North
Somerset
Message Text: My late father CLEMENT LESLIE CHANDLER (1896 -
1957)told us kids stories of his time with Union Castle in 1914/1918 war. A book
"The Union Castle Company and the War" has gone missing. It was published by the
company and given to all staff.
My father was a Cadet (deck), a teenager at
the time. Two of his ships were sunk under him, but I do not know their names.
He survived many days in lifeboats, in Irish Sea and North Sea (I think). It's a
long shot, but does anyone remember CLEMENT LESLIE CHANDLER? If so, would be
grateful for email contact. Thank you. I was too young and frivolous to
appreciate him before his untimely death.

[Errol Chandler]

Well I would start my search at Kew .

Thank you for that.
I have tried to trace the book you mention, but cannot find it.
Any idea when it was published?
The Clement Chandler that you know was with UCL. Any idea when, or other detail?

[robpage]

Try thye E-Mail address given on the message the guy there may have details , or try Kew Records office , some guys here have access on subscription to some of the find my past stuff , I dont , otherwise it is pay for the credits there and take a plunge