Winchester Castle Trivia

[Patrick McEnaney]

I was on the Warwick Castle during the 1950's which sailed out of KGV docks London to south and east Africa via Suez.I noticed that in the crew quarters the bulkheads did not reach to the deck head and when I asked about this I was told that the Warwick Castle was converted into an aircraft carrier in WW2.
Maybe someone could verify this?

I went to the U.C.L. catering school too,I think it was in the docks office because when I was training to serve tourist class I served the office staff,then I was trained to serve 1st class.
There was a separate dining room for that & I served the managers & directors.A certain Mr Inkpen was one of them if I recall correctly.I do remember once serving him Custard on his fish and Hollandaise sauce on his pudding.I didn't notice it until after the meal when we were clearing up.He never said anything & I passed at the end of the training.
One of the cooks training was Brian Eastwood,I went to Raglan School,Bush Hill Park, Enfield, Middx. with him,I know he went on to one of the U.C.L. ships,I think it was The Dunotter Castle I guess this was around 1956.

Cheers.
Patrick McEnaney.

[happy daze john in oz]

G'day Patrick, yes you are right one of the Castle boats was converted to use as an aircraft carrier during W.W. 2 but noot sure which one. Later ships such as the Windsor and Transvaal were, so I was informed, built in such a way that they could be converted to use as aircraft carriers should the need arise.
You mentioned a Brian Eastwood could be the same one who was cold larder chef on the Windsor in early 60's.

[Doc Vernon]

The Pretoria Castle was built in 1939 and saw war service as both an armed merchant cruiser and an auxiliary aircraft carrier.
She reverted to being a passenger ship after the war, now renamed Warwick Castle (17, 387 grt, 594 ft. long).
For another 15 years she sailed on the around Africa service until being scrapped.
Cheers

http://www.allatsea.co.za/unioncastl...riacarrier.htm

With thanks to the AAS Site

And this was the first Warwick Castle See Link
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2427.html

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Sh...IA_CASTLE.html

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chr...a%20Castle.htm

[john jack]

hey im john jack ex able seaman just like to say i sailed on winchester castle in 1960 to japan via suez canal bunkerd at aden en route for mirara remember it so well would be nice if the was anyone still around cheers john jack able seaman

[Doc Vernon]

Hi John Jack
This is a new one to me,i say this as i never heard of the winchester castle going through the Suez ,it was as far as i know always just passenger Ship going from Southampton to Durban and reverse!
I am wondering if there was another winchester castle that didnt belong to the UCL!?? Or was this a special trip laid on by the UCL in 1960??
Cheers

PS Just a question above as i am a wee bit confused! Ex UCL Steward!

Added
Just noted that there was another Winchester Castle belonging to Clan Line (Cargo Ship) so that explains!Originally Clan Ramsay Cheers
800px-StateLibQld_1_129329_Clan_Ramsay_(ship).jpg

[Keith Tindell]

Hi, i was on the Stirling castle, and remember reading somewhere that she also was designed so she could be converted to an aircraft carrier, but sure as hell, cannot remember where i read it, KT

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Keith
The Stirling Castle was converted to a Troop Carrier like some of the others as well!
The only one that i know of that was converted to an Aircraft Carrier was the Pretoria later back as Warwick Castle ,which much later on was also one of the Ships i served on,not during the War LOL!
Union Castle at War - An article from "Seafari" the Union Castle Line on board magazine

SHIPS NAMED AFTER CASTLES

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Sh...IA_CASTLE.html

[Lou Barron]

During the war i sailed in a few troop convoys with alot of Union Castle ships here are some Athlone ,Stirling ,Arundel ,Winchester plus a couple more i did have the privilegeto have sailed in one of the oldest ship of this famous line the Gloucester Castle she had the nickname Goslow Castle and she sure was

[vic mcclymont]

I sailed on the VAAL and it was common knowledge that if required she could be converted to an aircraft carrier.

[Chris Isaac]

I sailed on the VAAL and it was common knowledge that if required she could be converted to an aircraft carrier.

What do you mean by "common knowledge", first I have heard of it.
Why would it be required when in the early 60s the RN had plenty of aircraft carriers.