David Jones

[David Jones]

Hello

I've just joined. It's good to find such a flourishing forum!

I've recently come across a packet of letters written by my late father Keith Jones (a former Conway cadet) in the early to mid 1920s. I learn from these that he served on the 'Sambre' (Royal Mail Steam Packet) travelling to Brazil.

In his later life he told me that he had obtained his Second Mate's Ticket.

Can anyone tell me how a Conway cadet progressed to Second Mate? Did he learn on the job, as a sort of apprentice? Did he have to sit exams? In fact he didn't remain in the Merchant Service but signed up in the expanding Royal Air Force in the late 1920s.

Any help very welcome.

David Jones

[Tony Morcom]

Welcome to the site David Thanks for stopping by to introduce yourself. It is to be hoped that you enjoy the content here which is as varied as the members.

[Ron B Manderson]

welcome to the site David.
Enjoy as we do.
Great set of members here.
Ron the batcave

[Gulliver]

Welcome Aboard David.Welcome porthole.gif
Just a bit of info about your late father Keith Jones's ship, s.s.SAMBRE.
She was laid down as the WAR SWIFT by the Government in 29/8/1919 and completed 11/19 as Yard No.406 by Short Bros,Pallion Yard,Sunderland. She was a ‘Standard B ‘ war design cargo vessel of 5,260 tons.Length 400 .3 ft.,Beam 52 .3ft. Triple expansion steam turbine engine giving 10 knots service speed.
She was purchased from the Controller,along with several other sisters by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co,London in early 1920 and renamed SAMBRE.,and would usually have operated on the South American service.
Twenty years later,at 0258 hrs on 27/7/1940 she was hit by a torpedo from U-34 and sank the next day SSW of Rockall. All 48 Crew were picked up and landed at Liverpool(.She was in convoy OB 188,laden with general cargo from Manchester to Philadelphia. )
A reasonable early picture of the Sambre below(courtesy of U-Boat net) and a Royal Mail Lines flag,courtesy of Fluttering Flags site ,owned by our member Brian Galloway.
A site to look around here. HMS CONWAY

　
Best Regards
Gulliver

SAMBRE (143770) 1919-1940.jpg ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET.gif

　

[Red Lead Ted]

Dont say what part of the world you from buddy on your profile. But with a name like your.s gotta be a welsh boy,o, Unless someone has at last found your locker????????? Welcome from Lpool m8 Terry.

[j.sabourn]

Getting his 2nd. mates certiiicate would have been the same way as anyone else David. He would have had to have proof of 4 years seatime in a deck role. Then present himself to the B.O.T. He may have got 6 months remission of sea service as a lot of the Nautical Colleges if you did a year there were entiled to 6 months remission. However in the 1920" s this may not have been in force. Cheers John Sabourn.

[j.sabourn]

Should have added to the previous post .... Seatime on a Foreign Going vessel. Regards John Sabourn