Harry Tait (Chief Engineer)

[Keith Tait]

Hello,
I am new to this sort of thing so I hope I am not breaking any rules. I have been researching family history and trying to build a profile on my late Grandfathers career, he was chief engineer on merchant ships (his early career unknown but believed to be at sea) from the early 1930's up until an accident on the Pennyworth (owned by RS Dalgliesh) on 12th August 1965, I understand there was an engine room explosion off Newfoundland in which he was badly burnt along with about 6 other crew members (information from newspaper 13/8/1965) can anyone recall being on the Pennyworth who can maybe throw some light on what went so badly wrong, the newspaper report named crew members who were in their early 20's so I live in hope somebody will remember the incident.
If anyone can recall my Grandfather on the Pennyworth or indeed any other ship I would love to hear from you.
Keith

[Tony Morcom]

Hello and welcome to our site Keith. Thanks for stopping by to introduce yourself and tell your Grandfather's story. Hopefully you will find someone on here who either knows of him or better still sailed with him. In the meantime enjoy the site and its content which you will find is as varied as the membership.

[Keith at Tregenna]

PLEASE FOLLOW ALL AND MORE AT PENNYWORTH THREAD: LINK: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/m...ennyworth.html

K.

[j.sabourn]

An Engineer with a name like Harry Tait which is a slang word for the Mate must have received a lot of humour from others. I was Mate on Pennyworth just prior to and after the Crankcase explosion that you refer to. I was there for a year. The particular event that you refer to I was having one trip off. I remember most of the engineers and the electrician as they were kept together on other Dalglieshes ships so as I imagine for being able to contact as any claims went ahead. They were all burnt to a different extent, the electrician if I remember had badly burnt hands, others to faces and bodies, all if I remember correctly continued at sea, although I maybe wrong. Will have a look back through one of the 3 dischcharge books I have and see if it jogs my memory. I think a bloke called Candiotis was Ch. Eng. unless he was having a trip off at the same time as me. I received an email from someone in Newfoundland when the pennyworth was brought up a couple of years ago, and he referrred to the incident, maybe if he sees this he will follow up on. I certainly remember the incident but like all catastrophes memorys dim with time. Will add to if I remember anymore. Will probably have the masters name in Dis. Book. If he is still alive he would probably have been able to give more assistance. Best Regards John Sabourn

[j.sabourn]

Keith, had a look through Dis. Book. Thinking back the name Tait rings a few bells. However first let me correct the earlier statement. I joined the Pennyworth on the 6 Feb.64 and left end Jan 65. The trip off I was remembering was a one up to Murmansk where the vessel came back 3000 ton cargo short due to the relieving mate not realizing he had that amount of frozen ballast still on board a minor catastrophe in its own right. When I left the Pennyworth I joined the Warkworth until Sept. 65. During this period was when heard about explosion as believe we were over in Montreal at the time. After Sept. was on the Ravensworth where I believe all those that had been involved in the E.R. accident were put on and this is where I met up with them again. Re Candiotis the Ch. Eng. I knew he came off with me to join the Warkworth. Believe the Master on the Pennyworth may have been Capt. Gault I believe from Middlesborough unless he also was having a trip off, although this was his regular ship. Harry Tait your relation may have been the Chief on the Ravensworth with the rest of the engineers, although I have recollections of a chief from Belfast who may also have been one of the burnt ones, although this may have been at a previous or later time. At the time of these unwanted occurrences one thinks one will never forget but other things happen and are pushed back into the fading memory banks. The Pennyworth incident however I do remember and wish could assist you more with names, which have always even at the best of times had problems remembering, faces OK names a no no. All the best in your quest Regards John Sabourn

[j.sabourn]

Keith do remember the whole of the E.R. staff (E.R. equals Engine Room) were involved which if remember correctly was 5 engineers and the Electrician, dont think the Greasers were in the vicinity at the time, but maybe wrong on this as only had contact on the Ravensworth with the Engineers and electrician. They had the doors off the crankcase at the time when the explosion occurred dont know if anyone was inside. They were all injured to varying extents. The Chief who was on the Ravensworth was if I remember correctly was from Belfast and was very strong in his political Irish protestant views. He may have been promoted to Chief Engineer when your relation left, if he was on the Ravensworth with the rest of them. There was a third Engineer at one time there called Joe Christmas from Southern Ireland, can remember his name as always used to hum Im walking backwards to Christmas across the Irish Sea when in his vicinity which he always took in good part. Think he may have been part of the burnt group but not 100 percent sure of this. I cant really think at the moment how you can get further info. on this, unless any of the engineers at the time who were involved copy this and read this web. Dont however give up as usually someone will usually turn up out of the blue and be able to satisfy you with the info. you require. Best Regards John Sabourn.

[Keith Tait]

Thank's for your interest John in my quest to find out more about my Grandfathers career, what you say ties in with a newspaper report I found in the library archives saying 5 men suffered burns. It lists them as Henry Tait, chief engineer (65)...my Grandfather, Mr Alexander Barnes (34) second engineer of Belfast, Mr Sidney Leask (23) fourth engineer of Tynemouth,Mr Keith Marinner, junior engineer of Lincoln and Mr Christopher White (22) electrician of Catterick Camp.
As you can see my grandfather was by far the eldest but I would hope the others are still with us in the land of the living. The accident happened the day before my grandfathers 65th birthday, I remember him after the accident and the scars from the burns....he died 6 years later just before his 71st birthday.
I have found from the national archives some other ships he sailed on....Ripley (1954) Silverpoint (1962) Hopepeak (1964) Hopecrest (1964) Baron Minto (1964) and his last trip on the Pennyworth. There must have been many others and I understand he served on the Atlantic convoys during WW2.
I hope someday to put together all the bits and pieces about his career but understand there is a lot of work discovering them first
Keith

[j.sabourn]

Keith that is the one I knew Barnes. He may have started as 2nd. Engineer and been promoted later. A bloke called Hutchinson (Norman) out of Bank line was then 2nd. both the chief and the 2nd were ex B specials from Belfast extremely strong protestants. Joe Christmas the 3rd was from Eire and was the other way a Catholic. I have never seen so much bitternes as when you get a mixture like this, this also applied to other ships as well. If you do get in touch with either Barnes or Norman Hutchinson and you mention me they will probably say I am mad. Was ashore in the Afternoon in Sfax (N.Africa) with the second and was being pestered by the usual pimps, I picked up a sidewalk cafe chair and was going to crown him, missed him and went through a plate glass window. The second was off like a rat down a drainpipe, I continued walking as though nothing had happened. 2 of the seamen welsh lads were on the other side of the road and jumped in unbeknown to me. Got back to the ship finished off loading and sailed. Found out later the 2 lads were in jail as the police chief was having his afternoon siesta. I paid personally for their flights back to uk. They were 2 very bright lads and have no doubt they would have continued at and gone for certificates.
Norman Hutchinson lived in Whitley Bay where i originated from. Cheers John Sabourn

[j.sabourn]

Keith remember sitting in the Jungle in North Shields with all those persons you mentiion. I cant however put a face to your Grandfather, no doubt it will come back to me at a later stage. The superintendents for Daggies at the time were Capt. Phillips and Mr. Bulmer an ex Blue funnel Chief. They must be a long time dead by now. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Ron B Manderson]

welcome to the site Kieth.
Enjoy as we do
Ron thebatcvae