Training
I must have been one of the first on the training ship because I thought it was 1954 I was there, but if it is recorded as c1955 who am I to argue! I was there training for the merchant navy for about 12 weeks. I was the camp bugler until I was relieved of my post because I was caught sitting down at the back of the church when I should have been standing. My first ship was MV Middlesex with The New Zealand Shipping Company. I joined her in Liverpool and was on her for about two months before we sailed to New Zealand via the Panama canal carrying trains on deck. When we got to NZ, the dockers went on strike and we were allowed to load our own ship with lamb carcases as we had refridgerated holds. My ships wages were 11.50 per month but we got 1 an hour for loading our own ship. We felt like millionaires. Barbies on the beach every night. We docked at 4 ports in NZ - Auckland, Napier, Timaroo, and Wellington I think and because of the slow loading we were there for two to three months. While we were at one of the ports the liner 'Dominion Monarch' was also there. I can remember on one evening the shore life-boat was launched with its huge searchlight looking for crew who had jumped ship and were swimming ashore. I don't know if they caught any of them. I have always wondered if the 'Vindi' was still there. I have tried Google Earth and cannot see it, so if anyone knows anything I would like to read about it.
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RE: RE: Training
I was on the Vindi from October 25th 1954 until December 31st and have vivid memories of my time there. We arrived late afternoon at Sharpness station and were met by a boy bo'sun who bummed fags from us before marching (?) us across the high bridge to the camp. At the camp we lined up outside the Regulating Office where more fag removal was attempted amid calls of "You aint never goin ome, new boy" and other similar comments. After hut allocation and bedding issue we made our acquaintance with the ship for our first meal, sea pie they called it but it was corned beef hash and looked pretty unappetizing. Several lads who had followed us down from the camp helped out by devouring anything pushed aside. Later we found out the Liberty Boat wasn't a boat and the Flying Angel was a great place to go. Roll call and lights out were a lot earlier than most of us were used to as was the rude awakening in the frosty early morning. P.T. for an hour on the icy parade ground was also an acquired taste. Despite the ever present hunger and the bitter cold I was never fitter. Joe Moses made things more acceptable and I regret not taking the opportunity to speak to him when he came to one of our reunions. The Vindi left its mark on us all and was an experience I'm glad to have had.
Comment from George Hancox on Thursday, 20th May 2010.