Sharpness, the Training Ship Vindicatrix c1955
Sharpness, the Training Ship Vindicatrix c1955 Ref: S502018
Memories of Sharpness, the Training Ship Vindicatrix
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.
Shared on 08 March 2009
Sharpness & local memories
Read and share memories of Sharpness and Gloucestershire inspired by Frith photos
Sharpness, the Training Ship Vindicatrix c1955
Ref: S502018
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.
Shared on 08 March 2009
l came across the vindi site by accident,and was amazed to see the old ship again, l trained on her on the stewards side over the1965 xmas period and went on to travel the world on the m.v. huntsland, carrying cargo all around the world.
seeing the photo brougt back so many memories of many years ago, does anyone else remember the jam butties at the seamans mission or swopping our cap badges with the crews on the russian boats in the docks.
Shared on 04 December 2007
Berkeley, the Old House c1955
Ref: B72009
My Great Grandfather, Samuel King, ran a boot and shoe business (as a Cordwainer) from this address in the 19th century. His family home is listed in the 1881 census as The Old House, Market Place, Berkeley.
His father John King (Dob 25.5.1765) was also a Cordwainer in Berkeley in the 18th century.
The King family were residents of Berkeley for many years, John King of Ham (Dob 23.9. 1730) is shown in my personal family records hand-written by Samuel King in 1835 as head of the King family. Thomas King is listed as having a Butchers shop in Berkeley in the late 19th century.
Shared on 11 December 2006
My father, the late Cyril Cook, spent some time in Lydney, during the war, as a Nurse.
Unfortunately, I know very little about his time in Lydney.
Ken Cook
Shared on 16 November 2008
MY MEMORY IS OF MY FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND TO SEE MY MUMS' HOME VILLAGE.THE YEAR WAS 1967.SHE WAS BORN IN CAM IN 1923. SHE MET MY DAD DURING WW11, AND MARRIED IN HER FATHERS GARDEN .SHE THEN CAME TO THE USA WHERE I WAS BORN.
TODAY SHE IS 85 AND LIVING HERE IN EAST BRUNSWICK,NJ.USA.
CAM IS A LOVELY VILLAGE.I HAVE NOT BEEN BACK FOR YEARS AND NEITHER HAS MUM, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT AGAIN SOON.
MUMS MAIDEN NAME WAS SMITH.HER DAD WAS FREDERICK"MONTAGU" SMITH. HER MUM WAS KATHLEEN HILL.(OF WHOM I AM NAMED AFTER).
IF ANYONE READING THIS KNOWS OF THE SMITH /HILL FAMILY, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.
SHE USED TO WORK FOR LISTERS.THANKS SO MUCH
KATHLEEN LAYENDECKER
Shared on 10 December 2007
