Sharpness, the Training Ship Vindicatrix c1955

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.

Feeling Homesick

You know I haven't come across anyone who did their 8 weeks' training at Vindi in the summer months, most people you talk to remember most of all the severe winters. I am no exception, I remember going down to the ship from the camp last thing at night for a couple of slces of bread and butter and a mug of what was supposed to aid sleep. If you remember anti, my fondest memory I think was the latest music they used to play prior to the film show. I was at the camp in November and December, in fact I first shipped out on New Year's Eve 1961, me being a young fresh-faced 17-year-olf Scot who had never been away from home before. I don't mind admitting that I cried like a baby ... ah! memories.

l remember it being dam cold

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.

Lydney - 1939-1945

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