Sussex

[Doxfordman]

Another of the infamous "H" boats and probably one of the best. I certainly had a great time on her.

[teachertalk1234]

Yes Dox I sailed on her the coastal of her scrap voyage. She came to Avonmouth on 3/4 starboard engine and 1/2 port engine. Cost a fortune to get her in a fit state to go to Hong Kong. Incidentally Otaio followed Sussex that voyage in bound from NZ and was in a far worse condition. She had only one good engine, crank failure on the other I believe.

[FOUFOU]

I Agree With The Other Comments Had A Good Trip To Nz In `64 Only Drawback Was The Scratchy Version Of Sussex By The Sea Over The Tannoy Every Time We Docked Or Sailed.

[Doxfordman]

I Agree With The Other Comments Had A Good Trip To Nz In `64 Only Drawback Was The Scratchy Version Of Sussex By The Sea Over The Tannoy Every Time We Docked Or Sailed.

When I there during the 70's that tadition remained - we also used to use the speaker that was used for showing films. And ofcourse there was the famous "Black Musium". Sad to hear she was in such a state when she went to the breakers.

[KIWI]

The foregoing reads like Palana[later Cambridge] leaving Sydney after refit at Cockatoo. On trials we ran the big ends on both engines & after further repair it was reduced revs back to UK.Further complicated in Fremantle by a generator throwing a con rod & the breaker not doing its job.The ensuing period of "motoring"caused considerable more mayhem. Kiwi

[Rupert]

I was on her in 1965 got accused of painting the US Arnab? Grey to Black what us never!!
I remember we used to play "good old Sussex by the sea" everytime we left port.

If you would like better picture have one taken of her coming up the channel

[Doxfordman]

Rupet,


If you could post that pic of her in the channel, that would be great.

Thanks,

[dmor319]

Hi I spent three glorious trip on her in 1963-64 and am still in contact with four of the guys who were the best of friends during the three trips, plenty of beer 5 -6 flaggons a night and maybe a case of beer.

[Mark Taxis]

I keep hearing about the Otaio engine failure, but nothing conclusive, is there anyone out there that was on the ship during the voyage?
Rgds
Mark Taxis

[David Davies]

Was on Sussex Feb 1954 in Liverpool lying near burnt out wreck of Empress of Canada on the Saturday that the wreck was to be winched up into an upright position an pumped out. At 0230hrs 5 incendary devices ignited onboard Sussex, 1 in engine room and 4 in accommodation. All these fires were put out by those on board despite fire fighting equipment being hidden, dumped or sabotaged and the telephone lines cut. The Fire Brigade arrived 45 minutes after the alarm was raised, the entire crew stuck to the ship with little direction from the officers and some said saved the day. We were all interrorgated by "men from London" but I never knew the outcome as we sailed a few days later for Australia and on completion of the voyage I left the company and joined Bullard King's Natal Line

[Tom Haywood]

Mark, the only information that I can find with regard to a fire was one in the refrigeration installations (engine room?) in February 1965 while in the KG5 Dock, London.
I was on her from July 1965 through to November 1966 (as 2nd frostie) and can not recall seeing or hearing anything re a fire at that time.

[David Davies]

At 0230hrs on Saturday 6th March 1954 there was a deliberate attempt to cause fires on board the Sussex as she lay in Gladstone dock. As an AB completing my 4 years sea time prior to taking my 2nd Mates Iwas personally involved in puting out some of the fires. Later we were individually questioned (MI5?) and asked to keep the matter to ourselves as publicity woud not be in the national interest. Over the years I've met many NZS people and some knew of it and sugested it was linked to the Empress of Canada that was being raised on the same day. The Empress of Canada fire was put down to an accident? After 50 or more years I'm some what curious, did anything ever become public knowledge? For what reason did these ba...ds try and cremate us?

[Pat McCardle]

At 0230hrs on Saturday 6th March 1954 there was a deliberate attempt to cause fires on board the Sussex as she lay in Gladstone dock. As an AB completing my 4 years sea time prior to taking my 2nd Mates Iwas personally involved in puting out some of the fires. Later we were individually questioned (MI5?) and asked to keep the matter to ourselves as publicity woud not be in the national interest. Over the years I've met many NZS people and some knew of it and sugested it was linked to the Empress of Canada that was being raised on the same day. The Empress of Canada fire was put down to an accident? After 50 or more years I'm some what curious, did anything ever become public knowledge? For what reason did these ba...ds try and cremate us?

I would send this informtion onto one of the leading daily newspapers to see if they came up with anything from this time? Obviously, there appears to be some sort of explanation to come to light involving Sussex?(Thumb)

[rd002c1155]

I was on Sussex from may to june 65 ht then july to nov . I seem to remember we nearly lost two horses over the side after shipping a big sea .the skipper wanted to shoot them as they were running amok up the deck . when we arrived in Auckland it was big news the chief eng got most of the praise in the news 'considering no one saw him on deck while we were trying to save the horses from the seas & the skipper wanting to shoot them

[dontaylor1]

i sailed on sussex in 1972 to nz as EDH i can remember it being a great trip as for the horses ,i can remember we lost one of the dogs over the side a steward tied it up to a rail and it jumped over the side somewhere near panama,the captain was a guy called lambrick and he wouldnt turn the ship around to to look for the dog. but she was a good ship to have sailed on. my name is don taylor if anyone who remembers me reads this please drop me an E.MAIL

[Mike S]

How the world changed in the seventies!
Capt Syd Lambrick took over Northumberland halfway through our long quadruple header from Capt Mike Heron in 1964.
I left the Company in 1965 and one summers morning 10 years later I was in command of the Fremantle tug Hamilton berthing the Mount Kiera onto the Steelworks in Kwinana.
Came alongside the stbd shoulder all routine, sent up the lines and spotted the third mate up fwd.
It was Syd Lambrick..........he was third officer.
We chatted and it seemed he left his run too late. A letter in the mail and he was on his way.
A sad end to a great old Shipping Company.

[terence docker]

Hello to all those posting their Sussex comments on this Forum. It is really pleasing and informative to hear all the various comments relating to, what was, a fine Federal vessel. From these comments I get the impression that most of you were Engineers and Officers. Also I note that no postings have been made for some considerable time so I'm not too sure when this will be read if ever. I signed on the Sussex ( as Tiger ) in Jan. '58 and off at the end of August in Cardiff making the one voyage in her as I was already passenger booked on the 'Tiki to settle in NZ. My cabin-mate was Steve Malthouse
( Engineers Steward ) and he went on to sail another second trip, this one including Aust.as well as NZ. Thu' this Merchant Navy site administered by Brian, I was able to make email contact with Steve after a hiatus of fifty years. We met up here at the Gold Coast in Qld just a week ago ( Steve taking a Oriana cruise with his wife ) Needless to say much celebration. We would both like to hear from any of you that were aboard for that particular voyage. Chances are you would certainly remember him if you served as an Engineer. Anyway.... thanks to all of you, Officers and Engineers, and of course, Captain Thomas, for getting us out to New Zealand and home safely. By the way the Sussex 78rpm. record was 'scratchy-as' in '58 let alone the '60's. Be nice to hear from someone, meanwhile the very best to you all in your retirement...
Terry Docker