Megantic (62)

[david smith]

Megantic at Avonmouth before repainted all grey. ( see Medic thread)

[stevie]

Sailed on Megantic on her final two voyages in 1979. we had a great crowd of lads on her, and I spent one of my happiest times at Sea aboard Megantic
The first trip we sailed from Newcastle in Ballast through the Panama Canal to Kiwi.First Port Napier, then New Plymouth, Timaru then Suez Canal,Piraeus,Malta,Liverepool second trip sailed once again in Ballast for Bahia Blanca in Argentina.We loaded Apples and would you believe frozen Sharks for Cadiz Spain. Then onto the the final Port she would enter under the Shaw Saville Houseflag Rotterdam.Everyone on board was saddened to learn she had been sold, and that another fine Vessel had left the British fleet.Needless to say we all went down the Gangway with heavy Hearts. she was sold to the Greeks and became the Detietrios Ventouris in 1979.

Stevie

[gadgee]

Although I signed on Megantic at Sheerness in Nov 1972 as 3/O, I remember spending all my time in my bunk with flu! I think I was due to do all the UK coast but not deep sea. Anyway I paid off after only 8 days, in Hull. Like to have had a lot more to do with her because she seemed a smart ship. :@

[Grantham Little (Sandy)]

As an engineer on the Megantic for some time I always found that she was a "happy" ship. Under Captain Stanger (one of the best) everyone got on well.
Chief Engineers Harry Parker and Dia Evans were very approachable and usually came into a party when held. Parties were usually held in aid of one charity or another in N.Z. or Aussy.
Other that Maurice Brew, does any one else remember Harry Parker or Dia Evans.

Sandy

[brandane]

Hi Sandy

I was passenger ship guy with Shaw Savill and never sailed on cargo ships except for coastal Liverpool/London on Ceramic but I certainly have been on Megantic in Auckland after I left the sea, and of course knew many of the engineers who worked on this ship.

Sadly Dai Evans passed away about 3 years ago - he was enthusiastic supporter of the Shaw Savill Society here in NZ. I can put you in touch with some of the engineers that knew Dai - such as Jim Dalgleish in Melbourne, or Ken Gullery in Picton, Len Tarleton in Wellington, and many others who are members of the NZ Society.

Its good to read that you enjoyed your trips on Megantic as I did on the passenger ships. Without a doubt my years with Shaw Savill were the best years of my life - and its incredible that 30 odd years later - we are still talking about these great years with a great Company.

Are you a member of the UK Society? Their next reunion in Torquay in March.

Hope others will recall some of their sea days on Shaw Savill ships.

Jamie Shedden
Shaw Savill Society
NZ Branch

[Grantham Little (Sandy)]

Hi Jamie

Thanks for your reply

Yes I am a member of UK Society (or was, I have not paid the subs recently) the last reunion I went to was at Slaley Hall, Hexham Nr Newcastle a couple of years ago. Due to other commitments, I am still working (Retire in November 2006) have been unable to attend since.

Yes I would like to communicate with other SSA engineers that maybe remember me. There were a couple of N.Z. and Australian enginees that sailed on the Megantic at the same time as me, although for the life of me I cannot remember their names except one was Merv.

I also did coastals on the Ceramic, Carnatic, Medic and Illeric.

The last ship I was on was the Arabic, also a very friendly atmosphere on board. 2nd Endineer was Mike Dennison. If I remember correctly we brought back to the UK a 3rd engineer named or nicknamed Paddy, cannot think of his surname.

Finally I would agree with you the time I was at sea with Shaw Savill was the best in my life, had a great time all round.

Regards

Sandy

[John B.]

I sailed as 2/0 in Megantic in the 70's on one voyage I was able to take my wife on a round voyage to NZ, we still have a photograph of the ship in our lounge. Capt Wheatley had relieved Capt Stanger on that voyage, both men ran a happy ship. The Megantic was famous within SSA as a happy ship with some crew still there 9 years after the maiden voyage! Timaru port call was allways a highlight as the ships cricket team played the HarbourMasters team, great fun and a nice social occasion for everyone.
Compared to the earlier ships Megantic had hydraulic top and tweendeck hatches which meant easy/quick opening/closing for cargo work and no beams and plugs as in the older reefer ships. her teak decks were always clean and unmarked as no damage from hatch beams,the wide afterdeck was rigged with nets and used for cricket bowling and batting practice at sea in the Pacific heading to NZ so that we could beat the NZ locals! She was also my first airconditioned ship, a novelty at the time. Great days, our modern sailors do not have any time in port for cricket, most do not break watch.

Best regards
John B.

[chas.ruxton]

Hi Sandy
I Joined The Megantic As Junior Engineer In '64 If I Remember Correctly You Were Fifth At The Time And Harry Parker Was Chief With Robert Burns As Second We All Had Some Great Times Aboard Her You May Also Remember Jimmy Hater (aus) And Peter Lidgard (nz) I Remember That I Also Caught Up With You In Newcastle Aboard The Arabic When I Went Releiving
Its A Small World

[Brian Havelock]

Engineers lunch break on the Megantic on the Australian coast late 60's A few beers and cheese butties

[barry john macauley]

Hi Sandy
I Joined The Megantic As Junior Engineer In '64 If I Remember Correctly You Were Fifth At The Time And Harry Parker Was Chief With Robert Burns As Second We All Had Some Great Times Aboard Her You May Also Remember Jimmy Hater (aus) And Peter Lidgard (nz) I Remember That I Also Caught Up With You In Newcastle Aboard The Arabic When I Went Releiving
Its A Small World

Hullo Charlie;
Remember you well my first trip to sea(April '66/Aug'66); Ballast run to Tassie for apples.
Harry was Chief,"Crowbar"Cromar Second, Grant Cameron Third, Mike Dawson Fourth...Pete Lidgard,Russ Day and other guys in the mix. Peter Bull first leckie, Phillip ? second leckie, yours truly third.This is probably a bit late to connect with you, but anyway happy days. Barry (Mac) Macauley

[Martin Howse]

I was third mate that trip

[chief's daughter]

That name, Megantic, seems to ring a bell in my childhood memory. I wonder if it was a ship that my father, Eric Deverell sailed on?

[barry john macauley]

I was third mate that trip

Howzit Martin; Remember you well from all those years ago.Still have a couple of photographs taken in the old Zillertal on the Reeperbahn: you feature prominently in both of them,complete with Stein. One of the pictures is taken with the Band(believe it cost a round for that signal honour). Others in the frames are 2nd Mate W. V....(not able to decipher his scrawl-probably a doctor now),cadets Graham Ball and Ian Storey, John Cromar,Grant Cameron,Mike Dawson, Phil Webster.
Did you spend any time swinging on the Pick off Southend Pier at the end of that trip?. I remember a night ashore really meant that, as there was no return ferry till the morning.
This was the first and last time I tried jellied eels; also the first and last time England won the World Cup.
Ah! memories some good some not so good.
Keep the Faith Martin
all the best
Barry Mac.

[Martin Howse]

Still have the p[hotos , great night out !! the 2/O was bill Virtue and I am still in contact with him . all the best martin

[waiwera]

Bill Virtue ring bells from the dim and distant past. Think he got engaged to an Aussie Girl when he was 2/O on the Cretic in 1967?

[Martin Howse]

Bill now lives outside Melbourne raising cattle in a small way .

[barry john macauley]

Does this imply he's raising Dorpers?..............of course the deliberate mistake in the foregoing is that everybody knows a Dorper is a black headed sheep. The Dexter on the other hand is a breed of cattle noted for their small stature. The fact that they both begin with D could confuse many people.

[Brian Brown]

A very interesting thread relating to a delightful 'Lady' MV Megantic. Equally, her sister Medic was also a pleasure to sail on, arguably two of the finest to fly the SS and A flag.
Does any one recall the maiden voyage of Megantic outward bound to New Zealand Dai Evans as C/Eng? Megantic rendezvoused with SS Gothic UK bound in mid Pacific around midnight to transfer a stowaway.
I recall the said stowaway had set himself up under the emergency generator with "all the comforts of home" with an obvious 'in house' supply of goodies.
Since signing up with SN I have spent quite a number of very pleasant hours reliving what I would call 'the end of the Romantic Era in the MN'
To all I sailed with thanks for the memories.
Brian (Joe) Brown.