[R658336]

I am looking forward to browsing this site. As you can see from my discharge book number R658336 I go back a few years. Started at the Vindy, I expect there are plenty of you out there.Union Castle, Royal Mail, just to mention two of the 30 companies I worked for.Finished my last 7 plus years with Buries Markes.On all their chemical tankers, as Bosun. Brilliant company to work for.Perhap there are a couple of guys out there may know me.I started in 1956 finished in 1982.

[billyboy]

A warm welcome aboard from the Philippines. Please enjoy all this great site has to offer

[R58484956]

Greetings John and welcome to SN. Bon voyage.

[hawkey01]

John,

welcome to SN. Enjoy all we have to offer. Have a look in the Shipping Company forum you may find some old shipmates there.

Hawkey01

[linerrich]

Greetings and Welcome Aboard!

Rich

[Gulpers]

John,

On behalf of the SN Moderating Team, a warm welcome aboard from the Isle of Anglesey!
You will thoroughly enjoy your time on SN and get many happy hours entertainment from your membership. *

[R658336]

Thank you all for your warm welcome to the SN site I am sure I will spend many hours aboard.The time is 07.13 UK time. Yesterday I looked into the live ships at sea.I found that amazing,thank you.Question= Are the bridge bells still rung to announce the time.If so is seven bells still rung at 0720 and 1120.If I remember correctly seven bells in the afternoon watch was 1530. I do know the reason for the odd times for 0720 and 1120. Perhaps as a tiny quiz you could ask the Members if they know. All ex deckies should get this right. John R658336.

[R658336]

I have just noticed that I am the only one in the crows nest.At 0737 Ha" Ha" John R658336

[R658336]

Your clock is 5 minutes fast John again.

[R658336]

I have just noticed that Linerrich is from the good ole US of A Liner rich. Does that make you the owner of "Royal Caribbean"??? John

[R658336]

Billy Boy I notice you and I are the only two on watch,and I have to go now.See you later. Thank you John R658336. Can I discard my number and be known as John.? Bye

[gdynia]

Welcome onboard to SN and enjoy the voyage

[R658336]

And if theres a Will he could be a shipmate

[R658336]

Into my favorite site again. good afternoon one and all.

[gdynia]

welcome onboard to SN and enjoy the voyage

[Gulpers]

Hello again John,

You seem to be settling in nicely so, enjoy your time on SN and have many happy hours entertainment from your membership.

[billyboy]

A warm welcome aboard from the Philippines. Please enjoy all this great site has to offer.

[R658336]

Good afternoon everybody. Here in Bury St. Edmunds the sun is shining.

[gdynia]

welcome onboard to SN and enjoy the voyage

[gilieman]

Hi there just as a matter of interest which ships did you sail on when you were with Union Castle? and what year was it?
look forward to hear from you,
Thanks
Don

[billyboy]

A warm welcome aboard from the Philippines. Please enjoy all this great site has to offer

[William Dunn]

Good morning, this is my first attempt in my reseach into my fathers sailing career. Master Mariner William Maurice Dunn.
8 years under sail, 1906-1914, obtained masters ticket.
36 years with Alfred Holt "Blue Funnel Line";13 Years at sea,1914-1927, obtained masters ticket. 23 years as Supertendant of the Mercantile Warf Brisbane, 1927-1950.
His first sailing ship at age 16 was the Dunstaffnage; He was also on the Mount Stewart.
Born in 1890, retired 1950, died 1974.
This sums up the extent of my proven knowledge, and i don`t realy know where to go from here. can anyone help?
Bill Dunn.

[R658336]

Originally Posted by gilieman

Hi there just as a matter of interest which ships did you sail on when you were with Union Castle? and what year was it?
look forward to hear from you,
Thanks
Don

Hi Don, I trust you are well.I was d/boy on the "Durban Castle",when she was the last Passenger ship to go through Suez in 1956.I did 4 trips on her 2 as d/boy and 2 as jos.1956 was the Nasser conflict.As you may well remember.Now things get a bit dim. In the early 80s my then wife put my discharge books in the cellar. Yes you have guessed they got ruined with the dampness.So now I have to rely on my memory. Do you remember the Gold Bullion theft aboard the "Capetown Castle! about 58/59. I served on her as AB the following trip.( am told the bullion was hidden in the sand locker, it was all recovered by the police ) I was AB aboard the " Tantallon Castle " which was one of the two Black hulled castle boats.that would be about 59/60. The " Athlone Castle "would have been about 60/61.That Don was my time with UCSS Co,LTD.Was did you do at sea and when.I was to spend many more years with a variety of companies Oh! to be young again. John. PS. The only company I can say I was with ,with certainty was Buries Markes. I was Bosun on two of their bulkers ..and their entire chemical tanker fleet from 1975/82

[gilieman]

Originally Posted by R658336

Hi Don, I trust you are well.I was d/boy on the "Durban Castle",when she was the last Passenger ship to go through Suez in 1956.I did 4 trips on her 2 as d/boy and 2 as jos.1956 was the Nasser conflict.As you may well remember.Now things get a bit dim. In the early 80s my then wife put my discharge books in the cellar. Yes you have guessed they got ruined with the dampness.So now I have to rely on my memory. Do you remember the Gold Bullion theft aboard the "Capetown Castle! about 58/59. I served on her as AB the following trip.( am told the bullion was hidden in the sand locker, it was all recovered by the police ) I was AB aboard the " Tantallon Castle " which was one of the two Black hulled castle boats.that would be about 59/60. The " Athlone Castle "would have been about 60/61.That Don was my time with UCSS Co,LTD.Was did you do at sea and when.I was to spend many more years with a variety of companies Oh! to be young again. John. PS. The only company I can say I was with ,with certainty was Buries Markes. I was Bosun on two of their bulkers ..and their entire chemical tanker fleet from 1975/82

Hello John
This is my second attempt replying to your message, the first one disappeared just as I was about to close!
It looks as if you were on the Capetown a while before I joined, Fri 25th March 1966, I am not too sure when the Gold was stolen but I do remember being shown the sand locker, and the air vent, they travelled through to get at the bullion, the only other incident I remember is when we went on a sand bank as we entered Flushing, Holland and had to wait for the tide before we finally got away, there was a commotion among the passengers as the ship developed quite a list. ( no I was not on the wheel! )
I signed off in Southampton Monday13 June right at the middle of the seamen's strike and had to lodge with a colleague, the landlady ( God bless her ) would not take any money off me till the strike was over,
I could not go home, partly because there were no ferries to my island home and I was skint!
I did my stint at gate number 8 with my placard! For which, I think we got paid.
My next ship was the Reina Del Mar where I did nine cruises, mainly to the Mediteranian and the Atlantic Islands.
I wonder if anyone on this site remembers those incidents?
Regards,
Don.

PS I remember playing football with the Tantallon Castle in East London South Africa Tues 4th may, 4 4.

[R658336]

Hi again Don,
I too have sat for hours writing a mail,then for what seems no reason it disappears. Life I guess. You mention you Island home,where might that be? You also mention the strike of 66. I was shore side during that one. As a matter of fact,there have been very few seamen strikes ever, official that is.I was in one of them. That would have been about 1960. I to was home ,in fact in Cornwall on holiday.As I could not go back to sea I stayed in Cornwall for an extra 4 weeks.I was on holiday with a shipmate, as we were camping and had a girlfriend each it did,nt cost us anything to stay the extra time.As I remember it we did,nt gain by the strike.
Football was also a passion of mine,I was always in the team if the ship had one.I was a goalkeeper.A position very few wanted.There used to be a famous football player named John White ( same as mine ) he played on the left wing for Tottenham. That was when it was 5 forwards, 3 midfield, 2 backs and a goalie. Those were the days.
I was hoping to go out today, its raining, no fun in a wheelchair. So I will find a site to keep me happy. Take care Don.
John.