[Hague]

Are there any out there that sailed on this ship in the early to mid Sixties????
Berthed 9/12 sailed 08/01, berthed 9/04 sailed 08/05, berthed 09/08 sailed 08/09. Obviously the senior ship.

[oldbosun]

Interesting name that. Peleus.
There is a book called "The sinking of the Peleus" that I read many years ago.

That earlier Peleus was sunk in the 2nd WW and the UBoat captain was the only UBoat captain executed for war crimes against merchant seamen.

I don't have the book now but there is a good write up and plenty of information at http://uboat.net/articles/index.html?article=18&page=2

It will make good reading and enlighten anybody interested in just what that murdering so and so did to deserve the death penalty.

We all know, and he must have known, (how could he not?) that there is a seafarers unwritten code and that is once men are in the water, you either rescue them or leave them alone, not murder them, but Kapitanleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck did murder survivors of the Peleus.

The "Peleus" mentioned in the posting must of course be a later one. Same owners I wonder?

[Hague]

Hello Old Bosun,
The 'Peleus' mentioned was a Blue Funnel 'P' Class built Camel Lairds about 1949.
She was steam turbine, similar to the 'H' differing only in that the 'P' class were six hatch ships and the 'H' were seven hatch.
Hague

[R58484956]

SS Peleus 10093 tons built 1949 by Cammel Laird, Birkenhead.
489.4 x 68.3 x 35.2. 3 steam turbines DR geared to one screw shaft. Engines built by ship builder.2 water tube boilers. DF,ESD,GyC radar.Code flags GMQP.
British flag registered Liverpool. Owned by Ocean SS Co. (A Holt & Co as managers.)

[ruud]

Ahoy,
PELEUS 1949 reduced only cargo in 1967,scrapped in 1972
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3...diumol1.th.jpg

[Phil Saul]

I was in the Peleus as catering boy from August '64 to July '66.
She was my first deep sea ship.
I did six trips in her and was home for Xmas two years in a row.
Great ship, great crowd.
Regards Phil

[Hague]

Hi Phil,
Left the Peleus April 64 and sailed in her again in 67 (around the land).
Memories of Capt McDavid, Ch.Off Hughie Davies and the Bosun, Paddy Proctor without doubt the finest Bosun and sailor in the company. An absolutely legendary wire splicer and a gentleman.
Regards
Hague

[Phil Saul]

Hi Hague, just missed you in the Peleus as I started my catering training with Blue Flue at Odyssey Works, Birkenhead in April '64.
I remember the Bosun, Paddy Proctor, very well and I remember Capt. McDavid but Albert Lane was skipper when I joined her. Some of the catering crowd were Jimmy Blower, pantry-man, Dennis Garner, Asst. Steward, Ken Kirkaldie, catering boy.
I can remember many faces from my first trip but cannot recall any other names. The ships Doctor was an Irish lady who I remember had to be taken by lifeboat across to a Ben boat in the Med to issue a death certificate for an apprentice who had been killed in an accident. The Ben boat was only four days from home which made it even more tragic.
That was a very un-settling incident for this first tripper.
But as I said, the Peleus was a great ship with a great crowd and I will always have a soft spot for my first deep sea ship.
Regards Phil

[Trader]

Hi Hague,
Was there an A.B. called George Green from Manchester in your time on the Peleus.?

Trader.

[Hague]

Originally Posted by Trader

Hi Hague,
Was there an A.B. called George Green from Manchester in your time on the Peleus.?

Trader.

Good morning Trader,
Name does have a familiar ring. But then thats Blue Funnel as we all had either heard of or sailed with each other. Prior to around 1966 there were no 'Pool Men' in the ships so it was a real closed shop 'so to speak.
Brgds
Hague

[Hague]

Originally Posted by Trader

Hi Hague,
Was there an A.B. called George Green from Manchester in your time on the Peleus.?

Trader.

Hello again Trader,
The more I thing of the name George Green on the 'Peleus' the more I think I remember him. I think he was the 'Prom Deck Man'.
Nice guy, quiet and kept to himself. Together with another ( Pat Mc???) I was studying for the Second Mates Certificate under the guidance of the C/Off Hughie Davies for Navigation (insisted I throw away Nicholls Concise Guide and use the Admiralty Manual) and great help with the Maths from the Bosun, Paddy Proctor.
Happy days
Hague

[Trader]

Hi Hague,

Thanks for that, it sounds like the chap that I knew.

Regards..........Trader

[Trader]

Hi Hague,
Its me again, I have just been thinking about your Bosun,Paddy Proctor, I think that I sailed with him on the "Neleus", was his first name Danny?. This was in 1955/56 on the Aussie run, the poor old Bosun threw a wobbler and Dan being Lampy took over as bosun. Was he a big bellied chap?.
Trader.

[Hague]

Originally Posted by Trader

Hi Hague,
Its me again, I have just been thinking about your Bosun,Paddy Proctor, I think that I sailed with him on the "Neleus", was his first name Danny?. This was in 1955/56 on the Aussie run, the poor old Bosun threw a wobbler and Dan being Lampy took over as bosun. Was he a big bellied chap?.
Trader.

Trader,
Danny was indeed Paddy's first cousin, both from Arklow, C.Wicklow. Danny died in Rotterdam as Lampy of the Pyrrhus (I think) in 1961.
I understand Paddy had other relatives in 'the China' both Bosuns that was Joe Cavanagh (Ixion) and Jack Cleary (Hector) both from Wicklow.
Brgds
Hague

[Trader]

Originally Posted by Hague

Trader,
Danny was indeed Paddy's first cousin, both from Arklow, C.Wicklow. Danny died in Rotterdam as Lampy of the Pyrrhus (I think) in 1961.
I understand Paddy had other relatives in 'the China' both Bosuns that was Joe Cavanagh (Ixion) and Jack Cleary (Hector) both from Wicklow.
Brgds
Hague

Hi again Hague,

I sailed with big Jake Cleary on the "Astynax" in 1955 What a character, good Bosun. Sorry to hear about Danny Proctor, he couldn't have been very old.

Regards........Trader.

[Hague]

Trader,
Danny Proctor was only 59 when he died in 1961.
Brgds
Hague

[DURANGO]

Originally Posted by Trader

Hi Hague,
Was there an A.B. called George Green from Manchester in your time on the Peleus.?

Trader.

Hello Trader i served in the Phyrrhus as A.B. in 67 George Green [ if it,s the same fella ] was in her at the same time i can see him now in my minds eye he had a fear of seagulls or anything that flew over his head and he did come from Manchester i can still remember a few yarns about him , he was a good shipmate all the best

[Trader]

Originally Posted by DURANGO

Hello Trader i served in the Phyrrhus as A.B. in 67 George Green [ if it,s the same fella ] was in her at the same time i can see him now in my minds eye he had a fear of seagulls or anything that flew over his head and he did come from Manchester i can still remember a few yarns about him , he was a good shipmate all the best

Hello durango,

Thanks for that, I had left Blue Flue by the time George Green started there but used to meet up in Manchester (my home town) for a drink when our leaves coincided. I always thought that he was on the "Peleus" but now you mention it it could have been the "Phyrrus". I seem to remember that it was the one that caught fire in the Gladstone Dock, which one was that?.

I don't know about the fear of seagulls, but he was quite tall, always wore an opened neck shirt and softly spoken, a lovely man. I often wonder about what happened to him as I left Manchester some years ago and only go back for funerals. Another name that comes to mind is Charlie Zaynor who sailed with George on the "P" boat. He was a North Waleian but lived in Manchester. I sailed with Charlie on the "Bellerophon" in 1952/54

All the best..........Trader.

[Hague]

Originally Posted by Trader

Hello durango,

Thanks for that, I had left Blue Flue by the time George Green started there but used to meet up in Manchester (my home town) for a drink when our leaves coincided. I always thought that he was on the "Peleus" but now you mention it it could have been the "Phyrrus". I seem to remember that it was the one that caught fire in the Gladstone Dock, which one was that?.

I don't know about the fear of seagulls, but he was quite tall, always wore an opened neck shirt and softly spoken, a lovely man. I often wonder about what happened to him as I left Manchester some years ago and only go back for funerals. Another name that comes to mind is Charlie Zaynor who sailed with George on the "P" boat. He was a North Waleian but lived in Manchester. I sailed with Charlie on the "Bellerophon" in 1952/54

All the best..........Trader.

Trader,
Sailed with Charlie Saynor first as Lampy and then on his first trip as Bosun each time 'around the Land'. From Salford if I recall which was not the usual for a 'China Boat' man.
Brgds
Hague

[Trader]

Originally Posted by Hague

Trader,
Sailed with Charlie Saynor first as Lampy and then on his first trip as Bosun each time 'around the Land'. From Salford if I recall which was not the usual for a 'China Boat' man.
Brgds
Hague

Hello Hague yet again,

Thanks for that. No, Charlie wasn't from Salford, he was a proper North Welshman and Welsh speaking as well. I sailed with him on the "Bellerophon" and nearly every one was from N. Wales.(6 Jones' on deck). I think that he married a Manchester girl and came to live in Stockport(Nr.Manchester) hence the Manchester connection.

Regards.......Trader. (This thread seems to grow and grow)

[Gerry Lydon]

Hard things happen all round ...

On August 19, 1915, about 100 miles south of Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland, U-27, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wegener, stopped the British steamer Nicosian In accordance with the rules laid down by the London Treaty. A boarding party of six from the U-27 discovered that Nicosian was carrying munitions and 250 American mules intended for the use of the British army in France. They ordered the freighter's crew and passengers into lifeboats, which soon pulled away. They were preparing to sink the freighter.
The Q-Ship Baralong, commanded by Lieutenant Godfrey Herbert, which was disguised as a cargo vessel and was flying the Stars and Stripes, arrived. When she was half a mile away Herbert ran up a signal asking permission to "save life only". The U-27 acknowledged. The U-boat, knowing that the United States was neutral, remained on the surface, with a boarding party on the Nicosian, expecting the Baralong to collect those in the lifeboats.
The Baralong was almost right up to the U-boat when her three 12-pounder guns opened fire. 34 rounds were discharged. Within a minute the U-27 sank. The crew who jumped overboard were shot in the water by Royal Marines. Two were shot climbing the Nicosian's pilot ladder. By now the Baralong was alongside the Nicosian. A party of twelve Royal Marines led by Sergeant Collins were able to jump from one ship to another. Two Germans were shot on deck. The remaining four, wounded and unarmed, fled to the engine room. The Marines waited for the crew of the Nicosian to return. The four were killed by the Liverpudlians.

[Hague]

You must be a good age Gerry to remember everything with such clarity. What is the point!

[Gerry Lydon]

Originally Posted by Hague

You must be a good age Gerry to remember everything with such clarity. What is the point!

Sorry for the delay, have not looked in for a long time

My point could have been that hard things happen in time of war, I do not think Kapitanleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck was any better or worse than many others in similar situations. He was just unfortunate enough to be done away with in a fit of self righteousness by the victors.

The example I gave concerning the Baralong Incident I picked deliberately because it was independently witnessed and was particularly cold blooded.
There were other incidents, one off Norway, in which survivors in the water were deliberately killed. The matter was logged, reason given they could not be picked up and were therefore killed so as to prevent them rejoining the German war effort.

I think that submariners became quite hard in their attitudes, possibly because of their own poor survival chances (in particular the u-boat men the hardest hit group on any side in WWII)

Then again, maybe my point was that one should never mess with Scousers

[Tai Pan]

Originally Posted by Hague

Are there any out there that sailed on this ship in the early to mid Sixties????
Berthed 9/12 sailed 08/01, berthed 9/04 sailed 08/05, berthed 09/08 sailed 08/09. Obviously the senior ship.

Did a coastal trip in may 1957 as 1st R/O.

[Hugh Ferguson]

A long time master of the s.s.Peleus was a Captain Ron Wilks (from maiden voyage 1949/59. A lot of people must have known him during that time. I wonder if anyone saw him and his wife in the recent T.V. program, "Who Do You Think You Are", which featured his grandson, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
I have a vague recollection of Mrs Wilks telling me once of the difficult times they had in the "thirties" when her husband was a 3rd mate and how she waited anxiously, all one afternoon in the India Building restaurent whilst her husband was interviewed, to learn if he still had a job.
He became a master in the early part of the war and was in the Glenfinlas when she was bombed and disabled off the East coast. I also vaguely recall her telling me that for the first 14 years of their marriage he spent every Christmas away at sea. Maybe that is why Holts appointed him to the Peleus
which, as any who sailed in her would know, was the Christmas ship, and in Liverpool for every one!