[albertwebster]

I was on the Greenwich from May 1957 to September 1958. Anybody out there who was on her at the same time?

[theaskew]

I joined the MV Woolwich 30-Dec-1955 first trip to sea deck boy.
It was a 9 month voyage.For the time the accommadation was great.
Abs had there own cabins i shared cabins with the catering boy.

[stores]

hi i sailed on the wanstead, my brother on beaconsfield and woolwich, am writing a history of watts watts ships, would be grateful for any photos, cheers, stores.

[stores]

Originally Posted by albertwebster

I was on the Greenwich from May 1957 to September 1958. Anybody out there who was on her at the same time?

hi dont know if you want a photo of Greenwich, am waiting for some to arrive from New Zealand in about 3 weeks, including Greenwich, can copy one for you if needed.. stores.

[John Rogers]

I made a couple of trips on the Willesden and on the Beckenham,have pictures if you would like to have them, please PM me with your address. It was a very good company to sail with.
John.

[allan besant]

I have pics & details of the tanker CORO, please PM me with your e/mail if its of any interest to you. regards -------------allan.

[stores]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

I made a couple of trips on the Willesden and on the Beckenham,have pictures if you would like to have them, please PM me with your address. It was a very good company to sail with.
John.

hi john, any pics of watts ships would be great, my email is, taquite@aol.com. home address is tony wilding ,32 hurst grove ramsgate , kent ,ct12 6db, thanks , tony.

[stores]

hi alan, my email address is taquite@aol.com, home is tony wilding, 32 hurst grove, ramsgate, kent, ct12 6db, cheers, tony.

[Simon Lowndes Jones]

Hello

My father Trevor (Courtney) Jones worked on board a Watts Watts ship for a number of years during the late 40s and in the 50s.

I have a number of pictures that he too whilst he was at sea and remember that one of them is of the Beckenham.

Unfortunately my father died a couple of weeks ago and I have only stumbled across this thread in the course of writing about his life.

Could I ask whether any of you remember him or worked with him?

Much appreciated.

Simon

[Monket]

I joined the Weybridge in Durban as an EDH in July 1960.
Very unusual ship, strange shaped bow and stern and the crew accomodation was in the tween decks.
I've got a very poor picture of it which I'll try to upload.

[Monket]

Apologies for the quality.

[Monket]

Better picture here.

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...bridge-01.html

[John Rogers]

Simon, what was the time frame your father was on the Beckenham.

John.

[chadburn]

Originally Posted by Monket

Apologies for the quality.

Monket, if I remember correctly her unusual Hull shape was due to the Owner's/designers? interested in the profile of a Dolphin/Shark and how smooth they travelled through the water

[livings]

Two of my uncles, Fred Livings & Ted Livings were with Watts Watts in the 1950`s. I remember that one or other were on Wanstead, Wendover & Greenwich.
Also Ted was on Wanstead when chartered to Port Line as Port Wanstead.
Both uncles long since crossed the bar, but were great characters.

[Simon Lowndes Jones]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

Simon, what was the time frame your father was on the Beckenham.

John.

Thank you for getting back to me on this. My father must have been on the Beckenham between 1947 when he was 18 and the late 50s (before he went on to Join Union Castle having become an officer). He started off with Watts Watts spending his time 'chipping and painting' the vessel he was on and I know that at one stage he was sailing around the south coast of Australia shipping coal one way and iron ore the other.

Any information gratefully received. Thank you.

Simon

[John Rogers]

Simon, I was on the Beckenham from the end of August 1952 thru Oct 1952, joined her in Manchester and left her in Middlesbrough.One trip down to North Africa.

John.

[GordonAdshead]

Hello. I am new to this forum and I trust that I am doing the right thing, but I note that someone is writing a history of the Watts-Watts line and may be able to help me.
My real interest is learning more about he death of my Grandfather William Henry Bowdon ADSHEAD. He was the master of the Greenwich in 1908 and died at sea somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, probably just off the Galapagos Islands.
He married my Grandmother in Wilmslow in Dec 1906 and after 6 months sailed off in the Greenwich, and all she ever knew was a telegram received in May 1908 that he was dead. The relevant ships logs were sent to Newfoundland during WW2 and so far I have not been ableto locate a copy.
I have found an interesting USA Immigration record when the Greenwich called in at Seattle in Jan 1908 for Japan: 28 crew from all round the world and against 10 of them is stamped "Deserted".
I have just found an article in the Victoria BC Daily Colonist 30May 1908 about his death. Saying he was well known in Victoria and that his previous ship the steamer Hounslow was lost on the Costa Rican coast soon after she left Esqulmalt and he returned home.

Is it possible that someone on this forum can help me find any other sources of information about these incidents and the Watts-Watts company please ?

Best regards Gordon Adshead

Just in case anyone is interested I have a few (small) photos and a complete set of papers as my Grandfather served his apprenticeship [parchment - paid £5 after 4 years] and the commendation certificates and letters as he rose through the ranks of 3rd, 2nd, officer, mate etc.

[cosmikal]

my next door neighbour was on the Weybridge, will find out the dates.

[Arthur Jenner]

I was on a Watts Watts ship; thw SS Willesden. She was originally a wartime built empire boat. We went from Tilbury to Sydney in 1949 then to Japan and Vancouver and home via Panama. I think that they were a very good company. I have a photo of her taken in Sydney Harbour

[kudu]

Some companies pride themselves on being tramps. I served my apprenticeship with Stag Line who used the logo "handy tramps" on
correspondence.They carried passengers quite often to North America.
I know of a number of pre-sea students from South Shields marine
college who did a trip for experience during holidays.
Kudu

[roibaird7]

My first two ships were WATTS WATTS the Chertsey1943.......invasion of SIcily.. and the Maycrest late 1943......... later sunk and used at Dunkirk as a block ship MULBERRy?

[Malky Glaister]

I sailed on Gulf Briton not long after Denholms took over running from Watts Watts. There were a few chaps on her from the company. It's forty years now but I remember the Leckie, one Tom Bogie. He had been with Watts Watts for years on the W boats. A couple of engineers were Chief Mad Mike Morrison whose life revolvde about distilled water and the second Malky Davidson, the Galloper who went everywhere at high speed. They al spoke highly of the former company. She had British crew but I only remember the engine lads who were almost all off the pool.

regards Malky Glaister

[wallsendgeordie]

My father Jimmy Penner From Wallsend sailed as 4E/0 on the wanstead,weybridge and the wendover in the late 50s

[dave13]

Hi all. My father John Cooper sailed with Watts Watts in the 50's does anybody remember him. If any body does please feel free to contact me. Dave