Arcadia

Hello Brent,
Memories of this ship.
I came home on her,from Adelaide as a D.B.S. "DISTRESSED BRITISH SEAMAN" I had paid off sick.
The forward mast came right through the middle of the small cabin with the other three D.B.S.,s
Just four metal bunk beds nothing else. Food was very poor for us. maggots in the porrige. The stewards were good to us, sometimes they brought fresh fruits and cigarettes to share. We all four had no money.
Fours weeks aprox. to Tilbury in U.K. I rmember well the "Arcadia"
Infact seen her in Kaohsiung, when we went there on tanker I was on 1979 also ran into the sandbank to wait to be broken up.
Regards Rob.

Hi Rob

I know we all used to say that DBS was Distressed British Seaman, but I think it stands for Distressed British Subject. I expect if I am wrong I will be corrected by this knowledgeable crowd on this site

Regards Ron

Hello Ron,
Could be correct ? we never thout of it any other way.

But...just wonder if they put a Distressed British Subject, in a cabin, four metal bunks, no locker, no chairs , no anything,and no money, could not go to passenger accommodation, maybe they would say, thats for seamen.....
Our goverment never showed much respect for seamen at anytime.
Even the recent high goverment official was a cabin boy, did not. Maybe he was wise to get out....
Not banging a drum or anything, just thoughts.
Maybe we shall find the correct term for D.B.S. Got a feeling you are correct..

Thanks your note.
Have a good weekend. Rob

Rob, appreciate your comments.
Regards, Brent

Yes Rob somebody will come up with what it really means there is so much info on this site if you don't known somebody else does