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Royal Mail Line

104K views 160 replies 94 participants last post by  Nudger 
#1 ·
RML don't seem to be listed in the shipping companies so perhaps I had
better start the ball rolling!. I was 3rd R/O on Amazon /GVVV
and Aragon/GVVT. I remember the Aragon was under the command of
Captain Fox. The 2nd R/O Jack Barter later was killed on the
Royston Grange/GFDU. I can remember a Chief Purser called Stroud
and another purser called Nigel Yeo. After that things get a bit
fuzzy!. Had lots of wonderful times in Buenos Aires.
Brings back many memories. Thy later transferred the RML A ships
to Shaw Savill. I have a picture of one converted to a hideous car
carrier.
 
#2 ·
Royal Mail Lines

Hi there all just wondering if anyone remembers the old "A" boats that used to ship out of the Royal Victoria Docks in London, I served on them as a boy rating in the early 60s and often wondered what happened to them,would welcome any info thanks.
 
#148 ·
Royal Mail Lines

Hi there all just wondering if anyone remembers the old "A" boats that used to ship out of the Royal Victoria Docks in London, I served on them as a boy rating in the early 60s and often wondered what happened to them,would welcome any info thanks.
I Did one trip on the Aragon in the late '60s as a Junior Engineer. Practcally every watch we had a scavenge fire, so much so that there had been bayonet fittings on each of the units and a 20 gal drum of water at each end of the engines and a stirrup pump to extinguish them,
The Officers Bar was one of the best stocked bars on the ship. Financed mainly by two 'Passengers Nights' outward bourne and homeward bourne where the passengers were entertained with a 'Casino Night' or a night of 'Blue Movies'.
I think it was an enterprising 4th Engineer used to organise it. Happy days.
 
#3 ·
I remember them behind us when we were on KGV 7 shed (now the airport). Arlanza, Aragon, and I can't remember off the top of my head,the other one.
I think Hoegh converted them into car carriers eventually.
I left the Vindi in 1963 (November) and another guy in our group joined the Arlanza same time as I joined Andania (Cunard), was it you?
Best regards,
Chris
 
#5 ·
The three had a varied career Amazon became Shaw Savill's Akaroa in 1968. Converted to car carrier Hual Akarita broken up at Kaohsiung in 1982.
Aragon renamed Aranda of Shaw Savill in 1969. Again converted to car carrier broken up Kaohsiung 1981
Arlanza renamed Arawa of Shaw Savill in 1969 she too became a car carrier and broken up at Kaohsiung in 1981.
In all the trio only spent about 9 years with Royal Mail. 2 or 3 years with Shaw Savill before being changed out of all recognition as car carriers.
 
#114 ·
Memories of Aragon 1961/1964



I was a passenger on Aragon in late 1961! I was 8 years old, and was travelling with my mother and sister to Buenos Aires to join my father who was on a project there; we had the privilege of travelling first-class, and we children had an absolutely wonderful time. On my 9th birthday, on 9 December 1961, we sailed into Rio de Janeiro, and the ship's baker made a beautiful birthday cake for me.
We came back on Aragon in May 1964, with my father this time, and again had an unforgettable time. I have a photo of the Arlanza, who we passed in Rio. How very lucky I was to have experienced those great days.
I know that as a mere passenger I don't really belong on this forum!
 
#7 ·
Welcome

Dick,

A warm welcome to the site from the Isle of Anglesey, I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy the SN experience!
You will certainly spark many happy memories when you have a chance to explore our threads and, who knows, you may even re-establish contact with old shipmates.
Good luck! (Thumb)
 
#12 ·
Hello Graham,
Yes its suprising Royal Mail hasnt had more attention.
I did my first trip to sea in Royal Mails "Loch Garth" as galley boy. She was a fine ship and great run to West Indies,thru Panama and up west coast of States & Canada that was in 1948 January. Later in the early fifties I also sailed on Drina, Durango and the old Gascony. Found them a good company to sail with. Am still a member of the Royal Mail Association which unfortunately is on its last legs ,like us old uns.........
Best wishes,
R396040 Stuart Henderson
 
#14 ·
Ben Blyth

Anyone sail with Ben Blyth in Royal Mail? Met him at South Shields when he was doing 2nd Engineer's ticket. For a while we shared the same digs. His parents were living in Glenrothes at the time, but I don't know if that was his home town. A softly-spoken Scot, in 1964 he was the proud possessor of a (very) full set of red whiskers - in fact he had more hair on his face than on top of his head. Great guy, great fun to be out with (and we had lots of opportunity at South Shields.)
 
#71 ·
Anyone sail with Ben Blyth in Royal Mail? Met him at South Shields when he was doing 2nd Engineer's ticket. For a while we shared the same digs. His parents were living in Glenrothes at the time, but I don't know if that was his home town. A softly-spoken Scot, in 1964 he was the proud possessor of a (very) full set of red whiskers - in fact he had more hair on his face than on top of his head. Great guy, great fun to be out with (and we had lots of opportunity at South Shields.)
I made several trips with Ben Blyth on the D boats probably Durango, Darro Freddy Scot was C/E @ the time, on a NZ trip Iwas S/2/E and Ben was my J/2/E He ought to have a photo of the upper alleyway engineers posed at Xmas time in Timaru I think. We had 15 engineers in those days.
 
#18 ·
Hi Graham,
I sailed in the Essequibo, and the Andes, as AB. Have to say I was not bowled over by either of these ships, but they weren't the worst I ever sailed in.
The Andes was a strange ship, every one seemed to have been in her for years, and there were many on deck, who did not appear to do any work whatsoever, but had cushy little jobs which took them out of sight from morning til night, when they would reappear, half drunk and well fed.
Weren't Royal Mail closely related to PSNC?
Pat
 
#19 ·
RML Essequibo

Hi Pat,
Did my 1st trip at sea as 2nd R/O on the Essequibo in 1959. A good start I thought as it was a nice run - Bermuda, Kingston Jamaica, other West Indies
ports then back to London. I found it a nice ship and 12 passengers added to the entertainment. This would be a fair while before your time on her I'd say.
Can't remember offhand when she was scrapped.
Denis.
 
#22 ·
Ah! The good old days of Royal Mail.
Served my time with them. Was a cadet on the Pampas, 19th June to 3rd Sept 1962. Total sign off pay of 18 pounds (No pound symbol on this keyboard) zero shillings and 4 pence! Then sailed on the Loch Avon, Thessaly, Drina, back on the Loch Avon. Was on the Essequibo as 3rd mate, Pizarro, Orcoma then joined SSL.
Much water under the bridge since then.
I still remember the smell of 4 1/2 Rum Lane in Kingston, Ellie selling her fruit and the cry "I do your laundry sah! two shillin a shirt!"
Malcolm
 
#38 ·
I sailed on the Andes Aug 65 - Mar 66 as JOS Remember the ''Pig'' well, like a gambling den. Plenty of Camp catering staff in their posh frocks. *** Ash Lil the wine waiter comes to mind as does Amber. Sods Opera, great fun.
Good ship, but everything had a price. Some crew made fortunes out of their shipmates.(Cloud)
 
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