[Harry Nicholson]

Voyage East: A stirring tale of the last great days of the Merchant Navy by Richard Woodman.

Just finished this. It's rich in detail of a Blue funnel voyage to China and other parts east. I've learned many a new thing. I feel I've had a course in the shipping of 50 years gone.
The characters are well drawn and I was totally engaged with their lives. It is a novel - but so obviously drawn from the author's experiences. There are many lovely turns of phrase, particularly of dawns and sunsets, storm and fog, and banter among the crew.

 

[Pat Kennedy]

I have read it a couple of times and found it mostly quite authentic.
But I was a bit dubious about some of the deck crowd.

 

[Duncan112]

This is also worth a read https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/richard-woodman/endangered-species.htm

 

[IAN M]

Try my books - all non-fiction.

 

[Harry Nicholson]

This is also worth a read https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/richard-woodman/endangered-species.htm

Thank you for the link, Duncan. I've taken a shufti and ordered a used hard back. The author admires Conrad - which is itself a recommendation.
I appreciated Woodman's philosophical musings in 'Voyage East'. Reading these works keeps me sane in the maelstrom of madness that makes our present age.

 

[Harry Nicholson]

Try my books - all non-fiction.

Hello, Ian. I ordered your 'Letters of a Radio Officer' this Summer. It made an absorbing read. Well done for putting them on record.

 

[Dartskipper]

Try my books - all non-fiction.

I bought your "Shipping Company Losses of the Second World War when on holiday last month. I wish I had bought it when it was published in 2013, as I could have told my Dad that several names that he would have recognised were mentioned. Unfortunately Dad crossed the bar in Feb. 2014. Thank you Ian, on his behalf, for your efforts in making a lasting record.

(Dad was sunk twice, Narkunda and Empire Norseman.)

 

[IAN M]

Hello, Ian. I ordered your 'Letters of a Radio Officer' this Summer. It made an absorbing read. Well done for putting them on record.

Thank you for that, Harry, but it was the books concerning my own memoirs which I had in mind, and are as follows.

LIFE ABOARD A WARTIME LIBERTY SHIP

OUTWARD BOUND - Post-War tramping - mainly up and down the coast of East Africa.

BACK TO SEA - A voyage on the old Atreus when we carried pilgrims to Jeddah on the way home. Also describes my time at Lifeboat School and my first two voyages to the Far East on the Glengarry.

VIA SUEZ - Describes my second two voyages on the Glengarry plus coastal trips to the Continent.

LAST VOYAGE AND BEYOND. Describes my voyage to Australia and Indonesia on the old Deucalion while the second part deals mainly with working at Wick and Portishead GPO Radio Stations.

Best Regards

Ian

 

[IAN M]

I bought your "Shipping Company Losses of the Second World War when on holiday last month. I wish I had bought it when it was published in 2013, as I could have told my Dad that several names that he would have recognised were mentioned. Unfortunately Dad crossed the bar in Feb. 2014. Thank you Ian, on his behalf, for your efforts in making a lasting record.

(Dad was sunk twice, Narkunda and Empire Norseman.)

Thank you for your kind words.

I, too, am sorry your Dad didn't see the book, particularly as both the ships you mention are in it.

Best Wishes

Ian

 

[Scotch Boiler]

Yes I Read it years ago and I enjoyed it. A look back to the 60's.