[deemac15]

Gordon Dowson was Mate on the British Bombardier which he ruled with a rod if iron. Very particular about flags, lights in fact pretty well everything. Had us apprentices on the go from 0600 to 0000 when at sea with any spare time devoted to wire splicing and working out cargoes. Having said that he taught me more than all the others put together. Wind on a bit and joining the British Strength as 3rd Mate knocked on the old man's door to report aboard and who should appear but Gordon Dowson. His first command and a very different man. Sadly he died at a very early age I think in a car crash. As you say a b*****d but one I remember with a high degree of respect and some affection.

I sailed with his wife when I was 2/E.
How very very different. She didn't remember me. It was an eventful trip.
But gentlemen and officers should never talk about religion or women eh?

 

[deemac15]

Panic, sheer panic.
All the engineers were on s/b until we hit 21 knots.
According to us, we were there hours before the bridge, but that wasn't unusual.
We didn't do it once a month. Once a trip was enough!
My position was on the bottom engine room platform to look after the feed pumps which tripped out with monotonous regularity. (Reset the trip, Shut the valve, reopen the valve SLOWLY fcs,) Do it too slowly and the boiler water level would disappear. From what I remember, the party looking after the turbo fans had more trouble than anyone. Anyway, we were well fed up by the end of the excursise and and I don't believe we hit 21 knots for any length of time

 

[deemac15]

No, just the skeleton of a 4" Howitzer platform in case we met trouble!
What we had in the centre castle was a state secret and I am bound by the etc etc etc

 

[deemac15]

I always thought they 'were' something special. I always fancied a trip on them but never made it.I'm sure I have an email from someone sailing on one in their latter years when all and sundry prayed when they were opened up.

Anyone any idea what the boilers were? Stupid question as I look up my LLoyds,both 685 psi @ 850 Superheat
Would be interested to know if anyone has anymore details on their 'special' specs

Graham

AS you well know, or should from the records you have from me, I joined the Valour as first trip E/A in September 1958 in time for her sea trials.
Which she failed.
Nothing to do with me, I was just the slave taking telegraph instructions. All I remember the hoi poloi talking about was the horrendous fuel consumption.
So I got sent home after I'd just had a major send off from all my family, girl friends and the whole street.
Twenty four hours later I was off to the Isle of Grain to join the Courage.
The old man was RNVR, Funge-Smith and as time was to prove it, he was the finest skipper with which I ever sailed. A proper Master of the old school; smart as a new pin, wise and considerate at all times.
On the other hand, the C/Eng w§as a horny old bastard called Burgess. Well known in the fleet as a hard taskmaster and he lived up to to.
A) He didn't like Engineer Apprentices.
B) He hardly slept and if he was up, I was up.
C) He never bothered with writing up a fair log. Three days before dry dock I had to write out the last 3 months log in a fair hand and, if there was ONE mistake he would throw it over the side and make me start again. I only had to do it twice!
D) He hated ALL deck officers and refused to let his apprentices to talk to any Deck Apprentice. I fought him on that one so I was transferred to days and had to accompany him 24/7 in whatever he was up to.
I've worked for two of his kind in my life and I can honestly say that I came to terms with both of them and they taught me so much and I will be eternally in their debt.
The Mate was George Dowson and he was a different sort of b******d.
I was not allowed to approach the bridge through the chartroom even with clean shoes, thanks to him.
He put the fear of God into the deck apprentices that one of them stuck his head over the ullage port of a tank under loading at 10,000 tons an hour until he passed out. He was carted off and then carted back to spend two days in the ship's hospital.
Dowson was worried man.
I see someone below has given the answer to your question but I have just unearthed my Engineer Apprentices Note Book for that time so I can give anyone bell book and candle if they want it.

PS. I see from that book that the next skipper was Capt J. Digby and, from my letters home I said he went missing one night in the Arabian sea.
Many Officers, including Burgess had, what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. Burgess unburdened himself to me one night sitting on the poop deck with a cuppa tea. I knew I'd met his standards then.