i wonder if anybody had any tales regarding donaldsons captain cook when she sailed out of glasgow on assisted passages 1950-1960 my ex fath in law sailed her (frank brogan) he used to tell me it was pretty rough crew those days i used to watch her leave the clyde and ithought thats what iwant to do i think i got some aspiration from her is it true about hard crew? canny ask him he,s away to see davy jones cheers much obliged (bobby)
captain cook
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Joined
·
11,586 Posts
Most of the crew on Donaldson's were from Glasgow and were named Glasgow Redskins by some seaman from other ports because they were a rough bunch,however I sailed on two of their ships and made six voyages and never saw any of the rumored knives and razors cutting. They were great seaman,worked hard and played hard,couldn't ask for a better crew,not that they were angels all the time, they would fight at a drop of a hat.
John.
John.
My Dad was a crew member in 1956
will ask him about it when he comes to Australia in march he is 85
and oddly enough teetotal
I think his trips to Australia were instrumental in us migrating here in 59
we came out on the Fairsea
Dad returned to Glasgow to live about 20 years ago
will ask him about it when he comes to Australia in march he is 85
and oddly enough teetotal
I think his trips to Australia were instrumental in us migrating here in 59
we came out on the Fairsea
Dad returned to Glasgow to live about 20 years ago
Joined
·
357 Posts
Captain Cook
When attending a DEMS "gunnery course at the RNVR depot in Whitefiled Road, Govan, Glasgow about 1951, one of the others attending was a Captain (Donald) COOK , Master of the Tss CAPTAIN COOK (ex-Empire Brent)
Tom
When attending a DEMS "gunnery course at the RNVR depot in Whitefiled Road, Govan, Glasgow about 1951, one of the others attending was a Captain (Donald) COOK , Master of the Tss CAPTAIN COOK (ex-Empire Brent)
Tom
Hi Bobby, I can't vouch for the truth of this story but here it is as I heard it. I was in Montreal on the Empress of Australia Mar./Apr. 1955. The Captain Cook was along side due to sail next day. She was still there when we left. Seems a body was washed up when the tugs arrived to tow her out. The story was that some crew members got into a scuffle up in Joe Beef's bar, and it continued back at the dock. One of them went missing, and that was how they found him. It seemed real enough at the time as the police were all over the ship. Never found out the full story but often thought about the poor sod. Maybe JimmyC's Dad would know something about it.Ian
lost info
PS ended up class 1 driver nyself
Hi Ian just happens after i swallowed the anchor i got divorced an stuff and old frank went to see davey jones so never got any more stories and i can still see it as i thought then very fast goin doon the water and all those immigrants waving like mad £10 trip Bobby(Glasgow)
PS ended up class 1 driver nyself
Joined
·
2,927 Posts
After being landed to hospital in Invercargill in 1953, I came home DBS from Wellington on the Captain Cook. She had no emigrants aboard, just a few DBS and some deportees. Pleasant passage home, good food, no complaints. They told me that outwards they had to close the bar at the end of voyage party the night before landing the emigrants in NZ, as with a combination of a few drinks and the skirl of the pipes the purser was being beseiged with homesick/semi drunken Scots changing their minds about leaving Bonnie Scotland.
Joined
·
357 Posts
Some time about 1951/52, I attended a "gunnery" course (for MN officers) at Whitefield Road, Govan, Glasgow. In fact, gunnery was hardly on the agenda, buit the course principally was concerned with DEMS equipment then carried by all British merchant ships.....use of one-time codes, convoy procedures et etc.
One of the others who attended this 5-day course was Captain Donald Cook, from the Isle of Arran. At that time, he was Master of the Captain Cook, and had been for a number of years before. when she was the Empire Brent
It must have been quite unique for the Master of a ship having the same name as the ship!
Tom
One of the others who attended this 5-day course was Captain Donald Cook, from the Isle of Arran. At that time, he was Master of the Captain Cook, and had been for a number of years before. when she was the Empire Brent
It must have been quite unique for the Master of a ship having the same name as the ship!
Tom
Having sailed and hung around the Broomielaw (Glasgow pool) I can vouch for the fact that if the stewards didn't get a regular dropsy the punters did'nt eat. I musst have sailed with a few who had been on her but the only name I can remember was the bosun Frank Mc Keague or could have been Mc Caig . Something of a legend even in his day.
Joined
·
582 Posts
the Empire Brent-Captain Cook
Captain Cook.
My brother was on her for 5 years, most of the time when Empire Brent, she was good ship as the Brent mostly on the Aussie run as wine waiter., then once changed to Captain Cook and also changed to the N.Z.run, she changed for worse, became a battleship, brother done 1,5 voyages, he jumped in N.Z. worked ashore in hotel, till one day got found out done 6 weeks in jail, though was easy, worked in gardens there to do his time , deported back to U.K. could not get back into N.Z. because of this offence, so saved up and went to Australia where he stayed.that was in 1952.
recently he suffered ill health and is in hospital just now.
I think that the master, Captain Cook lived in Dunoon on the shore road towards Innellan. He said once ship changed to Captain Cook, and the master with same name, he was very strict and against drink, she at that time became a battle ship and lots of fights onboard and ashore.
I was also at sea all my working life, and remember seeing her in Glasgow when she was Captain Cook, I was in small coaster for some time and passing up and down to Windmill croft quay every 10 days or so.
I am new to this sight, and enjoy reading of the many stories of past times, that todays youngters sad to say miss out on. I enjoyed my days at sea, and would have loved to continue, but is came to an end.
It is rather strange how we mostly remember the good bits and forget the weeks at sea running back and forth to the Persian Gulf, five trips on the trot to Aden. It is better to just mind the good bits. Regards Rob.
Captain Cook.
My brother was on her for 5 years, most of the time when Empire Brent, she was good ship as the Brent mostly on the Aussie run as wine waiter., then once changed to Captain Cook and also changed to the N.Z.run, she changed for worse, became a battleship, brother done 1,5 voyages, he jumped in N.Z. worked ashore in hotel, till one day got found out done 6 weeks in jail, though was easy, worked in gardens there to do his time , deported back to U.K. could not get back into N.Z. because of this offence, so saved up and went to Australia where he stayed.that was in 1952.
recently he suffered ill health and is in hospital just now.
I think that the master, Captain Cook lived in Dunoon on the shore road towards Innellan. He said once ship changed to Captain Cook, and the master with same name, he was very strict and against drink, she at that time became a battle ship and lots of fights onboard and ashore.
I was also at sea all my working life, and remember seeing her in Glasgow when she was Captain Cook, I was in small coaster for some time and passing up and down to Windmill croft quay every 10 days or so.
I am new to this sight, and enjoy reading of the many stories of past times, that todays youngters sad to say miss out on. I enjoyed my days at sea, and would have loved to continue, but is came to an end.
It is rather strange how we mostly remember the good bits and forget the weeks at sea running back and forth to the Persian Gulf, five trips on the trot to Aden. It is better to just mind the good bits. Regards Rob.
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Join the discussion
