Anyone out there from the Newfoundland in the late 60's? Be glad to hear from you.
Regards,
Tony
Regards,
Tony
Hello.
My father was Bill Swanson, ship's electrician, on the Newfoundland from commissioning at Burntisland in 1966 until he came ashore in 1972. He did the Liverpool - St Johns - Halifax - Boston round trip which was extended to include St John and also down the US east coast to Newport News. The UK base also shifted to Manchester during those years.
I spent many happy weekends on the ship when he was on standby in Liverpool and sailed on her across the Mersey and into dry dock in Birkenhead.
I recall the fire in the forward hold when a cargo of safety matches (as I recall) ignited, did considerable damage and resulted in the ship turning back two days out.
If anyone recalls my father on the Newfoundland or any of his earlier ships (Pacific Fortune to name but one), I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Hello.Hello.
My father was Bill Swanson, ship's electrician, on the Newfoundland from commissioning at Burntisland in 1966 until he came ashore in 1972. He did the Liverpool - St Johns - Halifax - Boston round trip which was extended to include St John and also down the US east coast to Newport News. The UK base also shifted to Manchester during those years.
I spent many happy weekends on the ship when he was on standby in Liverpool and sailed on her across the Mersey and into dry dock in Birkenhead.
I recall the fire in the forward hold when a cargo of safety matches (as I recall) ignited, did considerable damage and resulted in the ship turning back two days out.
If anyone recalls my father on the Newfoundland or any of his earlier ships (Pacific Fortune to name but one), I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Hello Joe,Memories of the MV Newfoundland
Hi there
I was a good friend of Bill Swanson ( 1964 - good few years) and sailed with him for many years. I was 2nd Eng and Chief on the Newfoundland. I was on the ship from the maiden voyage out of Burnt Island, loading in Liverpool.
The Capatain was Sheffield , Foxy was the mate and Len Armstrong was the Chief and Billy was the electrician.Billy was one of the best electricians I sailed with. We sailed together at the time of the fire.
I had heard that he had died young and was so sad. In fact my late wife and I actually visited Billy and his wife once in Liverpool area - can't remember if any kids were around at that time!
Ps I was also on the Edenmore as well as the the Furness Bridge, Alexander Glen, Lord Kelvin, Faraday, Humboldt , the Cavendish, the Sir John Hunter and lots of others mostly as Chief.
Joe
David,David, Tony, Joe,
I apologise for not replying sooner to your posts about my father, Bill Swanson. It was great to read your memories of the time on the Newfie. All the names are familiar - I'm sure I probably did get to meet many of the crew on my frequent visits to the ship in Alexander Dock.
David - I really appreciate your memories of the Clarkie's deck cranes - I think Bill secretly enjoyed looking after them for all the hassle. I recall on more than one occasion I had the chance to 'drive' the cranes after he had done some repairs whilst in port - every schoolboy's dream. Also recall many a happy hour down in his workshop - probably where I got my own love of engineering there and have spent the last 40+ years doing just that.
Once again, thanks for all the memories. Bill would have loved to think he was still remembered by his old colleagues 50 years later.
David Swanson
Oh Yes, Captain Sheffield was his name...memory must be fading !! He was a much revered Captain to us on those difficult, cold and stormy voyages. One of the officers took an early video recording of one such North Atlantic storm and it makes one feel quesy just looking at it. The only way we could sleep was to wedge our life-jackets under our mattresses and sleep in a "V" against the cabin bulkhead !!. We spent as much time walking on the bulkheads as we did on the actual deck plates as she often rolled to forty five degrees. Ports of call were Liverpool, St. John Newfoundland, Halifax Nova Scotia, St. Johns New Brunswick and occasionally Boston U.S.A.
Cheers, M
[/QUOT. Great old man sheff charlie
Barry,If there are still a few Newfies out there that are interested, I joined the Newfoundland on 29th March 1965 in Liverpool, as a Junior Engineer, leaving the ship on 24th August 1965 having completed four voyages across the Atlantic. So long ago that I cannot remember names of my former shipmates but in case anyone else still retains their memory, my name is Barrie Willoughby.
There were a number of "incidents" that I do remember though, she had a control room which we Juniors were not allowed to loiter in, having to continuously patrol the engine room and write up the rough log, starting an hour before the end of the watch. When passing an iceberg the sea temperature plummeted and we had to race around adjusting the temperature of the engine cooling water and increasing steam injection at the SW intakes. I remember a leaking blow down valve that a Cadet decided needed fixing and proceeded to remove it from the ship's side. He removed several nuts holding it when the Third Engineer came along and to his horror discovered what was going on, pointed out (amongst other things) that the v/v in question was twelve foot under water.
On one trip we carried the Naval Architect who had designed her, accompanied by his wife. We never saw them all the way across, as I believe they suffered from "mal de mer." Not sure that they didn't fly back. It might have been that trip that we broke the skeg on the way back and had to go into dry dock to have it repaired, using the Thermite Process. We all sat on the dock gate admiring the fireworks.
She was a happy ship and the bar had been supplied with a set of half pint dimpled mugs along with a supply of Watneys Red Barrel Beer. On arrival in Halifax we lost no time in inviting a group of WRENS aboard for an evenings soiree and offered them all the spirits but they immediately made for the Watneys and werenot satisfied until they had drunk us dry. We escorted them back to their barracks but some had already gone AWOL, it was judged to have been a good party. Would be interested to hear from anyone else who sailed on her.