North sea chinamen
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On British registered ships during the 50's and 60's there appeared to be a disproportionate number of personnel from Orkney and Shetland ( and the Western Isles), on every ship, hence the friendly term.
Similar, I suppose, to Marconi Men from Ireland.
With the decline of shipping a lot of them actually moved to Oil and gas in the North Sea.
That's my take on the term but there may be others.
God I hope it's not racist or xenophobic and the far left appear at my house to burn me out. We live in testing times.
Similar, I suppose, to Marconi Men from Ireland.
With the decline of shipping a lot of them actually moved to Oil and gas in the North Sea.
That's my take on the term but there may be others.
God I hope it's not racist or xenophobic and the far left appear at my house to burn me out. We live in testing times.
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Not at all, the first NSC I came across was a Second Engineer, it was a generic term and not department specific.
In my mind you are a little too quick in attaching "Derogatory" to witty and harmless sayings.
Shouted from a berthed ship to one just sailing up the harbour, "White Crew?"
and the reply, "No, Geordies". Witty and harmless.
In my mind you are a little too quick in attaching "Derogatory" to witty and harmless sayings.
Shouted from a berthed ship to one just sailing up the harbour, "White Crew?"
and the reply, "No, Geordies". Witty and harmless.
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Rootschat, an ancestry site gives following, which somewhat matches above...
"Otkrad, Orkney or Shetland were the last ports of call for ships bound for the north of Canada. Taking on water men or livestock, reluctant recruits were quite possible. Shetland in particular suffered badly in the famine of the 1840's, the effects of which lasted 20 years. Young men were encouraged to go to sea (North Sea Chinamen!) In the case of the Royal Navy, Shetlanders pay was docked to assist Poor Relief given to their families back home. "
There is also a song by The Boys of The Lough of the same name.
geoff
"Otkrad, Orkney or Shetland were the last ports of call for ships bound for the north of Canada. Taking on water men or livestock, reluctant recruits were quite possible. Shetland in particular suffered badly in the famine of the 1840's, the effects of which lasted 20 years. Young men were encouraged to go to sea (North Sea Chinamen!) In the case of the Royal Navy, Shetlanders pay was docked to assist Poor Relief given to their families back home. "
There is also a song by The Boys of The Lough of the same name.
geoff
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If you're not careful I will send you an LP by The Boys of the Lough.
Don't bother, I've already got it!
I was brought up on Men of Harlech , The Ash Grive and All through the Night .
Bob
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I have a vague recollection of BBC TV showing, in the black and white days, a professional boxing show from Mountain Ash.
Sometimes I feel too old to be posting on a young mans blog.
Sometimes I feel too old to be posting on a young mans blog.
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Alternatively, "A Liverpool crew, with a white bosun".
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I'll bet that would have been one tough bosun (Jester)
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You mean there should be a Ships Nostalgia Nostalgia?
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Of course. So good they named it twice.
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Sorry, black and white is very non PC. You mean monochrome. As in the Monochrome Minstrel Show.
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Hardly PC nowadays, but I have heard the term "Scottish *******" used on more than one occasion.
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