Issue 4/2019 Volume XXV No. 004

The Journal of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners

Livery Company of the City of London Founded 1926, Incorporated by Royal Charter 1930 Contents

Court of the Company Wardens and Court from 1 May 2019 MASTER Captain W J Barclay FNI SENIOR WARDEN Captain D Chadburn IMMEDIATE PAST MASTER Captain R B Booth AFNI WARDENS Commander L A Chapman CMMar RN; Captain R F A Batt; Captain G English AFNI COURT OF ASSISTANTS The Honourable Company Commander P R F D Aylott MNI RN; Captain R W Barnes CMMar; Mr M Burrow; Captain B A Cushing; Mr C Dancaster; Captain S P of Master Mariners Donkersley RFA; Mr H Dundas; Captain I C Giddings FNI; Captain P T Hanton RFA; Captain L J Hesketh FNI; Commander D Ireland MBE PATRON MRIN; Captain J M Simpson; Mr J Johnson-Allen FRIN; Captain P J Her Most Gracious Majesty THE QUEEN McArthur MNM CMMar FNI FIMarEST; Captain J K Mooney AFNI; Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets Captain T Oliver; Captain M C Powell FNI; Captain M A Robarts MNI ARINA; Captain N R Rodrigues; Captain T W Starr MSc LLM; ADMIRAL Captain S E Thomson CMMar; Captain H J Conybeare; His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Captain F K D'Souza FNI; Captain M Reed RD* FNI RNR Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, KG KT OM GBE KCVO OUTPORT REPRESENTATIVES FOUNDER NE Scotland – Captain R Curtis Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick, Bt. Clyde – Mr H Dundas b. 1869 d. 1951 NW England – Captain L Hesketh Bristol Channel – Captain T Hughes South West – Ms V Foster MBE Solent – Captain C Douglass Contents NE England – Captain M James CLERK OF THE COMPANY Commodore Angus Menzies MNI RN – [email protected] Company News Page 107 BUSINESS MANAGER – 0207 845 9872 Mrs Alison Harris BA (Hons) – [email protected] FINANCE OFFICER – 0207 845 9875 Features Page 123 Mrs Penny Burningham – [email protected] CHARTERED MASTER MARINER ADMINISTRATOR Obituary Page 136 Lieutenant Scott Hanlon BA (Hons) AlnstLM, RNR – [email protected] RECEPTIONIST – 0207 836 8179 Book Review Page 137 Gail Byrne – [email protected] Kelly Carter HONORARY CHAPLAIN Events Diary Page 138 The Reverend Reginald Sweet BA RN CORPORATE MEMBERS The Baltic Exchange; J&J Denholm Limited; Furness Withy Merchandise Inside Back Cover (Chartering); *International Maritime Pilots' Association; Maritime & Underwater Securities Consultants Limited; P&O Ferries; Star Reefers; Stephenson Harwood; John Swire & Son Limited; Witherby Publishing Group; X-PRESS Feeders; (*Tenant company) Produced by Perfect Imaging Limited, Enterprise House, Cranes Farm HQS WELLINGTON, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, Road, Essex, SS14 3JB. Telephone: +44(0)208 806 6630 London WC2R 2PN Published by The Honourable Company of Master Mariners , HQS www.hcmm.org.uk Tel: 0207 836 8179 Fax : 0207 240 3082 Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2PN. Email : [email protected] Company News

the future Court Assistants, Wardens and We are sorry to re cord the death of From the Master Masters will eventually come. These junior the following members (and past Captain WJ Barclay FNI members have the added benefit of being members) of the Honourable able to join our Mentoring Scheme which Company of Master Mariners: really is proving very successful and is very much envied by other Livery Companies in • Captain Maurice Bonner the City. 28 August, 2019 I was very pleased to attend the 1 st • Captain Peter Yeandle Anniversary of the Chartered Master 30 August, 2019 Mariners Scheme. This was held on board • Captain Kim Milnes HQS WELLINGTON with most Chartered 02 September, 2019 Master Mariners attending. This scheme is • Captain Archie Munro (Past Master) one which I have tried to champion from 17 September, 2019 its inception. I am very pleased to advise • Mr Peter Roberts that I have just received my own 22 September, 2019 chartership and will be proud to wear the new insignia created. • Captain Sam Judah (Past Master) 26 October, 2019 In early September the annual Merchant Navy Day Service was held at National • Captain Mike Marchant Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill. As 27 October, 2019 always this was a proud day for the Merchant Navy with the Red Ensign flying An excellent evening was spent at the The last time I wrote was in the summer high on Tower Bridge and throughout the newly renovated Painted Hall in the Old and how things have changed. I am now City. It was also very satisfying to meet many Royal Naval College Greenwich celebrating writing this on a very damp and miserable of our Apprentices at the commemoration Merchant Navy 100. I was pleased to see so November afternoon. For me it is hard to and at Trinity House afterwards. man y members in attendance with others believe that I am now just over 6 months in from the maritime community. Later in the month I hosted 38 Livery on my term. Since my last update there Masters, Wardens and some Clerks for the The Sheriffs’ Ball is always a fun evening. have been a considerable number of Livery now traditional breakfast on board HQS This is hosted by the outgoing Sheriffs of Events, whether lunches, dinners or church WELLINGTON prior to the City Livery Halls the City of London at Guildhall and seeing services…really too many to mention here. Walk. This charity event, in aid of the Lord this ancient venue decked out for the event One of the many great pleasures as Master Mayor’s Fund proceeds at a leisurely pace, is something special. Guildhall was packed is to welcome new members. This year has to every City Livery Hall…all 40! with Masters and Consorts old and new all seen close to record numbers of new Comfortable attire, especially footwear, is enjoying themselves. This event is a charity members making their Declaration as they essential as the route is over 9 miles long. evening and over £70,000 was raised in aid join the Honourable Company. The lunches Time was of course allowed for a good of the Lord Mayor’s Charities. that follow are always convivial affairs. Of lunch half way. This was a thoroughly The Annual National Service for Seafarers at even greater pleasure is to welcome enjoyable event and an excellent St Paul's is always a special event and was Apprentices and junior members, as it is opportunity to get to know some of my well attended. This is British pomp at its from this group (we now have 270) that fellow Masters. finest. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Left to Right : Miriam Weber, Jake Waterman, William (Jamie) Wilson, Capt Jim Barclay the Hot Pot Supper on board afterwards as I HCMM Master, Charles Warrington, Jon James Hulford Funnell, Jake Worthy, Scott Bruges was attending a Livery function hosted by the Dyers Company for the highlight of their year, the Swan Dinner. One of the courses is traditionally swan…. but I hasten to add that in our enlightened society the swan is now replaced by chicken! A service for the Book of Remembrance was hosted by the Maritime Foundation at the Mariners' Chapel of All Hallows by the Tower. Although the Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill, just across the road, is seen to be the official site and lists hundreds of names of those lost at sea, the Maritime Foundation hosts this service for those lost at sea with no known grave. During the service a bunch of blue and white flowers was laid beside the Book of Remembrance – a moving tribute. This is a lovely church with a very long history an d has some remarkable stained-glass panels including our own. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 14/2019 • Page 107 Company News

Congratulations to the following on And to the following on attaining being sworn in as: Certificates of Competency: Freeman: Masters: Mr James Barnett-Viney, Captain Matt Rob Goodall, Mark Hart, Mike Stannard Bland, Mr James Brighton, Captain James Mates: Buchan, Captain Ashley Cook, Commander Henry Andrews, Samantha Belfitt, Neil Griffiths, Commander Chris Hardinge, Robert Bellis, James Faulkner, Matt Mr Edward Hill, Captain James Illingworth, O’Brien, Dan Pile, Jack Stephens, Luke Captain Nick Jeffery, Captain David Target, Conor Warde, George Whitfield McNamee, Captain Stephen Tindale, Commander Scott Verney OOW : David Allan ,Michael Bartlett, Nicola Member: Congratulations also to the following: Boak, Alastair Bolton, Edward Derrick, Ross Collingwood, Fiona Doherty, Adam On being elevated from Apprentice to Alice Kent, Mike Moore, Felix Nellen Keen, Alex Lovell-Smith, Harriet Phillips, Freeman: Kate Pike Sam Brunton, Rob Goodall, Mark Hart Associates: On being elevated from Member to up river on the day of his funeral. This time Stephen Bailey, Mike Bartlett, Will Freeman: we travelled from HMS PRESIDENT up river Candlin, Maja Cizmic, James Gillanders, Mr John Almond, to the Houses of Parliament. Along with Frank Nellen, Dan Woodward Professor John Carlton the Master of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen I stood on the bow with Apprentices: On being clothed as Liverymen: four Thomas Doggett’s Coat and Badge Anya Haydon-Guppy, Lisa Hunter, Mr Steve Cameron, Captain Nikolaos winners resplendent in their bright red Will Spiegl Karimalis, Captain Louise Sara coats. We had a very bracing but memorable journey. Tower Bridge was raised for us as a mark of respect. All War Memorials as well as HMS BELFAST were saluted as we passed. A fitting tribute was made by WELLINGTON with the lowering of our Red Ensign. At 1100 on 11th November, we held station outside the Houses of Parliament and after a brief service and silence, I laid a wreath in the river. This was a very moving experience.

Trafalgar Night is always a memorable day with bright autumnal sunshine and was occasion and an excellent dinner with the such a memorable day and just being part RNR was held at HMS PRESIDENT. The Sea of this special service was very humbling. Cadets Trafalgar Day Parade was as ever an The Senior Warden laid our Company excellent outing. This year the event had at wreath at the Remembrance Service at The the last minute to be transferred to Horse Merchant Navy Memorial in Trinity Guards Parade. This did not, however, spoil Gardens at Tower Hill, which of course the the day. In fact, the Sea Cadets found the Company organises. venue quite inspiring with thoughts of parading at the same venue as Her Majesty’s Household Divisions at the time of her Birthday Parade. Sea Cadets from various units around the country came together with only a couple of days rehearsal to provide a stunning display. The annual Remembrance period started with a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral, with the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and nearly all Livery Masters planting crosses in the Garden of Remembrance, accompanied by the band of the Welsh Guards. Thankfully the rain held off until the end of the service. On board Havengore I was then very honoured to represent the My final act of Remembrance was held on Company, the Merchant Navy and the board the HAVENGORE, a former PLA Fishing Fleets, by laying a wreath at the Survey Boat and which carried Sir Winston The Lord Mayor William Russel and his new Cenotaph in Whitehall. It was a stunning Churchill’s coffin from the Tower of London Sea Cadet ADC Lt Cdre Scott Hanlon

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As is tradition we hosted a lunch for the WWI that the bodies of servicemen killed some three hours later at Victoria station new and 692nd Lord Mayor, Alderman overseas would not be returned to Britain (platform 8) where there was a crowd of William Russell as our principle guest of but would be buried in military cemeteries silent watchers behind the barriers. As the honour along with the Aldermanic Sheriff near the battlefields. However, because of correspondent of The Times put it, "the Professor Michael Mainelli. A big thank you this the need to provide an alternative carriage, with its small shunting engine, to Members and their guests for filling the focus for public and private grief which came in very slowly. The few civilians who Court Room and making them so welcome. resulted in war memorials in towns and awaited its coming on the platform took off A few days later I attended at the Mansion villages throughout the country. In London, their hats. Officers and the Grenadier House with the majority of other Livery the national war memorial, the Cenotaph Guardsmen drawn up at the end of the Masters to hear the new Lord Mayor’s vision in Whitehall, was supplemented by a grave platforms saluted. There was great silence.... for his year in office. I was accompanied by containing the body of one of the many One heard a smothered sound of weeping. our Clerk and Lieutenant Scott Hanlon, our unidentified dead as a representative of all The smoke in the roof bellied and eddied Chartered Master Mariner Registrar. Scott is those who had been killed and it was around the arc lamps. The funeral carriage also the Commanding Officer of the considered appropriate to combine the stopped at last. The engine-driver leaned Greenwich Sea Cadets and I am delighted to ceremony with dedication of the Cenotaph from his cab." The coffin remained in the advise that he has been made Naval Aide de on 11 November, the second anniversary of van at the station for the night, watched Camp (ADC) to the Lord Mayor. This is a the Armistice. over by Grenadier Guards. great honour not only for Scott but also for On the night of 7 November, one body was this Company. The next morning, 11 November 1920, was selected from the remains of four a lovely autumn day with mellow sunshine. As ever the visit to Liverpool for the annual unidentified British soldiers brought to the The coffin was taken from the van and lunch with the NW Output was a huge Army headquarters at Saint-Pol, near Arras, placed on a gun carriage drawn by six pleasure and a great opportunity to meet from different parts of the Western Front. black horses; on the coffin were a steel up with old friends and make some now It was placed in a coffin and the following helmet, webbing bell and bayonet. With ones as well. It was a delight to see so day it was taken under escort to Boulogne, admirals, field marshals and generals as many of our young Apprentices and where it was placed in an oak coffin sent pall-bearers and led by massed bands, the members in attendance. out from England. The coffin bore the procession set off from Victoria through By the time this reaches you, Christmas inscription "A British Warrior who fell in Grosvenor Gardens and Grosvenor Place. It and New Year will have come and gone, so the Great War 1914-1918" and was banded went down Constitution Hill, past Elizabeth and I simply hope that all will with two iron straps, through one of which Buckingham Palace and along the Mall to have been enjoyable for you and yours, was fixed a Crusader sword from the Royal reach Whitehall. At 10.45 am, the and that we all have a safe and successful collection. On the morning of 10 procession stopped opposite the Cenotaph. 2020, when we hope to welcome you on November, the coffin was covered with a King George V laid a wreath on the coffin, board Wellington. soiled and torn Union Jack which had been and as Big Ben began to strike eleven, he used by an Army chaplain throughout the pressed a button which caused the Union war, and was taken through the streets of Jacks which had shrouded the Cenotaph to Clerk’s Corner Boulogne, escorted by French troops it was fall away. For two minutes there was Commodore Angus Menzies RN then carried aboard the destroyer H.M.S. silence, not only in Whitehall but "Verdun" - selected as a tribute to France - throughout the country. With the King which then set off into the mist to a following the gun-carriage on foot as the nineteen-gun salute to meet its escort of chief mourner, the procession continued to six destroyers of the Atlantic Fleet. Westminster Abbey for the burial service. At 3.30 pm, H.M.S. "Verdun" came During the six days before the tomb was alongside the Admiralty Pier at Dover and sealed with a temporary stone, more than a the coffin was carried ashore towards the million people filed past to pay homage. Marine station along a route was lined by troops. The coffin was placed in van No. MSc Maritime Operations and 132, which had been decorated with Management – City University laurels, palms and lilies, and covered with London; Semester 2020. wreaths and flowers which were brought This Second-degree course has been by the crew of the "Verdun". Four sentries, supported by the Honourable Company one from each Service, stood guard until since its inception and is designed to train the time for departure. Van No.132 had professionals for the various sectors and previously been used on two separate occupations within the maritime and sea occasions to transport the body of Captain transport industries in the UK and A FRYATT and the body of Nurse Edith internationally. The Course is open to CAVELL. The van has been preserved at graduates and those serving at sea, Bodiam Station. offshore or with inland based organisations A passenger coach was attached for the and repair facilities. The Trustees of the escort of one officer and fifteen men, and Honourable Company of Master Mariners at 5.50 pm the special train pulled out of and Howard Leopold Davis Charity Remembrance Sunday the Marine station. People gathered at every (HCMM&HLD) have initiated a Presentation The Government had decided quite early in station on its journey to London. Arriving for full tuition fees (currently circa www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 14/2019 • Page 109 Company News

£12,000.00) for the Course for a suitable • Treasures – management of all our and one twin, onboard WELLINGTON for UK member of our Company. artefacts, library and silverware collections. the use of members (£50 single, £60 double Detailed information on the course can be Members are invited to consider joining occupancy Please let us know if you will be obtained by contacting the Clerk one or more of those committees and arriving after normal working hours to [email protected]. thereby to take more part in the day to day check in and collect your key. Journal Articles life of our Company. If interested, I am If unable to book onboard, The Vintner’s Members and especially Apprentices and always delighted to update members on Company, Upper Thames Street, London Associates are enjoined to provide articles the workings of the Committees whose EC4V 3BG (close to Cannon Street or for our Quarterly Journal. Articles Minutes are published in the Member’s Mansion House District/Circle Line Tube supported by pictures or illustrations are Area of the Company website. Stations) offers our members access to particularly encouraged. The best article for Video Link their overnight accommodation, some rooms are ensuite and start at £60 + VAT. 2020 by an Apprentice or Associate, as Members, especially output committee selected by the Master and Wardens, will Contact 0207 651 0748 members are encouraged to use the video [email protected]. receive the Anchorites Prize of £250. All link. This is connected via the “Go to correspondence, articles and reports for the Meeting” App, available from the Google Similarly, The Mercer’s Company offers a Journal should be in Word Format/Time App Store. The access code and password range of bedrooms all with ensuite facilities New Roman font and forwarded to the are available from the office. Members and start at £90 single, £110 double Editor at [email protected]. are requested to ensure that mute their including VAT and Breakfast. Careers at Sea Ambassadors mike unless making comment during Contact Collette 0207 776 7233 Although overseen by the Merchant Navy the meeting. [email protected] Training Board, our Company does The Chairman of the Education & Training Members, who are still “serving”, may make encourage our Apprentices and Associates Committee also encourages members to use of the facilities of the Union Jack Club to join the “Ambassadors Scheme” Join witness the meeting but due to the at Waterloo Station, where a single ensuite today! Full details from the Clerk or the sometimes possibly sensitive nature of the room begins at £72.00 and a double MNTB website. discussions about individuals, it is ensuite room begins at £126.00 . Discharge inappropriate for non-screened observers Books need to be carried. Contact Daiva The Royal Naval Sobole , Advance Reservations Manager Birdwatching Society to conference in and so members must check in with the Chair first (Captain Jerry ([email protected]) Tel. 0207 902 7379, The Society was formed in 1946 by the RN Mooney - [email protected]) Fax. 0207 620 0565, Union Jack Club, and MN to provide a forum for the Sandell Street , London SE1 8UJ. exchange of information on seabirds and Honourable Company of Master Meeting Rooms land birds at sea by members for whom Mariners and Howard Leopold There are three bookable rooms for birdwatching is a spare time recreation and Davis Charity hobby. The Master Mariner is the standing business meetings available onboard Members are reminded that our associated WELLINGTON: Vice President of the Society. HCMM & HLD charity is focussed on the The RNBWS is the only organisation in the support of needy Merchant Navy Deck – The Committee Room – seats 16 at the world which collects, collates and publishes Officers and their dependents and also table. (With Video Conference facility) data on seabirds and landbirds at sea. support to educate and train those – The Medals Room – seats 14 at the Membership is open to RN and Merchant interested in a career at sea and table. (large-screen wall mounted Navy personnel who have a common seamanship and sail training generally. computer monitors (HDMI) interest in sea and land birds at sea. The Charity offers tuition fees for the City – The Charthouse – seats 8 in an informal Membership Secretary: Warrant Officer of London MSc in Maritime Operations and setting (with superb views of the Steve Copsey Management and 2 Bursaries for Cadet Thames). [email protected] Officers through to CoC STCW II/1 Contact the Office for details and for qualifications. It also oversees our Committees bookings. The Company operates five Standing presentation at Christ’s Hospital School , Committees (this means permanent and Horsham, West Sussex ; details of all the In addition, the Catering Company can reporting direct to the Court). They above can be obtained by contacting the offer business meeting facilities in: generally formally meet four times a year Clerk [email protected]. – The Model Room – seats 20 at the table The Royal Hospital School at Holbrook also and cover the following areas: – The Court Room – seats 52 at the table • Finance & Risk – all aspects of the offers generous bursaries to the sons or The Court Room is provided with full IT and Company’s investments and accounts. daughters or the grandchildren of male or female officers of the UK Merchant Navy. sound facilities and both are booked • Membership – policy on membership Scholarships are available in four areas: through SEARCYS – via Egle, whose office criterion, recruiting and numbers. Academic, Arts, Sports and, in particular, is onboard WELLINGTON on 0207 240 9888 • Education & Training – oversight of Sailing. The Royal Hospital School, or [email protected]. training standards and the Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2RX Members are entitled to generous discounts Apprenticeship/Associate Scheme. Tel: +44 (0)1473 326200 on the Room Hire charge for both venues. [email protected] • Professional & Technical – oversight of Wardroom professional practices in every area of Accommodation The Wardroom is available for members and maritime business and shipping. There are two ensuite cabins, one double their private guests from 0900 until 1700,

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Monday to Friday. It is best to advise the 2020. Friday 24 April 2020 and Friday 29 Office if you will be onboard, to prevent May 2020. Members are reminded that CMMar Column over-booking. The bar opens from 1230 to guests must conform to our Curry Lunch Lieutenant Scott Hanlon 1430, and serves a full range of drinks as dress code of jackets and ties and well as cold and hot food (hot food should equivalent (no jeans please). A stock of be ordered 24 hours in advance) only maritime type ties is held at Reception. available when the chef is on duty, (please • The annual Liveries Lunch on Wednesday check beforehand). 4 March 2020 (1220 for 1300). This Members are reminded that during bar event is primarily for members of the opening hours, formal business meetings Honourable Company to help entertain underway in the Wardroom must be put on Masters and Clerks of the various Livery hold. Please be advised that dress for Companies in repayment for the members and their guests in the Wardroom hospitality they have extended to the is jacket (optional in the summer) and tie. A Master over his year and an opportunity stock of spare maritime ties is held in to host other important individuals Reception. connected with the maritime scene. Income Tax Relief on Annual Wardens will wear Morning Dress; Subscriptions and Livery members, who wish, may conform, Quarterage although Lounge Suit or equivalent is perfectly acceptable. Please contact the Clerk [email protected] for details. • The Installation Court Dinner on Friday 1 Royal Garden Parties 2020 May 2020 at 1830 for 1900 is the second formal event of the year and a Royal Garden Parties are hosted by Her celebration of the installation of the Majesty the Queen and other members of new Master for 2020-2021. Dress is Since my last submission, the Registration the Royal Family annually and for 2020, Black Tie and equivalent. Authority (RA) has been very proactive in will be held in May and early June at publishing new policies and action plans, Buckingham Palace and in July at Holyrood Library outlining how we are going to grow the house Palace (dates tbc). The restructuring and restocking of the Chartership globally. We have approved and The Honourable Company receives a limited Library is now virtually completed thanks to signed a new RA’s Terms of Reference, number of invitations to the events and herculean efforts of Past Master Graham which will ensure the high standards and Members should apply to the Clerk to join Pepper. Although now usable an up to date professionalism of the RA will remain the waiting list. If supply outstrips demand, catalogue is still in production. exemplary. We have also started to draft a then a ballot will take place to fill the New Books new CMMar Growth Strategy document available slots. Please visit the Royal Garden which we aim to publish in the new year. Party website or the Clerk • Practical Ship Handling (4th Edition) - This will be drawing together our [email protected] for details. Malcolm C ARMSTRONG FNI Pilot International Rollout Action Plan (MAY 9 781649 270847 2019) that I previously shared with you. In Applications, with the full names and up to presented by Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd. January, we will be hosting our next rollout date home postal addresses and preference meeting to help with our European rollout for dates, should be with the Clerk before • Marine Heavy Lift and Rigging Operations from April 2020. the end of January 2020. (Second Edition) David J House Although Apprentices and Associates are A momentous occasion took place on 9-781-849270786 Friday 6 th September; we hosted our first encouraged to apply, please be aware that presented by Brown, Son & Ferguson Ltd. a withdrawal after the deadline Thursday Chartered Master Mariners’ Annual Awards 31 January 2020 , causes us to lose the • CARGOES – A Celebration of the Sea – and Alumni Event onboard HQS Wellington. places as tickets are not transferrable. John Masefield & Kenneth D Shoesmith It was a beautiful occasion which brought Glyn L EVANS together 22 CMMars. We also welcomed six Curry Lunch Bookings 9 781913 297015 new CMMars too: Captain Michael Members are strongly encouraged to join presented by the Author. Rowland; Commander Gareth Jenkins; the waiting list for fully booked Curry Captain Scott Baker; Captain Michael Lunches as we regularly receive • British Warship Recognition 1860-1939 Meade; Captain John Lloyd and Captain cancellations at short notice which throw Richard Perkins Allen Brink. The day was blessed with good up spare seats. Additionally, henceforth, in ISBN 978-1-52673738-0 weather and gave CMMars the chance to order to improve availability and loss of presented by the Maritime Foundation meet members of the RA and a chance for (includes HMS WELLINGTON). income, group Table bookings which are wider networking with professionals across cancelled at less than 7 days’ notice will • Devon Heroes from World War Two – 5 the maritime community. The day consisted incur the full cost of that Table. Tales (specifically Captain Bockett-Pugh of a formal graduation ceremony, with The Office is currently working on: DSO** RN – CO HMS WELLINGTON rowed seating, on the quarterdeck where a • Curry Lunches 1940-1941) citation of each recipient was shared. Then C W Robillard they were invited up to receive their – Friday 31 January 2020 (FULLY BOOKED), ISBN 978-0-9934451-4-9 Charter from the Chair of the RA, Admiral – Friday 28 Feb 2020, Friday 27 March presented by the Author. Sir Nigel Essenhigh GCB and the Master www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 111 Company News

recipient of many gifts and donations, including a substantial number of books that cover many disciplines. Indeed, in retrospect it seems very likely that we accepted anything we were offered and consequently, by the early years of this century the Library contained a large number of volumes that were either out- dated or not relevant to the Company.

Mariner. Afterwards, we proceeded to the Court Room where we had a traditional Heads up curry lunch. The ship was full of -Reply Actions enthusiasm and energy. I must give thanks to Ms Helen Kelly, Head of Communications Sharing some good mentoring at Nautilus International, who came to the news; Ben Avery. Please find attached the graduation In 2012/13 we began a review of the Library event and produced a fantastic two page and disposed of a considerable number of write up in their October newsletter. photographs from my mentee Ben Avery. He is doing rather well, since leaving volumes while formulating a policy on the At the most recent Court of the employment with ABP Southampton, Ben particular areas on which we should Honourable Company, four new Mariners got a cadetship with P&O ferries which he concentrate, e.g. shipping company history, were awarded their Charterships: Captain has just about completed. He has passed navigation, etc. The review was a slow Kaushik Roy; Captain James Barclay; his written exams (one of only 6 students process, both in selecting books to keep and Captain John Mansell and Captain Flavian out of 18 for the year) and now revising finding outlets for unwanted books, D’Souza. This means that within the year of for his orals which are due to be taken including advertising them to members. 2019, the chartership has grown by 41%. during the first week of December at An amazing achievement secured by all our Fleetwood. He has gained the accolade of verifiers, assessors and the committee Top graduating student for 2019 members of the RA. (something I could only dream of when at PRI Assessors Riversdale in the early 1980’s). To help with the expansion of the Chartered Master Mariner Scheme globally, we are looking to increase the pool of our PRI (Professional Review Interview) Assessors. The PRI is one of the most crucial parts of the CMMar process. This interview This was still continuing in 2015 when we is delivered by trained assessors, who have received an unofficial approach from the attended a half day’s course onboard HQS Marine Society and Sea Cadets (MSSC), Wellington. They are trained to assess a which was seeking a home for its candidate’s application and to find out who approximately 4000 volume Permanent they really are and to what level they can Collection. This was brought about as a proved their eminence within the maritime result of the MSSC considering relocation community. Without these PRI Assessors, and the likelihood of there being no space we cannot grant Charterships. Who can for the collection in their new premises. It become a PRI Assessor? Any Liverymen of was apparent that there were many the Honourable Company of Master duplicates within our own collection but Mariners or/and a Chartered Master equally apparent that the addition of the Mariner. We have three training days many volumes we did not have would st planned for 2020 which are 21 February, Ben Avery, top graduating Student 2019 considerably enhance the HCMM Library. 19 th June and 23 rd October. If you would Progress with the MSSC plans was slow and like to express an interest in becoming a Chris Douglass Mentor to Ben Avery it was not until early 2018 that PRI Assessor, please email me at negotiations for the transfer of the [email protected]. The Library – Collection to the HCMM became detailed, On a heartfelt note, to all who have made resulting in an agreement between the two me feel so welcomed and have given me An Update on Progress organisations in June 2018. your support and encouragement since I Past Master Graham Pepper About 110 boxes were delivered by the started in January, thank you. See you all Since its formation in 1926, the MSSC to HQS “Wellington” in August 2018 in 2020. Honourable Company has been the grateful and the long process of sorting began,

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which was not completed until July this companies, the history of the Merchant not necessarily the funniest, because year. We have identified about 50% of the Navy, polar exploration, the Merchant Navy occasionally the funniest is also so MSSC books as either duplicates of our at war, the relationship between the completely obscene it cannot be read out own or those that have no relevance to the Merchant and Royal Navies, navigation to a mixed company! Father Christmas will HCMM or our maritime collection. The (terrestrial and astronomical), seamanship be somewhat feeling the cold, as he extent of duplication surprised us and has and cargo. Additionally, we have a small recently returned from an early Christmas caused a problem for the MSSC, to whom, section on nautical schools and colleges as visit to South Africa, where the by the June 2018 agreement, we are well as a non-fiction section which temperatures hovered around the 30° mark. required to return them, as it now has no primarily contains works by HCMM Coming back on his sleigh, the reindeer space in which to store them. members and a number of other small were pulling on their winter woollies as Fortunately, we have been able to act as sections such as IMO Publications, ship- they passed over France. intermediary between the MSSC and the building (mainly UK yards), biography & As sorely tempted as I may be, I shall make London Nautical School (where the HCMM autobiography, the City & the Livery, ship no comment here about the general has provided a Governor since 2000 and a masters’ business and ports. We also have a election, nor about anything to do with number of our members were pupils), small but interesting collection of sailing our near continental neighbours. I will let which has agreed to take the books that ship log books, antiquarian books and that fall as it may; Whatever may happen, are surplus to our needs. personal logs from our members. These last there is little that any of us can really do are particularly interesting to many of the about it, other than to get on with current members of the Company as they whatever happens. relate to a seafaring period to which many Do make use of the wardroom both for of us can relate. sandwiches and for pre-booked lunches; it We continue to receive offers of donations is an ideal place to retreat from the to the Library and would encourage clamour of the city (or from anything members to continue with those offers. involved as noted in the last paragraph!), or However, we ask that any offers are to hold a meeting (not between 1230 or accompanied by details of the books, as we 1430 when the bar is open). would not wish to take volumes of which Lastly may I wish all of you a very, very we already have a copy or are not relevant happy Christmas and a successful New Year. to our collection. As in the past I have sought an appropriate quotation to end on: We are now embarking on merging the "The object of a New Year is not that we retained MSSC books with the HCMM Wardroom Notes should have a New Year. It is that we collection, which will require considerable John Johnson-Allen should have a new soul and a new nose; re-organisation of the lay-out of sections new feet, and new backbone, new ears and and probably some new shelving. This too, Honorary Wardroom Mess new eyes. Unless a particular man makes will take some time but will, we think, Secretary New Year resolutions, he would make no result in the HCMM having one of the best resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh nautical book collections in the United about things, he will certainly do nothing Kingdom which will be available for study effective.” (G K Chesterton) by our own members and apprentices as well as serious researchers outside the The Wellington Trust Company. However, until the re- The hightlight of the last quarter was the organisation is complete, it will not be Friends dinner onboard with our Patron Her possible to open the Library to members Royal Highness the Princess Royal. It was a but advice will be provided in the Journal well attended event with good and on the HCMM website when it representation from Friends and also the becomes available. Honourable Company. This was a During the last few years we have received celebration of ten years of support from donations from sources other than the the Friends of the Wellington and also the MSSC, including 36 bound volumes of ongoing support from the Master Mariners. “The Motor Ship” dating from the 1920s The short notice London Open House to 1980s, about 500 books from the event was a success with some 627 visitors present writer (mainly British shipping on the day and some 27 ship tours company histories and British shipping) conducted. We have already subscribed and 60 volumes from the Worshipful The Christmas Lunch was fully booked, with for the event next year. Company of Shipwrights as well as a waiting list, by the middle of October! By Our fundraising team, Rosie Fraser and Faye numerous smaller donations from other the time you read this it will almost Clews have completed their initial report organisations and individuals. certainly be but a delightful memory and and delivered a fundraising strategy. We Since the reorganisation that began in Father Christmas will have found a worthy have now submitted the initial interest bid 2012, we have concentrated on specific winner amongst those who were attired as to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to maritime areas and our collection now has a star of stage , screen or the firmament seek a major grant in early 2020. enviable sections on British shipping and assessed the most appropriate limerick; In parallel we have achieved a Resilience www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 113 Company News

grant from Heritage Lottery to fund some HRH The Princess Royal laid their wreaths marked by the annual service here on of the preliminary work, this is now in tribute. Tower Hill but remembrance first had form reaching the final stages with the draft It was a very poignant and splendid day and here 90 years ago with the unveiling of the documents being in final approval for the it is especially fitting that the Monument is Merchant Navy Memorial. Trustees to consider. The Honourable now in place alongside all our other fighting It was neither Sir Edwin Lutyens’ initial Company is involved with the process forces Memorials on the Hoe recognising the design for the Memorial nor chosen site. which will hopefully be of mutual benefit. contribution of Merchant Navy and Fishing Originally similar to his Thiepval Memorial The three key elements, a Business Plan for Fleets to the freedom of our Nation. on the Somme, he envisaged its siting at a 5 year period in detail and 10 years in Temple Stairs on the Thames. The Royal outline. This includes a wide ranging Fine Arts Commission objected however market survey for both education and since this required the demolition of Sir heritage as well as other visitor Joseph Bazalgette’s Embankment Arch, opportunities. A full review of the preferring a position east of Tower Bridge governance of the Wellington Trust is being in sight of ocean-going vessels. Instead, conducted, including the roles of Trustees Trinity Square Gardens was chosen, and key players and committee structures described then as ’at the hub of maritime to ensure compliance with current charity England’. Complications though of land law and also best practice. Finally we are ownership were resolved only by the doing an Education review with the aim of passing of a special Act of Parliament in producing an updated 5 year plan for our June 1927. Uniquely, it had the support of education offering to keep it relevant and three Prime Ministers, past and present: focussed on what does well. Readers may Lloyd George, Ramsey MacDonald and remember that whilst our Primary and 6th Baldwin Those complications helped form sessions are going well there has been determine the Memorial’s design. Built at a drop off in Secondary GCSE take up. We the edge rather than fully within the are not alone in this and it is partly due to Gardens, formerly there were inner gates the current Ofstead requirement on a high separating the two together with the proportion of classroom time in that age present outer ones. More fundamentally, group, combined with ongoing worry about there are no name panels on this near face terrorist activity in central London. while above is simply ’1914-1918’. The Monument its self is made up of three Rather, it is on the south side, facing the The Plymouth blocks of granite, weighing a total of 14 river, that the full inscription appears, tonnes, on top of which is the Watchkeeper ‘1914-1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO Monument to the statue. Burlite Stonemasons of Maidstone THE HONOUR OF/ TWELVE THOUSAND/ OF were responsible for the Monument. They THE MERCHANT NAVYI AND FISHING Merchant Navy and were also the firm who erected the FLEETSI WHO HAVE NO GRAVE BUT THE SEA’. Fishing Fleets; Falklands Memorial at Tower Hill. It was the unveiling of that inscription on what is now the Memorial’s First World War Vivien Foster OBE MN DAY SERVICE, section by Her Majesty Queen Mary that HCMM freeman and SW drew so many thousands on Tuesday 12th Outport secretary MN MEMORIAL, December 1928, filling Byward Street and The Monument was unveiled on September Tower Hill, both closed to traffic. The 3rd, Merchant Navy Day, by HRH The 9TH SEPTEMBER 2018: Queen had visited the Port of London Princess Royal. The service of dedication Roger J Hoefling Authority’s headquarters at Ten Trinity was led by Joe Dent, Rector of the Church Centenary commemorations of the First Square and walked to a dais in front of the of St Andrews, Plymouth with HM Royal World War will culminate on Sunday 11th Memorial for a service led by the Marines CTCRM Band Lympstone November, the anniversary of the Armistice. Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon accompanying the service. As at the Cenotaph and beyond, this will be Lang. It was the first time The Queen had It was a bright, sunny day and the culmination of a 4-year fundraising campaign by the Plymouth Monument committee chaired by Vivien Foster OBE (HCMM freeman and SW Outport secretary) Standard bearers from local and National Merchant Navy Association branches, RFA, RNLI, Royal Naval Association, Royal Artillery, RAF and Wrens; and contingents from the Merchant Navy, RFA, Sea Cadets and RNLI mustered on the Hoe and marched to the Monument for the service. Many attendees represented all aspects of the seafaring community and following

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performed such a ceremony and her first ships were lost to torpedoes or mines in the rank allowed, ‘Skipper’ replacing ‘Master’. wireless broadcast, doing so in place of His Atlantic, lrish Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean The Commonwealth War Graves Majesty King George V whose serious illness and Pacific. 32 are named here with one on Commission states that the ages of those it made the occasion all the more sombre. the the Bombay Memorial. The first to be lost commemorates who died in the First World signal ’We will not forget’ was flown from was Miss Nellie McPherson, War range from 14 to 67. The Merchant Ten Trinity Square Stewardess, of the SS Fingal, one of the Navy Memorial shows otherwise. Patrick London & Edinburgh Shipping Co’s vessels Casey, an Able Seaman, was one of five running a service between London and crewmen lost from the SS Dotterel, a cargo Leith. Torpedoed by the U-23 off ship from Cork, to a mine off the French Northumberland on 15th March ‘I915, the coast on 29th November 1915. At 73, he is SS Fingal was the first British passenger the oldest. By contrast, 101 named were 15 ship sunk by enemy action in the War. and 30 aged 14 while Sydney Jeffries, a Even more unsung are those of the Fishing cook, was one of the five crew killed when Fleets. While some of their personnel and the Lowestoft fishing vessel, Vanguard, was vessels served with distinction with the sunk by the UB-40 on 24th October 1917. Royal Navy on such as coastal patrol duties, Age: 13, forever. In February 1928, the King had conferred two Victoria Crosses being awarded, fishing the title ‘Merchant Navy’ on the Mercantile continued throughout the War. At its start, 76th Annual Scottish Marine in recognition of its wartime service the industry employed 44,000 men in and sacrifice. The introduction of the England and Wales alone. The Ministry of Service for Seafarers convoy system in May 1917 had saved Agriculture and Fisheries showed the catch Hew R Dundas Britain from capitulation later that year. equated to half the amount of meat Thus, the Memorial’s First War section bears consumed annually in the British Isles, Court Assistant and Clyde a name under which those commemorated helping allay Royal Navy concerns about Outport Court Representative did not serve but had earned. the protection needed. Nonetheless, the In accordance with long-established price of helping keep the nation fed was custom, the Company was formally 675 vessels and 434 fishermen lost to represented at the 76 th Annual Scottish enemy action. Their names appear at the Service for Seafarers on Sunday 17 th eastern end of the Memorial, denoted not November 2019 by Captains Stuart Millar, only by home ports like Grimsby or Neil Smith, Tim Oliver, Jamie Wilson and Scarborough but by the only indication of Byron Griffiths (the last three in full

Uniquely too, those named are civilians and represent 103 nationalities. While that includes member countries of the then Empire, amongst the larger contingents who served under the Red Ensign were those from Finland, Spain, Greece, Japan, Russia, the USA and even Germany. Not to be forgotten are the corresponding official memorials honouring 1,708 Mercantile Marine members on the 1914-1918 Memorial in Bombay/Mumbai and 532 on that in Hong Kong. Women as well as men are commemorated. As stewardesses, matrons and typists on board passenger and cargo vessels, hospital ships and ferries, the wartime Mercantile Marine had at least 200 women members. Of that total, 58 died when their unescorted www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 115 Company News

The Rationale for Maritime Air Power This article describes the capability that the UK is acquiring and explains some of the rationale behind this ambitious programme. Starting with the rationale, the key characteristic of what is known as Carrier Strike is the political and operational advantage that is conferred by having the ability to project air power at and from the sea without the need to negotiate such things as host nation support from other countries. The history of carrier-borne air power begins in the First World War and was a critical success factor in many of the Second World War campaigns. More recently, the use of carrier strike in the Falklands campaign and in stages of the Balkans campaigns and in the second Gulf War have demonstrated the enduring utility of airborne power projection from the uniform) and by Liveryman Hew Dundas; significant maritime charities were also sea. But you might ask, why does the Fiona Millar and Vân Dundas completed the represented and also laid wreaths. United Kingdom need this complex and Company’s ‘crew’, overall the best For HCMM Clyde Outport, it was a expensive capability in the 21st century? attendance we can remember. particular honour to share duties with the The UK’s foreign and defence policies are The Service was held in a very full South Arctic Convoy Veterans given that one of founded on the premise that British Leith Parish Church, conducted by the Rev. our number, Captain Kenneth Mackenzie strategic interests do not stop at Ian May, and the Guest Preacher was the (92 earlier this year but sadly no longer Dover. We are a trading nation with Rev. Marjorie McPherson, Clerk to the able to travel), is himself such a veteran legitimate national interests Presbytery of Edinburgh, whose outstanding and a holder of the Ushakov Medal. We worldwide. We are also a seafaring Sermon, based on the theme “Water”, are also fortunate to include amongst our nation whose economy is critically combined biblical references to waters and number Captain Arthur Young MBE, 96 dependent on seaborne trade. Some 95% the sea with modern ones and the earlier this month and the Company’s 3 rd by weight of all goods entering and Minister’s eloquence painted a very visible oldest member, a veteran of the Atlantic leaving the UK are carried by sea. Thus, picture of the sea and those who sail on it. and other convoys. our prosperity and national security are Both at the buffet lunch in the Church Hall inextricably linked to an uninterrupted and after the Wreath-Laying Ceremony, flow of overseas trade. We are also a constructive quasi-mentoring contact was leading power in the NATO alliance and made with four Officer Cadets present who we have significant treaty commitments were supported by the Dean of the well beyond our shores. With these and Nautical College, Mark Stagg, and his purely national defence commitments lecturer, Andrew Simpson. goes the need for the UK to maintain In a recently-created custom, the powerful and flexible armed forces, Company’s crew met the previous evening optimised to provide the maximum degree for an informal and very convivial dinner in of political choice. the Britannia Spice Restaurant right next to the Holiday Inn, Leith. The Carrier Programme To this end, in the UK’s 1998 Strategic The Service was followed by the customary THE UK’S NEW Defence Review, the requirement was Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Merchant recognized to replace the then current Navy Memorial for Scotland, also in Leith, CARRIER STRIKE fleet of 3 smaller INVINCIBLE Class carriers conducted by Rev. May, at which Captain with 2 much larger vessels capable of Griffiths laid the Company’s wreath. A Two CAPABILITY carrying a larger number of aircraft of Minutes’ Silence was observed following Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh various types and with the ability to achieve the high sortie generation rate which Piper Stewart Lindsay played the The Royal Navy is in the process of that is necessary in many operational “Lament”. accepting into service 2 new aircraft scenarios. Now, after 2 decades of project In addition to the Company’s wreath, carriers, HMS Q UEEN ELIZABETH and HMS work and with the usual ups and downs of others were laid by (inter alia) the Lord PRINCE OF WALES. In parallel, the UK is design and funding issues, the programme Provost of Edinburgh, the MNA, Trinity now receiving its F-35B Lightning short is coming together. House, the RFA, the RN/RNR, Leith Sea take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) jets Cadets and the Arctic Convoy Veterans; all that will be carried in these new ships. The capability centres on the 2 vessels

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they will carry. The normal aircraft mix will comprise at least 3 helicopter types. The anti-submarine Mk2 Merlin is fitted with a range of active and passive sensors and carries Stingray homing torpedoes, Mk 11 depth charges and can also be fitted with .50 calibre machine guns. It has a secondary troop-carrying role and can lift loads of over 3 tonnes. For airborne early warning of air or missile attack, the Merlin HM-2 "Crowsnest" helicopter is fitted with a Search water radar and the Cerberus mission system that give it a long-range detection capability over sea and land. The latest Commando version of the Merlin, the Mk 4, can carry 24 fully-laden troops or over themselves plus the development of new immediate predecessors. A large ramp is 5 tonnes of stores and equipment. All aircraft types and the formulation of new built over the port bow to improve the these naval variants of the well-proven Carrier Strike doctrine to scope how these efficiency of fixed wing aircraft take Merlin airframe have folding rotors and ships will be used to support a wide off. Unusually, the design incorporates 2 tails to provide maximum flexibility in variety of defence missions and tasks. The “islands” on the starboard side. The stowing them in the carrier's hangar. The actual construction of the ships has been forward one contains the bridge and the ship's aircraft lifts are large enough to achieved by a highly successful alliance of after one the aircraft control carry 2 Merlin’s at a time in the folded numerous companies led by BAE Systems, facilities. The ships are powered by twin configuration. Also available as part of the Babcock International Group and fixed pitch propellers on shafts driven by mission-tailored air packages will be naval Thales. The modular construction method integrated electric propulsion. Power Wildcat helicopters, Royal Air Force heavy saw parts of the ships of varying sizes generation is provided by 2 Rolls Royce lift, twin-rotor Chinook helicopters and being built in shipyards all around the MT30 36MW gas turbine alternators and Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopters. country and transported by sea to the 4 Wartsila 10MW diesel engines. They It is highly likely that a range of Babcock yard in Rosyth, Scotland where have an operating range of some 10,000 unmanned combat air vehicles will be assembly was carried out in a specially nautical miles and a maximum speed in embarked as this capability is developed. modified dry dock. excess of 25 knots. For warships of their The fixed-wing air component will At some 65,000 tonnes displacement, size, they operate with a relatively small comprise the Lockheed Martin F-35B 280m length overall, beam 39m at the crew of about 750 rising to some 1600 Lightning jets. These aircraft will be waterline and 73m overall, the ships have when both an air group and troops are operated jointly by the Royal Navy and a huge flight deck covering about 8 embarked. the Royal Air Force. Lightning is a 5th acres. They are the largest ships ever built The Carrier Air Group generation combat aircraft capable of for the Royal Navy and are 50% bigger The ships have been built at a size that multi-role operations including air-to- than the largest of the Navy’s previous provides considerable flexibility in the surface, electronic warfare, intelligence carriers and some 3 times the size of their composition of air power packages that gathering and air-to-air simultaneously. The aircraft combines advanced sensors and mission systems with low-observable technology or “stealth” enabling it to operate undetected in hostile airspace. Its integrated sensors, sensor fusion and data linking provide the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness. Information gathered by the jet can be shared with other platforms using secure data links as well as using it to employ its weapons and electronic systems. Lightning is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney F-135 engine that provides thrust for both forward flight and vertical take-off and landing. It is capable of speeds up to Mach 1.6 and has a combat radius in excess of 450 nautical miles. Typically, it will be armed with 2 air-to-air missiles and 2 bombs carried internally. Optionally, it can be fitted with a 25mm gun pod and has underwing pylons that www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 117 Company News

Clyde Outport Visit to Northern Lighthouse Board and NLV Pole Star Hew R Dundas Court Assistant and Clyde Outport Court Representative On Tuesday 1 st October, thanks to connections made with Captain Philip Day, NLB’s Director of Operations, on the RN-MEF course on HMS Collingwood in April/May 2019, Clyde Outport visited NLB at its George Street, Edinburgh, head office followed by a visit to NLV Pole Star in Leith Docks where Captain Eric Smith acted as tour guide. The Outport attendees were Hon. Sec. Captain Stuart can carry further weapons or pods up to but serves to illustrate the key qualities Millar, Captains Lucas and Oliver (Court 15,000lbs (6,800kg). that Carrier Strike embodies and the Assistant) Chief Eng. (rtd) J Aitken and Concepts of Operations range of options that this powerful Liveryman/Court Assistant Hew R Dundas military capability provides for the British with Alan Edmonds, formerly an Engineer Generally, aircraft carriers do not operate Government in an exceptionally wide with Port Line, also in attendance as a on their own. Usually they form the heart range of scenarios. This programme guest of Captain Millar. of a Carrier Strike Group comprising Type represents the coming together of The NLB was established in 1786 and has 45 anti-air warfare destroyers, Type 23 and numerous development strands that will been at its present address since 1832; it is Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, often a provide the UK with an outstandingly governed by a Board of Commissioners, nuclear attack submarine in support, and powerful military force designed to last including the Lord Advocate, Solicitor naval auxiliary tankers and solid support well into the 21 st Century. General the six Sheriff Principals of Scotland ships. The Group provides flexible, self- Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh is a former as well as the Lord Provosts of Scotland’s sustaining, layered offensive and defensive First Sea Lord, a Fellow of the Nautical three main maritime ports, Edinburgh, capability that can be deployed alongside Institute, a Fellow of the Royal Institute Glasgow and Aberdeen. There are also six co- allies at the highest intensity levels of of Navigation, a Younger Brother of opted Commissioners, selected for their warfare as well as being able to adapt to a Trinity House and a Freeman of the maritime experience. NLB has approx. 80 wide range of other tasks on the high seas Honourable Company of Master Mariners. staff in Edinburgh and an additional 20 in without the constraints of other nations’ sovereign rights. Meanwhile, the evolution of military technologies and the threats that they pose continues apace. Innovations such as quieter submarines, hypersonic missiles and small, hard to detect, unmanned air systems represent evolving threats to all British and allied military operations. However, to counter such developing threats, the ships of the CSG have open- architecture command systems that readily allow for software and hardware upgrades as well as the development of Apps and the introduction of AI decision- making aids as these technologies become available. The carriers themselves have abundant spare capacity for new aircraft. Overall. the carrier strike capability is flexible in its configuration, in its tasking and in its longer-term development to match evolving military challenges. Readers will note that the words “flexible” and “flexibility” have been used in several places in this article. This is no accident

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UK Hydrographic Office A New and Impressive HQ Cdre Bob Thornton Chair SW Outport

If I begin by asking the question, “What does the UK Hydrographic Office do?” my guess is that the majority of readers will respond without hesitation, “It produces charts”. This might be followed by a short Oban with small staffs in Inverness, Lerwick service in the world and there is only one pause, then something along the lines of and Kirkwall. Of particular interest to the engineer worldwide who can deal with “Oh, and all that other stuff like Sailing HCMM, NLB has recently taken on its first the electric drive system. Of critical Directions, Light Lists, and Tide Tables”. That apprentice technicians in modern times. importance is NLB’s membership of the might be followed by another slight pause Ultimately, NLB reports to the Department Paris-based IALA 1, created in 1957, in as the cogs gain traction then, “and List of for Transport which NLB, along with the other UK and Radio Signals, Navigation Warnings, The Nautical Almanac, The Mariner’s Handbook Perhaps surprisingly, NLB is not tax-payer Ireland Lighthouse Authorities, plays a significant role. and all those books beside the chart table”. funded but is funded (i) by collecting light (or, for the very careless, all over the chart dues, (ii) operating on a semi-commercial Onboard NLV Pole Star, we were all struck room deck in rough weather!) If you really basis for other government agencies such by how small she seemed; she has a crew wanted to impress our learned Clerk, you as through vessel hire to MoD and (iii) also of 15 including Master, Chief Mate, two might also add that they look after a operating on a commercial basis by Second Mates, a Chief Engineer, a Second magnificent sundial presented by HCMM in providing services to commercial Engineer, a Bosun and a deck crew of four. which case congratulations, because the companies such as maintaining and Fifty-two meters in length and with a answer to all of the foregoing would be monitoring Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) on draught of 3.5 metres, NLV Pole Star is “Yes, but….” The “ but ” is there for good disused oil installations. powered by three Cummins Wärtsilä reason – read on and learn. NLB’s is responsible for 10,000km of CW8L170 - 3 x 920 kW AC generators I was delighted to be asked and coastline, 790 islands, 206 lighthouses, driving 2 x Rolls Royce Aquamaster subsequently represent our Honourable 170 statutory buoys and 23 beacons and, azimuth thrusters and 2 x variable pitch Company at the opening ceremony of the in addition, it supervises 2,000 AtoNs, 130 tunnel bow thrusters forward. Equipped very impressive new HQ of the UK oil & gas platforms and >500 aquaculture with an 18T crane, she is routinely used to Hydrographic Office in Taunton. I am facilities. Very interestingly, several of the maintain buoyage around the Coast of pleased to report that Thursday 25 th April lighthouses were privately-owned Scotland and the Isle of Man. was not only a day of sunshine and structures built as monuments and The Master Mariners present were showers, but also one of tangible pride, donated for use as lighthouses; further, particularly interested in the ship’s DP broad smiles and much professional while we are all used to the classic systems since these were largely new to enthusiasm as HRH The Princess Royal brick/stone-built lighthouses such as the them; the systems can hold the ship on officially opened the building in the Stevenson-built Bell Rock, modern station to within three meters up to 30 presence of some 850 staff and 100 guests, alternatives are made from concrete, knots windspeed and 6 knots current to representing 18 countries, the local aluminium or GRP. work buoys in up to 2.5-meter seas’ community and our own commercial, As well as the obvious managing of informal lunch followed where Clyde academic and Naval sectors. lighthouses and buoys, NLB operates in a Outport entertained Captains Day and supervisory manner in respect of any Smith. A feature both of the lunchtime waters navigable by sea-going vessels discussions and on the tour of the ship such as the Caledonian Canal. was the interchange of experiences from. NLB’s offshore operations are conducted Masters who had commanded widely from NLV Pharos (commissioned in 2007; differing ships. 3,672T) and NLV Pole Star (commissioned The author wishes to thank Captain Philip in 2000; 1,174T; due for replacement by Day, NLB’s Director of Operations, for his 2024). Interestingly, the latter’s engines valuable contributions to this article; any In the 800 square metre central atrium, the are now the only ones of their type left in errors are the author’s assembled company heard speeches from www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 119 Features

the model ratified by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) in 1978. It took ten years to get the agreement of its country members for ratification and acceptance, so that by the time it came into being it was in effect out of date. Certainly by 1978 the new technology which the 39, 45 conflict had spawned we’re moving on a pace, yet little of it was incorporated into the training model other than Radar plotting. Not only that but many of the nations aligned to the IMO were beginning to realize that sea trade could provide their population with work but they may not be The Rt. Hon. Earl Howe, Deputy Leader of intelligence. The UKHO is one of 6 hubs able to cope educationally with the the House of Lords and Minister of State that deliver the Government’s Data Science examinations necessary to get the required for Defence (who incidentally has an Accelerator Programme. maritime certificates. ancestral link to the foundation of the If you have been paying attention, you will This has led over the years to a number of Hydrographic Office in 1795), Rear Admiral have noticed that the UKHO describes itself protocols, drawn up at various venues that Tim Lowe CBE, National Hydrographer and as a world-leading centre for hydrography, have allowed the introduction of multi Acting Chief Executive UKHO and of course a claim that is unequivocally evidenced by choice question written examinations and HRH The Princess Royal who, as a keen and their role as the primary charting authority fixed question orals examinations. All accomplished sailor, takes rather more than for 71 coastal states and of course, their accepted willingly by an industry that has a passing interest in UKHO products. respected position within the International taken up more and more technology in the belief that it will be better than well So, mention of products brings me back to Hydrographic Organization. Add to all of trained competent officers. the earlier question “What does the UKHO this an outstanding archive, which contains do?” and the “ but ” of the first paragraph. hundreds of thousands of records and Yet we see that accident numbers have The correct answer is as follows: The UKHO represents one of the most complete increased; crew contentment levels have is a world-leading centre for hydrography hydrographic collections in the world. deteriorated dramatically and the providing marine geospatial data to inform I hope you will agree that the UKHO does anticipated profits from increased maritime decisions. They source, process rather more than “produce charts”, there is Technology and reduced manpower costs and provide location-based information, much more to it than that. I would describe have not materialised? The reality is, one ranging from seabed to surface. Oft their work as something of a national causal factor follows on from the previous, quoted, but not widely appreciated, 95% of treasure, a highly valued gemstone perhaps, but they are all related. The industry our trade is seaborne, but there is more to set in a striking new setting that will make response has been to stick with the plan the sea than shipping. “Blue economy” is it shine yet more brightly. and push even further along the path of the term applied to the sustainable use of Images courtesy of UKHO the flawed STCW model - implementing our oceans for economic growth which is ever decreasing educational, technical and expected to double by 2030. The term human skill-competency standards all of “Blue economy” encompasses all aspects of Rethinking Maritime which cost less. Therefore, surely, the profits maritime trade and the exploitation of Training: must increase? Not so! resources both on, and below, the sea Fundamentally, the STCW model was and is The Maritime world continues its surface and seabed. All of these activities, critically flawed, from the outset it was evolutionary change, but are the skills of along with defence, clearly depend upon historically based, without any thought to the seafarer keeping up with the comprehensive and up-to-date geospatial the technological changes already taking technology as the role of the ship driver data which means bathymetry and seabed place and from the outset failed to provide becomes ever more complex. we have to profiles, seabed geology and samples, tidal the up to date training necessary for a ask whether the training model used is fit information, pipelines, cables and subsea career in what has always been and for purpose, and if not, how it needs to infrastructure, navigational information, continues to become a highly technical and change. water column data, marine biology demanding environment. information, astronomical and celestial This paper will it is hoped, pose a number of questions that need to be answered, in What is the problem with STCW information, maritime limits and Maritime Certification? boundaries. A mind-numbing amount of respect of moving forward to achieve the The definition of “seamanship” is a good data must be verified and analysed before goal of providing an educational starting point when considering the it makes the transition to knowledge and framework that encompasses the best in problems with STCW. thence useful information for the end user. basic seacraft skills, with the technological, The management of these vast amounts of management and teamwork elements that SEAMANSHIP: Skill in Navigating and data demands a high degree of software now make up a good ships officer, and will Operating a Ship in ALL circumstances. engineering and data science capability shape the industry over the coming years. As an industry, we recognise (or should do) through the development and application The present; that instead of one “skill”, the qualities for of complex algorithms and artificial Training of Ships officers is carried out under operating a vessel successfully requires

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many skills, areas of knowledge and personal confidence borne out of practical reality, are almost diametrically opposite - behaviours, it cannot simply be defined as experience that is tempered with wide despite claims to the contrary. the manual skill of physically sailing or ranging theoretical knowledge. Consequently, it should come as no surprise navigating a ship. Good seamanship comes at a cost, a cost that the accident safety record outcomes When a newly qualified OOW is appointed that the industry and its masters have not are very different. to take charge of a navigational watch, we been willing to pay. How often have we It is one thing to make such a statement, it generally assume that they have heard this mantra down the years? is another to demonstrate the output professional ‘skills’ adequate to the task in The issue of safety, competency and profit realities of the different cultures, and that hand. The industry’s underlying premise is derives from a complex set of questions is what this paper will show. that they would not be there otherwise. with an equally complex set of response. What do we mean by Situational The STCW certificate of competency is The cause is fundamentally systemic - with Awareness? acquired on the basis that the individual degrading crew competence, driven by Within the maritime sphere, situational has been tested and found fit and falling skill levels and deteriorating awareness is attributed to the ‘man on the sufficiently knowledgeable (Competent) to situational awareness, declining safety bridge’ and can generally be defined as: operate ship-wide controls and manage its standards have, inevitably resulted in systems. That said, a newly qualified OOW higher accident levels that have a an appreciation of the vessel and how it does not always have a high level of commensurately greater cost to the is interacting with the environment it is “seamanship”, previously referred to. Any industry as a whole. Profits must suffer, it operating in. mariner will agree that “seamanship” is is a natural consequence of weak Those with a high level of situational something that improves with experience regulation, poor training and declining awareness are deemed to be knowledgeable as the skills and knowledge involved take seamanship levels. in relation the mechanical status of the time to develop and, as was the case in the The comparison between the Maritime and ship, geographical position, vessel course / past, are passed on to those coming Aviation Industries is often drawn, but speed and manoeuvring systems, cargo through the training regime. commentators habitually fail to grasp that care, the proximity of other vessels and the Taking the definition one step further. differing attitudes towards human-player potential hazards that they represent. Seamanship involves self-discipline and the and related safety-culture consistently By this definition,” situational awareness ” carefully judged application of acquired impacts a single (accident) determining is attributable to the man on the bridge competency skills, behavioural traits and factor Situational Awareness ! alone. Thus, someone with low situational theoretical knowledge. Correct and safe It is interesting to note that both industries awareness would, potentially, be in danger use of all these are, historically speaking, claim to use the same risk avoidance model of running aground, damaging the cargo or thought of as good “seamanship”. James Reasons (2000) multi-layered ‘ Swiss colliding with other vessels that approach The word “seamanship” is often used as a Cheese’ Accident prevention concept, them unnoticed. throw away comment to cover many whereby errors are captured, or mitigated So far, so good! The industry’s answer to situations. But experience, all too often, for, at an early stage. shows us that the foregoing underlying solving low situational awareness is assumptions are far from the truth. Unfortunately, as we shall see, claiming to increasingly found in the drive towards apply the same model is where the automation. The argument is simple - take Good seamanship is something that similarity between the two industries ends. the human element (the inherent separates the superior mariner from the The maritime and aviation industries have weakness) out of the system and automate average. It is not a measure of skill or as many systems as possible, then the technique, nor is it just common sense (our very different attitudes regarding how the Swiss Cheese model works in practice. The deteriorating industry safety record should normal understanding and judgement). resolve itself. Instead, and historically, it is a measure of a differences manifest very differently in mariner’s accumulated learning, their training and professional value culture The simple reality is, this model has knowledge and awareness of the industry, outcomes for the two industries which, in consistently been proven not to work. Yet, transferable training on a multitude of The STCW regulatory, training-safety model, has a natural cause and effect output, different vessel types and an intimate namely; knowledge, even relationship, with the maritime operating environment. Moreover, a good seaman will have a realistic understanding of his own capabilities and behavioural characteristics. This, when combined with good judgement, good decision making, attention to detail and self-discipline, begins to give us a reasonable understanding of the technical, professional competence and personal attributes that, more holistically and correctly, define the term ‘seamanship’. Self-discipline and the exercise of good judgement are vitally important to the practice of good seamanship. Both require well developed character traits and a www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 121 Company News

within the maritime industry, where STCW needs to be assessed individually and goes on out of sight of land - in the watery was adopted around 1978, it has been resolved by the application of a wilderness that is the domain of we supported by a regulatory framework which sophisticated set of well-developed mariners and our forebears. We need to be has driven training and competency knowledge, skills and accepted practices by decisive, yet remain open-minded and standards towards the lowest common a professional mariner. flexible enough not to inhibit real progress. denominator using the arbitrary (and clearly Professionalism has been defined as a self- • Daunting? Yes! unsupported) arguments that all maritime disciplined group of individuals, who hold • Impossible? No! training is equal and all seafarers are trained themselves out to the public, as possessing • Alternatives? Regrettably, None. to the same standard . (Which they are not) a special skill derived from training or So how do we see the future: education, and who are prepared to exercise Whilst the scenario may sound dramatic and Seafaring is and always has been a that skill primarily in the interest of others. somewhat far-fetched, it is, in fact, barely a vocation, but it eventually evolved into a Professionalism is a requirement for resolving few years away and it is rapidly coming profession. Inshore, coastal, and river the complex and unpredictable problems upon us. The technologies described, or transport took men and women into a faced by seafarer’s onboard ship. There is no alluded to, already exist. They are real and natural world of adventure where the wide single recipe for getting a ship her cargo and they are already being exploited – this is expanses of water were looked at as crew from A to B. These skills need to be simply a statement of fact. somewhere to be explored. No mountains developed through appropriate education On current trend, if we do nothing to or visible terrain just vast expanses of and guidance from experienced practitioners regulate or retain at least some legislative nothing, what was over the horizon? and human control of our industry and So, where do we go from here, there are working environment, the seas risk So, the human interface has always been at three possible scenarios; the forefront of maritime, the link between becoming the domain of manipulated • Keep STCW review and modify. the sailor, the ship and the forces of Nature. beings that service an autonomous shipping Knowledge of ship and its interaction with • Scrap it keep the model and rewrite in industry that could, in the space of barely a the forces of nature was a fundamental more modern terms incorporating new generation, be lost to most of humankind. aspect of shipping until the advent of the technology and training methods Our starting point must be to recognise powered vessel. Steam power gave the ship • Scrap it altogether and look at a what is going on and speak out. We have a and its crew some control over the forces completely new model of training, one moral, ethical and human obligation to of nature, they were not ruled by them. that incorporates all the basic make others aware of the risks that That ability has developed exponentially seamanship elements necessary and developing, then implementing, these especially over the last 30 years or so. The includes regular high-level training for unregulated technologies poses to our coming of the computer and its ability to assessment and evaluation in a real time industry in the first place, then to other control many of the Navigational and simulated environment. (like aircraft industries and, eventually, to all of mankind. Engineering functions, was seen by the ship simulators) and increase the use of If what is here alluded to becomes the owners and managers as mana from Virtual Reality in maritime education eventual outcome from this rapidly heaven, fill the ship with gadgetry and training and operations. increasing technological drive, history may there will be no need for Crew!! But and it is a big BUT, are we too late? judge that our generation and those that Things have not actually worked out that Have the movements to automate shipping we are currently training, were guilty of the way; aids to Navigation such as ECDIS overtaken us to the extent that we are greatest ever crime against humanity. which should have prevented collisions and fighting a loosing battle. There is a body of To do nothing, is to become redundant! groundings have not, they still occur, so we opinion that tells us Technology has already Captain Peter MacArthur. surpassed what we believed would be the must question why? Is it because the Captain Les Hesketh. future, for many it is here now. technology itself is at fault, is there an over Captain Robert Booth. reliance on such technology, or is it that Maybe now is the time, and, given the the personnel using it are inexperienced or speed of development over the last few not trained correctly in its operation? years -possibly our last chance to start Are our days already There most probably are elements of both in discussing the moral, ethical and legal numbered? the argument, technology that is not built framework required to steer the evolution to a standard which allows for easy human of digital life and to bridge the gap In the preceding article we looked at what interface and the training and competency between what technology can do and what if anything needs to be done to the way standards of those using it. An over reliance it might do - if we let it . the Young Mariners are trained for a on technology by inexperienced poorly If we, as an industry, wish to retain mastery modern 21st century merchant Fleet. trained officers, who, when faced with of the seas and create a place where our The problem is, that the maritime industry is confusing or conflicting information do not skills, knowledge and livelihoods mean not only fickle but financially driven, do we have the ability to respond and question something, then we need to be mindful of cave in and accept the inevitable or fight what they are faced with, or have the what is going on in the exponentially for a better future for our young mariners. ability to use the basic seafaring skills of developing world of automation and We are going to have to realize that the practical seamanship, simply looking out the human augmentation. We must begin fight will take in not only the training of bridge window to have the special preparing for, and accept the burden of, a the Cadets but also the industry itself, awareness necessary to safely navigate the new kind of maritime stewardship and where attitudes will have to be changed on ship without causing harm to themselves, exercise more prescient foresights. The onus how ships and shipping operate. others, or the environment. is upon us to become active in creating and We are all well aware of the efforts to curb Each new situation or task onboard ship implementing the ground rules for what an arms race after the devastating conflict

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of World War 1 and 2, the nuclear from 1897 to 1923. During this period, he coolness during the sinking, was awarded proliferation treaty being the main one drew a series of 100 postcards depicting all the DSC unusually for an officer from that comes to mind. Much is talked about aspects of life in the French Navy – another Naval service and on secondment. the ethics of using weapons of mass JoHCoMM passim . His main regret and concerns, as he wrote destruction and their effect on the planet. This final card in the French Navy series, afterwards, was that he had lost all his many Yet here we are on the cusp of another 100, is far from his best and is rather sketches, paintings, brushes and artist’s possibly far greater problem that could poignantly entitled: “ Having treated the materials, rather than the loss of his spare result in the demise of humankind as we flush on the Admiral’s WC with brute force uniform, “ mais heureusement pas ma vie” know it. A problem that is already and ignorance”, as seen here. encroaching on our lifestyle, cyber technology, touted by those "in the know" as the panacea for all the problems on earth and to improve the life of humans. The push by big business, including shipping is to automate with robotic manufacturing and service, to make it quicker and easier for us simple humans to live an easy life. We already see in the car industry, electronics, mega retail warehouses and some container berths. I have not included the airline industry, although most of the planes you fly in on holiday or to work, are flown by computers, yet they still maintain In November 1916 a naval mine sank its well trained and very competent pilots and largest vessel ever near the Greek island of Engineers to watch over them. Kea, the British hospital ship, HMHS Much of what we see happening comes Britannic , the sister ship of the ill-fated under the heading of "improving safety, RMS Titanic . efficiency and profitability ". Remove the human, but what do you do with them? This steam picket boat or pinnace, sub- This is where we have a conundrum, with titled: 2. Beach party steam-boat, appears our weapons of mass destruction we now rather the worse for wear with a couple of have ethically based policies that ensure at He had also produced a series of 22 dents in the bow and a large riveted patch. least some control. Technology has no such postcards of the Royal Navy as a result of Signed H. Gervese, “Anzac” 1915 , the overarching ethical principles yet it has the his secondment to the staff of Admiral de matelots are rather a scruffy lot and the possibility to bring about the demise of Robeck, RN in the Dardanelles. He travelled splash and plume rising from the water humanity as we know it.? out to the Dardanelles on the Australie , a behind the pipe-smoker, perhaps a near passenger liner of the Messageries miss from a Turkish gun battery ashore? I So is it not about time that we in the doubt it as they seem to be exhibiting a bit maritime sector started to question what is Maritimes with Captain Roger Keyes (later to become Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Roger too much sang-froid , even for phlegmatic going on and to look at its effects on jack tars, but what is it? The portside funnel ship's, shipping and ship drivers, don't we Keyes) who described him as “always a good companion” . Gervèse was serving appears to have sprung a leak at the top need to ask for an ethical policy on the and the general condition of the boat, even development and use of technology not aboard HMS Ocean when she struck a mine, laid by the Turkish Navy in Erenköy Bay. The in wartime, would have given the Admiral only in our industry, but across the whole an apoplectic fit. It is often said that “A gamut of the modern industrial world. mine was most probably German made and of the very reliable Hertz horn contact type. ship is known by her boats”, so it is We do it now or we do not do it at all, the These had five soft lead horns around the probably as well that the Admiral has not time for procrastination is passed, there is upper sides of the ovoid mine containing a seen this one, especially with not with a no more leeway to consider the future, it is glass vial of electrolyte; when broken by washing line strung between the funnel here and now and if we and the industry do contact with a vessel, this completed the strut and the ventilation funnel with not get to grips with it, it will overwhelm us electrical circuit for detonation. laundry hung out to dry. Hung out to dry? and our days will certainly be numbered. Their feet wouldn’t touch the ground. The These sea mines also had automatic Captain Robert Booth. usual “Windermere kettle”, a steam coil anchors that used hydrostats to set the water boiler found on steam driven leisure mine’s depth and then lock the mooring craft and running at 80psi, appears to have Royal Navy Steam cables. These proved so reliable and been replaced by a “Dardanelles kettle”; Launch successful that the Royal Navy started to one that allows toast to be made at the produce an exact copy by 1917. same time. Of interest was to see a photo No.2 in the Royal Navy series On the 18 th March 1915 and, despite all of an RN steam pinnace of this era as I was by Henri Gervèse. efforts, HMS Ocean sank later that day sure it would be instantly recognizable Henri Gervèse, the nom-de-plume of having just managed to steam into Morto from Gervèse’s postcard and it is. Like Captain Charles Marie Joseph Millot (1880- Bay, an inlet on the South West tip of Cape Hergé, Gervèse’s eye for detail and accuracy 1959), late of the French Navy, had served Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula. For his is astonishing. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 123 Features

Finding a photo of the type shown in Gervèse’s drawing was difficult as most of the later versions had only a single funnel. Many were built for the Royal Navy and other foreign naval forces by J. Reid of Portsmouth. These vessels were 56ft long, carried sixteen crew men plus a coxswain, weighed 18 tons and had a lifesaving capacity of 80 souls. Some of the original engines were built by J. Samuel White of torpedo craft as the latter are said to be The cards that Gervèse drew during his East Cowes and were compounds, 4" + 7 the only RN vessels to have their rum secondment to the Royal Navy are an ½" x 5", rated at 19 IHP at 485 rpm, giving ration issued neat, as opposed to one-part accurate and kindly observation of British a top speed of 21 knots. Perhaps it was on rum to three parts water. As well as the Naval life and many bear direct parallels to one of these steam pinnaces that the poet Hotchkiss, they were armed with a light those that he drew of the French Navy, Rupert Brooke, a Sub-Lieutenant at the Vickers-Maxim gun and twelve .303 rifles Russian Navy and the Argentine Navy, all of time was transferred from HMS Canopus , stored in rack in the aft cockpit with which have been discussed in previous anchored off Skyros to the French Navy sufficient .303 ammunition for both. The articles. The accuracy and detail of his hospital ship Duguay Trouin anchored at quote from Hilaire Belloc’s poem “The portrayal, even as cartoons, of uniforms Trebuki Bay and from which the Marconi- Modern Traveller”, published in 1898: and naval installations was quite gram reported : “Etat désespéré ” and then “Whatever happens, we have got the extraordinary. This can be seen in the card his death at the age of 27 in 1915 of Maxim gun, and they have not”, was no below, 12, sub-titled: First command. The “œdème malin et septicémie foudroyante”. longer true by 1914. Pretty much all midshipman, white collar tabs, dirk, knot The gun in the bow is probably the quick- modern forces, Army and Navy, had any and all, is learning to drive a picket boat firing French Hotchkiss 3-pdr, designed and number of them, firing 550-600 rounds per under the anxious eyes of the petty officer made in France by Hotchkiss et Cie in their minute, further adding to the butcher’s bill with crown and fouled anchors of his rank factory at St. Denis near Paris. Founded by of the First World War. With all this on his sleeve and below, three good an expatriate American gunsmith, Benjamin firepower the RN steam launch was, for its conduct stripes that he doesn’t want to B. Hotchkiss, the company’s first factory time, a very aggressive small craft. lose. The contrast between the two was at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, the move Hotchkiss 3-pdr members of the Royal Navy is so to St Denis coming in 1875 after the wonderfully observed and then portrayed. Franco-Prussian War. Made under licence in Britain the specifications had to be converted from metric into Imperial, so the 3lb projectile actually weighed 3.3 lbs converted from the 1.5 kilos of the original; the complete shell weighed double. The breach was a vertical sliding wedge operated by a handle on a very coarse screw thread requiring only a short arc and travel to open or close the breech. A strong design, it is well supported by the receiver against the forces generated on firing. First designed in 1885, it has a 47mm calibre and as such it has a rate of fire of 30 rounds per minute with maximum range of 3.7 miles or 5.7 kilometres. On some a 5- barrelled, gravity fed 0.45-inch calibre Nordenfelt was fitted on the cabin roof instead of the Hotchkiss. They could also, should the need arise, be rigged to launch 14inch spar torpedoes over each side, perhaps hoping to be designated as Vertical sliding wedge breach

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These last two postcards in the RN series years to complete instead of the planned through the Canal were expensive and were published by Raffaelli, Quai Cronstadt, six but in August 1869 a 102 mile single- generally based on a ship's net tonnage, a Toulon; Toulon being the home of the lane waterway with several passing measurement of potential earning capacity French Navy. This Royal Navy series became locations was completed and it officially introduced in the British Merchant so well know and liked, that King George V opened with an elaborate ceremony in Shipping Act of 1854. From 1873 the Suez is believed to have asked for a set of them. November that year. Its original depth was Canal Company used a modified version of Artist, writer, naval officer and musician, 26 feet and the largest ship load that could the British net tonnage rules that included Henri Gervèse will long be remembered as pass through was about 5000 tons. Initially the width of the upper continuous main the personification of the humorous, De Lesseps was anxious for international deck. Transit fees could represent a high compassionate, educated, cultured French participation and the shares were offered proportion of a ship's operating costs, for Naval officer and Master mariner. widely including to the British Government. example in the 1880s up to 25% for a However, only the French responded, cargo passenger steamer of 1400 net tons buying 52 percent of the shares; of the voyaging to India. Efforts to reduce this 150th Anniversary of remainder, 44 percent was taken up by Said level of cost led to a number of innovative Pasha. But the first board of directors ship designs, among them Doxford Opening of the included representatives of 14 countries. Shipyard’s turret deck design was the most Suez Canal However, in 1875, due to financial notable (see photograph). Based on an difficulties a new viceroy was compelled to American 'whaleback' design, from 1893 Captain A.L. White sell his Canal holdings. By then 182 turret deck ships were delivered, This year, during December, Egypt and the approximately 80 percent of ships using the mostly from Doxfords, despite claims of maritime world will celebrate the 150th Canal were British so the shares were suspect stability. Among many British anniversary of the opening of the Suez eagerly bought by the British Government shipowners Clan Line took 30 of these Canal so it is timely to look briefly at its under Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli. turret ships before 1912 when Suez achievements and its impact on the Soon after, in 1882, a British invasion of tonnage regulations changed and construction and operation of ocean- Egypt brought the Canal and the country production ceased. Similar to the turret going ships. under full British control. The Canal deck design were Ropner's trunk steamers remained in the ownership and from 1894 but unlike the turrets they had management of the United main decks stepped only in the way of Kingdom and France until 1956 when the cargo holds. Another version from Ropner’s Egyptian President, Gamal Abdel Yard was the long bridge-deck tramp that Nasser, nationalised it. provided increased carrying capacity without increasing net tonnage. However, with the Manchester Ship Canal that opened in 1894 and the Panama Canal in 1914 that both also used net tonnage for determining passage costs, the first decades of the twentieth-century saw development of the two-deck open shelter For centuries various ideas were proposed deck general cargo ship with tonnage for the construction of a canal across the openings. This design offered the greatest Isthmus of Suez to link the Mediterranean flexibility under the various tonnage and the Red Sea, mostly by the Ottomans, regulations and the type would survive the Venetians and the French. During the While the Canal greatly reduced voyage until the container revolution. 1790s Napoleon had an interest and time to and from ports in the Gulf, the A more general problem for international sanctioned a survey but the idea was Indian sub-continent and the Far East, it shipping has been that the canal is located abandoned after his Chief Engineer also had a significant impact on voyage in a politically sensitive region and this has calculated that the Red Sea was 33 feet costs and the structural development of resulted in its closure on several occasions. higher than the Mediterranean, an error many ocean-going steamships. Passages The first serious closure followed the that set the project back by half a century. In the early 1850s the French diplomat and administrator Ferdinand De Lesseps (see photograph), who had held diplomatic posts in Egypt in the 1830s, and backed by an international commission of engineers, proposed a new lock-free Suez Canal scheme. In 1854, de Lesseps received an Act of Concession from the Ottoman viceroy (Khedive) of Egypt, Said Pasha, to construct a canal, and in 1856 a second Act conferred on the Suez Canal Company the right to operate a maritime canal for 99 years after completion of the work. Construction began in 1859 and took ten www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 125 Features

British-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt in seeks to represent objects that are never still, purpose. Without delving too deeply into October 1956, when President Nasser gave and which are seen under an infinity of the technicalities of the work carried out orders for the Canal to be blocked by changing conditions of wind and tide and by the conservators, the immediate impact sunken ships. It was cleared and reopened light; an art for success in which one must now is of white sails above a sparkling sea, in March 1957. Its longest period of possess keen eyesight, to observe, a powerful all enhanced by the fact that the old, un- inactivity commenced in June 1967 when memory to carry away, and a deft hand to necessary glass has been removed, leaving as a result of the Six-Day War between record the ever-shifting face of the sea and the oil paint to shine through a coat of Israel and Egypt the waterway was again sky, with the objects moving upon them.” museum-quality varnish. closed, this time trapping fifteen foreign The California, was built in 1890 (launched ships, four of them British, in the Canal’s 22 nd February – delivered 24 th April) at Great Bitter Lake. This ‘Yellow Fleet’ the Belfast yard of Harland & Wolff (Hull remained there until the Canal reopened No 225) for Ismay, Imrie & Company of for navigation in June 1975. Liverpool, part of the White Star Line. She For ship builders and managers, the size was 392.3 ft long with a beam of 45.2 ft., a and depth limitations of both Suez and depth of 26.6 ft and of 3,099 gross later Panama would for decades determine registered tons. California was the last and the maximum size of most ocean-going largest of the White Star sailing ships, a trading vessels. Some improvements to the four-masted barque with fore and aft sails length, depth and width of Suez began as on her mizzen, she was built as a bulk early as 1876, but like Panama, at times it While Bale writes above of Wyllie’s water- carrier to bring wheat from the west coast was somewhat behind the shipping colour painting, it is of a Wyllie oil painting of North America to Britain. On her maiden industry’s demands for larger more that I write, the painting being that of “The voyage in 1890 she sailed from Liverpool to economical vessels. Now, after a huge California in full sail passing a lighthouse” . San Francisco in 130 days and back in 121 expansion programme, the Suez Canal can This magnificent picture, measuring 5 ft. x days. Sold to new owners in 1896 and accommodate ships up to 240,000 3 ft. (overall with frame - 6 ft. x 4 ft.) subsequently to various others, she deadweight tons with a maximum beam of painted in 1897 and framed in 1910, hangs stranded on the Isla de Providencia in the 245 feet, a draught of 66 feet and no above the main staircase on board HQS Caribbean Sea, approximately 150 miles off restriction on length. Also, from 2015, there Wellington, having been presented as a the east coast of Nicaragua, and was is two-way traffic over a long stretch of bequest by Sir Geoffrey Beazley*. The abandoned to underwriters as a the Canal and this has reduced transit time picture and its frame were returned to the constructive total loss in 1927. to between eleven and sixteen ship on Tuesday 30 th July 2019 after a William Lionel Wyllie was born in Camden, hours. However, for most vessels ship lengthy process of restoration carried out London in 1851, the eldest son of W M speed is still limited to 16km/hour (8.6 by Tom Mayhew and his staff at the South Wyllie, himself a prosperous minor-genre knots) to prevent erosion of the waterway’s East Conservation Centre, St Leonards on painter living in London and Wimereaux, banks. More than 18,000 ships used the Sea. Visitors to the ship in the interim could France. Most of Wyllie’s early summers Suez Canal in 2018, a 3.6 percent increase be excused for not noticing its absence, were spent in France with his parents. He from the previous year. On average up to this having been taken by a full-size began to draw from an early age, his 50 ships a day now transit the Canal and a photo/printed stretched canvas look-alike natural talent being encouraged by his new record was reached on 2nd August procured by the Clerk for that very father. He was given an artistic education 2019 when 81 ships passed through, 43 White Star Line Building, Liverpool. south bound and 38 north bound. JOTTING MONTHLY By Glyn L Evans The California , by W L Wyllie The artist Edwin Bale RI wrote, in his Introduction to the book “Marine Painting in Water-Colour” by W L Wyllie, A.R.A., “To paint the sea as Mr Wyllie does it, one must be a sailor as well as a painter. From a lad it has been his home, and painting it his daily business. No matter how tiny or how queerly rigged, he had to have his boat and to get about on board her, and it makes a landsman tremble to think of the voyages he must have had crossing the Channel to Holland and France in boats that were veritable cockleshells. Marine painting is a study of perpetual motion, an art which

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form Gracie, Beazley & Co., a company, set up exclusively to charter its ships to other shipping companies, notably Anchor Line, American Line, New Zealand Shipping Company, White Star Line and Shaw, Savill & Albion. Edwin Beazley’s son, Geoffrey was born in 1884 and went on to become Chairman of the Liverpool Steamship Owners Association from 1933 to 1937 and to serve as a director of the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board (MD&HB) from 1928 to 1959. He was Deputy Chairman of the MD & HB from 1948 to 1950 and Chairman from 1950 to 1954. For his services to shipping he was knighted in 1954, and in December 1959 he retired after what he Dawn after a Storm described as “a long innings.” Sir Geoffrey died on 29 th March 1962. at the Hatherley School of Fine Art and and perhaps the best known, Toil, Glitter, then, aged 15, at the Royal Academy Grime and Wealth on a Flowing Tide, was Schools. He won the Turner Gold Medal in bought by the Chantrey Bequest for the Haven Ports and the 1869 with Dawn after a Storm, at the age Tate Gallery. piloting of large of eighteen. He has since been described as *Colonel Sir James Geoffrey Brydon Beazley “the most distinguished marine artist of his MC TD DL (at whose bequest the HCMM container vessels: day” with his works hanging in the Tate, now has the California) was born into a Michael Robarts: the Royal Academy, the Imperial War shipping family. It was back in 1845 that a Museum, the National Maritime Museum, Senior Pilot James Beazley formed the Beazley Line, Harwich Haven Authority the National Museum of the Royal Navy, owning 28 sailing ships between 1849 and many other institutions around the world 1875 which made regular sailings from and, of course, on board HQS Wellington. Liverpool to Australia and New Zealand. In Oil on Canvas, 30.5 inches x 50 inches - 1864 he founded and managed the British sold at Sotheby’s, London on 14 th Shipowners Company, extending crossings December, 2006 for £26,400. This begs the to San Francisco and South America. In question, what might Wyllie’s painting of 1868 the possibility of establishing an the California make at auction today. institution in Liverpool for the care of orphaned children of seamen was proposed by Ralph Brocklebank and Bryce Allan. James Beazley, leading shipowner, was invited to take up the chairmanship of the executive committee formed to further the As a former Chairman of the Harwich plan to establish an orphanage. The Haven Authority Board said ‘the Harwich Liverpool Seaman’s Orphan Institution at th Haven is one of the most beautiful Newsham Park, Liverpool, opened on 30 harbours and has been turned into September 1874. Older boys who were something completely useful’. The harbour interested in a career at sea could transfer has numerous seaward approach channels from the home to the training ship and inside the harbour is connected by two A prolific exhibitor at all the leading Indefatigable which was moored in the rivers the Orwell and Stour. The area and academies and galleries, Wyllie became a river Mersey. the terminals are known as the Haven member of the Society of British Artists, Ports. The main terminal complex at the the Royal Institute of Painters in Water harbour is The Port of Felixstowe container Colours and the New English Arts Club. In terminal owned by Hutchison Whampoa, 1907 he was elected a full member of the this handles the most modern and ultra Royal Academy. As a founder member of large container vessels now exceeding 400 the Society for Nautical Research he metres in length and 23000 TEU. The Port campaigned vigorously for the restoration of Felixstowe handles close to 40% of the of HMS Victory , and in 1930 his 42-foot UK’s containers and is the UK’s largest panorama of the Battle of Trafalgar was container facility. The river Stour has the unveiled by King George V. The painting passenger terminal handling Ro/Ro and still hangs in the Royal Navy Museum, The domed roof of the Mersey Docks & large cruise liners and also petroleum Portsmouth. Wyllie and his latter work were Harbour Board to the right of the Liver and tankers at the local refinery. The river so closely associated with the Royal Navy Cunard Buildings, Pier Head, Liverpool. Orwell of ABP Ipswich handles dry bulk that, upon his death in 1931, he was buried In 1882, Edwin Arthur Beazley of this vessels with cargoes arriving from Europe with full naval honours. His 1883 painting, shipping family joined William Gracie to and worldwide. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 127 Features

her berth or safely put to sea. It is a responsible job and one that gives legal powers for navigation and has penalties for misconduct. Harwich Haven Authority installs responsibility on pilots, and recruits’ pilots from a senior marine career and currently sets the bench mark as a Masters certificate of competency coupled with Masters experience or senior officer with pilotage/port experience. Once a pilot has started training, they are doubled up until authorised and continuously developed with training in marine resource management, simulator training and other courses in ship handling with six monthly development reviews. The standards set by the authority are high and quite rightly so when you take into account what has to be accomplished in an environmentally sensitive area.

The Harwich Haven Authority [HHA] is the Environmental compliance is high and one statutory authority for the harbour area of the reasons for regulated navigation. and seaward approaches to Haven Ports. Harwich Haven Authority continuously Harwich Haven Authority is a Trust Port and monitors the ecology and wildlife in the does not own any of the terminals in the Haven and no adverse effects have been harbour as these are privately owned but found as a result of commercial operations derives it income from the tariffs levied for in the area. Doing all of this has meant conservancy and pilotage services. The significant investment in marine operations Authority was established under an Act of which includes pilotage, surveying, Parliament in 1863. It is not supported by dredging and public awareness of what the My role as a Pilot the public purse, but any profit is reinvested authority does and is something we are Its 0300 and the telephone rings. The only to maintain the highest marine navigational extremely proud of. person in the house who is glad to hear the and environmental standards. The authority Pilotage: phone ring is the dog who knows this is the signal for him to occupy my warm side of is a statutory authority with powers to Harwich Haven Authority is deemed a the bed. The pilot co-ordinator is calling to regulate navigation, a competent harbour competent harbour authority under the let me know that a large container vessel authority and provides the pilotage service Pilotage Act of 1987. The definition of a has given an ETA to the pilot station at the for the Haven Ports and seaward area and a pilot is a ‘person who has the conduct of seaboard area. I get myself ready and head local lighthouse authority providing navigation’. I often get asked what this out of the house and get the first navigation marks in its area. means, to be brief; passage planning, indication of the weather to expect. As the All of the seaward approaches are navigating, manoeuvring, ship handling car pulls out of the drive most of my encompassed by marine conservation zones and ensuring that whilst under navigation neighbours probably have no idea what I and the rivers used for navigation all port byelaws and regulations are do or where I am heading when my car surrounded by SSSI protection as they are complied with, it involves looking after lights head up the road. It’s a thirty-minute special sites of scientific interest. everything until the ship is safe alongside

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drive to the Vessel Traffic Service centre guidance on planning the port passage. Exchange of information which allows me to contemplate the nature Pilots are equipped with portable pilot of the pilotage I am about to undertake. units which allow passage plans to be I arrive at the pilot station which is the developed and taken onboard. I always say Vessel Traffic Services and operations that an electronic tablet can carry more centre, here I check my personal protective information in it than I could carry equipment and begin planning the onboard in a suitcase. From the VTS I go pilotage. At the VTS centre I have access to down to the jetty to board the pilot launch real time meteorological sensors for wind for the trip out to the arriving vessel. strengths and tide heights. I am also able to Arriving at my work station. see past trends and the forecasts. As I am doing all of this, I discuss with the port duty officer the berth location and planned side too and traffic forecast. Part of risk assessment carried out by the port in the On the bridge the master and myself will passage plan was whether vessels require go through an exchange of information ‘clear runs’ at certain parts of the route by starting with two documents; my MPX and regulation or whether adopting risk the ships pilot card. Depending on the size assessment and methodology is sufficient of the ship and risk this can be a straight to manage that risk. I discuss also what forward process of exchange of towage I expect will be needed and if a information, on larger ships this can be the tidal window for minimum under keel route, berth and towage followed by a clearance to be maintained. All of this steady feed of information to keep the starts the integrated port system and the master briefed. From the pilot boarding key players understand what the plan is. I area, the ship is steadied on her first course. note essential elements and calculations on Track error minimises as the ship the Master/Pilot exchange form for approaches the approach channels to the discussion once I’m onboard the ship. port. My first report to the VTS is that the As the pilot launch approaches the ship, I route has been agreed and that I have am already assessing what the exposed hull taken the conduct and agreed towage. The form is like. Where can the tugs connect vessel is given permission to enter the speedily with the shape of the hull and regulated traffic system. VTS monitor the what will the flare on the bow and stern be passage and use ‘trigger’ messages should like for berthing? Will extra towage be they see the vessel deviate from the generic required? Once on the bridge I meet with port passage plan. the Master. A lot has been written about the Master Pilot relationship and pretty pictures with bridge seating plans and who Harwich Haven Authority has done more, goes where. I have always found that a by putting together a Passage Plan Support good handshake and a warm ‘hello captain’ Document, which can be freely downloaded and a joke about the English weather gets and gives Masters more information and things off in the right way.

With the ever-increasing size of ship the displacement and reduction of UKC leads to a larger swept path. Large alterations need to be planned and monitored as they are executed. The purpose-built channel also gives bank effect increasing hydrodynamic forces on the ship. A lot of skill of the pilot comes in judging whether shorter course alterations should be done by generating a rate of turn rather than rapid course and helm orders. Any orders given regarding helm and engine speed need to be clear and short and closed off at the end. I remember that not everyone’s first language on the bridge is English. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 129 Features

Escort and harbour assistance radius. The tug has not had to alter her tow bow and we have to park them as flat, as towage; line or the connected position meaning a well as displace something in the region of fast and safe response time. 200,000 tons of water and counteract any wind or tide, and hold the vessel in position in a tidal way with only 50 metres either end, till all mooring lines are fast which can take about 40 minutes. A Short History of Railway Steamers By John Eric Tinney It is difficult to write about the Railway Towage is an important part of handling The tug continues to operate in these radiuses whilst the ship is manoeuvring at Steamers without writing about the large ships, not only is it a tool used for Railways themselves. manoeuvring these ships, but it also forms slow speed backwards through the harbour, part of risk assessment and a tool for and where at a slow speed the ship is In the 1970s Sealink was the largest emergency handling and keeping the ship affected by the wind and tide in the shipping company under the British flag, and port area safe. narrow harbour. the most important thing perhaps not in terms of tonnage but in is response time. number of ships and number of seafarers Traditionally tugs connected over the stern As the ship approaches the berth the ability employed, the latter not difficult with three to pull and push ships. Different designs of for the tug to come in and push the mega crews of ratings and five crews of officers tug were used for coastal or salvage ship is difficult due to the design and flat per ship. Even so, Sealink together with towage and harbour towage. Over the area available. Here the tug is able to other BR subsidiaries such as Hovercraft, years and with development in tug design shorten her line and pull towards the quay British Transport Hotels, BR Engineering, we have some very efficient and powerful before flipping around quickly to provide Freightliners, BR Parcels, BR tugs that can be used in different tow the check. Again, this brings safety Telecommunications, Railfreight, Red Star modes. The most modern of the designs is redundancy if the ships engines fail, each Parcels and Travellers Fare, to name but a the Azimuth Stern Drive Tug (ASD) which is tug is able to work on the fore and aft lines few, contributed 4% of British Rail's common across Europe. There are other and position the ship in a safe position. revenue, 96% of the revenue came from designs such as Voith Schneider and pod Again, if external elements are strong Rail passengers ticket sales. It all revolved designs all with different qualities. whilst positioning the ship the tug can be around the railways, the ships were always The ASD offers the pilots in the Haven applied to work against these forces with subordinate, I will, however, endeavour to Ports a design that is useful for harbour proper performance as she can tow in clear keep the mention of Railways to the assistance when berthing and unberthing water and not have to keep position minimum, but it won't be easy. the vessel, as well as a design that coupled against a hull. Part 1 – The beginning with new techniques allows us a medium I always say to the ship’s crew that a ship is Before the railways came there was a range escort tug for the harbour and designed to go forwards rather than thriving coastal shipping network around approach channel. Large ships need both backwards with the shape of its hull. Room British waters. Towns such as Clacton and escort and harbour assistance for us to is tight when we manoeuvre and we are Southwold were dependent on the sea manage both the risks posed with such a sometimes required to turn the ship around routes because the ‘roads’, such as they large ship and the handling characteristics and go backwards up a river to the berth. were, were impassable in all but the most of their design. This represents a number of situations, first clement weather. These ‘coasters’ were During the pilotage the tug is connected at slow speed for the 180 degree turn and mainly one-ship companies owned by the the outer area of the harbour to provide then counteracting the elements before we master, however, some had joined forces assistance for the large turns at speed. This go backwards. This time the blunt end and created what we now consider to be is possible from the tug towing over its rather than the pointy end has to go first ‘companies. All carried freight and some bow, and for the tug’s safety, stability and and the ship will behave differently. could also transport passengers. They sea keeping qualities. It works without tended to sail from population centre to power in an indirect mode but utilises the population centre. The railways, at first, underwater shape and area of the tug and were not interested in shipping and just acts as second rudder for the ship. Similarly, delivered passengers and freight to the if power is needed the tug can apply this harbours. It did not take long for the the same as the ship. railway companies to see the benefit (and As the vessel comes through the turn, she profit) in providing ‘through booking’ and is able to be slowed by the tug in to do this they entered into agreements transverse arrest mode where the ship is with the local shipping organisations to braked by the tug and her azipods creating provide the services. a ‘wall of water’. As the ship then These organisations alas were not reliable, if approaches the swing, she is able to do a a ship had a defect there was no dynamic swing (handbrake turn) assisted by As we approach the berth, we have to be replacement available, so the railway the tug operating on a 180 or semi-circle extremely accurate due to the flare of the companies, in general, decided to provide

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their own ships. Some companies bought company (North British Steam Packet Coy.). companies were accepted for travel. existing shipping companies and others The North British ran the railway on the In the Irish Sea, the small Furness Railway , built their own company from scratch. In north bank of the Clyde, from Glasgow to based at Barrow-in-Furness, had two small many areas, Firth of Clyde is a good Helensburgh. They built a pier at vessels which operated excursions from example, the railway companies were Craigendoran, near Helensburgh, and Barrow to Fleetwood and in summer forbidden by law from operating shipping operated ferries to Gareloch, Loch Long and months also to and from Belfast and the services. This was overcome by creating also served the holiday resorts of Kirn, Isle of Man. This company also operated ‘arms-length’ wholly-owned subsidiaries. In Dunoon, Innellan and Rothesay. steamers on Lake Windermere and the Clyde the Caledonian Railway created The main company on the Upper Clyde was Coniston Water. the Caledonian Steam Packet Company and the Caledonian Steam Packet, which on chartered them to provide shipping The Midland Railway , based in Derby, behalf of the Caledonian Railway , based at services. In other cases, the railways got operated shipping services from Heysham, Glasgow Central Station, ran services from together for mutual benefit e.g. The near Morecambe in Lancashire, to Belfast Glasgow, Greenock, Gourock and Wemyss Stranraer Larne Steam Ship Company was and Douglas in the Isle of Man. This Bay to all seaside towns in the Upper Firth an ‘independent’ company funded by the Company also had a share in the Stranraer- and associated lochs, and during the Midland Railway, London & North Western Larne service. summer months operated excursions to the Railway, Caledonian Railway and Glasgow Lower Clyde calling at Ardrossan, Ayr, Arran The Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway , the & South Western Railway and accepted and Campbeltown. David McBrayne, an ‘Lanky’, based in Manchester, had shipping tickets from the four companies. The independent shipping company, had a very services on both sides of England. They ‘independents’ such as G & J Burns, of Viper close relationship with Caledonian and ran operated out of Fleetwood in conjunction fame, continued to provide services from services connecting with Caledonian trains with L & NW Railway to Belfast and Derry population centre to population centre, in to the Kyles of Bute and the Inner Hebrides. and on their own account from Liverpool their case Glasgow to Belfast and Glasgow to Drogheda. On the North Sea they to Londonderry, whereas the railways operated from Goole to Copenhagen; preferred to carry their passengers as far as Hamburg; Rotterdam; Antwerp and Ghent, they could by rail before transferring to and from Hull to Zeebrugge. This company ship. For example, the train which bought the Goole Steamship Coy in 1905 previously took passengers from London to and also had a close working relationship Liverpool to embark a ship for Dublin now with the Hull & Netherlands Steamship ran to Holyhead where they embarked on a Company. ferry to Kingstown (now known as Dun Laoghaire) and again train to Dublin. A The London & North Western Railway , saving in time of about six hours or more based at London Euston, operated shipping on the journey. services from Holyhead to Dublin and Glasgow & South Western Railway , based Kingstown (now known as Dun Laoghaire) In the middle of the nineteenth century at Glasgow St Enoch Station, concentrated and from Fleetwood to Belfast and Derry there were many small railway companies their services on the Lower Clyde, operating in conjunction with the ‘Lanky’. This operating shipping services. Over time they from Ardrossan, Fairlie and Ayr to Arran, either amalgamated with, or were taken Company also had a share in the Stranraer- Bute and Campbeltown. At one time they Larne service. over, by other railway companies to leave had the monopoly of the Upper Clyde with fourteen which operated shipping services. their branch to Princes Pier at Greenock, In Scotland the main area was undoubtedly however, their station was not close to the the Firth of Clyde which already had a pier and passengers had to take a coach or thriving ferry service run by some five or walk to the pier, through a not very more independent companies. These salubrious part of the town of Greenock. companies had an arrangement and in When the Caledonian opened terminals general did not compete with one another, with trains alongside the ferry, Glasgow & there was of course some competition, or South Western lost all their business in the should I say shared services, on the busy, Upper Clyde. more lucrative routes. This group of Stranraer was in the Glasgow & South The photograph shows two mailboats, independents had convinced local Western territory; however, the company Cambria on right, at Holyhead harbour government that the railway companies could not afford to run the Stranraer-Larne waiting for boat train from London. It was should not be allowed to operate ferry service on its own and sought assistance the custom for two ships to get up steam services on the Firth. from other railway companies with interests ahead of departure time. Cambria was The North British Railway , based in in the northern part of a yet undivided alongside the rail station and scheduled for Edinburgh, was the largest railway Ireland. The Larne and Stranraer Steamship service. The one on the left was on stand- company in Scotland. They operated ferries Joint Committee was formed. The members by, fully crewed, in case there was a fault on Forth and Tay before the respective and funding coming from the London & with the designated ship. When the mail- bridges were built. They also ran some small North Western, Midland, Caledonian and ship on the right sailed, the stand-by ship pleasure steamers on the Firth of Forth, Glasgow & South Western Railway would shut down boilers and stand down River Tay and the Solway Firth, however, Companies. This committee ran the Stranraer until the following morning. The other two their main shipping business was the Firth Larne Steam Ship Coy which served the mailboats of L&NW were doing the same of Clyde where they had an 'arms-length' route and tickets of the four fore-mentioned thing at Kingstown. www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 131 Features

Following the 1800 Acts of Union passed services from Southampton to Le Havre, St to operate sea-going vessels but the North by both the British and Irish Parliaments Malo and the Channel Islands. This Eastern had powers to do so, and chose, the Government was looking to improve company also ran services from Lymington perhaps wisely, to join with the well- communication of dispatches between to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and established Thomas Wilson, Sons & Co. of London and Dublin. Holyhead was deemed shared services from Portsmouth to Ryde Hull in a joint venture. The 'Wilsons and to be the most suitable port for the Irish and Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight with North Eastern Railway Shipping Company', Sea crossing. The problem was the Menai the London, Brighton & South Coast was established in 1906 and operated to Strait. The Government commissioned Railway. Antwerp, Ghent, Hamburg and Dunkirk. Six Thomas Telford to build an improved road The London, Brighton & South Coast vessels were transferred from Wilson (from from Chester to Holyhead which would Railway , based at London Bridge, ran 1916 Ellerman's Wilson Line) and a further include road bridges across the Conway shipping services from Newhaven to Dieppe six were built for the company between river and Menai Strait. After much and, as mentioned previously, shared 1907 and 1925. A separate but discussion in Parliament the Government services from Portsmouth to Isle of Wight complementary venture was the Hull & agreed that the bridges should also be rail with L & SW Railway. Netherlands Steamship Company, formed in bridges and encouraged the construction of 1894 from a merger of earlier private a railway from Holyhead to Chester where The South Eastern & Chatham Railway , companies and becoming a subsidiary of it would connect with the line to London. based at London Charing Cross, ran the the NER in 1894. The fleet was renewed The Government gave an unwritten shipping services from Dover and with four 'Abbey' steamers built in 1907-08. promise that the rail company would be Folkestone to Calais and Boulogne. The Wilson ships, when operating on railway granted the mail contract so the Chester routes, changed their funnel markings. and Holyhead Railway was formed and To be Continued in Part 2 construction of the line commenced. The company also ordered four ships to run the Troopships service from Holyhead to Kingstown. The London & North Western Railway was Part 1 originally intended to provide the link from John Eric Tinney Chester to London, however, C&HR decided Although the transport of troops by sea has not to operate their own trains on the been customary since the days of Julius route and in 1847 came to an agreement Caesar and even earlier, it is rather with L&NWR for them to operate the trains The Great Eastern Railway , based at surprising that, even in peacetime, Britain from Holyhead to London. On completion London Liverpool Street, operated shipping relied to a large extent on chartered of the line in 1850, the government services from Harwich to Hook of Holland, passenger ships to carry her troops overseas changed its mind, as they do, and the mail Rotterdam, Antwerp, Zeebrugge and to meet her military commitments. contract was not forthcoming. C&HR had latterly Hamburg. When the Admiralty took Towards the middle of the 19 th century started carrying passengers on its ships over Harwich Harbour in 1914 most routes steam was beginning to replace sail and the from Holyhead to Kingstown in 1848 and were altered to sail from Tilbury. now was in financial difficulties. L&NWR first steamship used for trooping was the gave financial support and eventually the The Great Central Railway, based in Enterprize , a wooden paddle steamer of two companies were merged in 1859. Manchester was first formed in 1847 as the 479 tons completed in 1825. Built to Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire inaugurate a service between Britain and It is not clear whether the route was not Railway Company and ran a ferry service India, the venture was a failure and she generating the return that was expected or between New Holland, in Lincolnshire, and was eventually sold to the Bengal the returns on other business were very Hull. In 1865 they commenced steamship government and used for towing good, I expect the latter, however, during services to Hamburg by taking over the troopships from Calcutta to Rangoon. the American Civil War two of the ships Anglo-French Steam Ship Company. Then, in As early as 1833, during the Portuguese were engaged in running the Confederate 1866, they commenced Grimsby - Blockade in 1861 to bring cotton and Civil War, six steam paddle ships were Rotterdam service, and in 1867 Grimsby - chartered from P&O and used to embark tobacco to the UK. In October 1862 they Antwerp service. The Hamburg service were captured by Union forces, and Portuguese troops at Oporto to invade became daily in 1891. The Company also ran southern Portugal. Until the coming of renamed. Scotia became General Banks and services to Belgium from Goole and Hull. Anglia became Admiral Dupont. steam, the time taken by troopships on The North Eastern Railway , based in York, passage to Africa and particularly to India, In the Southern Irish Sea, the Great had harbour facilities and trading rights in combined with their uncertain date of Western Railway (GWR known as God’s the ports of Northumberland, Durham and arrival, had always involved unavoidable Wonderful Railway), based at London Yorkshire. The Company owned the Hull difficulties. By the early 1850s, however, Paddington, ran services from Fishguard to Docks Company (which comprised of there was no shortage of passenger ships Rosslare, Waterford and in summer months Queens dock, Humber Dock, Railway Dock, available to carry troops overseas, as most to Queenstown (now known as Cobh) and Victoria dock, Albert dock, William Wright of the early British steamship companies Cork. In the English Channel, Great Western Dock, St Andrews dock) and the King had been able to begin operations only operated services from Weymouth to the George Dock, which it operated in with the aid of a Government subsidy. This Channel Islands and a small ferry across the conjunction with the Hull and Barnsley financial assistance was given solely on the River Dart from Dartmouth to Kingswear. Railway ; also, Hartlepool Docks, Tyne Dock understanding that the companies were to The London & South Western Railway , and Middlesbrough Dock. Despite this move allow their ships to be used as troopships based at London Waterloo, ran shipping into port ownership, neither railway chose by the government in wartime.

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As the advantages of screw propulsion had on the following morning, the Birkenhead bunker capacity to carry troops round the been amply demonstrated in 1845 during a ran headlong onto a reef on a coast which, Cape into the Indian Ocean. In 1856 the contest between the propeller-driven sloop as the chart showed, had not yet been Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation HMS Rattler and the paddle sloop HMS properly surveyed. In an attempt to pull the Company was formed and later, as the Alecto , screw-driven ships began to replace ship off the reef the engines were put British Indian Steam Navigation Company, the paddlers. With all the campaigns and astern and a pinnacle of rock, already was destined to become the third of the wars which were to follow during the next embedded in her keel, cut into the iron hull great troopship lines. During the mutiny hundred years or so, the trooping service ripping her bottom open as she moved one of their early ships, the 500-ton screw assumed increasing importance and astern. The crew and soldiers attempted to steamer Cape of Good Hope , carried the although, on occasion, naval ships were get the boats away but only two cutters first reinforcements to reach Calcutta from used as troop transports, chartered and a gig managed to clear the ship, Ceylon in support of the hard-pressed merchant ships always formed the carrying all the women and children. British army in India. It was about this time backbone of the service. While ships Strange as it may seem today, the OFFICERS that the Army started to use the “Overland constructed primarily for the transport of OF HMS BIRKENHEAD WERE ALL WARRANT Route” to serve the garrisons in India, troops continued to be built up to 1957, OFFICERS. Shortly before the ship sank, her troopships sailed from Britain to even their role ceased in 1962 when it was captain, Warrant Officer Salmond, climbed Alexandria, the troops then travelled by decided that all future trooping would be a few feet up the rigging and told all on coach to Suez where they embarked for carried out by aircraft. This policy, although board that he could do no more for them onward transport to India. correct, caused a hiccup in 1982 when and they must save themselves. The Senior troops were required to be transported to Army Officer ordered the troops to 'Stand the Falklands, however, Cunard's Queen Fast', they did so and the world has ever Elizabeth 2, P&O's Canberra and Sealink's since remembered them as heroes. "Women St Edmund were requisitioned to and children first" has been a firmly supplement the RFA fleet. accepted code on all the seven seas since With the advent of iron ships, the navy was those far off days. Of the 648 souls on doubtful of their value as ships of war and board, only 193 were saved. in 1844 shooting trials were carried out to The outbreak of the Crimean War in 1854 Cape of Good hope assess the effect of gunfire on iron plating. resulted in the British Government having The initial results were such that the to organise their first large scale movement Although the shipping companies fulfilled Admiralty ordered all new building of iron of troops overseas since the introduction of all the agreed arrangements in transporting warships to be cancelled and the three steam. At this time P&O had recently built troops during the Crimean War and the already under construction - the paddle the 3,438-ton Himalaya , then the world's Indian Mutiny, it was during these events steamer Birkenhead building at Laird's yard largest iron screw ship. After a short time in that the handicaps of the existing system in 1846 and the screw steamers Megaera service she was sold to the Navy for became apparent. The principal difficulty and Simoom - were to be completed as £130,000 and converted into a naval arose when ships urgently required were not naval troopships. This decision resulted in transport. She was destined to have a long always immediately available. After much one of the most tragic incidents in the career in the trooping service and was discussion it was finally decided that a history of troopships. I am sure that you are eventually converted into a coal hulk; she regular service of Government transports all aware of the fate of HMS Birkenhead, was still afloat at the outbreak of WWII, should be inaugurated and the Navy was briefly. HMS Birkenhead sailed from her iron hull still being in good shape. instructed to build five specially designed Spithead and Queenstown in January 1852 Eleven other P&O ships were troopships to service the huge number of carrying reinforcements to South Africa for commandeered as transports. The Cunard British troops stationed in India. In 1866 the Kaffir War. Company provided eleven ships and the the Crocodile, Euphrates, Jumna, Malabar Bibby Line their first two steamships, the and Serapis were built. Tiber and Arno.

HMS Birkenhead HMS Serapis She arrived at the naval base of Magnificent-looking rigged screw Simonstown in February where most of the transports of 6,211 tons with a speed of 15 women and children left the ship. Those knots; each was designed to carry a remaining numbered 648, made up of 487 Himalaya complete battalion of troops. With the soldiers, 31 women and children and the Following the Crimean campaign, the Suez Canal due to be opened in 1869, all crew of 130. Birkenhead left Simonstown Indian Mutiny of 1857 caused further were given dimensions which would enable at 1800 on 25th February for Port Elizabeth strains on the trooping transport service. them to pass through the canal, thus where the remainder of the troops and The main problem arose through there saving a considerable time on their voyage families were to be disembarked. At 0200 being few steamers with sufficient to India. The Indian Government paid the www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 133 Features

costs of running the service but the Navy Everybody was surprised at the result. twenty British India ships carrying troops operated the ships. Officers and troops were infinitely more from Indian ports to South Africa. Between For almost thirty years these ships comfortable in the passenger quarters of 1899 and 1900 P&O built the Assaye, maintained the routine Indian trooping the regular liners, and the cost to the Plassy and Sobraon especially as transports. service, becoming familiar to generations of Government was far less. The companies So that the troops could parade and British soldiers. In their early years they found it paid so well that it was worth exercise, each ship had wide decks clear of were better than any other ships on the their while to refit the ships completely obstructions. All were convertible into service, reducing the time on passage by a and, rather than change them backwards intermediate passenger liners when they large margin, but towards the end of their and forwards continuously, to lay them up were not required as troopships. for the slack season. After the opening of days they dropped far behind the standards In the years between the Boer War and the the Suez Canal in 1869, the Dacca , one of of the contemporary merchantmen and outbreak of WWI the Government British India's finest steamships, joined the were bitterly criticized. continued to use the contract method of Indian trooping service despite intense The 'Indian Trooping Season' generally carrying the military reliefs to India and the opposition from P&O. began with troop ships leaving England in other overseas garrisons. This encouraged September, and ended with the last ships From the 1860s to the early part of the the companies involved in trooping to build leaving India in March. This pattern was twentieth century any sizeable military new tonnage and withdraw their older probably established once troop ships no operation forced the Government to turn ships. Bibby Line built five ships named longer sailed around the Cape of Good to the merchant service. In the Abyssinia after ‘shires’ , (Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Hope and started using the "Overland military operations of 1868 P&O supplied Leicestershire, Gloucestershire and Route", and then the Suez Canal after its six troopships and British India nine. These Oxfordshire) . Their tonnages were around opening in 1869. companies also supplied ships for the 7,000 apart from Oxfordshire , completed in The reasons for a restricted period were to Ashanti War of 1873 and the Zulu War of 1912, with a tonnage of 8,500. British India travel in the cooler months so that troops 1879. During the Egyptian campaigns of already had Dunera (1891) and built four were not travelling during the hot summer the early 1880s, eight P&O and nine British new ships Jelunga (1891), Dilwara (1892), months in unventilated ships, particularly in India ships were chartered. Rewu (1905) and Rohilla (1906). In 1912 the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, when The Boer War of 1899 to 1902 involved the two more ships were added Neuralia and conditions could become dangerous and transport overseas of the largest force ever Nevasa which were destined to become the unacclimatised troops from Britain were not to leave Britain, resulting in the Admiralty most famous of all troopships. Neuralia was travelling from the ports of Bombay or Transport Service having to draw on the lost in 1945, striking a mine in the Gulf of Karachi to their cantonments during the ships of virtually every major shipping Taranto, but Nevasa survived to open post- heat of an Indian summer. During the Great company. Thus, in addition to the WWII peacetime trooping. She was finally War garrison troops were sent to Europe and companies already involved in peacetime withdrawn from service in 1947. they were replaced by Territorial Units and trooping, P&O, British India and Bibby lines, the Trooping Season Routine was disrupted. ships were requisitioned from the Cunard, This led to an incident in 1916 when Anchor, White Star and Allan lines in the nineteen Territorial troops died of heat early months of the campaign. The Union stroke on a train from Karachi to Lahore. and Castle companies, united in March Each season generally there were only two 1900 into the Union-Castle Line, had ships of the twelve or so voyages which called at which were specially designed for the Aden on the way out to India and three on South African service and were thus ideal SS Oxfordshire the way back. The extra one coming from as long-distance troopers. It is not It may be interesting to note that the India was needed to affect the annual relief surprising, therefore, that their ships proved vessels were known as HMT, e.g. HMT of the British infantry battalion in Aden. the most useful transports during the Nevasa , this did not signify ‘His Majesty’s In the year 1891 the great change was campaign, notwithstanding that the Troopship’ as commonly thought but ‘Hired made. The Serapis and her sisters were peacetime troopers were specially fitted out Military Transport’. Vessels are not obviously wearing out rapidly and, with so to carry troops. permitted to be named ‘His/Her Majesty’s much money being spent on naval whatever’ unless they are crewed by naval construction, it was doubtful whether personnel, merchant navy crews are Parliament would supply the funds to build considered civilians. ships to replace them. The trooping service The ‘tween decks of these latest troopships was a nuisance to Portsmouth, but the were reasonably well ventilated as the London and South Western Railway was troops slept and ate on the same deck, the willing to offer superior facilities at men slept in hammocks, and to every ship Southampton Docks. The Crocodile , an additional Chief Officer was appointed Euphrates , Serapis and Jumna were in a under the name of Troop Officer. When not bad state and would require a considerable SS Assaye required for trooping they were outlay if they were to continue on the On the outbreak of the Boer War, three reconverted as passenger ships, if business service. So, the decision was made. Only the Castle liners were immediately was good, and traded on Indian or Eastern Malabar was retained and, in place of the requisitioned, the Roslin Castle, Lismore services, but more usually they were laid up other four, the Britannia and Rome , of the Castle and Harlech Castle . By the end of in Southampton Water. P&O Line, and the Dilwara , of BI were the war over fifty ships had been taken up on charter. commandeered as troopships, including To be continued.

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In the early hours of the morning of the tried to go alongside but the high seas The rescue of the 28 th December the cargo shifted causing a made it impossible. After several failed crew of the Gallina. list to port. The crew tried to trim the ship attempts, a boat commanded by the chief first by pumping and then by jettisoning officer Mr Bate and four seamen was Captain Les Hesketh 600 tons of cargo overboard but with little launched and eventually reached the effect. Heavy seas, continued to pound the Gallina but could not get alongside because Gallina. By now all three boats had been of her list. A line was passed, and four men washed away, and the engine room were hauled into the boat, a fifth jumped skylight was smashed allowing water to but failed to catch the line and so was flood the engine room. The port rails were hauled back aboard the Gallina. The dipping 3-4 foot into the water as she rescuers themselves were now in danger of rolled with the swell. being smashed against the side of the Gallina due to the suction caused by her constant rolling and they returned to the Charing Cross. They reached the Charing cross but had taken a lot of water on board from the high seas and could not keep alongside for fear of being smashed against the side of the Charing Cross. Instead a line was thrown down from the ship. One by one the men had to A typical Sunderland built steamer of jump from the boat into the water and the1890s catch the line. Understandably, the men were reluctant to jump into the water, I had gone to help my brother clear the Despite the difficulties and working waist but Mr Reynolds the third engineer who house of a relative of my sister in law who deep in water the crew continued to man was a good swimmer, took the lead and had become very frail and could no longer the pumps and the engine room. Waves jumped first, encouraging the others to live at home. The walls and stair well of her had doused the fire under the port boiler follow. The men were then hauled aboard home were covered in pictures and which could not be relighted. Gallina had the Charing Cross. artefacts from around the world. Among to rely on her starboard boiler for power, The boat returned to the Gallina and two them we noticed a frame containing a but there was barely enough to keep her more of her crew were rescued. An attempt collection of 5 medals. head on to the seas. The crew were cold, wet and exhausted. The chief engineer had was made to get a line from the Gallina to On closer examination we could just read not left his post for five days and was only the Charing Cross to convey a hawser from the words ‘for saving life at sea’ and SS relieved when he collapsed with one ship to the other, unfortunately the Gallina. No one in the family knew exhaustion. So desperate was their line could not take the strain and parted. anything about the medals, so I decided to situation that the crew were using As it was now dusk, with a heavy west- see if I could find the story behind them tablecloths and pieces of their own clothes north-west gale blowing and heavy snow and what a story it turned out to be. The as wicks for the lamps. Despite their heroic squalls it was decided to stand by overnight medals were awarded for the rescue of the efforts the water level in the holds and wait for morning. crew of the Gallina in 1899 continued to rise. Without their lifeboats The Charing Cross stood by all night, but in The SS Gallina was a single screw steamer which had been smashed or washed away the morning the Gallina was not to be built in 1878 by Mounsey & Foster of they had no other option but to stay seen and it was assumed she had gone Sunderland. She was owned by Jesse Lilly & aboard the Gallina and hope for rescue. down with the remaining crew during the Co and had a crew of 22. She loaded a night. The Charing Cross resumed her cargo of 2,200 tons of maize and rye in voyage while the rescued men mourned bulk and bags bound for Moss and the loss of their shipmates. Christania, in Norway. She left Newport But she hadn’t gone down, she had Philadelphia at 6.00am on the 16 th drifted out of sight but was in such a December 1898 under the command of perilous state that the Captain and crew captain Ernest Frankland. were expecting her to go under at any At first the weather was fine, and she was minute. Cold, exhausted and without making 7.5 knots, but the weather began hope they feared the worst. Instead to deteriorate and by the 27 th December morning light brought a welcome sight the Gallina was labouring and straining in The Charing Cross aground off the isle of another ship, the ss Kanawha. hurricane winds and mountainous seas. She Arran in 1910. She was sunk by a German began taking water over both quarters. At U-boat in 1918. The Kanawha had left Newport News, th noon, the master turned her round and th Philadelphia on the 27 December 1898 hove to. Her engines were still going at full At last on the 8 day of their ordeal a ship with a cargo of wheat bound for Liverpool. speed to try and hold her position. Shortly was sighted. That ship was the Charing She too had encountered a succession of afterwards heavy seas broke over the deck Cross, on a voyage from New York to strong westerly gales and very high seas and washed away the deck cabins and Cardiff with a cargo of wheat. during the passage. Her lookout spotted a flooded the berths. Captain Mills, master of the Charing Cross, vessel showing signs of distress at 6.00am www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 135 Obituary on the 5 th January 1899 and her captain, they stripped the ship of everything of OBITUARY captain Maxwell altered course toward her. value that could be salvaged, and collected When daylight broke, they recognised her many photographs of the ship’s officers, CAPTAIN ARCHIBALD as the SS Gallina from West Hartlepool. their wives, children and sweethearts to Her exhausted crew manged to hoist a return to their owners later. The Aragonia (“ARCHIE”) MUNRO signal, C.H.B.J. – ‘I wish to abandon, but was bound for New York. When she arrived th have not the means at 8.30am Captain in New York on the 26 January, the last MRIN MNI Maxwell sent away the starboard lifeboat two survivors of the Gallina were taken to MASTER 1998-99 the society for the prevention of cruelty to under the command of the chief officer Past Master Captain Archie Munro passed animals to be taken care of. Mr Ham with a crew of five seaman. The away on 17 th September 2019; he was 87 rescuers encountered the same problems As to the medals, they belong to my sister and the Company had been aware that he that had earlier faced the crew from the in law’s great grandfather, Henry Wilson had been in poor health for some while. Charing Cross, strong winds, mountainous Ham, chief officer, later master of the ss Archie was born in Gourock, West seas and a heavily listing ship. They risked Kanawha. The collection includes silver Renfrewshire, and was educated at being smashed against the ship’s side or medals from the Board of trade, The Greenock Academy and Keil School, Kintyre. sucked under by the rolling ship. Despite Shipwreck Fishermen’s and Mariners the hazardous conditions and the risk to Benevolent Society, Lloyds, the Mercantile His father, Commander James Munro RD their own lives, they persisted and Marine Association and the Liverpool RNR, had been a Clyde Pilot for many eventually manged to bring the remaining Shipwreck and Humane Society. However, it years and was also the first Warden of the 16 men including captain Frankland is the courage of all those involved that Company (1960-64) from an Outport; aboard the Kanawha. will live long in the memory. Commander Munro is immortalised in Company history by reason of his Sources. discovering, then acquiring, then th Liverpool Mercury 14 January 1899 donating to the Company the wonderful New York Times 9 th January 1899 ‘Viper’ staircase. th South Wales Daily News 12 January 1899 Archie began his training for the sea as a The Arizona Republican 27 th January 1899 cadet at the School of Navigation, https://www.wrecksite.eu/doc/wrecks/ Glasgow Royal Technical College, from gallina_ok.jpg 1948-49 and then first went to sea with Ben Line, staying with them for almost all his sea time apart from a short spell with SS Rappahannock sister ship to ss Kanawha ‘A Sea Symphony’ Cunard. He was seconded from British & Once aboard the Kanawha the rescued (Vaughan Williams’) Commonwealth to the Springbok men were given food and dry clothing. Calling all musical seafarers! Vaughan Shipping Company (Cape Town) when it Captain Frankland of the Gallina and his Williams’ masterful work about the sea, was formed in 1959. He left the sea to men spoke in the highest terms of the with words by Walt Whitman, is to be join the Munro family towage, tendering bravery of their rescuers and of the great performed in London in March 2020. and berthing company, Clyde Marine kindness they received from the captain Services, based in Greenock and serving and crew of the Kanawha. The Kanawha The English Arts Chorale and the Eye Bach the River Clyde, the Firth of Clyde and the continued her voyage arriving safely in Choir, together with the Prague wider West Coast of Scotland. Liverpool on 9 th January 1899. Conservatoire Orchestra, will be performing this wonderful evocation of the power of Captain Munro’s career included significant For their service in rescuing the crew of the sea at Dukes Hall, Royal Academy of and highly meritorious service to the the Gallina, the Board of Trade awarded Music, on Sunday 29 th March 2020 at maritime industry; inter alia, he had been a £10 pieces of plate to each of the captains, 18.00hrs. member of the Marine Safety Agency’s the silver medal and £5 binocular glasses 1992 Domestic Passenger Ships Steering to each of the mates and the silver medal For those in East Anglia, the same concert Group and he had also been involved in and £3 each to each of the seaman will be performed the previous evening, their consultation process in the th involved. In the 1890s that was a month’s Saturday 28 March, in St. Edmundsbury consolidation and deregulation of statutory wages for the seamen. Cathedral, Suffolk, at 19.30hrs. instruments relating to domestic passenger But there was still another twist to the If anyone happens to be in Prague a vessels. He was a founder member of the story. On the 8th January the German fortnight later, there is to be a third Nautical Institute and a member of the th steam ship Aragonia on route from performance there on Saturday 18 April Royal Institute of Navigation. He was also Antwerp to New York, came across the at St. Salvator Church. the local representative of the Shipwrecked Fishermen’s’ and Mariners’ Royal Gallina still afloat, 700 miles off the Irish The other pieces to be performed at each Benevolent Society and a Trustee of the coast in placid seas. Seeing her distress concert will be Dvorak’s ‘Te Deum’ and Seamen’s’ Friends Charitable Society. signal and thinking they could see signs of Smetana’s ‘Vltava’. life on her upper deck, they launched a He was admitted to the Company in 1968 boat to investigate. What they found were More details are available via and thereafter to the Freedom and the two dogs prancing like wild creatures and www.englisharts.org/tour or Livery, both in 1973. He served on the delighted to see them. The men spent two www.eyebachchoir.co.uk Court (1975-84) and was a Warden (1984- hours searching the ship to make sure there For any further details please contact Geoff 97) and Senior Warden in 1997-98 before was no one else aboard. Before they left, or Val English. becoming Master in April 1998. One of the

Page 136 • The Journal • Issue 4/2019 www.hcmm.org.uk Book Review

highlights of his year in office was hosting Scotland, and particularly in the Clyde family correspondence carefully preserved HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the area, Archie volunteered that he had during the following years and recently Admiral’s Luncheon on 9 th December 1998, mooring buoys dotted around the Clyde collated and edited by his grandson this being to mark the 50 th anniversary of in secluded spots. He gave me the Captain Jack Isbester. The correspondence HQS Wellington arriving at its permanent positions of some of them. I used one or between Captain John Isbester and his wife mooring at Temple Stairs. In his speech of two of them particularly when I was Susie gives a rare insight into the lonely life welcome for the Duke, the Master noted caught out in bad weather. A great guy.” of a Sailing-ship Master, his duties and that he had first come aboard in 1949 and – Hew Dundas said “I remember Captain responsibilities; not only to the ship owner had noticed the absence of a bar …. The Munro (I never dared call him Archie) but also to his family members. Duke was made our Admiral in 1957. with great respect and affection having Sailing ships were very much at the mercy th On his standing down as Master on 30 ‘hit it off’ when my family’s connection of the elements having no other motive April 1999, he and the Mistress were rowed with the HQS Wellington staircase power than the wind. Getting them from A registered after which he all but ashore in the Company’s Thames Waterman to B required a herculean effort from the adopted me. In addition, we connected cutter, the Master Shipbroker, crewed by Master, the crew and what needed to be a warmly through his service with Cunard Captains Freestone (cox), Culshaw, Wake, well-found vessel. The book is of a Master with which, again, my family was closely Powell, Adams and Sandeman. who not only has gained knowledge of the connected. In the time-honoured phrase, environment in which he has chosen to Archie was a very key figure in the Clyde “a true gentleman”, one whom it was a work, but also the ship handling skills Outport being its Honorary Secretary 1982- great privilege to have known”. 2004 and authoring its definitive history, necessary to command a ship under sail published in the Journal in 1988 and with together with the business acumen to deal an update in issue 4/2015, the latter Captain Arthur with the ship’s international agents during focusing on the story of the RNVR Club times when correspondence and ship Carrick, built in 1864 as the clipper Young MBE instructions took weeks to arrive. We also ship City of Adelaide and, on 18 th October see a man who has to come to understand 2013, renamed at a ceremony presided over how to use the sailors he has available to by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh before him in ways that get the best out of them, being shipped to Adelaide on a barge. without the need to use the oft times harsh measures of some Sailing-ship Master. The Captain Munro’s Funeral Service and narrative and letters weave you into the Cremation were held in Greenock on lives of John and Susie Isbester; one of feast Thursday 26 th September 2019 and was and famine – short times at home and long well-attended including Company times apart. Where love and integrity shape representatives Past Master Captain Pepper, the man and the family. A very personal Clyde Outport Hon. Sec. Captain Millar and view of the 19 th Century seafarer. Captains Gillespie, Smith, Oliver and Lucas and Liveryman Hew Dundas, In addition, I recommend the book to all, as a good the Munro family and the Company historic record of life in Shetland and the members present were greatly moved by Clyde Outport is very proud to report that 19 th Century seafarer but to those whose the attendance of Captain Arthur Young Captain Arthur Young MBE, the outpost’s profession is the sea, its content will be MBE, Archie’s immediate predecessor oldest and the Company’s 3 rd oldest truly understood. (1975-82) as Hon.Sec. of Clyde Outport, a th member, celebrated his 96 birthday on Editor 2019 few weeks short of his 96 th birthday. 10 th November 2019, the celebrations no As the congregation emerged from the doubt assisted by some red, wholly Funeral Service, it was greeted by a Clyde medicinal, liquid given by the Outport in Marine Services fire tug which came in recognition of Captain Young’s outstanding close to shore to pay appropriate respect to career. In WW2 he served on the Atlantic Captain Munro with a prolonged blast on and Maltese convoys and several times had its foghorn accompanied by a water jet a ship sunk from underneath him. salute by its fire pumps. In addition, he served as Hon. Sec. of Clyde st As is customary on-board M/V Lord of the Outport 1975-1982.On 21 November Isles (Master: Captain Byron Griffiths), the 2019, at its monthly lunch meeting. Ensign was flown at half-mast on 26 th September as a mark of respect to Book Review; Captain Munro. Archie’s friends and colleagues contributed “Hard Down, Hard the following: Down” – PM Simon Culshaw (see above) said “I remember Archie as a very good friend by Captain Jack Isbester. and full of good advice, particularly Captain John Isbester was born when I was Senior Warden [in Archie’s illegitimately in Shetland in 1852 and died, year as Master] then Master. Further, tragically, in 1913. ‘Hard Down, Hard Down’ when I was sailing on the West Coast of is a detailed account of his life using the www.hcmm.org.uk The Journal • Issue 4/2019 • Page 137 Events Diary

CURRY LUNCHES – JAN AND APR CURRY LUNCHES ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED, BUT PLEASE CALL TO BE The Honourable WAIT LISTED AS PLACES ARE OFTEN FREED UP, PARTICULARLY IF YOU CAN ATTEND AT SHORT NOTICE Company of Master Curry Lunch Mariners Friday 31 January 2020 – 1230 Editorial Dress: Lounge Suit + Tie The views expressed in articles or in Cost : £35 members/ £40 non-members correspondence appearing in the Journal are those of the writer and are not The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 29 January 2020 necessarily endorsed by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. Curry Lunch Items appearing in the Journal may not be reproduced without the consent of the Editor. Friday 28 February 2020 – 1230 Dress: Lounge Suit + Tie The Editor will be pleased to receive correspondence from Members intended Cost : £35 members/ £40 non-members for reproduction in the Journal. The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 26 February 2020 Committees Court (Liveries) Lunch Education and Training Committee Chairman: Captain Jerry Mooney Wednesday 4 March 2020 – 1230 Finance and Risk Committee Chairman: Mr Matt Burrow Dress: Lounge Suit + Tie or Morning Dress Cost : £65 Membership Committee Chairman: The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 28 February 20 20 Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh GCB Vice Chairman: Commander L Chapman CMMar RN Curry Lunch Professional & Technical Committee Chairman: Commander Derek Ireland RNR Friday 27 March 2020 – 1230 All correspondence, books, documents Dress: Lounge Suit + Tie or enquiries relevant to the work of Cost : £35 members/ £40 non-members the P&T Committee should be addressed to the Secretary, Mrs Alison The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 25 March 2020 Harris c/o HQS Wellington.

Treasures Committee Curry Lunch Chairman: Captain Martin Reed RD* RNR

Joint Informal Meetings Friday 24 April 2020 – 1230 Honorary Secretary: Mr Andrew Bell Dress: Lounge Suit + Tie Cost : £35 members/ £40 non-members Wardroom Mess Committee Chairman: Mr John Johnson-Allen The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 22 April 2020 The Journal

Editor Installation Dinner Captain Rob Booth, AFNI Email: [email protected] Friday 1 May 2020 - 1830 Cost : £75 All new correspondence, articles and reports for the Journal should be Dress: Black Tie sent to the Editor via email or C/O The closing date for reservations is 1200 on 28 April 2020 HQS Welington.

Copy for Issue 1/2020 of The Journal should be received by Provisional bookings by email, fax or phone Friday, 21 February, 2020 will not be confirmed until payment is made. Please note the cancellations policy as set out in the HCMM bookmark.

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