Hello world!
Welcome to the main Blog Page of Troopship Memories. There is a growing global interest from “Old Soldiers” and those seeking those Old Soldiers, in blogging and publishing comments and memoirs in the hope and anticipation that former mates will pick up the thread and respond. Post a comment below and see what happens!
We have hotlinked this page to our new HMTroopships website:-
So dear reader, if you have some interest in a particular HMTroopship and an editorial contribution to make, just email the Editor (djkl157@gmail.com) with your request, stories and comments and we’ll sail on the noon tide.
Remember to include full details about yourself, Full name, dob, rank, service number, regiment, postings, and most of all - any photos. We can restore most old and tattered, bent and torn photos to greater tonal quality and legibility. So GOYA!! and blog!!
Tempus Fugit!
December 6, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Gidday from Brisbane
This first Comment to our new HMTroopships Blog Page as a message of encouragement to all Old Soldiers who travelled on troopships at one time or another. My own experience was on the Empire Clyde in February 1954 outbound from Liverpool to Bermuda and the West Indies carrying the 1st Battalion Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. The Irish Sea was at its most turbulent for many years and the decks were literally awash with vomit for many days, until the ship sailed well out into the North Atlantic. How sweet the smell and scents of Bermuda after 8 days.
We all have a story to tell and at least one to read - so GOYA cheps - and start a thread of exchanges going in the expectation that an old mate is also hoping to walk down memory lane. Let’s not leave our memories locked away for our families to try and resurrect ‘em after we’ve crossed the River Styx. Put a name and an occasion to the photo in the old album that you never look at. Don’t leave it to chance that your grandchildren will try to retrace the ‘good old times’ of the ’50’s, ’60’s and ’70’s - get it right while YOU are still able to function.
The Editor will correct the grammar and the syntax and the typo’s of your Comment AND the site is secure - so your email address is not published without your sanction. The old photos that are faded and bent, tattered and torn, can be fixed like new - as long as they’re in focus! Get your kids onto the computer if you don’t know how!
ACTION REQUIRED: Just ‘click’ on my name above to open the hotlinked Google Photo web site where YOUR HMTroopship story and photos can be published. Carpe Diem!
Tempus Fugit!
December 8, 2006 at 10:33 pm
“Gidday” again from Brisbane.
Editor here to remark on the initial attraction to our new HMTroopship Google Photo pages. So far we’ve had a posting with photos from Roy Haskett with memories of the SS Vienna and the Empire Ken, and also his recall of his father travelling on SS Lancashire in 1934.
Bill Griffiths has also responded with his memoirs from as far back as 1952 and provided his wedding photo to wife Nancy (married now 54 years - congratulations to you both) and details of his military service. Maybe his former mates will read this and respond in return.
The Editor too has some ‘pungent’ memories of the Empire Clyde in 1954, with two photos of lighthearted antics on board during the calmer weather!
More postings from Graham Hibbert, Author, are waiting in the wings for photographs to be scanned and corrected.
So GOYA! all you “Old Soldiers” - those of you still young enough to enjoy a laugh and a chuckle about “The Good Old Days” on board the HMTroopships. Send a message and get the ball rolling. Any time frame, any Regiment, any posting wherever, whenever. Just click on my name above to see what it’s all about, and consider a contribution for posterity.
Carpe Diem!
December 11, 2006 at 9:45 am
Searching! Searching! For many “Old Soldiers” with a story to tell. Wasn’t that what the British Empire was built on?
Bill Griffiths is putting you to shame. Bill was a Regular soldier, is 76 now, married 54 years to the same lovely lady Nancy, and together they travelled on many HMTroopships, and have a bag full of memorabilia. We’ve just posted an additional comment regarding the HMT Empire Windrush at its fateful fire in March 1954.
Were YOU there? Were you maybe the ‘couple’ survivors that Bill refers to? Read his comments on the HMTroopships website and respond with YOUR story.
WE NEED YOU!
January 5, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Gidday Ron Cook, Editor here in Brisbane Australia,
Your earlier Comment today noted and appreciated, thank you! I have no immediate details for Star of India but will start a search very quickly. I’m confident that we can find something in due course. Given that we can find a “Ship’s Profile” however, that will be the limit of our assistance. We cannot help in terms of any Passenger Lists and Voyages, dates and discharge points etc.
However, this is where YOUR contribution begins. Send me a full resume of you personally - Name, Rank, DOB, Service Number, Date and place of enlistment, Regiment/s, Places of service, Date of discharge PLUS your ’story’ of the voyage. Take a look at the examples on the HMTroopship Page that you started from and write a few hundred words or so, including any names and details of Mates on board. Send as many photos with captions that you can. I can doctor most photos to improve tonal balance and remove scratches etc.
This is the purpose of the HMTroopships Page/s. A ‘mention’ is then created for others to see, and make a Cross Comment as follow up - such as this one back to you. Your email address is not published (except to Editor).
Let’s give it a go for you. Bill Griffiths (see his mention) has been contacted by KSLI mates from over 50 years ago - so it can work - given time, perseverance and patience. My email Derek Lovemore should put you in contact direct OR return to HMTroopships Page and click on “Editor”
If you CLICK on my pseudonym ‘troopship’ above, you should return to the HMTroopship Page.
Carpe Diem
PS: Logged on 23rd July 2007
Earlier published emails - as referenced above - from Ron Cook are now deleted. Ron had entered some incorrect details over the wrong names of ships - now irrelevant.
January 7, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Question re Windrush after fire….was she then recommissioned as a trooper?
I was on a course in 1953 at Royal Armoured Corps Regimental Pay office and there was something about Windrush arriving in 1953 with Korean vets including released POW’s some of whom were allegedly held in protective custody on board. A detachment was sent to Southampton to meet the ship and sort out documents for RAC personel …was this Windrush ? also when did she bring the immigrants from West Indies in the 50’s ? ?
January 7, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Hello John
Thanks for your Comment re HMT Windrush. The only information that is to hand (at the moment) is that she sank off the coast of Algiers on 28th March 1954. This event is referred later in The Korean Veterans Journal 1997 suppled by Bill Griffiths (see main page HMTroopships).
So far as your second query it’ll be interesting to see if your Comment is perused by another soldier/s with further information, who will develop the conversation on this Blog, which of course, is our anticipation.
As a matter of interest, Bill Griffiths who was 1 KSLI at the time of the Windrush sinking, reports his meeting 2 of the rescued passengers later in 1958. Bill’s personal HMTroopship experiences are worth reading in a separate article named The Bill Griffiths Memoirs.
Carpe Diem!
January 22, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I live in a RAAFA Village in Albany, WA. We have here an officer who was on the Windrush when she sank, and one of the women who was on the ship and her daughter also, when she, (the ship) sank.
Postscript to John’s comments logged in Tues 23rd Jan 2007
If readers take the time to browse the earlier comments, it can be seen how a possible ‘crosslink’ might be happening here - a world apart (i.e. Bill Griffiths in UK and now Albany in West Australia) and over half a century later. Editor has asked for John’s assistance in putting the various people together to develop the HMT Windrush story further.
April 23, 2007 at 9:56 am
Re: Empire Windrush, the ship with ex prisoners on may have been the Empire Orwell.
(Editor) Postscript added 28th April, 2007
Thanks Reg for your comments, the website
http://www.britisharmedforces.org/ns/ns/nat_troopships.htm fairly well defines the separate history of the 2 ships you mention and from my amateur’s interpretation there appears to be no identity issue at all. There are also earlier comments logged from LI soldiers who witnessed the fire and the sinking of the Windrush, who have supplied supportive evidence, together with eye witness accounts from passengers. So Reg, over to you, perhaps you’d care to offer further support by way of research for your mention. Given also that you have personal experience on HMTroopships - a further contribution from you on our sister website “HMTroopships” would be welcome.
Tempus Fugit!
May 13, 2007 at 10:18 pm
A posting obo Bill Callen, RAF, wireless operator, travelled from Liverpool to Port Elizabeth late 1940 - early 1941. Bill has recounted his memoirs of this event on the HMTroopship site, and we’ve also posted a Mention on “Most Wanted”.
Bill is now 87 - congratulations Bill - well able to email us and report part of his WW2 military history. We hope to encourage Bill to record more of his adventures.
Bill is searching for “Old Mates” - especially Bert Rooke a fellow shipmate on SS Orbita at that time mentioned above. Bert! - if you’re out there please contact the editor and we’ll get the contact ball rolling.
Carpe Diem!
May 26, 2007 at 9:02 am
Post from Editor:
Gidday Cheps!
I am a little miffed (to be polite) that poor taste (an understatement) should be shown by either the NZ Maritime authorities or some NZ idiot with a grudge.
See my most recent postings of 3 “HMS Sheffield” photos - a rotting derelict hulk - photographed in Bluff NZ last February. Please read my comments and let me know how you feel. Just click on my bolded name above to travel to the HMT site.
Even though I’m an Aussie - I’m still fiercely British in matters of the meritorious sacrifice that our Old Soldiers and Old Sailors made throughout history and as recently as The Falklands War. For some moron to make a point of such bad taste, as I feel has been done - is stretching anti British style humour to the limit!
GOYA lads and join me in a massive objection.
Carpe Diem!
July 23, 2007 at 8:50 pm
BREAKING NEWS!
John Williams, SAC, RAF: 1953-1956 experienced his first HMTroopship voyage when returning home for demob in 1956. JW served most of his 3 years in the Middle East on “Z” Craft and bomb disposal. You can read JW’s fascinating story on his Memoirs just freshly published in a pilot version.
Of even greater interest is JW’s civilian occupation as a marine plumber with the Bibby Line which contracted a great number of ships as “HM Troopships” and John will recount his many and varied experiences as the story progressively unfolds.
JW’s connection to us via email is a classic example of a 75 year young bloke prepared to “GOYA” and tell his story through his relative unfamiliarity with email and internet procedures. JW has even purchased a scanner to deal with the JPEG conversion of his mammoth collection of old B/W photos of his service adventures,
WHY NOT YOU?? Tell YOUR Troopship story and bring back the memories of your past - illustrious or forgettable - never mind, the exercise of the brain is as important as every other muscle in the body. Tell YOUR story in YOUR words NOW, don’t leave it all part forgotten and part invented by your successors. Leave ‘em something to remember you by - in 3 generations it’ll all be forgotten anyway, unless you leave a permanent reminder in print and picture. Get those old photos from the unopened albums and upstairs in the attic and send ‘em to me.
Tempus Fugit! Where did all the years go?
July 25, 2007 at 12:41 am
NEW POST AND MENTION FOR JOHN GILES, RASC
John shipped out to Port Said in 1948 onboard the SS Franconia and returned from Salonika in 1949 aboard the Eastern Prince, neither ship’s photos has thus far been posted to our HMTroopships website. John’s thoughtful contribution has now rectified this, which together with his brief caption is on display.
Go to HM (Troops) Ships to travel back in time and read about some interesting adventures when soldiering was a lot slower and less technical than today.
Carpe Diem!
November 12, 2007 at 11:57 am
I am looking for assistance in discovering any information regarding 7 men who sailed home on Xmas Day 1946 on HMT Highland Princess. I have the lunch menu from Christmas day aboard the vessel, which they all signed. It would be lovely to find out their histories and what happened to them… and that of anyone else on the vessel that day. And if anyone would like to know what they were eating that day, please email me.
I attach the email I sent to the Editor of Troopship Memories with my request for information:
Hello. I am unsure if you can assist but …………..
A few years ago I purchased quite a few ship menus at auction. They have been displayed in frames
on the walls of my restaurant aboard my own boat. One of them has always interested me and I wonder
if you or one of your ‘bloggers’ might point me in the right direction to gather information about it.
I have the Xmas day 1946 menu of HMT Highland Princess. 7 men have signed it.
Although the menu is in pretty good condition the handwriting is, in a couple of cases, difficult to read.
The following list is as they wrote it:
Spud Murphy
Paddy Holmes
Omar Bradley Manchester (although written in a straight line - Manchester is obviously his home town)
TOP Manchester (I am unsure if this is a T it could be a J
as in JOP)
W M Kendall L.R.H.M., A.R.C.M.
AP****** R.A. (Unfortunately the name is unclear)
H Mackenzie (R.A.O.C.) 25/12/46
I would be grateful for any information.
Regards Corrine Allen-Britten
January 12, 2008 at 12:26 am
Hi, I stumbled across your website by accident. Speaking of Troopships, I first went on board the Empire Windrush, bound for Singapore, in early 1953, where I served with a mobile Gurkha Unit until Aug 1955 in Malaya. I returned to UK on the Dilwara.
After a few months in UK I decided to move on and joined the NZ Armed Forces. I then sailed to NZ aboard the Captain Cook. Two years later I was posted to Malaya aboard the Captain Cook again. I then went to Hong Kong to play soccer for the Far East Commonwealth Services aboard the New Australia. I enjoyed every minute of my time aboard these ships.
Edward
ED: I have emailed Ted with an invitation to participate further in HMTroopship Memoirs particularly as we have just yesterday updated comments about the HMT Windrush received from Capt RN (rtd) Michael Page, who was a passenger and a first hand witness to the sinking.
June 11, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I was SAC roberts RAF 1952-55 I was posted to Malaysia sometime in53 on the troopship Georgic I have faint memories of a troopship that left Southampton acouple of weeks or so before or after we sailed I am 75 and my memory is getting a bit foggy . This Troopship sank (somewhere around Gibralter,I think) The amazing thing was there was no loss of life. Can anyone name this ship ?Iwold love to have somone who can remember to please inform me. Jim Roberts.