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.

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

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!

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?

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!

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!

(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!

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.

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!