|
[Sign My Guestbook]
[View My Guestbook]
|
POSTINGS UPDATED 12.11.2011
Christchurch (N.Z) earthquake disaster Greetings all, Robin Hurst kindly forwarded this email from John Lammiman a GSS Old Boy. John has been doing his bit helping the stricken in the aftermath of the Christchurch disaster, as have other old sea dogs who were once GSS and Vindi Boys. He is a member of the Civil Defence group. Many of us will remember with undying affection the warm welcome we always received from our cousins the other side of the world when we docked in their beautiful country, and how they referred to England as 'Home'. We cannot imagine the fear and terror that such a catastrophic disaster would generate and our best wishes for the future are with them all. Best Regards Gordon Tumber (GSS 1951) ( and sincere apologies for the misprint when signing off last time!!). ***************************************************************************************************** Hi Shipmates. News from the earthquake city of New Zealand,No doubt you have heard that Christchurch has been hit by 2 large earthquakes,the first one back in September 2010 which was 7.1 on the Richter scale and that one did a great deal of damage to our city,but the last one the 3rd February which was 6.3 on the Richter scale and it came in with a real punch and lasted for 35seconds and 35 seconds of a earthquake is a long time believe me because I was there and only about a mile as the crow fly's across Lyttleton Harbour where the epicenter was,big damage in the Port of Lyttleton all the pubs are damaged and ready for demolition and the only place a man can get a pint is in the Lyttleton Club or known as the Top Club,I live on the opposite side of Lyttleton Harbour in a settlement called Diamond Harbour very little damage in this area,the main damage is in the eastern suburbs,and the big one is Liquefaction,sand silt and water just comes up out of the ground and within seconds one can have 6 inches of heavy grey sand all through your house and in places a meter all over your section,and of course the power goes off,no water and no sewerage,'
The earthquake hit at 1251hrs the centre of the city was very busy as it was lunch time and of course it caused mayhem in the city centre two large buildings just collapsed causing injuries and death and in total 170 lives lost and about 20 people still missing,the whole of the CDB is closed off or cordoned of as it is most dangerous to enter the CDB.
How did our shipmates fair at least two have had big damage to there houses,our worthy leader Terry Knight a good Gravesend lad like yours truly his wife Anne was thrown across the room and broke her leg,the last I heard she was up and running and the plaster taken off,I think most of the team have had minor damage to there houses but we have a couple of guys who live out of town and they weren't affected.
One of the areas that was affected was our fortnightly mid-week lunch meetings at various clubs they were all closed but we were able to meet lst Wednesday at the Richmond Club and most of the discussion was the earthquakes,one of our problems is the aftershocks no warning and a mini quake not nice,
But at least we are all fine fit and well some a little stressed but the odd pint and a chat helps us on our way.Regards John Lammiman
Hi Boson you can add this to your web-site with our branch listing,also add to my address postal code 8971 thanks.John L
Click here for pictures of the devastation in Christchurch sent in by John Lammiman; https://picasaweb.google.com/RossBeckerNZ/ChristchurchJuly7DiggersDemolitionInTheCBDRedZone#slideshow/5627310634430442002
When entering your message in the Guest Book, please make sure the print size is at least No 4. Thank you. And if you want a reply to your message please remember to include your email address or contact details.
Original Guest Book Second Guest Book
Please scroll down to read Home Page announcements before clicking ENTER HERE. Thank you.
GSS/C (Gravesend) Blazer Badge
Name: = anthony smith
Email address: = anthonysmith206@postmaster.co.uk
My late uncle was a trainee with the Merchant Marine school at Gravesend in the 1930s, He died in very tragic and anguishing circumstances in 1933/34 aged about 16 years, his name was John(Jack)Blake, and was born in Dublin ,Ireland. If any class records,journals etc are available I would greatly appreciate it; I would also welcome advice as to whom I could usefully direct some correspondence- this enquiry is for family history reasons.
Robin Hurst, Web Bosun for the Vindicatrix site, offers this advice to anyone doing research at the PRO, Kew: The National Archives, Kew The latest set or records at the National Archives to be digitised and placed online are those of the
In my experience of having had access to them at Kew, this should be a worth-while project as the pages are closely strung together with a treasury tag, in bundles over 4" thick which prove to be very unwieldy to open and almost impossible to copy.
| "I n 1939 the Admiralty issued an instruction to the Board of Trade stating that masters of merchant vessels were not to enter destinations or ports of call on the ships' logs or the crew lists and agreements, for reasons of security. However, it was still important to know and record the movements of merchant vessels and to this end the series of cards within BT 389 was commenced by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen." |
Joe Barnett (81) posts photos of ships he served on back in the 1940's
January 3d 2010 Name: = lisa dogan Email address: =
"OCEANS APART" An excellent, well written insight into life at sea by Michael J Kenn, A.B starting with his arrival and enrolment into the Gravesend Sea School and progressing through 610 pages of details that will bring back many memories to ex merchant seamen. A delightful and recommended read. Well worth the price of £18.99 including p & p. A book to be treasured. For details contact the author on 01922 494361 (UK) Gordon Tumber - Editor Gravesend Sea School Association Newsletter
Three excellent sites to visit for details of Raymond Steed, Galley Boy, who is the youngest recorded WW2 service death. Raymond was 14 years and 207 days old when his ship the Empire Mons hit a mine on 26th April, 1943 http://www.mowbars.plus.com/History/Steed%20RV.html http://www.mercantilemarine.org/showthread.php?t=931&highlight=steed http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Pdf/Raymond%20V-1.pdf
Joe Barnett records a great site to visit for news of the RMS RANGITIKI. Log on to
The Gravesend Sea School was established in 1918 shortly after the end of WW1 when an expanding Merchant Navy urgently needed trained seamen. It was housed in what was formerly a Seamen's Home originally built in 1886 and was to provide short-term but intensive training for youths between the ages of 16 and 17. It was established to accommodate 150 boys at any given time and the first recorded intake was on Thursday 19th September 1918. Additional training was provided on the ex-HMPS Triton; a beautiful little ex-naval craft moored off Gravesend. A concise history of the School can be found in the book "School for Seamen" written by Roy Derham MBE who trained for a seafaring career on the Vindicatrix. Copies are still available from jdmeadowcroft@tiscali.co.uk. John is General Secretary of the Gravesend Sea School/College Association which was formed four years ago by popular request from former Instructors and Old Boys.When war with Germany seemed imminent in early 1939, the School was evacuated for safety reasons to the Vindicatrix, berthed at Sharpness for that purpose. Gravesend was too close for comfort to London's extensive docklands; a prime target for German bombers. At the end of the war the School opened up again and the Vindicatrix was also kept open for training to replace the 30,000 seamen who lost their lives during WW2.In 1967 the old School ceased to function for training purposes and was replaced by a brand new building offering far superior facilities, but Old Boys still remember with pride and affection their training at the old establishment.Sadly the old building has suffered the fate of progress. and all that remains of its existence is a brass plaque on the wall surrounding flats that have taken its place.But the memories will live on for some time yet in the minds of former trainees. For anyone interested, the Gravesend Sea School/Association is also open to Associate Membership. The annual subscription is £5 ( £8 for overseas members ) and a newsletter is produced four times a year which carries stories and articles from members of all ages. An application form can be downloaded at
Plaque reads: Gravesend Sea School 1918 - 1967 Former Sailors Home built 1886 (Straw House) During this time over one third of British Merchant NavySeamen were trained at Gravesend. Gravesend has an ancient maritime history and was well located to serve the shipping trade to the world and one of Britain's greatest ports. The school's origin lay in the demand for seafarers at the end of the First World War to support the increasing Merchant Fleet and was a unique experience in obtaining "boys of good character" for the sea with no exact counterpart in the world.
On Thursday 16th February 2006 the Commemorative Plaque was unveiled on the site of what was once the Gravesend Sea School. GSS/C Association. Click here forPlaque Dedication Photo Gallery.
Check out David Faulkner Roger Debbage and George Doolan on Profiles 2
Check out Jack Youens. GSS Deck Trainee to WW2 Fighter Pilot.
GSS REMEMBERED
Stories required for this new section from Old Boys of Gravesend Sea School or our very closely associated Vindicatrix training ship. .http://www.vindicatrix-hq.fsnet.co.uk/ The Merchant Navy as we knew it is sadly no more, but as the sun sets on our life span we should make future generations aware of that vital link between youth and manhood that our training provided.
Updates: Thursday 6th October2011. Class Photos updated. To include Ray Claridge Page 3
List of members added and updated Thursday 6th October 2011..
Visits to GSS/C Postings are not accurate. Computer hiccup. S/Be in the thousands. Updated 12th November 2011
Were you a crew member of the ORIANA ? Visit this excellent site produced by
Mike Fruin , a GSS Old Boy would like to get in contact with other GSS Old Boys living in Tasmania. Mike can be contacted by email at
 | ||||||||||
 | ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||
From John Bernard The Falmouth Branch of the Merchant Navy Association - an individual Cornish Branch ( we are not members of the MNA National) last year on March 2005 received the Freedom of the City of Falmouth on behalf of the Merchant Navy to commemorate the sacrifices and heroism paid by Merchant Seamen in two World Wars, and other conflicts since then where the Merchant Navy have been involved. This makes the Falmouth Branch unique in this country !! A few Cities have awarded the Freedom to the M.N, but Falmouth is the only Town in the country to have bestowed this honour. John.bernard6@btinternet.com 
Qaisar Qayyum kindly asked my permission to reproduce "A Letter To Head Office" from my website. Below I am pleased to reciprocate by giving links to excellent websites to which he is associated.
Sadly friend and colleague Ken Wheatland Crossed the Bar at 0400 on Monday 19th September 2005. You may wish to read a couple of stories Ken sent in some time ago Click
Intro to ss maritime. Click here. Read about the pitiful state and fate of the once glorious Oriana. "ssMaritime is a ship lovers paradise for it has many articles featuring both great and lesser known liners of yesteryear as well as vintage liners still in service as cruise ships. These ships with a long and memorable history, yet they have survived and successfully compete in today's cruise market. I trust that you will enjoy the many features and photographs on ssMaritime, thus come and relive the days you may have spent onboard one of these fine ocean-going liners, be it as a passenger, crew member, or as one who have admired them from the shore! Each month we will feature a "Ship of the Month". I trust you will enjoy the many seafaring delights there are on offer"
Check out:
For those interested in Australia's highly valued contribution to WW2 at sea, go to: 
This recent letter to the Daily Mail (Sept 2005) from Maurice Cross, veteran of the Murmansk convoys, reminded me that it wasn't just the Government who paid scant attention to the contribution the men of the Merchant Navy made to the war effort. During the 60th anniversary of V-E Day (Victory in Europe 1945) our local library displayed an excellent collage of pictures and newspaper clippings of the actual day. It was disappointing to note that not a mention was made of the contribution and sacrifices made of the men of the Merchant Navy. The only mention I personally noted was on the popular Paul O'Grady daytime chat show. Paul is to be thanked for inviting onto his show a survivor of the Murmansk convoys who experienced the horrors of the war at sea at the tender age of 14. But then Paul originates from the Wirral area and would be very much aware of the heartache and losses experienced by the people whose men folk went to sea from the once busy port of Liverpool. They are certainly no strangers to tragedy. Over 33,000 seamen lost their lives in WW2. Men whose wages were stopped the moment a torpedo struck their ship. Men who still vividly remember the horrors of watching their shipmates drown or horrible burn to death when ships carrying high octane blew up in a fiery ball. Men who survived and returned home only to sign on and ship out yet again to face the enemy with guts and determination to make their contribution to the war effort. One survivor recently told me how they even had to pay for the tiny MN badge that was the only recognition they had that they were part of the serving manpower. Yet another survivor told me how giggling girls would approach them on leave and present them with a white feather. They would be asked if MN stood for Maternity Nurse. Not much respect there for brave men putting their lives on the line to feed a beleaguered country desperate for food, and a war machine hungry for supplies. At least the South African Government made a donation which bought the pleasant Springbok estate in Alfold, Surrey for retired and ailing seamen.   Read about Springbok at Sachel Court at: http://mswmsociety.org.uk/The%20Charity.htm Read Tom Fletchers account of V-E Day at http://www.macksites.com/PART8.htm 
Andrew Clark invites anyone interested in buying a compilation of amateur film of P&O and Orient Liners in the 1950's and 60's to visit Copies are available in VHS or DVD. Check this website for Part Two featuring 37 ships with short biographies
Why not visit The Captains Cabin Knock before entering
A new link to the Prince of Wales Sea School
Updated Membership Lists - 17th February 2010 Alf Cook, an Old Boy of the GSS invites you to take a look at the ships he sailed on during the 1940s at: http://www.shipsoflongago.co.uk/ Fred "Jolly Jack" Hodder shares his adventures at sea after leaving the Gravesend Sea School at http://www.m-navydays.com/newpages/JollyJack_2/JollyJack.htm Follow the story of Stan Mayes, from teenage Mate on Thames Sailing Barges through to the hell of WW2 Atlantic convoys. Updated and concluded 05.11.2004
Stan Mayes recollections of his WW2 experiences has resulted in one visitor to his pages getting first-hand information on his late father's wartime experiences; he and Stan shared the same lifeboat on one occasion after their ship was torpedoed. I have also put another visitor in touch with Stan who has provided sought after information on another incident. Click here for another excellent worthwhile site to explore from Old Salt Ambrose Jones Updated 17.02.2010 
See Jack's beautiful instruments played by professionals at  Sad news received that Eddie Hassan, known to us all as The Welsh Bard, passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Sunday 9th March 2003. He will be missed by all. |