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Knowing there are occasional problems with our postal system, and sometimes we do not get an updated change of members' addresses, would any members of the Gravesend Sea School Association not receiving our quarterly newsletter please contact our Gen/Sec. Gordon Tumber. Newsletter Editor.
This site was launched in September 2002
Have changed to Broadband. My email address is now gordontumber4@aol.com
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
I am writing a book about Convoy PQ17 which was sunk on the Russian run in 1942. Thirty seven MN ships went down when the Admiralty withdrew the RN escort. Some of the crews survived in lifeboats and were held prisoner for the rest of the war. I believe it was standard shipping company practice to halt allotments once seamen had left their ship, through enemy action or otherwise. The RN, by contrast, continued payments. Can this be confirmed? I also need to know how allotments were paid. Did wives and dependants go to the shipping offices or was there some other mechanism? I shall be extremely grateful for any help you can give me. Regards. Anthony Bradley
CAN YOU HELP? Tom Hennessy writes: Email address: = tomhennessy4@googlemail.com Goldsmiths College
I am an historian working out of Goldsmiths College, University of London. I am currently researching the ways in which American recorded music was first imported into the U.K. in the 1940s and 50s. I have come across a number of references to merchant seamen bringing stocks of records across the Atlantic and selling them on in ports such as Glasgow, Southampton and especially Liverpool.
Obviously this is a highly specific topic but I am keen to find evidence with which to support this claim. Would you know of anything in print, or of any individual who might be willing to share their memories of such a form of trade? I only require a few words and could easily conduct the exchange via email. Any help or suggestions you can offer would be most gratefully received.
Tom Hennessy
BILLY McGEE writes: Hello Gordon, My "Ropner's Navy" (ISBN 978-0-9558593-5-9) is due to be published and released by Cormorant Publishing Hartlepool around August 2008, price £7.99 ( plus £2 p&p UK ) It details the history of the Ropner family and the Ropner Shipping Co. from 1874 to 1997 when the Co. was taken over by Jacobs Holdings Ltd. Also included are the ships owned during the partnership with the Thomas Appleby Co. from 1866 and also includes all ships managed by the Co. for the MOS/MOWT and those supplied to the British Government on the WWII Bareboat Charter during WWI & II. There is fleet list of some 284 ships owned and managed by the Co. 1866-1997, detailing date & yard built, tonnage, name changes and eventual demise. The third part details all 70 WWI & II losses due to enemy action detailing cargo, convoy, how and where lost & casualty figures. It is also a reference book detailing where all the WWII Log Books & Crew Agreements files are held at Kew for each ships war service for those wishing for a more in-depth research.The final part is a Book of Remembrance and details the individual names of the 736 men lost from Ropner ships registered with the CWGC (80 from WWI, 656 from WWII). There are also 66 black & white photographs dating from 1889 to the 1990's. WH Smith will sell a small number and can also be purchased direct from Cormorant Publishing as well as signed copies by the Author Mr. Billy McGee himself. Rgds Billy
John Riddle
Cormorant Publishing Hartlepool
5 Teesdale Avenue,
Hartlepool.
TS26 9QD
Tel: 01429 865066 and 01429 224577
Email:
25.11.07 Emma Wilkinson
Email address: = emma@hammaglamma.com
Please excuse this unsolicited email but I am hoping that you may be able to help me. I am contacting you from Hamma and Glamma Productions and I am
currently making a documentary series for ITV. Please find
below details about the series and how I am hoping you may be able to help me.
'Those Were The Days' is a social history series for ITV. Each of the five,
one-hour, episodes will paint a nostalgic picture of Britain on significant
days in recent history. In this unique series we will meet people from around
the country and view rare archive footage to illustrate the more unusual and
interesting events which occurred on these memorable dates.
The date that I am currently looking into is July 20th 1969 - the day Man
landed on the Moon.
The series is very much about people's memories - I'm keen to hear from people
who remember that day but for something different other than watching the moon
landings on the TV. Just to give you an idea I am speaking to a man who ran a marathon on that day and a lady who gave birth.....
I would love to hear from any of your members who may have memories of the day. Is there anyway I can get this message out to your members to ask if they do in fact have any memories?
I would really appreciate any help you can offer on this as I would love to hear any memories your members may have. Your members can contact me via email (emma@hammaglamma.com) or phone (020 7199 0021).
Is this something you can possibly help me with? I would really appreciate it
if you could firstly, tell me if the date at all fits and then if so, put me
in touch with people involved that year.
I really appreciate any advice and help you can give me with this. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or queries about this.
Thanks for your time and I look forward hearing from you soon.
Kind Regards,
Emma Wilkinson
Hamma & Glamma Productions Ltd
31 Vernon Street, London, W14 0RN
(T) 0207 199 0021
(F) 0207 084 0377
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
4.10.07 Email address: = Margaret Vaughan asks; I would like to submit a story. My father joined the Merchant Navy in the mid-1950s as a ship's writer. He was at sea for 4 years, with the Durban Castle bringing food supplies back to England from South Africa via the Suez Canal. He also journeyed through the Panama Canal on what may have been the Rangitoto. Is there anyone out there who may have sailed on either of those ships and those places at that time who could help me complete my book?
Very best wishes. Margaret Vaughan
Reg Golden sent in this Class Photo taken around March 1952. Reg is 4th from left in 2nd row.
Barrie Smith writes:
Donald Jones sent in this photo. His name was later changed to Don Williamson. He writes: "Someone once said that "Old age is the most wonderful time of ones life" what a lot of balony. God give me a chance to be that little 17 year old erk (Front Row third from right) Donald Jones, and you would see happiness personified. Alas we only get one shot eh? Were we lucky or what !!. Weep for the lads who are lost for a life these days. They do not know how unlucky they are" And so say all of us!! Don would love to her from anyone who remembers him. His email address is :
Russ Bundy writes
Visit this brilliant site that includes web pages from John Townsend's site. John, an ex Gravesend Sea School boy , sadly crossed the bar in Decmber 2006
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.
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.
Page 4 of Class Photos now online. Click here
Updates: Wednesday 6th August 2008
List of Members added and updated 08th August 2008
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
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  GSS/C Class Photos updated 07.03.07
From Richard Taylor Secretary Naval Historical Collections & Research Association Tel: Wakefield (01924) 256644 Dear Mr Tumber I have recently been in touch with John Meadowcroft as I am trying to piece together as much as I can of the story of Arthur Derek Hill, who trained as a steward at Gravesend in 1944-45. I have some ephemera relating to his time in the MN, including a photo taken at Gravesend. I have now identified Arthur as the person fourth from the left in the back row. I would be happy to hear from any members who can help with information on Arthur, and any others who appear in the photo. Who, I wonder, was the Chief Steward in the centre of the front row. After leaving the school in January 1945, Arthur went on to serve in the Ormonde and the Invicta, before signing up for the Queen Elizabeth in May-July 1946. He was rated as an assistant waiter but I'm not quite sure what his duties would have been as at this time the QE was being refurbished after the war. Best wishes Richard
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
Can You Help? Arthur Paternoster 
Keryn Clement asks: I am trying to contact anyone who was on the ICENIC when she berthed in Nelson (N.Z) in February/March 1964. I have this photo of four young men from that visit that I would like names for. Someone has said maybe 3rd from left is Melvin and far right is Dave I would be most grateful for any help. Kind regards Keryn k.clement@xtra.co.nz 
Paul Forster writes (14.02.06): I went to NSTS Gravesend from August to October 1969. I joined BP in November and served on British Beacon, British Loyalty and two trips on British Security. It would be great to hear from anyone who knew me. I was in U Class at NSTS.
Bill King , Secretary of NSW/ACT Vindicatrix Association writes to offer GSS Old Boys the chance to buy silver-plated replicas of the GSS and NSTS Cap Badges we so proudly wore. Cost per badge is $15 (about £6 and includes postage). Payment by Money Order available from any Bank and payable in Australian Dollars to Vindicatrix Association. Address to Bill King, PO Box 2001, Homsby, Westfield, NSW 1635, Australia. This is a one-off offer so get in quick to avoid disappointment. Also please note details of their Annual Reunion from Bill Davis .Click  
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. You may wish to read a couple of stories Ken sent in some time ago Click
CAN YOU HELP ? Lisa Ewart writes: I am looking for Neil Brown who was in the Merchant Navy around 1960s-1970's from the Edinburgh area. He would be around 60-ish now. any information would be great. Thank you. Lisaloo@hotmail.com
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:  Peter Steele (Australia) would like to contact anyone in these photos kindly forwarded by Bill Young from All At Sea website (W.Australia). 
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 05.08.06 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 *New Scrapbook Page3 is now online. Updated 31.01.06 
Appeals and enquiries can now be found under Postings.  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. |