Gravesend Sea School Proficiency Cert. I doubt if anyone was brave enough to produce it on board ship.
Discharge Book 1976-1988
Discharge Book 1952-1967
Examples of Old and New Discharge Books are shown to illustrate the eventual abolition of the VG entries for Ability and Conduct. A DR (Decline to Report) from the Master for either entry remained a stigma against the seaman for the duration of his career. A Double DR could see his career ended. It was felt by the NUS that this was unfair for a seaman to have such an entry against him for life when the circumstances were not made clear. Hence the future entries without reference to ability or conduct
Lifeboat Certificate. Issued Cape Town S.A
Royal Daffodil Charter.1958
Souvenir of a memorable trip across the English Channel. Very memorable if the weather was rough.
Board of Trade regulations required Union-Castle to have a certain number of crew members holding Lifeboat Certificates. Instruction and examination in Cape Town harbour was often arranged. A picturesque place to be put through your paces but oftne interrupted by seals unexpectedly surfacing and getting a clout round the ear with a busy oar. Successful candidates got a small sum of extra cash per month while on Articles. Royal Daffodil Charter: The first month of the Summer Boat Season for the Royal Daffodil was reserved for Company Charters. On this occasion printers De La Rue organised a day trip out to sea for their staff, and calling in at Southend for entertainment.
A night ashore in Tela, Honduras. Only seamen would appreciate our hardships.
. . . and where at was at. Barbeques, 'bronzying', beach parties- oh how we suffered.
One of the advantages of working for General Steam Navigation was you had plenty of opportunities to take in a West End show while in port.
When Tommy Steele hit the big time, hundreds of wannabies joined their ship with a guitar strapped to their back. A captain on the bridge of a Southampton liner watching crew members come on board was heard to remark "Thank God the lad didn't play the piano. Tommy incidentally was a trainee at the Gravesend Sea School before fame caught up with him.
WW2 Clothing Coupons issued to Merchant Seamen. Courtesy of Stan Mayes
There was quite a variety of Vaccination Cards available.A smallpox vaccination lasted for three years (almost eradicated toward the end of my career), and Cholera had to be renewed every six months. The BOAC card indicates the practice of flying crews out to join ships. In the early days under the Red Duster we usually signed on and off in UK ports only-except for unusual circumstances.
WW2 Clothing Coupons. Courtesy of Stan Mayes (Russian Convoy Survivor)
ss Canton
Details of Ports of Call, dates of arrival and the all-important Agents address for sending mail from home.
