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LOOKOUT 2009 |
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PLEASE NOTE THAT MAILBAG IS FOR THE USE OF MEMBERS ONLY YOU MAY CONTACT US AT: Owing to the large volume of spam mail that these email addresses now attract, which are automatically deleted by our security, please will you include in the subject line of your email one of the following, whichever is relevant to you. Either: 1.) The name of the ship, person and year relating to your enquiry - or 2.) The name of the shore department, person and year relating to your enquiry - or 3.) The name of the Manchester Liners Associated Company, person and year relating to your enquiry This information must be included in the subject line of your enquiry EMAILS SENT TO THIS ADDRESS WHOSE SUBJECT LINES DO NOT INCLUDE THE REQUESTED RELEVANT DETAILS WILL BE DELETED. Please be advised that the contents of emails sent to Lookout may be published within these pages after the removal of their contact details for data protection. If anyone remembers any of the people or can help with any item on this page, please
We regret that Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Association does not have access to any crew lists. However we will add your enquiries relating to past crew members to this page in the hope that someone will recognise a name and contact us. Any replies that we receive will be posted on this page in red, with, or linked to the relevant enquiry. An email will be sent to the enquirer notifying of such posting. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Currently, seafarers’ records are held in National Archives, at the Public Records Office in Kew. Looking for records of an officer in the Merchant Navyhttp://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/officermerchantnavy.htm?WT.lp=rg-3181 Looking for records of a merchant seaman serving between 1858 and 1917Looking for records of a merchant seaman serving after 1917http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/merchantseamanafter1917.htm
From: Coen,
Councillor There's a good probability it is not an Eagle at the top but a Thunderbird , as there are two holes in the crown of the head.some people recall it having two horn type carvings coming from the head. Kevin Cramner suspects its a Thunderbird. Regards See Totem Pole
From: Derrick
Howarth Hello Stephen Thank you for your email.
With the commencement of the restoration of the totem
pole now imminent, and in the expectation of generating more interest
and information, I have created a page devoted solely to the Totem
Pole for our website that collates all the correspondence so far
received concerning its well-being. I have also added your emails to our Lookout page. Since my email to you, I have also added the following descriptive article from ML News to accompany the picture on Mailbag: Our totem pole is itself again Ron and Mike have brought colour back into the 32-foot high Canadian Indian totem pole which stands guard at the entrance to Manchester Liners House. The totem pole, carved by a member of the Kwakiutl tribe, was placed outside the new building in 1969 as a permanent testimony to the links of trade and friendship between Canada and Manchester Liners. The pole has four symbolic representations. At the top is an eagle (ruler of the skies), followed by a killer whale (master of the seas), and then the raven (messenger, symbol of trade). At the bottom, a chief holding coppers (signifying wealth and power). Regards See Totem Pole
From: "Coen, Councillor" <Councillor.Coen@salford.gov.uk> Gentlemen I continue to drive this restoration project forward and have as much as the community involved as possible, your input is very helpful. I am actually discovering new aspects to the Pole, which is now turning into a very important and significant work indeed. It would be really helpful if we could see a colour picture of the Pole when it first came over. We discovered 2 holes at the top of the Birds head but had no idea why they were there. On speaking to one of your very helpful members I was told that it use to have "something like Viking horns on the crown of its head when it was first put up". Now this information is very significant, I am in contact with the Nephew of the man who carved this, Kevin Cramner from the Kwakwaka'wakw tribe, Doug Cramner who carved this Pole died 3 years ago. We now know thanks to your help, the bird on the pole is a Thunderbird, which makes the Pole very important. The British Museum are coming up in a few weeks to survey it, and Kevin Cramner may be here to see the pole in December, it was he who told me thatit is made from Cedar wood and that due to the information you gave it was a Thunderbird. I shall keep you updated on developments. Thanks for you interest so far.
See Totem Pole
From: Coen,
Councillor Hi Derrick You of course can reproduce the Email I sent, this project is going to be very much in the public eye. I can confirm the nephew of the man who carved this, Chief Doug Cramner, will be here from the 10th to the 17th of December starting the restoration, this will take place at the Lowry Outlet Mall.
See Totem Pole
From: Derrick
Howarth Dear Councillor Coen Your email of 25th October 2009 was forwarded to me by our ML Hon Sec. Captain Steve Worthington. We have just received a photograph of the Manchester Liners Totem Pole, which unfortunately is not in colour, but may help as regards the top of it. The photograph is copied from Manchester Liners News Volume 20 No 3 December 1980. On the top left of the pole can be seen a wing or ear and also a little further down on the front what appears to be a beak. Other related items to be found on our web site are: http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/log.htm Quest
for Totem Pole Further to the disclaimer on the bottom of your email, I ask your kind permission to reproduce the contents of your email on our web site as we have other related totem pole enquires already there and it all helps to generate interest in the pole. Regards See Totem Pole
From: Steve & Amanda Moloney To Whom it may concern Hello, my name is Amanda. I have been researching our family history and have come across some old military photos and what appears to be a naval one. The only thing that was written on the back was “old ships” and they seem to have Manchester on their caps. I was wondering if I could possibly email it to you to see if you could shed any light on the matter at all. Thanking you in advance. Kind regards Hello Amanda Unfortunately this is not related to Manchester Liners Ltd at all, but to the Royal Navy who had ship names on their cap tally's. The name that you mention would be from HMS Manchester. The RN used this name for three ships. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Manchester I hope that this helps you further your enquiries into your family history. Regards webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk From: Steve & Amanda
Moloney Hi Derrick Kind regards
From: Abi
Wareing Hi All, My name is Abi Wareing and I am the Project Administrator at the Lowry. I am contacting you directly because of your possible involvement with ex-workers on Salford Docks and we see this as the important starting point of information for an upcoming project called Unlocking Salford Quays. Their stories and reminiscences’ will inform the delivery and engagement with the other community groups we would be working with on this new project. Please find below a brief outline of where we are up to and some general information about the project. If this project is of interest to any of your contacts or members please feel free to contact me directly to arrange a meeting so we could work out the best method of engagement. The initial idea is to work alongside 25 ex- workers from across historical and geographical areas within Salford, always using the stories and heritage as the starting point and it all being linked to the Quays itself. We would be looking to send a film maker to come and work on a one to one basis with any members of the older community that would like to share their important stories of life working on the Quays. About the Project The Quays is at the heart of the history of the City of Salford and, because of its economic and industrial role over the past century, at the heart of Salford communities. This history however, is currently invisible to visitors to the area, with no remaining significant evidence of the heritage and importance of the location. Our project aims to creatively explore this heritage and bring it back into focus. We want to re-discover the disappearing heritage of
Salford Quays by exploring the people, history and traditional industries
of the area and the stories and traditions it holds.
Getting Involved We hope to identify, explore and share this important heritage through working closely with the local community, its groups, partnership organizations and businesses and preserve the stories, experiences and journeys attached to The Quays for the future generations of Salford. If successful, the project will move onto its second phase in April 2010. During this period, participants will be given the chance to work collaboratively with artists to develop a piece of public art to form part of a trail sited on Salford Quays, incorporating key themes of the heritage that has been discovered. Opportunities to animate the trail through performance will also be developed. By re-presenting the heritage of the area in this way, we aim to make the history of The Quays accessible and of interest to a wider audience. We hope that this will enable the history of the area to be brought to life, ensuring the history of the area is not lost or forgotten amidst the successful regeneration of this formerly industrial site. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Best Wishes, Abi Wareing
Abi Wareing T: +44(0)161 876 2019 (I am contactable on Wednesdays
and Thursdays) Abi and Chris Charles the Walkabout Project Manager visited us at our Reunion at Didsbury Golf Club on the 22nd and some of us now have interviews with her pending. If any one can and wishes to provide her with further information about the history of Salford Quays, please contact her. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Richard Swindells I emigrated to Canada in 1967 taking passage on the Manchester Port departing Manchester in early April on what I think was her second voyage. I recently had approx 25 slides taken during the voyage transferred to disc as part of a project to document my early years here. The first were taken at a lock? near the exit from the canal, some approaching Newfoundland in moderately rough weather,some in the Gulf in pack ice, (we couldn't go through the Straight of Belle Isle because of ice conditions and rounded Cape Race instead), Montreal environs, St Lawrence seaway/ Thousand Islands. I cleared customs in Montreal on April 11th. 1967 but we were anchored mid river and did not dock. I disembarked in Toronto but her final destination was, I think, Duluth on Lake Superior. I cannot remember the Master's name but clearly recall he was delighted to assist the Commodore's vessel which was stuck in pack ice in the Gulf, I have a photo of her but no name. The Port's bow was strengenthed for ice conditions I believe. I have found your web site and e-mail contact via
a Google search and also learned of the untimely loss of the Manchester
Port albeit under a different name. On reflection probably only those photos showing the M Port are of potential interest and thus the number is greatly reduced if this is so. I look forward to hearing from you, Best regards. Richard Swindells
From: Audrey Giacomin Hi, I’m trying to get details of my grandfather’s shipboard career. I was told he had been torpedoed 3 times during the 1st World War and in fact was the only survivor on the 3rd occasion. His name was John Leonard Jackson, he was living in Lancs and he died in 1929, I believe he was the ships cook. My late father, Thomas Jackson, also sailed with the Manchester liners before and at the start of the 2nd World War. He, I think, was the one that sailed on the Manchester Regiment. The name of the ships my grandfather sailed on I really don’t know. I do know that they both did the Liverpool/Montreal run. If there’s anyway you can help or if you can tell me where to look, I’d be most grateful. I’m doing a family tree and like most I believe, I didn’t ask questions of family members when I could have and now I’m struggling, so any information you can provide would be a real help. Many thanks Audrey Giacomin Unfortunately we do not have any records, but you could try Researching Merchant Navy history - how to obtain Discharge Book records at the top of this page. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Malcom D Watts Additional photograph and text to reply by webmaster
From: Clive Tinker Dear Sir I am writing to enquire how I can find details of the service record of my grandfather, Harry Ebdon, who was born around Sunderland on 7th October 1883 and died while at sea on SS Manchester Progress on 25th December 1943. From my mother, now deceased, I understand he was a Chief Engineer for 33 of the 40 years he served with the Manchester Liners. I would appreciate any help. Thanks Clive Tinker Unfortunately we do not have any records, but you could try Researching Merchant Navy history - how to obtain Discharge Book records at the top of this page. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Beth Hiscock Hello, I am hoping you may be able to help me. My father was a Barnardo boy sent to Canada in 1921. He returned to England in 1936 and he always said that he worked his passage back to England on a cattle ship looking after the cattle from Montreal to Manchester. He had been placed with the family Riley on a farm in Muskoka where he worked for 15 years and said he was able to gain passage home through a relative of the Riley's who was Master of a ship in Montreal. Looking at the National Archives records online I can see that J. E. Riley was Master of Manchester Commerce and the ship actually arrived in Manchester on 26 November 1936 a few days before my father sent his first communication back to Canada. Would there be any record of a casual crew member on such a voyage and where would it be possible to find out any information? Also would there be any records relating to J. E. Riley? I checked the Archives for several months of 1936 and his ship also arrived in Manchester in June July and August from Montreal. My father was Felix Peter Johnson aged 27 at the time. He later took the name Matthews in England which was his step father's name. I know you probably won't be able to help, but your assistance is appreciated. At least I know now which ship he would have come back to England on. Many thanks Beth Hiscock nee MatthewsSorry Beth, we are unable to help you as we do not have any records. However there maybe someone who reads this that can help you so it is worth your while to keep checking this page. Meanwhile we congratulate you on the information that you have altready sourced. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Mike Thompson Hi I was hoping you may be able to help with some "who do you think you are" research. My Grandfather was an engineer based on a convoy protection ship in the early part of WW2 and told me about having to chase a convoy after being delayed in port and running into the Manchester Regiment in a fog bank, however I do not know the name of his ship - would you be able to confirm if this would be the incident with the SS Orepesa refered to on your website or if there was another incident earlier on in the war where the Manchester Regiment was involved in a collision? Many thanks Mike Thompson For a photograph and all the information that we have available about the Manchester Regiment (1) go to War & Peace and follow the Manchester Regiment (1) links. In 1938 the Manchester Regiment collided with and sank the Clan Mackenzie in Liverpool Bay, I am not aware of any other collisions invoving this vessel. I have however found the following on http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/hxf11.html and hope that it helps you. To use the links shown in this extract you will have to use their web site. A link to the homepage of War Sailors can be found on our page Manchester Liners on the Web .
Escorts: A. Hague lists the following escorts (dates
are European style, day/month): webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Gordon D Goodier
A very sad time during the II WW Have you any details of Manchester Merchant during WW II? The Chief Engineer lived next door in Flixton Manchester. He sadly died when the ship was sunk. His daughters and myself use to see the ship sail by at Irlam locks, and Bob use to wave from the ships deck on his way across the Atlantic each time he sailed. Have you any details of the sinking? I am not sure of the date. Yours truly, Gordon D Goodier Please see War & Peace This is an EXACT transcript of an original document from the late Captain J. Barclay: "The new Manchester Merchant was delivered in May 1940 and was on the North Atlantic service until Feb 1943 when on her return from Algiers she was torpedoed by U-628 Kapitanleutnant Hasenchar on 25.2.1943. there were 36 of the crew lost but Capt.F.D.Struss was saved after being in the water for some time and was awarded with the O.B.E. (Other Buggers Energy )" webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: WILLIAM MITCHELL
I was very happy to find the Old Shipmates site. I signed on and sailed with Capt. Baker on the Commerce in July of 1967 as a deck apprentice. I have many good memories of life aboard ship. I signed on at Toronto, Canada following my brother John Mitchell. All the best to the salties in the UK. Barry Mitchell.
From: Norma Frier
My brother Jim Cumming sailed for many years with Manchester Liners. He has many times mentioned a book that was published by the company "Forty Years on the Western Ocean - a History of Manchester Liners". He did have a copy but this was lent to someone who never returned it. It will be his 70th birthday next month and I would love to produce this book for him. I have tried various secondhand book sites and visited specialist shops but have had no luck so far. I even contacted the company which finally owned ML and someone checked their archives. If you can help in any way or give me an address of someone who may help I would really appreciate it. Sincerely, Norma Frier
From: Mrs I F Macauley
Dear Sirs, When in my last year at Primary School, Hazlehurst
County Primary, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, 1949-50 our class adopted a ship.
It was under the command of a Captain Felgate and I have recently been
informed that the name of the ship was SS Manchester Pride, container
ship appr.30,000 tons. On your website I have found ships called SS Manchester
'all kinds of things' but no 'Pride'. Please could you tell
me any more about Captain Felgate and/or the ship and where I might Thankyou, yours sincerely, Mrs. I F Macaulay Hello Mrs Macauley I am sorry to tell you that Manchester Liners have never owned a ship by the name of Manchester Pride, nor do we know of a Captain Felgate. Manchester Liners first starting operating containerships in 1968 and were one of the UK pioneers in this method of transport. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Malcom D Watts
Hello, Can you tell me the date that the Manchester Courage hit Irlam Lock Gates, I believe it was the latter part of March 1969. I was a Helmsman on the Canal at the time although not on the Courage during this incident. Regards, Malcolm Watts. Hi Malcolm Mr R. B. Stoker in Manchester Liners 1959-1984 gives the date as 16th March 1969. Captain D G Thomas.
The following is a resumé of information sourced from notices issued by the Manchester Ship Canal Public Relations Officer at the time of the accident. Following serious damage caused to lock gates, operating machinery and civil engineering works, by a large outward bound vessel, at Irlam Locks on 16th March 1969, navigation above Irlam Locks was initially stopped for a period of 6/8 weeks. However the 45 feet (small) lock at Irlam was reopened on Wednesday the 26th March 1969 allowing vessels not exceeding 300 feet length over all, 43 feet 6 inches maximum beam and a draught in freshwater not exceeding 16 feet to navigate to and from Manchester Docks and intermediate berths above Irlam Locks. The canal was expected to be fully reopened for normal navigation on Friday 18th April 1969. Also see photograph sent in by Steve Lyons: C.S. Manchester Courage incident at Irlam Locks 16th March 1969 Another photograph and script is to be found at: http://www.canalarchive.org.uk/Tpages/html/T1207.html webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: David King You recently replied to an email of mine in which I asked about accidents with ML on the ship canal. I was relating the details of your reply to a friend who then went on to ask me; "What ever happened to ML when the pulled out of Manchester"? Could you possible answer that question or point me to where I could look for the answer myself. Regards. David King. Hello David In reply to your email, the page on the web site about Company history will tell you all. http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/history.htm If you go to page http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/fleetlist1960to1989.htm you will find the history of all of the last ships and to whom they were sold. Also you will find a photograph of the OOCL Montreal. http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/photoarchive5.htm#nextgeneration We still have one Manchester Liners Captain still at sea and serving with OOCL. He featured in the TV programme "Mega Structures" with the OOCL Atlanta, which at the time was the largest ship in the world. Our web site is probably the most comprehensive history of Manchester Liners that is available. I hope that this helps. PS I am currently adding The History of Manchester Liners 1959-1984 by Mr R.B. Stoker and courtesy of magazine to this web site. This will give you all the information that you seek. Also, re: your previous enquiry about the ML accidents please see photograph sent in by Steve Lyons. C.S. Manchester Courage incident at Irlam Locks 16th March 1969 webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Ian Emmitt Hi, Just making an enquiry. My name is Ian EMMITT and I am the Great Grandson of a John Henry EMMITT who I am told was the Captain of a Vessel called 'Manchester Hero'. That is all I know at this time other than apparently the air raids scared him and he would rather be on the convoys, if that could ever make sense. Just wondering if this is possibly true. Thanks. Ian.
From: Nathan Brown Hi, I am the grandson of William Grady who served with Manchester Liners during the 2nd world war. The reason I am contacting you is would you know where I can get a copy of a print, picture of the Manchester Merchant (3) which my grandfather and his brother John Grady were on when it was sunk on 25 Feb. 1943. My grandfather was a survivor but lost his brother John who was a donkey man in the attack by U628. Any info or assistance in pointing me in the right way as to where I could get hold of a copy of this picture would be extremely grateful. Yours sincerely Nathan Brown Unfortunately there do not appear to be any photographs of the Manchester Merchant (3) due to the fact that she was built during the wartime and lost during that conflict after very short service with the Company. If you do manage to find one of her, then I will be most grateful if you will let me have a copy and, subject to copyright permission, I will add it to the website. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Steve Lyons
Steve
From: David King I am trying to find details of an accident that I believe happened at the locks at Latchford Warrington. I seem to recall, but can't give a date, that a ML on it's maiden voyage from Manchester hit the gates whilst in the lock at Latchford putting that lock, if not the canal, out of use for some weeks. I have read elsewhere that MV Manchester Courage hit the lower gates at Irlam which would suggest that either there were two such incidents or my memory is playing me tricks. I would be grateful for any assistance you could give
me into the details of these incidents. Regards. David King. Dear Mr King I thank you for contacting us through our website. I forwarded your letter to some of our members who might be able to help you. So far I have received a reply from one member who was for a few years a pilot on the Canal as well as having been a former shipmate on Manchester Liners. He also contacted another member who left Liners in 1982, but here too the only one brought to mind was that of the Courage at Irlam. As soon as I hear any positive news I will contact you again. Regards,
From: Jim Smith Dates Manchester Merchant aground River Saguenay Aug 1955. I was Ship’s Baker. Master was Capt Downing?
From: J Daniels Derrick, While reading through some old news I came across e-mails from Allan Crook in which he asked for his regards to be passed to me. I don't have an address so could you please thank him. Incidentally, I worked many years with the Department of Transport here in Ottawa and believe his father, Eric Crook, and I could have been colleagues at Transport. Best wishes to Alan and yourself John Daniels
Hello John Whilst at St Annes this weekend I asked Bryan Whitby, who supplied the photo of the Merchant winning the gold cane in 1952 (see:http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/log.htm), if he knew who it was and he is certain that the gentleman in question on the photograph is NOT Eric Crook. He said that he had never heard of him. I'm sure that Allan Crook will not mind me passing his email address on to you. I have also received the following from his sister. I sent her a larger image of the photograph to assist in ID. webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Virginia Crook My brother sent me a link to your site and in it there was a photo of the Gold Cane presentation in Montreal to the Manchester Merchant. In the back row standing there are four men one of who is tentatively identified as the 2nd Engineer. I think the man identified as such is my dad, Eric Crook. The picture is not very clear though and I would have to get my brother to check his discharge book to confirm. As a point of interest my mother has a chart showing the highlights of her voyage to England, in late 1955, when she and my dad were to be married. She also has in her possession a commemorative plate commissioned by ML showing the entry in to the Welland Canal, after the opening of the Seaway, of the ship my dad was on at the time. I don't suppose that there are many of them around and this one is pledged to the Welland Canal Museum in St. Catherines after her passing. I learned something I did not know of before, the rescue of the USAF bomber by his ship. I am the unofficial family archivist and it was a surprise to learn of this but my mom knew of it and was surprised that dad had never mentioned it. I will try to confirm the identity in the photo if i can and will let you know. Virginia Crook From: webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk Hello Virginia Thank you for your reply and I look forward to your findings so that I may I his name to the others that are listed with the photograph. I have attached a copy of the photograph so that you can see a larger version on your screen to help with your identification. The copyright of the photograph is owned by Richard Arless Associates and therefore. I have set it at a resolution of only 72dpi which is OK for you to view on screen but too low to print from. With regard to the Seaway Plate,
it depicts the S.S. Manchester Pioneer upbound in the flight locks
at Thorold on the Welland Canal. If you follow this link Thank you for using our web site webmaster@manchesterliners.co.uk
From: Virginia Crook I am not positive because the image is a little blurry but I think the man fourth from the left in the back row is my dad, Eric Crook. You could try contacting my brother Allan Crook as he has most of the old family photos. Sincerely, Virginia Crook
From: SUE ROBINSON
Hi, He served on the merchant ship called the Hero and then the merchant ship called the Commerce, my auntie said that he was based at Manchester, she believes that he could of been the captain, he was burried at sea. I know that his name is on the Merchant seaman memorial for the first world war near tower bridge, because I went there when it was first built. Regards
From: Bob Parkin Hi Derrick,
From: Bob Parkin Hi,
From: Allan
Crook Dear Mr. Howarth I have found a few more photographs of my father's from the early 50's. I'm just forwarding the ones with people as I'm sure you probably have plenty of photographs of the ships. One is of my father in 1952 as 4th Eng. of the Commerce and the other is of the thrust shaft being changed out in Quebec City in September of 1954, unfortunately I do not know who the two men working in the photograph are. Regards Allan Crook
From: Allan Crook Dear Mr. Howarth Since my first communication I have spent some time reading your web page. I have discovered that one of your members Mr. John Daniels was my Commanding Officer in the Naval Reserve back in the 1970's please pass on my regards. I also dug around in my box of family photo's and came across these two photographs attached, I trust they will be of interest. I know that there are more photographs but unfortunatly they are at my mothers house along with a ("Voyage Chart?) of my mother and fathers return to the UK after they were married. It does contain some rather funny comments regarding the voyage. I will have to see what else I can did up when I get back to visit with my mother later this year. Cheers Allan Crook
From: Allan Crook Hello Derrick, When I saw the photograph regarding the Manchester Merchant 1952 Gold Cane I thought that it was my father Eric Crook, but I was mistaken as I checked his discharge book and testimonials and discovered that he was in fact onboard the Manchester Pioneer at the time. I have however copied a report from the Pioneer regarding a rescue operation in 1953. I hope that your membership will find it as interesting as I did transcribing it (including typo's). If you are interested I can make up a record of sea time from my fathers discharge book so that you may be able to fill in some of the names to faces in the old photo's. My father sailed with Manchester Liners ("Mean & Lousy" as he used to joke) from April 14th 1949 as 6th Engineer on the Shipper until December 20th 1959 as 2nd Engineer on the Merchant. This will probably take a little while but I will enjoy the opportunity to look back over my fathers early years as a Marine Engineer, a trade that I also followed in. Regards Allan Crook Rescue of crew from USAF B-36 August 5th, 1953 by Manchester Pioneer At 05:03 on the morning of August 5th, 1953, whilst proceeding on a voyage from Manchester towards Toronto and Hamilton, the auto alarm signal broke the silence of the morning. Said auto alarm is a radio device for use when the Radio Officer, J. Buchanan, is not on watch. It guards the distress frequency (500 KC’S) and when silence is broken on this frequency, an alarm bell rings both on the bridge and in the Radio Officer’s quarters. Such was the case on this morning of August 5th. The alarm rang out and forty five seconds later a bleary eyed radio officer, Mr. J, Buchanan, appeared and proceeded to turn the various knots and switches of his intricate equipment. I being at that time the navigating officer on watch on the navigating bridge and eager to learn exactly what was going on in the outside world. On enquiry was told “I don’t know!!! Probably some damned fool testing his equipment!!!??” As fate would have it, however, this alarm proved to be the real thing and at 05:05 a message was received from Valencia Radio station which read:-“United States B-36 aircraft ditching in position 56° 18’N 21° 55’”.”On checking I estimated our position to be 56° 28’N 25° 40’W, approximately 12 hours steaming from the stricken plane. By this time several ships had answered this SOS giving their respective positions, and of the ships answering, it was calculated that the “Manchester Pioneer” was the nearest. Captain A. Starmer was immediately informed, who in turn ordered the ship to be turned about and given maximum speed. The hours went by and as the ship awakened, a general hum of excitement became evident. Such remarks as “Will be there first” and “Will the Navy beat us to it and order us on our way” were common. At 07:43, a low flying aircraft was sighted which proved we were on our way to what was to be a tragic scene. At 10:30 another aircraft was sighted and now the Captain ordered all available crew to be posted at lookout stations. About this time the S.S. “Manchester Shipper” broke radio silence, giving her position and stating that she was proceeding towards the ditched aircraft. This was the first indication we had that the “Shipper” was in the immediate vicinity and by calculation, it was apparent that she would be there first. The morning passed by without further event and shortly after lunch the visibility deteriorated to about 4 miles. The “Manchester Shipper” was now standing off the wrecked plane, and reported having picked up one survivor and one body. At 16:14 by the use of radar and direction finder bearings we estimated ourselves to be eight miles from “Manchester Shipper” and heading directly towards her. At 16:31stand by engines was ordered as the “Shipper” had now hove in sight. At 16:35 we sighted an amber coloured object appearing and disappearing in the swell of the ocean. On closer inspection it was obviously a lifeboat with men aboard. The “Pioneer” was manoeuvred alongside this craft and at 17:00 we brought two survivors from the wrecked plane on board, they were Major G.B. Parkes and Sergeant M.E. Parker. Major Parkes face was a mass of blood, whilst Sgt. Parker seemed unscathed apart from slight shock. Major Parkes had stayed with the aircraft until it hit the sea and was fortunately able to scramble clear. Sgt. Parker was the fourth man to jump by parachute five minutes before the plane crashed. Both men had been floating around in their one man dinghy’s until sighted by searching aircraft which dropped the lifeboat. After taking these men on board, we continued the search and began to pass through numerous pieces of wreckage, most of this was in the form of yellow cylindrical objects which Major Parkes later told me would be oxygen tanks, part of the planes high flying equipment. At 18:00 a man dinghy was sighted and on closer inspection a man was observed to be in it. At 18:30 we brought this man on board suffering from exposure and exhaustion, he was Sgt. C.N. Dehaven who baled out of the plane first. He had been in the small dinghy for about 15 hours. Continuing the search we passed a piece of wreckage with a “shark” standing close by. This sent a shudder through most shoulders. At 19:00 we started circling the wreck of the ditched aircraft which was indeed a doleful sight. The nose portion had broken off and sank leaving a mass of twisted framework disappearing into the interior. The wings were fractured where they met the fuselage and the impression was like viewing a crippled giant bird. An uncanny atmosphere prevailed as we circled around without finding the slightest trace of life. A nearby lifeboat was also investigated but it failed to produce any occupants. At 1940 there were four ships besides ourselves now on the scene of the tragedy. Captain Starmer suggested that each ship should steer 10 miles to the westward 10 cables apart and then return on a reciprocal course to the position of the wreck. This operation was carried out in a rising sea and poor visibility which at times dropped to ½ mile. At 2245 we arrived off the wreck again having seen no further trace of any survivors. With rising sea, bad visibility, and darkness the search was given up by us and we received permission from control aircraft we may proceed on our voyage. Manchester Pioneer 3 Survivors J.
Rushworth The plane, a U.S. B-36, was flying at 17000 ft. when for no apparent reason, an engine went on fire. Soon afterwards one wing was in flames and the aircraft rapidly dropped from 17000 ft. to 7000 ft.. After jettisoning equipment, height was maintained, but the craft refused to steer, it was decided to ditch her. Four men baled out, of which two were saved. Twenty three men were on the flight list which was on a training flight from Travis A.F. Base, California to Lakenheath, Suffolk, England.
From:James Deal I am searching for information on Arthur Heath who was a ships’ steward between 1906 and1914. I have a copy of a letter from the Master of the Manchester Importer located at Southampton dated Feb 18th 1915 in which he gave a good reference and stated that AH served on his ship for 5 months, but left due to illness at home. Arthur enlisted in the Manchester Reg. in Dec.1914 and was killed at the Somme 1/7/1916. Can you help? Thank you. JAD
From: Robert Bagshaw Dear Mr. Howarth - could you or any of your associates confirm that the Radio Call Sign for the 1960's MANCHESTER MILLER was MAMW? One of the then ships officers used to decode it as Marry A Merry Widow and that bit has stuck after all this time but I'm not 100% about the Miller. In the old St Annes Square days (and that's going back a bit too) my colleague and I used to run the Weather Centre shop in Boots arcade. We used to display the weather on a magnetic wall map and we had the "Marconi" book containing all the ships call signs so we displayed as many of the ships reports as we could (out to about 15ºW if my memory serves me) especially the ML ships as all the ML ships were selected reporting ships Their observations were crucially important in those pre-satellite days and really helped in the development of the numerical forecasting. By way of encouragement and gratitude the Met Office used to examine the Observation Books when they were returned to HQ Met Office and the skippers of the best ones were presented with a recording barograph so competition was fierce. The watch officers used to drop in for a chat about observing and reporting weather. They even managed to get permission for us to display one of Company models in our window for a time - I think it was either the "Fame" or the "Faith 1" one of which was referred to rather unkindly as the nearest thing to a freight submarine as you could get as there was no under deck passage from foc’s’le to stern. Happy Days. If any of this might be of interest to your associated please use it. Thanks in anticipation. Bob Bagshaw
From: Derrick
Howarth Hello Robert Thank you for your interesting email that I shall add to our web site. I think that you might just have hit the jackpot about ship's call signs and Met work because somewhere I think that I have a copy of the ship's call signs book. I was also Apprentice and Third Mate on the S.S. Manchester Miller (2), and Apprentice, Third Mate of the M.V. Manchester Faith (1) and Second Mate of her when she was the M.V. Cairnesk on a ship swap to Cairn Line, but I was still employed by ML. It was the 3/0's who were responsible for the Met Log Books. Whilst 3/0 of the M.V. Manchester Faith (1) I was presented with an award for my Met work from the Met Office in March 1965, "The University Atlas" by Philips, and again in March 1967 when I was 3/0 off the M.V. Manchester Commerce (4), a very interesting book "Lodestone and Evening Star" by Ian Cameron about the men who mapped t5he world. I still have both of them to this day and have just checked the dates and names of ships in them. Yes you were are so right, the Faith (1) was the nearest thing that you could get to a "Freight Submarine". We had a life-lines rigged either side of a non-slip walkway across No's 2 and 3 hatches to go from the bridge accommodation to the after accommodation. As we lived forward and the dining saloon was aft it lead to many soakings with sometimes very cold sea water. We did have a pantry forward for when it was particularly bad so that we did not starve. In the Canadian winters we used to freeze forward as the heating pipes ran along the deck froze solid. I will come back to you soon after my search for the book. Regards Derrick Hoiwarth ML Hon Webmaster From: Derrick
Howarth Hello Robert I have at last found the information that you requested about the signal letters of the S.S. Manchester Miller (2), and what a good memory you have, as it was indeed MAMW. That of the M.V. Manchester Faith (1) was GBHN and the M.V. Manchester Fame was GDWU. Regards webmaster@manchesterlinersl.co.uk
From:Robert Bagshaw Hi Derrick - many thanks for your reply and the confirmation of the MIllers call sign Its funny how some things stick even after more than 40 years. My new cheap and cheerful radio control model fishing boat now sports MAMW (and a local Peel number) instead of some Far Eastern ones (as issued) and the navigation lights are now on the correct sides as they come swapped over. I shall keep a note of the other two to possibly paass on to my fellow model club members if they also wish to personalise their boats as they are becoming as common as muck in the club due to their being almost ready to sail straight out of the box and good value for money ( Made in China of course - isn't everything these days?). Thank again BOB BAGSHAW
From: Peter Booker Good day,
From: Norman Wright Dear Sir, On researching the whereabouts of my grandfather Norman
Phillips I have learnt that his last recorded voyage as far as I can
find was on the Manchester Commerce which left Manchester for Canada
in late 1939. Thank you for any information which you may be able to provide, Norman Wright Unfortunately we do not have any crew lists but please see the note at the head of this page. Other than that I am sorry that I cannot help you further. This S.S. "Manchester Commerce" was built in 1925 and was the third of four ships to bear this name. She served with the Company until 1952 when she was sold to the UK company Camel Lines and renamed "Corbita". Three of them were sunk by enemy action. The first one was the first merchant ship to be sunk by a mine on October 17th 1914, near Tory Island off the northwest coast of Ireland. The second was torpedoed and sunk by U39 in the Straits of Gibraltar on June 22nd 1917 and the fourth was sold in1971 and renamed "Yan Chun" under Chinese flag and was sunk by gunfire in the Shatt al Arab Waterway in 2002. A photograph of her can be found in the Photo Archive Ships "A to C" For further info please go to the World War I section of our War & Peace page. Hon. Webmaster
From: MNA
Late on Sunday evening, I had a lady call me from Glossop regarding her Uncle Ernest (Ginger) Barry who had just died and had served a number of years with Manchester Liners. Regards Tim
From: A MURPHY Hi, my name is Tony Murphy. I served on Manchester
Liners in the 80’s on the Manchester Reward out in the far-east,
both the Manchester Vigour and Manchester Zeal on the New York run and
most of the rest off the fleet. I was there right to the end when it
all went to Furness Withy. I was a steward. I am interested in getting
some good photos of the ships I was on, and also meet a few old friends. All our photographs carry copyright restrictions, other than those on Manchester Liners postcards which were produced in the days when the ships carried passengers. Otherwise I am sorry that I cannot help you. Our Hon. Treasurer has sent you details on how to join our Association so that you can link up with old shipmates. If you have not as yet received this information please recontact us. Hon. Webmaster
From: Bryan B Farlow Dear Sirs, I served as a marine engineer with Manchester Liners
during 1957 / 1958 / 1959. I would also wish to apply for membership of the “Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Association”. Yours Sincerely, Our Hon. Treasurer has sent you details on how to join our Association so that you can link up with old shipmates. If you have not as yet received this information please recontact us. Hon. Webmaster
From: Andrew M Brownhill Dear Sir, Scanning some of my fathers pictures and slides (he worked at Manchester Dock Office as safety officer in the 60's -early 70's) I came across a slide of the vessel 'Manchester City' in one of the docks at Salford. Whilst looking up the ship on the web I naturally found your website and find that you have the ship name listed in your photographs required. I wonder if the attached picture is of the ship for which you need a picture, though I suspect not. I think it is number 2 but would welcome confirmation of this. If you require a larger picture my highest scan at 300dpi 3900x2590 is 4.72mb, though anything in-between is possible, please let me know. I am sorry that the photo is not of better quality but the slide has faded quite a bit as they usually do and my manipulations only do so much to improve things. Best regards Andrew Brownhill
From: Brian Armes My name is Margaret Armes. My uncle James McNair "Mac" as people called him was with Manchester liners from about 1947 until he retired in 1980. In 1960 he had an accident on the Manchester Progress while it was in dry dock and when he eventually returned to work it was working in the stores. When myself and my husband moved away from Manchester in 1999 Uncle Jim and Aunty Mary came with us, as by this time Uncle Jim was finding life hard. He lived with me until his death from cancer in 2002, his wife died in 2006. We are trying to put together the family history and would love to hear from anyone who knew "Mac". We are having problems working out which ships he was on when he first joined liners. I remember him talking about the Progress and the Spinner, but was too young to know about earlier ones. Is there some where that I can find this information and also what he was doing before he joined the liners, I think he was on Atlantic convoys. Thank you
From: Bryan B Farlow Hello, Derrick, Thank you for your reply.
We do not invent these enquiries – honest. But between us all we manage to answer most of the enquiries which the website brings in. If anyone remembers any of the people listed or can help with any item on this page, please contact: info@manchesterliners.co.uk
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