Hi my name is Alan and to introduce myself a very brief history. I joined the British Merchant Navy during my mid teens. I served on many ships all deep sea and travelled the world.
Below there are a couple of photos of the type of ships I served on.
The 1st photo shows the Esperance Bay moored in Fremantle Australia, this was a passenger ship carrying British migrants out to Australia in the late 1940’s (£10 pounds assisted passages).
It also shows me heading off for a looksee ashore.
|
|
I have always been interested in making models, aeroplanes and model ships etc. My son Brett suggested it would be an nice idea for him to produce a web site for me to share with my friends and anyone interested in a couple of models I have made and one that I am in the middle of completing....
I hope you enjoy my work! |
|
|
M.V. Dunnottar Castle
15,004 Tons |
Union-Castle Line
To South & East Africa
|
|
 |
The two photos above show the Dunnotar Castle, a passenger ship calling around South and East Africa.
The photos either side show me in full uniform on the left, and in tropical gear on the right.
On the Dunnotar Castle I was one of six Quartermasters, we served a watch system two to a watch and doing four hours on and eight hours off watch, our duties covered on the wheel and general bridge duties.
|
|
 |
These two photos show me on watch at the wheel, in front of me is the Binnacle containing the standard magnetic compass.
!n the picture on the left you can see a circular unit above the Binnacle, this is the Giro compass which is the one we would use to steer the ship by, being more sensitive to course change than the magnetic compass.
Also in that picture the canvas screen you see covers the Radar screen.
|
|
|
|
The picture on the left shows a lighter side of life on board, we formed a skiffle band to amuse ourselves but the passengers enjoyed it as much as we did and so we finished up playing for them whenever we were off duty.
|
|
|
On the right you can see a model of the Cutty Sark. I carved this from solid pieces of wood and dowel rods for the masts , the sails were fashioned from vellum to keep a feeling of wind filled sails. Sorry about the quality of this picture but I no longer have this model and the negative is a very old one.
. |
| |
|
|
|
