Anecdote
Going in to La Pallice captain (Rafferty?) was pisssed, god knows how we missed the reef. Pilot came onboard. “Thank god for that I haven’t a clue where we are” the Captain said. “I know where we are, we’re a mile past the reef you just ran over”
My dad Maurice Potter served on this ship. Does anyone remember him ?
Captain William Fretwell was Master of this ship, Cadmium, in 1914. You will find an interesting article in the Singapore Straits Times of 17 July and Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertisements about an issue he had with his crew - the Master was exonerated.
Later in 1914 he was recalled to Britain to serve in HMS Auxiliary Patrol. After the war he rejoined the company and was Master of the Petricola and Planorbis.
I can corroborate that Nick. My father was a stoker on the El Cerbio on the convoy when she was hit. He told me about nursing the ship back to harbour with an unexploded torpedo inside. Only difference is, he said they KNEW there was an unexploded torpedo onboard when sailing - which is quite likely when you think about it. Attacked by a torpedo bomber, sudden bang, inrush of water, no explosion..... Pretty likely the below-decks guys knew (or strongly suspected) something was there.
Sailed as 1st Radio Officer (I was 17 yrs old) from August 1961 till July 1962. 2 month trip. From Memory (to confirm later). Cardiff dry dock. Then to load Clean Oils at Cork Oil Refinary.
Unload Dublin & London ? then Curacao to London.
Then 9 months.
A:- Curacao to Haiti, Tobaco & Trinadad.
B:- Curacao,- Bahamas.
C:- Curacao or Venesula to New York.
D:- Curacao (Mixture of Clean Oils) to Lisbon, Gibraltar ,Monte Carlo (1st Snow Storm on 100 years). Naples, Greece. Turkey, Izmer & Izmid. Isreal.
E & F :- Thru Suez to Gulf Abadan/Iran to load twice for "South Africa". viz Lorenzo Marks(Biera)/Mozambique, Durban East London, Port Elizabeth, Capetown & Walvis Bay /"South West Africa" now Namibia.
G:- Abadan to Singapore.
H:- Abadan to London.
Only Person I remember is 2nd Mate John Yoe from Devon/ Cornwall.
The ship was off the Bahama's when USA president John F. Kenneday was Assasinated. in 1962
I also was informed by the Captain that " I"/ Ship had received a Commendation from the US Coast Guard for Weather reports
during Hurricane Flora that Devastated Tubaco & Trinadad
as we were the nearest ship to the hurricane center.
No Satelites in those days, comms by Morse Code only.
Carribean radio stations paid by telegrams passing thru, had to trick them into taking weather reports (every 2 hrs).
When I asked the Captain to see/ keep the commendation,
he had "lost" it
... Liam Aylward
Anchored off Shannon, mid-December 1978. Around 2030, a freak wave broke over the ship and destroyed midships accommodation. Took away 2 weather doors port side Captain's deck, damaged the port lifeboat, destroyed midships fresh water pump room and collapsed the deckhead in the second mates cabin. He was lying in bed when he found himself underwater as the water poured in from above.
Minor repairs made in Shannon then we crossed the Atlantic with sheets of plywood covering the ripped out doors, and had proper repairs done in Curacao
first ship joined in singapore 12 7 71 payed of singapore 19 1 72 best time of my life
Great memories of life on board the Hinea. Delivering AvTur to Cam Rham Bay in Vietnam.
I did a 'man's run'; stayed on board for 18 months.
Joined in Djibouti, hove to for 2 days in either the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean, then tramped to Singapore, then to Sydney, up to Yokohama (Summer to winter (really cold in Yokohama); Sydney, Yokohama, Port Moresby, Singapore. Wow it was just excellent.
Does anyone remember attack by UBoat in Feb.1942.?My Dad was in action that day as a gunner.Please contact me if you do.
I was named after this tanker. My Dad was on it in after meeting my Mum. I was almost named Megara as that was the one he was on when I was born!
Joined the Progress as she was towed into Palermo Spring 74 with extensive rudder damage after driving onto a sandbank going astern and with a sgegless rudder, the repair was a series of disasters and took sever blissful weeks, many happy days spent on the magnificent Modello beach a bus ride away.
My Father was 5th Engineer on the Northia during WW2. I understand she may have been included in both the Arctic, and North Atlantic convoys between the eastern seaboard of the United States and the Russian ports of Murmansk and Archangel.He told me this but I am struggling to locate the evidence. I am currently attempting to apply for both the Arctic Star and Atlantic Star posthumously for him. If anyone has any information given to long time lapse I would be grateful.