Troopships

LOL

I went to BAOR and back on a troopship aa couple of times, as a boy that is, Mu mum and I shared a nice little cabin with it's own toilet and basic shower. I do remember the stench from the men's decks though, it was awful.

I did about six trips n the troopships between 1954 anf 1957.
They were bad enough but I was always anxious when on a home bound trip in case the weather was toop bad to sail and I might have to stay in the notorious Transit Camp at the Hook of Holland.
I have heard some stories about how bad it was, did anyone have the pleasure of experiencing it?

Noch ein bier,

Norman.

Shelldrake wrote:

Airtrooping in it's infancy was OK if you happened to live in the Home Counties or at the furthest extremity, the Midlands. I remember flying from Gutersloh to Gatwick in the mid 60s, it went something like this:- Reveille 0630hrs then hand in your bedding this was followed by running around camp to get various Clearance Chitties signed which you then presented to the Movements Clerk who gave you your Air and Railway Warrants. The transport left from the Guardroom at around 0900hrs but before you could get on the transport one had to be inspected by the Duty RP, it was a lot easier (and cheaper) to travel in uniform in those days as your civvies would never pass the inspection. The bus would then take you around all the Barracks in the vicinity, finally arriving at RAF Gut two hours before take off and then you would arrive at Gatwick at the same time as you took off. This is where it became a pain for us Jocks, train to Waterloo, Underground to Euston by which time it would be 1700hrs, the train for Glasgow departed at 2300hrs so with 6 hours to kill we did what all Squaddies did - spent our leave pay in the Bar at Euston. We would arrive, via every Station and Halt, some unknown even to Dr Beeching, at Glasgow Central, with a mouth like the inside of a lorry drivers' glove, at 0900hrs the following day. I was glad that we were only entitled to one free flight per year, I could have thumbed a lift and got there quicker.

I remember that bloody train, got in at Glasgow Central, then had to wait for hours to get another train bac to Crawford (Lanarkshire).

Gordon. wrote:

Did any of you.en route to Germany, ever enjoy a night crossing from Harwich to The Hook of Holland on H.M.T. Empire Parkeston?
I believe on arrival at the hook you boarded a red,blue or green train which took you to your destination in Germany

I never did it myself as the big iron birds were in use when i went there.

Gordon, see my post elsewhere at today. Parkeston and Green train to Osnabruck, did it a couple of times then later by steam plane from Gutersloh to ? Luton?, or better still, all the way to Leeds from Osnabruck on my Lambretta scooter. Oh Happy days.

shit no kidding, Osnabruck Leeds on a scooter ? i once did Bolton to Bordon on a lambretta 125, that was bad enough.

steve jones wrote:

shit no kidding, Osnabruck Leeds on a scooter ? i once did Bolton to Bordon on a lambretta 125, that was bad enough.

I was thinking that, I did Liverpool to Birmingham on a Honda 50 once, never again

Gordon,
Apart from the Empires Parkeston & Wansbeck, there was also a third ship - The Empire Vienna. I know 'cause I think I must have travelled on all three in my time from/to Harwich to the Hook of Holland during the first part of the 1950s. Always a lively tombola game aboard these ships. Also noted the distinct class structure on board this and ocean going troopships. Troop deck for the squaddies up to Sgt although the latter had their own accomodation. 2nd Class for SSSgts to WO1 and 1st Class for Commisioned Officers. Women services andunacompanied families of squaddies went 3rd Class.
Talk about splitting the atom

Jimsigs1

What was it Jim?

Officers and their laidies
WOs & SNCOs and their wifes
Other Ranks and their women

I was told this was the disembarkation announcements on these ships?
.Any truth in that?

Hi Gordon,

Pretty close.................

......My old Dad used to say :

Officers and their ladies
Sgts and their wives
The men and their women

Pretty rotten all round I'd say.

Wonder what todays generation would say !!!

Jim

I nearly finished typing in my contribution, clicked back to page 2 came back to find the box empty.

That's bloody annoying.

Any road up.

Disembarkation from the troopships was certainly carried out in order of "status". We cannon fodder had to wait to the bitter end, even ORs of the women's services got off before us. We used to jeer a bit but society was a little more structured then than it is now and it was all accepted.

It hasn't been mentioned yet but I recall that a Warrant Officer in transit used to be appointed as i/c of the troop decks for the voyage too.

"Officers and their ladies" etc is something we used to snarl about too Jim but I honestly can't remember ever seeing it in writing. By the time I got to be a "Pad" in the early 60s we were quite a stroppy bunch and anybody talking like that risked a thick lip !

A few random thoughts

The correct tiitle was simply SS Vienna, the other two were Empire xxx, we have discussed their relative merits a number of times in the past, all agreed the Empire Parkestone was the best, the Vienna the worst

I think the phrases quoted (or something very similar) originated in one of Kipling's Poems in "Plain Tales from the Raj" called Judy O'Grady and the Colonel's lady.

Finally I think there was a Ship's RSM, a permanent two year posting, on the BAOR vessels. He was in overall charge of the admin arrangements on board ship but doubtless delegated certain tasks to other passengers as appropriate (a similar system appled to the troopships heading for the Middle and Far East I believe but they also had a ship's adjutant ( a long serving major?))

Hi JPW,

Yes, of course it was the SS Vienna. My old memory of its tiitle was playing tricks.
Regarding troopships, I travelled out on the Empire Fowey - 28 days to Kure Japan for onward shipment to Korea via an old bucket called either the E-sang or Wo-sang (Kure to Pusan in 1954. Returned in 1955 on the Austurias to Egypt for onward travel to Tel el Kebir, but thats another story.

Jim

I think the phrases quoted (or something very similar) originated in one of Kipling's Poems in "Plain Tales from the Raj" called Judy O'Grady and the Colonel's lady.

Thanks for that JPW, I had a feeling it was from Kipling but I've only got a copy of "Barrack Room Ballads".

The E Sang and the Wo Sang ... that brings back memories of the '50's ... have you got the smell of fish out of your hair yet ... presupposing that you still have hair .. lol

Len (Ciphers)

Hi Len,

Can still smell the damm ship now after all these ships. Talk about 'elff & safety. They woudn't pass any kind of test today. Bloody awful old ships.
When did you ever travel on one of these ships.

Jimsigs1

After service in BAOR, 20 Armd bde (Munster), 6 Armd Div. was posted to Korea, arrived March 1954, served in Britcom Z Signals Sqn, a mix of Pommies, Aussies and Kiwi's. Loaned to Australian Base Sigs in Kure, Japan as a DI. Left 15 months later and was taken off the trooper in Port Said and sent to Cyprus. Most of the boys her have seen one of my sites, but just for you take a look at
http://web.me.com/lenpayne/Site_10/My_Time_in_the_Royal_Signals.html

Len (Ciphers)

Hi Len,

Thanks for your response and had a look at your web site. Very interesting. Might have a bash myself in putting together some notes. Suffice to say I had similar experiences as you starting off with Army Apprentices School at Harrogate in 1949. Posted to BAOR in 1952 an spent 2 years in Herford (Harewood Barracks on Ringstrasse) before being sent to Korea in July 1952 AND like you back from Korea to Egypt and Cyprus in 1953. The rest until demob in 1972 is history. I will have to see what photos I have lurking around.

Jimsigs1

Len,
I see that you were with 1st Gds Bde. So was I but a bit later than you. We were based in Winterbourne Gunner near Salisbury and they changed their name in 1960 to 51 Inf Bde. Di a large exercise in Libya in 1960 called Exercise Starlight.

Jimsigs1

Len,

Re your web page site, did you have much trouble in setting this up and what program did you use.

Jimsigs1

Jim.
Try yola. It`s a doddle,with almost unlimited usage,even for me..Take a look at mine

jimsigs1 wrote:

Len,

Re your web page site, did you have much trouble in setting this up and what program did you use.

Jimsigs1

Jim. There is also Kompozer, http://download.cnet.com/KompoZer/3000-10247_4-10655200.html which is totally free and has a dedicated discussion forum to boot. Take a look at my site www.artus-familyhistory.com to get some idea of the results.

Many Thanks Gordon & Dolmetscher,

I will have a go. Must also pop up in the loft and dig out some photos.

Jimsigs1

ciphers wrote:

After service in BAOR, 20 Armd bde (Munster), 6 Armd Div. was posted to Korea, arrived March 1954, served in Britcom Z Signals Sqn, a mix of Pommies, Aussies and Kiwi's. Loaned to Australian Base Sigs in Kure, Japan as a DI. Left 15 months later and was taken off the trooper in Port Said and sent to Cyprus. Most of the boys her have seen one of my sites, but just for you take a look at
http://web.me.com/lenpayne/Site_10/My_Time_in_the_Royal_Signals.html

Len (Ciphers)

Len. Just had a look at your very interesting site. I am pretty well in the same age group as you, and spent most of the war years evacuated to the country-side, so your recollections evoke strong memories for me. If we just had that world back again.......................................

Dolmetscher,

my sentiments to ............... and with the age............shall be 77 on 21st this month.
Were you in BAOR when we had BAFVs. My pay was £3.3.6 as a LCpl in 1953. They would ownly allow us £1 of DM @ 12 Marks to a £1 and sixpence. Whoaaahh....... what we could do with 12 whole DMarks.
Memories................

Jimsigs1

jimsigs1 wrote:

Dolmetscher,

my sentiments to ............... and with the age............shall be 77 on 21st this month.
Were you in BAOR when we had BAFVs. My pay was £3.3.6 as a LCpl in 1953. They would ownly allow us £1 of DM @ 12 Marks to a £1 and sixpence. Whoaaahh....... what we could do with 12 whole DMarks.
Memories................

Jimsigs1

I was a late enlistment, Jim, 26 when I signed on, as I had worked down the pit. The exchange rate was 11.20 when I was at Command Pay Office, Monchengladbach in 1960. A bottle of duty-free whisky was 7/6d if I remember. Fags, a shilling for 20. One thing I do recall, is that, in the NAAFI, if you bought a rum and coke, the coke was dearer than the rum.