I began my career as a shipfitter apprentice (later reclassified as Fitter/Turner) at HM Dockyard Portsmouth. Maurice was part of my intake, with Ben joining in the following group. After completing their apprenticeships, both Maurice and Ben joined Union-Castle.

During this period, the three of us were the only ones to join the Merchant Navy since national service had been abolished. The Merchant Navy provided an alternative to the mandatory two years of national service. As dockyard apprentices, we had automatic entry into the Royal Navy as engine room artificers—provided we passed the medical exam. Unfortunately, I failed mine, which delayed my entry into the Merchant Navy.

While undergoing the Merchant Navy medical exams—which proved difficult for me—it seemed they might have been desperate for engineers because I eventually got accepted. Around that time, the Cape Town tragedy occurred, resulting in the loss of all the engineers onboard.

My first ship was the Athlone Castle, the sister ship of the one involved in the tragedy. I was extremely nervous at first but gradually overcame my fear. My first encounter with the ship’s engine telegraph was quite a shock: when the order came to go slow ahead, I almost shot off like a rocket. The sudden roar of the air start motors kicking in completely startled me since I wasn’t prepared for it.

The first engineer I worked under was Barney Rice, and sharing my cabin was a new Rhodesian junior engineer named Ron Norket, who was nicknamed “Elbows.” I only completed two voyages with Union-Castle before moving around to other opportunities over the next few years.

What about you? I assume you were also with Union-Castle?