I suppose anyone that has been a seafarer for a number of years would be able to recite some incident or other.

One I recall is whilst I was on the Braemar Castle in December 1959; we were unloading cargo on to lighters just outside the harbour at Gibraltar when without warning a severe gale blew up; it literally struck the ship in a matter of just a couple of hours. The ship started to drag its anchors so the Captain made an urgent requested for tugs to come and tow the lighters clear of the ship so that we could make way. Unfortunately the tugs were already in use on other emergencies. The decision was then made to take the men off the lighters and subsequently cut the lighters free, however one lighter was blown under the stern of the ship with 4 men still on board which resulted in our being unable to use engines. With the lighter being under the stern it made the task of saving the men very difficult. By the time they were rescued the ship had touched bottom. However it was now possible to use the engines and an attempted was made to get underway but to no avail.

Next morning at low tide we were high and dry on La Linea Beach much to the surprise and interest of the inhabitants.

On the next high tide two Royal Navy tugs were able to come to our assistance and with a lot of creaking and groaning the Braemar was refloated. Fortunately after a thorough inspection by divers we were able to complete our voyage.

The incident occurred in the evening and passengers were not aware or told that we had run aground although I would suspect some must have known that something was amiss, the usual entertainment was laid on by the pursers and life onboard for the passengers continued without interruption. It wasn’t until morning that the official announcement was made. Mind you any early risers amongst the passengers would have noted that there was a distinct lack of water around the ship!

As for the lighters and their cargo, well it all ended up on the beach no doubt much to the pleasure La Lianeans.


Hi Chris

Thanks for your swift response.

I'm attaching your form duly completed with a couple of photographs of myself one taken on the Transvaal Castle in 1962 and one whilst on a sailing trip along the south Coast in 2011. The aging process is no fun!!

Good luck with your new version of the site, look forward to seeing it.

Kind regards 

Discharge Book Number

R 638052

Department

Engine Room

Your Rank/Rating

Junior 5th to Senior Second Engineer

Service Record

From

To

Tintagel Castle

5th Engineer

10/1957

12/1957

Braemar Castle

4th Engineer

12/1957

12/1959

Durban Castle

Jnr 3rd Engineer

6/1960

9/1960

Pendennis Castle

Snr 3rd Engineer

11/1960

4/1961

Transvaal Castle

Jnr 2nd Engineer

12/1961

2/1964

Clan MacIndoe

2nd Engineer

5/1964

6/1964

Ayshire

2nd Engineer

6/1964

6/1964

Windsor Castle

Jnr 2nd Engineer

6/1964

1/1965

Clan MacLennan

2nd Engineer

12/1965

12/1965

Kenya Castle

2nd Engineer

12/1965

2/1966

Southampton Castle

Jnr 2nd Engineer

5/1966

10/1966

Donald Stangroom

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