Edinburgh Castle (3)

GOHN

EDINBURGH CASTLE (3) was built in 1947 by Harland & Wolff in 1948 with a tonnage of 28705grt, a length of 747ft 4in, a beam of 84ft and a service speed of 22.5 knots.

Sister of the Pretoria Castle (2) she was built to replace the lost Warwick Castle (3) and underwent the same refit in 1962.

On 5th March 1976 she commenced her last passenger sailing from Southampton before undertaking a one-way cargo only voyage to the Far East where she was broken up at Kaohsiung by Chou's Iron & Steel Co. in the June of that year.

In 1945 at the end of hostilities with Germany the Company was faced with having to replace two of the Mail Fleet to replace war losses and very little cash to do it with. To compound the problem shortages of materiel made the building of large passenger ships somewhat difficult to say the least. In order to make economies the design was very largely that of the "Capetown Castle" but instead of diesel power she would revert to steam turbines.

From the outset there were problems with the decks of the "Edinburgh Castle" and her twin "Pretoria Castle". Unlike the old pre war vessels the decks of these two ships were sheathed in pitch pine instead of teak. To economise the planks were not 'fitted' but to allow for the lapped plating had filling pieces instead, it made the fitting out of the decks much easier and quicker as skilled carpenters were in short supply. The result of this was that from the very first voyage the decks started to weep rust as the steel beneath corroded, whenever possible red lead paint was pumped between the steel plates and wooden planking but it was never that successful and the two ships went through their life with rusting decks.

Because they were essentially 1930's design for the 1950's the ships went through a series of modernisations after the amalgamation with Clan Line. Outwardly the most noticeable change was with the mast arrangement but to the old U-C people the saddest change was in the colour scheme. The new Management did not like the old 'teak' brown masts and derricks and black winches, these became white and grey but a significant change was not easily noticed. Between the lavender of the hull (officially described as 'London grey') and white superstructure was a two inch wide teak brown line right around the ship. Whilst not immediately noticeable when there it was more noticeable when not there. But it had been calculated that this line cost the Company £2000 per ship a year and that was in 1956, the more astute Clan Line management did away with the brown line!

For tourist class passengers the most noticeable feature of the ships was the propellers vibration, new propellers were fitted for the accelerated service with the hull sandblasted and underwater plate laps filed to give a more streamlined underwater profile. With this the two ships were able to keep up the new mail service with their newer and faster sisters.

A Presidential Trip - 1962

Passenger Entertainment - 1974

Edinburgh Castle

Artist - Tony Westmore

Edinburgh Castle with tug Fortunate at Las Palmas

Artist - Roberto Hernandez

This drawing appeared on the front page of The SA Shipping News in 1948, heralding the first arrival of Edinburgh Castle

The Ocean Dock - Southampton

Featuring Queen Elizabeth, United States and Edinburgh Castle

Artist - Colin Verity

Edinburgh Castle _ Art Gallery

Refit - 1965

In 1965 both Edinburgh Castle and her sister ship Pretoria Castle underwent refits so that they could meet the specifications of the accelerated eleven and a half day mail schedule due to be inaugurated that year.

The refit included: shot-blasting the hull, some engine and propellor modifications - these increased the speed by 1 knot.

They were also given mast layouts similar to Pendennis Castle, i.e. reduced foremast, removal of the main mast and the fitting of a signal mast just abaft the monkey island.

Ship’s Officers - 1965

My feeling is that this picture is to mark the elevation to Commodore of Capt W S Byles in 1965

Master	From	To
T W McAllen	11/1948	12/1953
H A Deller	1/1954	3/1960
J D B Fisher	9/1957	10/1957
J F Oakley	4/1960	9/1960
G W Lloyd	11/1960	10/1962
A G V Patey	3/1961	4/1961
Refit
R A D Cambridge	10/1962	3/1964
F J Pye	4/1964	5/1964
W S Byles	7/1964	9/1967
A A Freer	6/1967	7/1967
D Sowden	9/1967	9/1970
C Mavitty	8/1968	10/1968
H N Dryden	3/1969	4/1969
H Charnley	4/1970	6/1970
P St Q Beadon	10/1970	6/1971
R Shattock	6/1971	6/1973
J Catterall	2/1972	4/1972
J Catterall	12/1972	1/1973
J Catterall	6/1973	2/1975
R Kelso	7/1974	9/1974
P Eckford	3/1975	4/1976

Review - April 1964

Edinburgh Castle Centenary Voyage - 1964

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 9 April For South Africa
Master	F Pye
Chief Officer	G Cochrane
First Officer	A Sillars
Second Officer	W E Kirkbridge
Jnr Second Officer	R Dobie
Third Officer	J Mason
Fourth Officer	R Cringle
Jnr Fourth Officer	A Rialland
Carpenter	P Bell
Bosun	N Ward
Master-at-Arms	D Campbell H Hoye
First Radio Officer	J Summers
Second Radio Officer	F H A Sharp
Third Radio Officer	A Blake
Fourth Radio Officer	P Heathcote
Surgeon	J Scott
Nursing Sister	Miss C Richards
Chief Engineer	R Crook
First Engineer	W Robertson
Second Engineer	J Cummings
Int Second Engineer	P Wyatt
Jnr Second Engineer	W Lugg D Gouldie A Ritchie
Snr Third Engineer	F Auret
Int Third Engineer	K Sneddon
Jnr Third Engineer	I Nicholson
Snr Fourth Engineer	J Austin
Jnr Fourth Engineer	J Fallon
Junior Engineer	J Paul D Venman G Weir
Chief Frig Engineer	J Ringshaw
Second Frig Engineer	B McGlynn
First Electrician	E Wilson
Second Electrician	C Entwistle
Third Electrician	D Horn
ER Storekeeper	G Sillence
ER Leading Hand	E Nel
Chief Purser	L G Cooper-Thorne
Purser	A Connolly
Purser Catering	N Smith
Second Purser	M Morley
Second Purser Catering	D Neal
Third Purser Catering	E Quirke
Asst Pursers	W R Kallaway
Purser’s Clerks	A Holmes Miss C Cordwell-Green Miss S Arnett
Children’s Hostess	Miss J Barrett
Chief Barman	L O’Dell
Storekeeper	A Greaves
Linen Steward	P Clifford
Head Waiter (1st Class)	K Toyne
First Tourist Steward	R Smart
Head Waiter (Tourist Class)	D W Evans
Band Leader	M White
Laundryman	J Hugo
Chef	M Maddison
Baker	S Furlong
Butcher	E Mew
Shopkeeper	D Campbell

Review - February 1965

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 19 November For South Africa
Master	W Byles
Staff Commander	R Bamlett
Chief Officer	E Paul
Second Officer	R Dobie
Jnr Second Officer	H Jones
Third Officer	P McMillan
Fourth Officer	D Russell
Jnr Fourth Officer	R Bryans
First Radio Officer	J Summers
Second Radio Officer	F H A Sharp
Third Radio Officer	T Miller
Fourth Radio Officer	D MacKenzie
Surgeon	D Fairweather
Nursing Sister	Miss A Goad
Chief Engineer	S N Harron
First Engineer	W Robertson
Second Engineer	S Mason
Int Second Engineer	P Wyatt
Jnr Second Engineer	A Ritchie J Hill K Sneddon
Snr Third Engineer	S Cain
Int Third Engineer	I Nicholson
Jnr Third Engineer	G Austin
Snr Fourth Engineer	J Paul
Jnr Fourth Engineer	W Smith
Junior Engineer	T Richardt J Lines J Miller
Chief Frig Engineer	J Ringshaw
Second Frig Engineer	G Weir
First Electrician	E Wilson
Second Electrician	D Weir
Third Electrician	B Fisher
Chief Purser	L G Cooper-Thorne
Purser	A Connelly
Purser Catering	N Smith
Second Purser	M Morley
Second Purser Catering	D Neal J Baynes-Reid
Asst Pursers	R Elliott
Purser’s Clerks	C Stride Miss V Craig Miss G Whitchurch
Jnr Purser Catering	A Holmes
Children’s Hostess	Miss J Barrett

The Big Wave 1964 - By Captain W S Byles

Ship’s Officers - 1967

Officers of Edinburgh Castle on Commodore W Byles’ final voyage

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 28 April For South Africa
Master	W Byles	Chief Engineer	S Harron	Chief Purser	M Bain
Staff Commander	R Lofts	First Engineer	W Maitland	Purser	J Wynter
Chief Officer	O Barnsley	Second Engineer	P Lovell	Purser Catering	G Waugh
Second Officer	R Stearn	Int Second Engineer	P Swift	Second Purser	C Deller
Extra Second Officer	P McMillan	Jnr Second Engineer	D Warren J Webster J Inkersole	Second Purser Catering	R Bowen
Third Officer	D Grimes	Snr Third Engineer	D Burr	Third Purser Catering	W Stewart
Fourth Officer	R Kirkpatrick	Int Third Engineer	T Williams	Asst Pursers	J Ingram A Holmes
Cadets	M Dowsett	Jnr Third Engineer	J Mayer	Purser’s Clerks	Miss A Williams Miss I Dowden C Elliott
Carpenter	P Bell	Snr Fourth Engineer	R Gorst	Jnr Purser Catering	R Warren
First Radio Officer	H Liggins	Jnr Fourth Engineer	C Smuts	Hostess	Miss V Craig
Second Radio Officer	H McColl	Junior Engineer	R Wright J Taylor	Children’s Hostess	Miss J Bonner
Third Radio Officer	T McAnerney	Chief Frig Engineer	J Ringshaw
Fourth Radio Officer	J Foley	Second Frig Engineer	G Walker
Surgeon	M MacNamara	Third Frig Engineer	J Ferguson
Nursing Sister	Miss A Dunne	First Electrician	T Stallard
		Second Electrician	W Street
		Third Electrician	A Bennett

Transfer at Sea - 1968

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 18 October For South Africa
Master	D Sowden R Escolme (Supy)
Staff Commander	M Zugg
Chief Officer	O Barnsley
Second Officer	F Whitley
Extra Second Officer	A Stewart
Third Officer	D Fellowes
Fourth Officer	T Dubicki
Cadets	R Hunter
Carpenter	P Bell
Bosun	W Arnold
Master-at-Arms	H Clarke M Gleeson
First Radio Officer	H Liggins
Second Radio Officer	H McColl
Third Radio Officer	P Taylor
Fourth Radio Officer	R Bradsell
Surgeon	J Kirkham
Nursing Sister	J Griffiths
Chief Engineer	S Harron R Gemmell (Supy)
First Engineer	W Robertson
Second Engineer	A Simms
Extra Second Engineer	T Burden
Jnr Second Engineer	K Fleet V Hamilton J Watt
Snr Third Engineer	T Williams
Int Third Engineer	S Rogers
Jnr Third Engineer	S Smart
Snr Fourth Engineer	J Sewell
Jnr Fourth Engineer	F Ing
Junior Engineer	C Lillig C Hawkins
Chief Frig Engineer	J Ringshaw
Second Frig Engineer	A Palmer
Third Frig Engineer	D Urquhart
First Electrician	T Stallard
Second Electrician	J Lawlor
Third Electrician	J Fardon
Senior Mechanic	W Jones
ER Storekeeper	P Phillips
ER Leading Hand	B Atkinson
Chief Purser	R Reeves
Purser	R Wynter
Purser Catering	W McGrady
Second Purser	W McCall
Second Purser Catering	A Quarrie
Third Purser Catering	P Hoffman
Asst Pursers	B Blake I Fisher
Purser’s Clerks	C Borley H Turton S Broom
Junior Purser Catering	T Watkins
Children’s Hostess	J Bonner
Chief Barman	L O’Dell
Storekeeper	S Bain A Williams
Linen Steward	L Robertson
Head Waiter (1st Class)	T McIntosh
First Tourist Steward	C Fielding
Head Waiter (Tourist Class)	L Robertson
Band Leader	T Jones
Laundryman	J Sumpton
Chef	H Grainge
Baker	J Findlay
Butcher	R Mather
Shopkeeper	S Lewin

Passing Pendennis Castle at Sea on Edinburgh Castle’s final voyage

The flag signals read:

Revelations Chapter 18 Verse 11.

“And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.”

“Good luck and farewell”

Email received 16 March 2014

II was a serving deck officer with Blue Star Line and was in Capetown in in 1976. Whilst there the ‘Edinburgh Castle’ departed on her last pay off voyage. I remember the pennant she was flying and what a sad sight it was to see her sail off to the breakers. I took these photos of her leaving. Perhaps you might like to pass them on to your historical reunion group. I was on the ‘Halifax Star’ at the time of taking the photo.

Kind Regards

Captain Malcolm Goodfellow

Newcastle

Australia

Farewell Edinburgh Castle - 1976

Malcolm

I very grateful for your contribution, I will add them to the Edinburgh's page on the B&C web site tomorrow and it will be uploaded tomorrow night.

Are you sure this is Cape Town it looks very much like Durban to me.

Edinburgh Castle was a great favourite of ours, although I never sailed on her, I was always aware of her reputation as a very happy ship.

My own favourite was Pendennis Castle and I served many many voyages on her as second officer, best job in the fleet!.

Once again many thanks

kind regards

Chris Isaac

Yes you are right, Durban it was. They certainly were great days to be at sea in the 70’s. I was a cadet when I took this photo and had just gone right around the world on the ‘Halifax Star’ starting in Melbourne, then other Australian ports, then the east coast of the USA, them through the Med, Suez and were them down to Africa to load fruit for the UK. 6 months the trip took and it was fantastic.

Kind Regards

Malcolm

You are probably aware that Blue Star Line had a brief experience of the SA Mail run when Andalucia Star took the place of Pendennis Castle after she was withdrawn. You will find a picture of her in UC colours on her page.

kind regards

Chris

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 5 March For South Africa
Master	P Eckford
Staff Commander	W McCarthy
Chief Officer	D Pope
Second Officer	T Tollervey
Extra Second Officer	D Tweedy
Third Officer	G Koch
Fourth Officer	M Wise
Extra Fourth Officers	A Hill
Carpenter	W Ross
Bosun	J Acton
Snr Master-at-Arms	L Fergus
Jnr Master-at-Arms	E Gibson
First Radio Officer	G Walker
Second Radio Officer	M MacDonald
Third Radio Officer	D Garbett
Fourth Radio Officer	G Stainthorpe
Surgeon	T Watford
Nursing Sister	K Burrow
Chief Engineer	R Somers
First Engineer	W Robertson
Second Engineer	P Mantle
Extra Second Engineer	S Priestley
Jnr Second Engineer	W McCarthy M Walton
Snr Third Engineer	M Rowen
Int Third Engineer	I Bruce
Jnr Third Engineer	G Collins
Snr Fourth Engineer	S Hall
Int Fourth Engineer	A Humpish
Jnr Fourth Engineer	D Shaw
Junior Engineer	R McKeague G Waters C Gray
Chief Frig Engineer	J Ringshaw
Second Frig Engineer	W Patterson
First Electrician	E Wilson
Second Electrician	J Towler
Third Electrician	R Clarke
Senior Mechanic	A Miller
Plumber	L Geens
ER Storekeeper	K Le Gallais
ER Leading Hand	F Saint
Chief Purser	A Jenner
Purser	G Cartwright
Purser Catering	C Dawkins
Second Purser	C Brown
Second Purser Catering	R Jones
Third Pursers	J Wootton I Pursch N Rigg
Third Purser Catering	C Hobson
Junior Pursers	P Stevenson A Read G Street
Children’s Hostess	H Sinclair
Chief Barman	A Young
Storekeeper	H Matthews
Linen Steward	J Campbell
Head Waiter (1st Class)	J McIntosh
Head Waiter (Tourist)	M Proctor
Band Leader	D Broadbent
Laundryman	R Humphries
Chef	J Greer
Baker	J Findlay
Butcher	D Collins
Shopkeeper	B Cowlen

Inter-Departmental Kite Flying - 1972

Princess Margaret walks through a guard of honor at the Harland and Wolff Shipyard in Belfast, where she launched the ship, Edinburgh Castle, which was her first solo public engagement.

Launch of Edinburgh Castle - 16 October 1947 & Maiden Voyage December 1948

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 9 December 1948 For South Africa
Master	T W McAllen
Chief Officer	F Marriot
First Officer	A D White
Second Officer	A J Trout
Third Officer	R Taylor
Fourth Officer	P S G Eckford
First Radio Officer	J Hodgson
Surgeon	J K Donald
Chief Engineer	W Lockhart
First Engineer	G Watson
Second Engineer	D Abercromby
Int Second Engineer	F A Purton
Purser	A Connolly
Chief Steward	D G Wheelband

In 1956 the MCC cricket team sailed in Edinburgh Castle to tour South Africa.

This was a fairly frequent occurrence on the mail ships.

On this autographed postcard can be seen the signatures of: Cowdrey, Compton, May, Bailey, Wardle, Dexter, Laker and Duckworth

(he of Duckworth/Lewis fame) as well as some others I cannot decipher.

Trevor Bailey filming Colin Cowdrey, Frank Tyson and Dennis Compton on Edinburgh Castle in Southampton

Peter May and Jim Laker as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in the ship’s fancy dress competition

MCC Touring Team - 1956

Edinburgh Castle Left Southampton 4 October For South Africa
Master	H A Deller
Chief Officer	R M Wright
First Officer	P St Q Beadon
Second Officer	B M O’Connor
Third Officer	R M Dunning
Fourth Officer	D A Arnold
Chief Engineer	T P Noble
First Engineer	G M Watson
Second Engineer	N Ruffell
Int Second Engineer	W H Ardy
Jnr Second Engineer	W G Dougan
Surgeon	J R Donald
Purser	I A Harding
Second Purser	V Goodier
Chief Steward	D B Jenkins
First Radio Officer	J Hodgson

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

Edinburgh Castle (3)

1948

1948 Deployed to The Cape Mail Service

1976 Scapped at Kaohsiung

28700

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

Screws

186892

Harland & Wolff

Belfast

Harland & Wolff

Belfast

6 x Steam turbines

35000 SHP