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.

Colin Cowdrey Peter May Frank Tyson Trevor Bailey Ted Dexter Fred Truman

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

Tony Locke Jim Wardle

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

HP

Screws

186892

Harland & Wolff

Belfast

Harland & Wolff

Belfast

6 x Steam turbines

35000 SHP

2

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