Topic: just 1 nagging doubt

Del Boy · July 3rd, 2008

Mike, I feel that the fact you have put these questions up means that you will find whatever fortitude you need. Your dorm experience will certainly help.

My experience was this. I was at a good school and had yearned to go to sea, which was an island tradition in this country in those days of limited travel opportunity. My dad's brothers had spent the war on ships such as HMS Hood and Queen Elizabeth as part of their naval careers.

The Blue Star line offered me place as a Navigation Officer cadet, when I was 15. However, at the last moment I was rejected on medical when it was suprisingly found that I was slightly short-sighted. There was no longer any chance that I could become a naval officer. I insisted that I needed to go to sea, but they insisted that I would not suit or like a job as a ship's boy. I won, and with great reluctance, after I had rejected a civilian job at the head office, Blue Star sent me off to the sea- school at the old naval prison at Gravesend, with the guarantee of a ship to follow.

I took myself off to Gravesend, and I remember standing in front of the great prison door on my arrival. The steel shutter went up just enough for me to stoop under it and as I did the Scouser (Liverpool) opening it shouted to me to change my mind and turn around while I had the chance; he found it most amusing.

Well the sea school was drawn from all the cities of Britain and it was tough old place. I wouldn't say that any of us actually enjoyed it, but we adjusted and soon found new pals, who I remember to this day. After a few days any home-sickness faded and really we were too busy overcoming our new environment. As a little guy I had to stand my ground, but after a few months of the toughening up process I emerged in one piece, and I remember that on the bus to the docks for my first ship, a guy who sat near me, a few years older , obviously misreading my bruised face gave me a very good piece of advice which I never forgot. He told me that however tough I thought I was, on board ship I would ALWAYS find someone tougher.

My first ship took me to many ports in West Indies, USA, Canada, and Europe. I was the only boy, and I was very well looked after and trained, really without realising it, just like an apprenticeship really. I had to work really hard, and when we hit port I played hard. Girls in most ports ? Well certainly; at sixteen, what dreams are made of. My next ship took the same route until Panama, then across the Pacific to New Zealand, and the next one back to USA etc.

Now, let me tell you that we were often many weeks between ports, but homesickness always faded within a few days to an acceptable level. For me sea-sickness was a much worse problem and lasted the first three days of every trip, after which the most atrocious weather never bothered me. Nelson had the same problem. Every trip I made new mates, who I remember to this day, and i had unforgettable experiences. No problems there, and when I was 18 I volunteered to complete my UK forces duty, expectin to serve in the Royal Navy. But of course they put me in the Army & after a three months training at Maryhill, the old military prison in Glasgow, I was off to Egypt. Again, not much time for home-sickness, but again I was seasick for 3 days on the troopship home!

I made great mates again, and I am still mates with some of those still with us, even though we have not met physically for 50 years.

Mike, you sound someone who will go far in your chosen path, and please let me assure that if a sensitive soul like me could roll with these issues, then anyone can, and most certainly someone like you, as a single guy.

July 3rd, 2008
Del Boy Tribunus Laticlavius	Mike, I feel that the fact you have put these questions up means that you will find whatever fortitude you need. Your dorm experience will certainly help. My experience was this. I was at a good school and had yearned to go to sea, which was an island tradition in this country in those days of limited travel opportunity. My dad's brothers had spent the war on ships such as HMS Hood and Queen Elizabeth as part of their naval careers. The Blue Star line offered me place as a Navigation Officer cadet, when I was 15. However, at the last moment I was rejected on medical when it was suprisingly found that I was slightly short-sighted. There was no longer any chance that I could become a naval officer. I insisted that I needed to go to sea, but they insisted that I would not suit or like a job as a ship's boy. I won, and with great reluctance, after I had rejected a civilian job at the head office, Blue Star sent me off to the sea- school at the old naval prison at Gravesend, with the guarantee of a ship to follow. I took myself off to Gravesend, and I remember standing in front of the great prison door on my arrival. The steel shutter went up just enough for me to stoop under it and as I did the Scouser (Liverpool) opening it shouted to me to change my mind and turn around while I had the chance; he found it most amusing. Well the sea school was drawn from all the cities of Britain and it was tough old place. I wouldn't say that any of us actually enjoyed it, but we adjusted and soon found new pals, who I remember to this day. After a few days any home-sickness faded and really we were too busy overcoming our new environment. As a little guy I had to stand my ground, but after a few months of the toughening up process I emerged in one piece, and I remember that on the bus to the docks for my first ship, a guy who sat near me, a few years older , obviously misreading my bruised face gave me a very good piece of advice which I never forgot. He told me that however tough I thought I was, on board ship I would ALWAYS find someone tougher. My first ship took me to many ports in West Indies, USA, Canada, and Europe. I was the only boy, and I was very well looked after and trained, really without realising it, just like an apprenticeship really. I had to work really hard, and when we hit port I played hard. Girls in most ports ? Well certainly; at sixteen, what dreams are made of. My next ship took the same route until Panama, then across the Pacific to New Zealand, and the next one back to USA etc. Now, let me tell you that we were often many weeks between ports, but homesickness always faded within a few days to an acceptable level. For me sea-sickness was a much worse problem and lasted the first three days of every trip, after which the most atrocious weather never bothered me. Nelson had the same problem. Every trip I made new mates, who I remember to this day, and i had unforgettable experiences. No problems there, and when I was 18 I volunteered to complete my UK forces duty, expectin to serve in the Royal Navy. But of course they put me in the Army & after a three months training at Maryhill, the old military prison in Glasgow, I was off to Egypt. Again, not much time for home-sickness, but again I was seasick for 3 days on the troopship home! I made great mates again, and I am still mates with some of those still with us, even though we have not met physically for 50 years. Mike, you sound someone who will go far in your chosen path, and please let me assure that if a sensitive soul like me could roll with these issues, then anyone can, and most certainly someone like you, as a single guy. __________________ . "Who is wise - he that learns from everyone; who is powerful - he that governs his passions; who is rich- he that is content. Who is that ? -Nobody." Last edited by Del Boy; July 3rd, 2008 at 20:20.