Comments on: SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service A Site About Everything and Nothing Tue, 22 May 2012 00:19:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-23619 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:56:13 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-23619 Mike, thanks for taking the time to share that, really appreciated and welcome to the site. All the best Rod Mike,
thanks for taking the time to share that, really appreciated and welcome to the site.
All the best
Rod

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Mike May http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-23611 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:37:25 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-23611 I came across your website whilst researching the Strathnaver. I am preparing my Father's diaries for publication and thought you might be interested in the following extract. I have to mention that I own the original diaries and the Worldwide Rights:- LIVERPOOL 17 November 1940 We sailed at dawn on the 'H.T.Strathnaver'. There were six in the convoy, all large ships. The boat itself was still undergoing alteration when we left and we dropped the workman off at Glasgow where we picked up the remainder of the convoy; four ships. To escort us we had a battleship, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and five destroyers. The weather had been very rough up to now and I hadn't felt comfortable. How this tub could roll and pitch when in rough water. Regarding the boat she was of 22,000 odd tons - a P& O three funnel passenger liner converted to a troopship. She could make 27 knots and we averaged 420 miles a day. We were constantly zigzagging on the course and were always on the lookout for enemy submarines or aircraft. We had aboard 2000 RAF and 1600 Army and cargo, W.D. stores, Munitions etc. What a target!! Many of the personnel aboard were in cabins on ‘C’, ‘D’ and 'E' decks and very comfortable at that. I was on 'G' deck which is pretty well down in the boat, just above the water line in fact. We could only have the portholes open when in port. I happened to see some of the cabins which were normally for 1st Class passengers and they were really lavish. Marvellous grained woods, Walnut, Mahogany etc. Chromium fittings, panelling and furniture, made it a luxury trip compared with us blokes on the lower mess decks. I came across your website whilst researching the Strathnaver. I am preparing my Father’s diaries for publication and thought you might be interested in the following extract. I have to mention that I own the original diaries and the Worldwide Rights:-

LIVERPOOL
17 November 1940
We sailed at dawn on the ‘H.T.Strathnaver’. There were six in the convoy, all large ships. The boat itself was still undergoing alteration when we left and we dropped the workman off at Glasgow where we picked up the remainder of the convoy; four ships. To escort us we had a battleship, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and five destroyers.

The weather had been very rough up to now and I hadn’t felt comfortable. How this tub could roll and pitch when in rough water.

Regarding the boat she was of 22,000 odd tons - a P& O three funnel passenger liner converted to a troopship. She could make 27 knots and we averaged 420 miles a day. We were constantly zigzagging on the course and were always on the lookout for enemy submarines or aircraft. We had aboard 2000 RAF and 1600 Army and cargo, W.D. stores, Munitions etc. What a target!!

Many of the personnel aboard were in cabins on ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’ decks and very comfortable at that. I was on ‘G’ deck which is pretty well down in the boat, just above the water line in fact. We could only have the portholes open when in port. I happened to see some of the cabins which were normally for 1st Class passengers and they were really lavish. Marvellous grained woods, Walnut, Mahogany etc. Chromium fittings, panelling and furniture, made it a luxury trip compared with us blokes on the lower mess decks.

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19634 Sun, 08 May 2011 17:48:11 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19634 David, many thanks for the contribution, really appreciated and a warm welcome to the site All the best Rod David,
many thanks for the contribution, really appreciated and a warm welcome to the site
All the best
Rod

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: David Davies http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19631 Sun, 08 May 2011 10:47:49 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19631 Hello Rod Good of you to set up this site. My father WGL Davies travelled on the SS Strathnaver on 22.10.46 to Singapore he was in the RAF. He started courting my mother Marie Katherine Langford on board and married her 2 years later. My mother had joined the WVS and was also posted to Singapore. Regards David Hello Rod

Good of you to set up this site.

My father WGL Davies travelled on the SS Strathnaver on 22.10.46 to Singapore he was in the RAF. He started courting my mother Marie Katherine Langford on board and married her 2 years later. My mother had joined the WVS and was also posted to Singapore.

Regards
David

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19323 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:56:48 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19323 John, that is absolutely superb, many thanks indeed for sharing it and welcome to the site. That's exactly the sort of thing I love to get on the site - tremendously interesting not only to me but many others as well. The picture was on an old picture postcard I believe Regards Rod John,
that is absolutely superb, many thanks indeed for sharing it and welcome to the site.
That’s exactly the sort of thing I love to get on the site - tremendously interesting not only to me but many others as well.

The picture was on an old picture postcard I believe
Regards
Rod

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: John Milner http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19321 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:29:13 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-19321 Hi Rod, I was looking for a picture of the Strathnaver to include in a book about my father Gerald Milner. He sailed just pat midnight on 13/14 August 1941. In a letter to my mother before he sailed he wrote, "unless you hear from me otherwise. The old address will still find me but the above will be much quicker. I am expecting to leave at any moment now. Breakfast is at 2.30 am in the morning so it seems like a lomg journey. My thoughts will be with you dear. Please don't worry about me. I realise all the dangers of the sea and the East that will face me but I have full confidence in the navy. One of our chaps shot himself yesterday. All some of the men think of seems to be torpedoes. I don't know whether he was one of them. I've just heard another one has followed suit. I don't know whether it is right or not. Anyway, they have taken all rifles and ammo from us. I reckon that is to prevent an epidemic. Had another V.D. inspection yesterday. I'm beginning to lose count of them now. We have to go through the gas chamber without respirators this afternoon. All kit is being collected today. Please do not pass on any of this to outsiders as we want a sporting chance to get there. " Do you know anything about copyright of the picture on your site? Kind regards John Milner Hi Rod,
I was looking for a picture of the Strathnaver to include in a book about my father Gerald Milner.
He sailed just pat midnight on 13/14 August 1941. In a letter to my mother before he sailed he wrote, “unless you hear from me otherwise. The old address will still find me but the above will be much quicker. I am expecting to leave at any moment now. Breakfast is at 2.30 am in the morning so it seems like a lomg journey. My thoughts will be with you dear. Please don’t worry about me. I realise all the dangers of the sea and the East that will face me but I have full confidence in the navy. One of our chaps shot himself yesterday. All some of the men think of seems to be torpedoes. I don’t know whether he was one of them. I’ve just heard another one has followed suit. I don’t know whether it is right or not. Anyway, they have taken all rifles and ammo from us. I reckon that is to prevent an epidemic. Had another V.D. inspection yesterday. I’m beginning to lose count of them now. We have to go through the gas chamber without respirators this afternoon. All kit is being collected today. Please do not pass on any of this to outsiders as we want a sporting chance to get there. ”
Do you know anything about copyright of the picture on your site?
Kind regards
John Milner

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-18863 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:47:46 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-18863 Liz, we're getting some great comments tonight, thanks for sharing that with us Liz - really is appreciated. Welcome to the site and best of luck with the memoirs Kind regards Rod Liz,
we’re getting some great comments tonight, thanks for sharing that with us Liz - really is appreciated.
Welcome to the site and best of luck with the memoirs
Kind regards
Rod

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Liz http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-18859 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:11:20 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-18859 Rod- I recently googled Strathnaver and found your site. I travelled on the Strathnaver when it was a troop ship in 1946 and sailed with my Mum, my brother aged 5 and baby sister 6 months old, I was 4 going out on the boat. We were travelling to Mauritius to my Dad who was in the army and had been posted there for 18 months. The trip took 6 weeks and we were all crammed into cabins with three tiers of bunks along with other wives and families. I recall we had to leave the ship at Port Said I believe, and stay over in an army camp whilst the ship went through the Suez Canal. We were then taken by bus to join the ship again and continue our trip via Mombassa and Madagascar to Mauritius. I am just in the processof writing up my childhood memories so was interested to find your site. Rod- I recently googled Strathnaver and found your site. I travelled on the Strathnaver when it was a troop ship in 1946 and sailed with my Mum, my brother aged 5 and baby sister 6 months old, I was 4 going out on the boat. We were travelling to Mauritius to my Dad who was in the army and had been posted there for 18 months. The trip took 6 weeks and we were all crammed into cabins with three tiers of bunks along with other wives and families. I recall we had to leave the ship at Port Said I believe, and stay over in an army camp whilst the ship went through the Suez Canal. We were then taken by bus to join the ship again and continue our trip via Mombassa and Madagascar to Mauritius. I am just in the processof writing up my childhood memories so was interested to find your site.

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Vincent http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-17444 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:11:31 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-17444 My father travalled to Bombay on board the Strathnaver in 1945, his name was Ken. Could it be??? My father travalled to Bombay on board the Strathnaver in 1945, his name was Ken. Could it be???

]]> Comment on SS Strathnaver Troop Ship ~ National Service by: Rod http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-11875 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:41:30 +0000 http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/ss-strathnaver-troop-ship-national-service#comment-11875 Blaidd, thanks for the comment and welocme to the site: <i>ALL soldiers fighting for our freedom deserve the highest merit</i> Absolutely, I couldn't agree more ! All the best Rod Blaidd,
thanks for the comment and welocme to the site:
ALL soldiers fighting for our freedom deserve the highest merit
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more !
All the best
Rod

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