Archives, section 12 ...

 

For Archives, section 1, click here, section 2, click here, section 3, click here, section 4, click here, section 5, click here, for section 6, click here, section 7, click here, section 8, click here, section 9, click here, section 10, click here and section 11, click here.

The website has received two separate recollections of troops who travelled in Queen of Bermuda .  The first comes from Lesley Lambourne (right), who first noticed the entertainment programme sent to us by Derek Lewis in Archives 7.  Turns out that her father may have watched the entertainment. 

Click here for the programme.

Lesley tells us, ‘My father, Ken Frost (left), sailed on Queen of Bermuda in 1945.  He was a RAF Radar Technician and was heading for the Cacos Islands as part of Operation Cockroach.  I have his memories of embarking in Liverpool, the way the ship was arranged inboard and life onboard during the trip.  Dad died in April this year and I am currently editing his memoirs.  I am interested in contacting Derek Lewis, as it looks to me as if his programme of entertainment was from Dad’s voyage.’ 

Recollections of Queen of Bermuda as a troopship ...

To read about Ken’s impressions of life aboard Queen of Bermuda on that trip,  click here. 

The document has been prepared by Lesley from her father’s memoirs.  Copyright belongs to Lesley.  Photographs from collection of Lesley Lambourne.

The second recollection records the memorable moment when Monarch of Bermuda passed Queen of Bermuda in the Suez Canal in 1946.

Alan Kershaw (left) takes up the story.  ‘Yesterday, I came across  the attached photograph (below) of Queen of Bermuda in the Suez Canal in mid August 1946.  This photograph is interesting because it was taken from Monarch of Bermuda!’

‘My father, Captain Kenneth Kershaw  (above right) of the Royal Engineers, received a telegram on August 7th 1946, when he was in upper Burma.  He was to report back to London for demobilisation and resume his engineering studies at Imperial College.’ 

‘He commandeered a jeep and drove down to Singapore.  He was told that Monarch of Bermuda was leaving the next morning for England and that he could have a berth.  He took a few photos in the Suez Canal including the one below of an unidentified aircraft carrier.  Unfortunately, I do not have any showing Monarch of Bermuda herself in Suez and wonder if any exist.’ 

 

 

‘On arrival in England, he was met by my mother-to-be, Patricia Aldington, who informed him their wedding was all set for September 14th 1946.

‘I was born the following June, 1947, so I owe my existence to Monarch of Bermuda!’

Ken and Patricia Kershaw (right) on their wedding day at St. Milburgh's Church in Offenham, near Evesham. 

Photographs: collection of Alan Kershaw

Two amazing video clips ...

We are indebted to Michael Shailer, alias Miguel, former radio officer (right) , for two links to amazing footage of Queen of Bermuda.

The first is a unique television recording of Gene Nelson singing and dancing with Pat Horn on board Queen of Bermuda in 1959.  The movie was aired on the Pepsi Cola Christmas special that year.

Michael tells us ‘I was watching, with a few others, from the Boat Deck as Gene and Pat performed on the Sun Deck below.  You won’t recognise anyone, however, as it pans across us in a second.’

To view the film, click here.  It has a soundtrack  -  turn on your speakers.

Entitled Pat Horn and Gene Nelson Dance in Bermuda, the clip is copyright of YouTube and Linda Rheinstein

Michael Shailer at the 2009 Grand Reunion.

Photograph: Simon Mitchell

The second clip is of the launch of Queen of Bermuda on 16 September 1932 in Barrow-in-Furness.  It is an Italian newsreel film and, although in Italian, the cheers and comments of those watching this momentous event, are clearly heard.

To view this film, click here.  Copyright YouTube and CinecittaLuce

 

 

For Archives, section 1, click here, section 2, click here, section 3, click here, section 4, click here, section 5, click here, for section 6, click here, section 7, click here, section 8, click here, section 9, click here, section 10, click here and section 11, click here

Photographs of Bermuda found in antique shop ...

Photographs: Collection of David Kellock

David Kellock has sent these three photographs to the website.

He says ‘I bought these photos of Bermuda at an antique shop in Cockermouth, Cumbria.  They were all together in an envelope but without any details on it or on the reverse of the pictures’.

‘I presume the sailor was a member of the crew [Ed: looks like a Royal Navy rig  -  can anyone confirm?] and I saw on your website that Bermuda caught fire in Hamilton, Bermuda in 1931.  Feel free to use the pictures on the website.’

David also asked for more information on the ship and the fire  -  we directed him to the book ‘Queen of Bermuda and the Furness Bermuda Line’, by Piers Plowman & Stephen J. Card, Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, 2002.’

 

New additions to Allan Davidson’s collection ...

From cabin boy to Master Mariner ...

Allan Davidson has sent  us these two fine photographs, recently added to his collection.  He tells us, ‘I recently cleaned up the shot of Queen of Bermuda at No 1 in Hamilton. (below).  The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, in the left foreground’

Ted  Dyke (left) has contacted the website about his father, Chesley Dyke (below).  From copies of discharge certificates (see below), he has learned that Chesley sailed with Furness Withy in the 1930s.

Ted tells us ‘The discharge papers show he was boatswain on Monarch of Bermuda for 2 trips in 1933.’

 

 

‘I bought the old negative (above) on eBay and cleaned it up too.  That is the Paget shoreline in the background and the photo is claimed to be taken in the 1950s.’

Both photographs copyright of Allan Davidson

“My father was born in 1908, on Pool's Island, Newfoundland and got an early start in his career as a cabin boy at the age of nine.  By the age of 20, he had landed a job with Furness Withy & Co. as a seaman on ss Rosalind.  On his second trip he was promoted to boatswain .

The company moved their crew around as needed and, over the next 3 years, he worked on  ss Fort St.George , ss Silvia and, finally, on Monarch of Bermuda  in January 1933. Having left school at an early age, he went back when 35  years old to study navigation and ultimately obtained his Master Mariner’s ticket.’

Found on eBay ...

Stephen Card has sent us a transparency he purchased on eBay.  It is of Queen of Bermuda in Hamilton lowering a lifeboat.  When enlarged, it is possible to identify the faces of her crew for the day.  Can you name them?

Photograph: collection of Stephen Card.