Anecdote

Chief engineer for reactivation 1990

In July 1978 We were rescued by the Crew of the Gadinia when our boat engine broke down and we were drifting in the south China Sea for 43 days ! We had ran out of food and water. and had sick children aboard. If it wasn't for the Gadinia and crew I wouldn't be here today writing this. Grateful thanks to Gadinia and Crew. would love to get in contact with any crew members that wera on the same time as us.

My father, Norman Carter, was a survivor of the torpedo and was adrift for 28 days before reaching the Maldives. I believe he was a gunner.

I must have enjoyed the Humilaria, as I joined the vessel on 11th May 1972 and left on 1st May 1973. I remember that the air-conditioning was always malfunctioning, so there was many a night spent sleeping on deck. People moan about their work today, and it was no different all those years ago, but I remember a time when there was more cameraderie and less selfishness and greed than there is today.

I joined the Ebalina in September 1980 as Chief Steward. I remember when C/0 Mike Barkes joined the vessel a couple of weeks after me. He joined with a 'heavy cold' and took to his bed for a few days. When he felt a little better he visited the Officers Bar around 0900 hours and as it was not opened, he knocked back the presentation miniature bottle of spirits that was given to the vessel by the shipyard. Needless to say the liquor did not have sufficient time to mature. Poor Mike died a year or two later from a brain haemmorage. He was one the last of the ' great characters' during those days.

Joined the ship in Rotterdam at the end of its maiden voyage having misplaced the anchor in the English channel? She was an ok ship a few teething problems as I recall, feed pumps losing oil, deck ballast line joints all rupturing when the ballast water slammed into a closed valve, trying to slow the ship up the channel only to find the warming through steam had been left on the hp turbine, soot blower auto warming through valve failing, caused a bit of a panic around the back of the boiler as I recall? But very clean and modern; however slow steaming from Europe to the gulf and back didn't do much for me as an adventure and was the catalyst for me going back on motor ships.

Sorry Paul Wayman, but it was me who “Bullshitted” the papers, I was actually senior cadet at the time. Though I was pissed It all escalated rather quickly. The Chief Officer saw this and pointed at me straight away and said “You” (I thought fuck me that was quick), then he went on “your the senior cadet, I want you to find out who did this”

Anyway, then came the “punishment” work (petty f***ers), I was all set to fess up, then word got round and about a dozen of the lads came to see me. “Mike, don’t do it, you’ll get sacked. Anyway, it was worth it just to see the reaction from the Chief Officer”. So discretion being the better part of valour I kept shtum, though (nearly) everyone knew it was me.

When I left I was branded “immature” on my report. Then thrown out of the captains cabin (Snowdon - I think), for telling him what went on the ship. Ie Alcoholism, drinking contests, sleeping on watch (on the mat behind the helm), flogging the chart corrections etc. He even threw a sellotape dispenser at me.
His response - he wrote to the company refusing to sail with me in any capacity whatsoever ever again. Petty arsehole.
When Shell interviewed me (after already having had my redundancy notice) they said they hoped I had learned something. I said “Yes - you just cant win” , they said that was the wrong attitude, I said it’s the only one you’re going to get from me.

Although we had some fantastic fun, and camaraderie, I hated the ship, and most of the officers on it. I recently went to an old Oralia shipmates wedding - so not all bad.

Going in to La Pallice captain (Rafferty?) was pisssed, god knows how we missed the reef. Pilot came onboard. “Thank god for that I haven’t a clue where we are” the Captain said. “I know where we are, we’re a mile past the reef you just ran over”

My dad Maurice Potter served on this ship. Does anyone remember him ?

Captain William Fretwell was Master of this ship from approx 3 Sept 1909 - March 1911. He sailed to Bangkok, Foochow, Shanghai, Sambilan, Tientsin, Pulo Samboe, Manila, Haiphong, Langkat, Chinwantao and Hong Kong carrying oil. Shipping reports cite the boat may have been owned by Katz and Co (Penang/ Singapore) in 1909. He was later Master of the Cardium, Petricola and Planorbis.

Captain William Fretwell was Master of this ship, Cadmium, in 1914. You will find an interesting article in the Singapore Straits Times of 17 July and Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertisements about an issue he had with his crew - the Master was exonerated.

Later in 1914 he was recalled to Britain to serve in HMS Auxiliary Patrol. After the war he rejoined the company and was Master of the Petricola and Planorbis.

I can corroborate that Nick. My father was a stoker on the El Cerbio on the convoy when she was hit. He told me about nursing the ship back to harbour with an unexploded torpedo inside. Only difference is, he said they KNEW there was an unexploded torpedo onboard when sailing - which is quite likely when you think about it. Attacked by a torpedo bomber, sudden bang, inrush of water, no explosion..... Pretty likely the below-decks guys knew (or strongly suspected) something was there.