Royal Navy Research Archive

Dave Watts

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:19:05 +0100

I started my merchant navy deck apprenticeship on SS Eskglen in 1954. She had just been purchased by The Chellew Navigation Company from The Stag Line and was in dry dock in South Shields.

I clearly remember the engraved name MORAY FIRTH on each side of the bow. It was, of course, painted over with her new name.

We carried coal, sugar and iron ore cargoes.

Robert Wilson Burn

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 11:47:25 +0100

My father Stephen Wilson Burn served on the Beauly Firth as a junior sub-lieutenant and made the voyage to Singapore and Australia, where they picked up 20,000 boxes of donated food, and gold bullion from the Perth Mint. My grandfather was Trinity Captain Colin MacKellar, Harbour Master of Leith during WW2. My father married his daughter Margaret a few years later, when they were both working for Unilever.

Vivien Heath

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 01:15:51 +0000

My father was a Petty Officer on the Moray Firth in 1945 and recounted to me sailing as far as Suez visiting Port Said before bring recalled to the UK. He spoke of an incident off Malta when the ship found itself in the middle of an Allies minefield. The officers were reluctant to tell the crew of their dire situation, but my father insisted that they did and called the crew together for the Captain to impart the news. He then organised a church service and suggested that the crew pray for safe resolution and they sang the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save.

Chris bracegirdle

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 22:45:23 +0000

My dad was an engine fitter aboard MORAY FIRTH, told me they got a recall back to the UK while transiting Suez on route to Australia for far east duties. Dad said the cheer on the captain announcing the UK recall was fantastic; he was a recently married 19-year-old at the time.

Peter Moray Malin

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 19:37:27 +0100

My father was an officer on this ship, he was a lieutenant in the fleet airarm and an engineer during it participation in the fleet that sailed as part of the fleet that waw going towards japan. |My knowledge is that they reached suez when the bomb was dropped on hiroshima ending the war.My middle name was chosen from his involvement there.

Phillip Needham

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 12:21:13 +0000

My father, Thomas James Needham sailed on the ship's last journey from Belfast to Portsmouth. The captain decided that as it would e his last voyage he would sail around the Scottish isle and down the east coast.
On leaving Belfast there we no dock hands available to cast of so he told all crew to clear the decks. He then on full power manovered from the dock causing the Hauser's to snap and fly back across the deck.
My father was in the Royal Navy on Dems duty as a guest gunner on wings of the bridge
When off Flambrough head be sunk two mines using the first officers 303 rifle after abortive efforts by the officer.
When in Portsmouth they had leave the harbour to test the aircraft engines because of the noise.
He remembered the Moray Firth with affection.