Name: Phil Dowling
Email: r818305@ozemail.com.au on Saturday, September 4, 2004 at 23:13:57
From: Thornton Heath
Home: Darwin Australia
Ship: Oronsay, Orcades, Himalaya,Oriana, Orsova, Chitral, Chusan
Dates: 1965 to 1975

Comments: I went to sea from Gravesend Training School as a fresh faces 16 year old. (boy don't you grow up fast?) First trip a 5 month voyage through the Panama, round the Pacific to Aussir and then back through the Panama. Went through the Bellboy, A/S, Wine Waiter, Section Waiter, thing.

Name: Pauline Cookson
Email: pauline.cookson@det.nsw.edu.au on Monday, September 6, 2004 at 12:37:57
From: Nottingham UK
Home: Sydney NSW
Ship: SS Strathaird
Dates: Arrived 14 July 1960

Comments: My family arrived in Sydney on 14 July 1960. I was nine, my brother was 14, one sister was 13 and one was two. My most vivid memory is the crossing of the equator and "Neptune" pulling a row of sausages out of my stomach as a trick! I have an excerpt from the passenger list sent to me by National Archives. Would like to hear from fellow passengers.           

Name: John Andrews
Email: on Monday, September 6, 2004 at 22:37:18
From: London England
Home: Kent England
Ship: Strathnaver
Dates: Christmas Eve 1956

Comments: My parents,sister Judith, and I (8yrs old) travelled out to Australis as £10 POMS. We travelled around the|Cape during the first Suez crisis. What a great time we had on the Strathnaver. We went to Balgownie Hostel Fairy Meadow NSW. Moved to Geelong and remained there until 1967. My parents returned to England for "a 3 month trip". Have been here ever since but have been back twice as a tourist.

Name: Ron Pomphrey
Email: ron@raafa.com on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at 00:47:57
From: Glasgow
Home: Perth W.A.
Ship: S.S. Strathaird
Dates: 1954

Comments: I came out with the Big Brother Movement when I was 17. John Ure, John Orr, and John Mills were the lads I remember. We had a long trip as we had a smallpox outbreak after we left Ceylon. Our waiter's cabin mate had smallpox so we lost our waiter, and a rouseabout from Glasgow looked after us at meal times, and boy did we eat great when he took over. We also ran aground at Port Said. When we arrived at Fremantle we were not allowed to leave the ship due to still being quarantined, also the wharfies would not unload us for 3 days. We got into Sydney on the 20th September being the longest trip of the Strathaird from Tilbury to Sydney. Please email me for my website address.

Name: Albert Lovett (Grandfather)
Email: doublebuffer@hotmail.com on Thursday, September 9, 2004 at 06:31:34
From: East End, London
Home: Essex
Ship: Orontes
Dates: During the war and just after.

Comments: Grandfather served as 6th Deck Engineering Officer and he is still fighting fit and often talks of fond memories of his time onboard. Anyone with anything interesting or who served at the same time, please get in touch!

Name: Linda Page (nee Rowland)
Email: lindae181@hotmail.com on Friday, September 10, 2004 at 10:19:10
From: Yorkshire, England
Home: Queensland, Australia
Ship: Stratheden
Dates: April 27 to June 28 1961

Comments: I arrived in Sydney Australia June 1 1961, with my parents and two brothers and two sisters. I was 12 at the time and would love to be able to get a passenger list from this trip.

Name: Regina
Email: rdaless143@optonline.net on Friday, September 10, 2004 at 16:15:30
From: NJ, USA
Home: NJ, USA
Ship: SS Orsova
Dates: Arriving Sydney, Dec. 11, 1963

Comments: I am looking for anyone who might know how to get more information on the SS Orsova, such as where it sailed from, arriving Sydney, Aust in Dec of 1963.   I am looking for a family member who traveled this ship and arrived Aust on that date. Her name is Carol Ann Caspersen.  If anyone has any info, please email me at the above email address.  Your help is greatly appreciated.

Name: Sylvia Skeer (Palmer)
Email: bpd@arcom.com.au on Saturday, September 11, 2004 at 20:38:03
From: Poole England
Home: Fairview Pk Sth Australia
Ship: SS Ranchi
Dates: 1952

Comments: Travelled on SS Ranchi 1952 from Poole England. The King died the day we left, long trip fire on ship and engine breakdown. I turned 7 on way. I think this is the last trip the Ranchi made. Would love to hear from anyone who made this trip.

Name: Frank Mackleston
Email: frankmackleston@shaw.ca on Sunday, September 12, 2004 at 00:58:41
From: UK
Home: USA
Ship: Iberia
Dates: Oct/1961

Comments: I was passenger on Iberia in Oct/1961 Tilbury to Sydney, Aust. I travelled with 15 other guys and would like to track them down. How may I access passenger list for that voyage? Thanks.

Name: Derek John Thurgood
Email: mavder@aol.com on Sunday, September 12, 2004 at 02:26:59
From: Barrow-In-Furness, UK
Home: Barrow-In-Furness, UK
Ship: SS Strathmore
Dates: 1950s

Comments: My Grandad & Nana went to Australia on SS Strathmore in the early fities. They were Walter & Maud Thurgood. I have souveniers which they brought back for our family I have worked in the shipyard for twenty years where the SS Strathmore was built. Does anyone have a passenger list with their names on.

Name: Dennis Smith
Email: borda1@ntlworld.com on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 00:03:48
From: Stowmarket, England
Home: Stowmarket, England
Ship: SS Strathaird
Dates: 5/6/49 -10/3/50

Comments: Was Steward, on these voyages.

Name: Colleen Nutting
Email: eulas@bigpond.com.au on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 22:11:27
From: Launceston,Tas
Home: Launceston,Tas
Ship: SS Stratheden
Dates: arrived Nov 1956

Comments: I am interested to know if anybody knows of a Miss D M Knight E deck cabin 204. She arrived in Melbourne in Novemember 1956. If you knew or know of her could you please e-mail me thank you.

Name: Robert (Bob) Harvey
Email: bobh@posh.freeserve.co.uk on Friday, September 17, 2004 at 22:33:30
From: Atherstone, Warks
Home: Atherstone, Warks
Ship: Arcadia, Orcades, Chusan
Dates: From 1967 thru 1969

Comments: Worked on the above ships as Bellboy then Waiter.

Name: Eric Gold
Email: ericgold@btinternet.com on Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 00:53:12
From:
Home:
Ship: Oronsay
Dates: 1966-1968

Comments: A fantastic site and I was on other P & O liners such as the Oriana & Canberra, thanks for a great site.

Name: Jim
Email: jdsv@telus.net on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 05:10:32
From: Canada
Home: Canada
Ship: Oronsay
Dates: June-July 1967

Comments: As a 15-year-old in 1967 I travelled with my mother, sister and grandmother on the Oronsay from Vancouver to Southampton via Japan etc. Due to war in the middle east we were re-routed around Africa. There was a fire at sea. Would love to contact John, who was the drummer in the Peter Long Trio, and also Steve, who was a waiter from the UK, about 18 at the time. He lent me his turntable so I could listen to Sgt Pepper, which I purchased during our stop in San Francisco.

Name: Kevin Gover
Email: kevingover@uk2.net on Monday, September 20, 2004 at 21:55:18
From: Derbyshire, UK
Home: Newbury, Berkshire
Ship: Strathmore
Dates: July 1945 to Sept 1946

Comments: I would like to contact Joe Buchan (from Leicestershire I think). Together we were in charge of ship's early radar system.

Name: Margaret Board
Email: mrbfjb@ozemail.com.au on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at 11:03:30
From: Birmingham UK
Home: Geelong. Victoria.Australia
Ship: Strathmore
Dates: January/March 1958

Comments: Trying to find the length of the Strathmore to compare with cruise ships of today. The site looks terrific. I haven't got time to have a good look now. I will be back. My Mother and I left Tilbury in January 1958 to sail to Melbourne to join my Father who was already in Geelong. He had sailed on the Orcades in January 1957. I was only 15 and had no brothers or sisters so I did mainly adult things. It was a great adventure but unfortunately I was sea sick a lot of the time, so I really enjoyed the time in the various ports. I particularly remember Bombay, the spicy aroma coming towards to ship before we docked is something I will never forget. Also the storm that we hit just as we left Colombo. My father joined the ship in Fremantle and sailed the rest of the way to Melbourne with us. The crew were great, I just wish that I had been a bit older so that I could have enjoyed the trip more. I have lived in Geelong since 1958 and have never been back to the UK.

Name: Scott Fraser
Email: scottfraser@london.com on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 03:21:13
From: Edinburgh
Home: Surbiton, Surrey
Ship: Chusan
Dates: March 1962

Comments: Great site - I still remember the trip although I was only six at the time. My Mum and Dad and brothers were going to Hong Kong.

Name: Alan Eaton
Email: alan@eaton42.fsnet.co.uk on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 04:59:14
From: Willenhall
Home: Wolverhampton
Ship: SS Esperance Bay/SS Orontes
Dates: 1948/1953

Comments: Emigrated in 1948 aged 8. Sailed from Tilbury in SS Esperance Bay. I  lived and schooled in Adelaide, Challa Gardens, Woodville High School and Norwood High School until 1953 returned home in SS Orontes. Great memories but no regrets.

Name: Cliff Timpson
Email: clifftimpson@V21.me.uk on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 19:45:28
From: Lichfield. Staffs
Home: Lichfield. Staffs
Ship: Strathaird
Dates: October-December 1941

Comments: As a 19 year old RAF radar op. posted to the Middle East, I boarded the Troopship Strathaird in October 1941. We sailed from Gourock in convoy, calling at Freetown, Cape Town and Durban before eventually arriving at Port Tewfik in Egypt. "A" and "B" decks were reserved for Officers, other ranks having the use of the other decks. Eating and sleeping quarters were on "G" deck, hammocks being suspended above the mess tables. Conditions were obviously cramped, bearing in mind the hundreds, if not thousands of troops on board. Stifingly hot through the Tropics, many took a blanket and slept on "C" deck. using the life jacket, consisting of four blocks of cork, for a pillow. The convoy arrived at Cape Town to a memorable reception. The ships were greeted by hundreds and hundreds of flashing lights, local inhabitants dispersed over Table Mountain, reflecting the moonlight with hand held mirrors - an unforgettable scene. The following morning, shore leave was granted and we found cars lined up at the quayside to take the lucky ones to the residents' homes where we were dined with food on sharp contrast to that served up in the Strathaird galley. After a brief call at Durban, we travelled North up the Red Sea where we met the battleship Prince of Wales, passing through the convoy on its way to Singapore. Only a week or two later, it was tragically sunk by Japanese dive bombers with a great loss of life. Arrival and disembarkation finally took place at Port Tewfik in, I believe, early December.

Name: Katrina Wehipeihana
Email: katrinawehipeihana1@hotmail.com on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 09:20:12
From: New Zealand
Home: Australia
Ship: P&O Mooltan
Dates: Dec 1911

Comments: Could anyone please help with a passenger list for the P&O Mooltan departed Auckland December 1911.

Name: Joyce Pearce-Jervis (nee Light)
Email: pearcejervis@aol.com on Monday, October 4, 2004 at 21:10:53
From: England
Home: England
Ship: Stratheden
Dates: March 1962 and return Sept 1963

Comments: I have some fantastic memories of my journeys on this beautiful ship. I travelled with my parents Charlie and Pearl Light along with my 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My mother could not settle in Oz so we returned on the same ship in Sept 63. Our cabins were on D deck as before but this was it's final voyage as it was being decommissioned. This last voyage was so memorable as each port gave the ship a rousing send off.  I would love to hear from anyone who was on either voyage, going out I remember my family won a lot of the prizes on the childrens sports day!!  Still have 'Crossing the Equator' certificate, swimming proficiency and the passenger list for our voyage out.

Name: Andrew Ward
Email: asward@sprynet.com on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 04:51:15
From: USA
Home: USA
Ship: R.M.S. Strathmore
Dates: February 11-February 28, 1954

Comments: My family and I traveled via the S.S. United States to England, then the R.M.S. Strathmore to India. I have the passenger list for this cruise, a "P&O Sports and Entertainments" programme, and a P&O pamphlet giving information on Bombay. I will be happy to scan the covers of any of these for use on your webpage, for which I am deeply grateful. Do you know whether the Strathmore carried troops during WWII?

Name: David J. Crofts
Email: Dijon.C@modoracle.com on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 20:42:39
From: Nottingham
Home: Swansea
Ship: Oronsay
Dates: 1960/1970

Comments: I was a waiter rising to Head Waiter on the S.S. Oronsay. Met some wonderful people and if any would like to contact me to chew the fat I will be very pleased. Best wishes to all.

Name: Russell Woodcock
Email: jrw5@mail2me.com.au on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 at 10:07:39
From: Nelson, England
Home: Melbourne, Australia
Ship: Stratheden
Dates: Left Tilbury Docks Jan.1963.

Comments: Anyone who travelled on this voyage please email me. I would love to chat with people who were on this ship.

Name: Chris Gregory
Email: sophiehorsepower@hotkey.au on Friday, October 8, 2004 at 14:50:11
From: Australia
Home: Brisbane
Ship: Arcadia
Dates: 5-18th January 1979

Comments: Like to hear from you! Love the ship, even 26 yrs later! Favourite Ship, done more then twenty cruises since.

Name: Arthur Butterfield
Email: arthbutt@lycos.co.uk on Saturday, October 9, 2004 at 19:54:31
From: Crawley, England
Home: Petersfield, England
Ship: Strathnaver
Dates: 9/05/1938 to 20/10/1939

Comments: My father Lewis Edward Butterfield (Ted) worked on the Strathnaver from 9/05/1938 to 20/10/1939 as a steward and then baker before joining the Royal Navy. This was for Australian Mail, Indian Mail and Foreign Cruising.

Name: Vincent O'Hara
Email: Vohara@yahoo.com on Monday, October 11, 2004 at 21:21:39
From: England
Home: Melbourne
Ship: SS Strathnaver
Dates: 1959 -1960

Comments: I am returning to the UK as an artist in residence in 2005. I am starting an arts project on the migrant journey and life, this will be shown in the UK in 2005, and in Australia at the end of 2005. I was at East Hills Hostel from 1959-1962, I would like any material and photographs etc, for use in the work. You can contact me at RMIT, Melbourne arts department, or at email address above. Also, I will organise the rest of my family to add to to this page. Thanks to all fellow travellers.

Name: J.C.Clark
Email: joe@djclark.com on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at 01:21:55
From: England
Home: England
Ship: Orion,Orontes & more
Dates: 1947 to 1962

Comments: I sailed to Australia on Orion February 1947 as a young boy, returning in April 19 on the same ship. I went to sea with the Orient Line in 1954 as a cadet Purser, on Orion, then later on Orcades, Orontes, Orsova, Empire Orwell. Also worked on Otranto. I left as Deputy Purser Orontes at the breakers yard in March 1962.

Name: Stacy
Email: sirwi24@eq.edu.au on Thursday, October 14, 2004 at 10:40:10
From: Australia
Home: Australia
Ship: SS New Australia
Dates: 1954

Comments: If anyone has information on the passenger lists for the SS New Australia that travelled from England to Australia in 1954 can you please contact me. It is very important.

Name: R. F. H. (Claude) Saunders
Email: leonard_da_quirm@hotmail.com on Friday, October 15, 2004 at 03:30:26
From: Margate, Kent
Home: Margate, Kent, died 25/06/90
Ship: Strathnaver
Dates: 18/09/32 - 07/07/34

Comments: 2nd Storekeeper P.O. (Australian Mails)

Name: Barbara Travis
Email: appsvon68@bigpond.com on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at 21:23:45
From: England
Home: Ballarat, Victoria
Ship: SS Strathmore
Dates: 17-March 1959

Comments: My mum and grandparents travelled from England to Australia on SS Strathmore. I think they arrived in South Sustralia in April 1959. I still have the original passenger list, menus and photos.Thankfully I'm also blessed with the fond stories.

Name: Betty Shipley
Email: jacksonlouise@hotmail.com on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at 07:30:43
From: Tyne and Wear
Home: Melbourne
Ship: Strathmore
Dates: March 1963

Comments: I would love to hear from anyone who travelled on the SS Strathmore, leaving Tilbury Docks on 3 March 1963, arriving Fremantle April 1963 to (something?) Point Migrant Hostel.  Any links to specific passenger information for this journey or anything else of interest would be fantastic! Life in Oz is great!!   My husband was called John and we had 3 year old twins called Dawn and Dean.

Name: William McBain
Email: w.mcbain1@brinternet.com on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 08:42:35
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Home: Lincolnshire, England
Ship: Iberia and Chusan
Dates: 1961 and 1963/4

Comments: I sailed as an Engineering Officer on both ships from London to Australia in the early sixties. Seeing a photograph of the Iberia brought back great memories. I am now retired living in Lincolnshire and if any of my past shipmates read this please get in touch.

Name: Karen Worley
Email: on Friday, October 22, 2004 at 07:55:05
From: Newport, Washington, USA
Home: Newport, Washington, USA
Ship: SS Iberia, SS Arcadia and SS Orsova
Dates: 1960 and 1968

Comments: I traveled with my family to and From Australia on these ships.   They are some of my fondest memories.

Name: John Pilley
Email: jpilley@bigpond.net.au on Monday, October 25, 2004 at 15:32:18
From: England
Home: Melbourne, Australia
Ship: Strathaird
Dates: January 1948

Comments: I notice that Strathaird returned to service with P&O in January 1948. I was on that trip, then aged 9 years with my mother and brother, aged 2. My father was a Merchant Seaman stationed in Australia, hence the move from England to Australia. The voyage could only be described as eventful. Firstly the ship caught fire before we left Tilbury and I vividly remember smoke filling corridors and panic on board as people went out to the deck. I can't remember the cause of the fire but I remember we sailed a day or two later.She then broke down in the Bay of Biscay in dreadful weather and everyone was sick on board except our family. We also broke down again in the Indian Ocean, south of Ceylon. If I remember rightly we were adrift for 3 days and the Strathnaver was sent from Bombay to assist us. I remember just as the Strathnaver arrived, they got the Strathaird going again, with Strathaird going on to Fremantle and the Strathnaver returned to Bombay. We called at the usual ports, Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Colombo (I think), Fremantle and then Melbourne. I can't recall stopping at Adelaide and we disembarked at Melbourne. The ship was going on to Sydney. My recollection is that the whole trip took six weeks.

Name: Ian Hovey
Email: thehoves@hotmail on Friday, October 29, 2004 at 21:30:07
From: Fareham, Hants
Home: Weeting, Norfolk
Ship: Chusan
Dates: May/June 1962

Comments: Returned from 3 years in Singapore with parents and brother, Colin. Had sailed originally to Singapore in 1959 on the 'Willem Ruys' (Achilli Lauro!!)

Name: Lynda Davies
Email: viclyn@hn.ozemail.com.au on Sunday, October 31, 2004 at 18:00:20
From: Croydon UK
Home: Sydney, Australia
Ship: Orsova
Dates: November 1 1961

Comments: Sailed from Tilbury with my parents and two younger sisters and settled in NZ. I was ten. I remember President Nasa who wouldn't allow Orsova into the Suez canal and when he did finally agree, he sent armed soldiers on board. Our Captain also armed his crew, and waiters and cabin crew became "soldiers". A great adventure. I won the fancy dress competition, dressed as a witch. Would love to hear from anyone else on that cruise.

Name: Eddie Waughman
Email: eddie@waughmaner.fsnet.co.uk on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 07:31:47
From: Northampton
Home: Northampton
Ship: Strathnaver
Dates: 1955 - 1958

Comments: Was a member of the crew and served as a bell boy, assistant steward and 3rd store keeper, during 1955 to 1958.

Name: Sandra Perry daughter of Daniel Perry
Email: sandra_perry@hotmail.com on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 23:25:46
From: Shoreditch, England
Home: Brisbane
Ship: SS Ranchi
Dates: 1951

Comments: My father Daniel Perry has since now passed but I am hoping to speak with anyone who was aboard the SS Ranchi in 1951. He immigrated to Australia to join the army. I have some photos of other people aboard (possibly yourselves or loved ones) that I would like to know the names of. Please feel free to email if you would have any stories to share or know of my father at this time.

Name: Jean Willis
Email: jeanjeanjumpingbean@msn.com on Sunday, November 7, 2004 at 00:41:25
From: Birmingham
Home: Birmingham
Ship: Orion and Arcadia
Dates: 1959, 1964, 1966

Comments: I did two trips, to Adelaide and back again on the Arcadia. What a great adventure! Does anyone remember the pianist on board, Johnny Hubble? We kids used to adore him but probably drove him mad! Great site!

Name: Alan Head
Email: signupaccount@kiloran.com on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 23:37:47
From: Southampton, UK
Home: Southampton, UK
Ship: Strathnaver, Chusan, Oriana, Canberra
Dates: ate 50's - early '60s

Comments: Fantastic site. Signing on behalf of my Dad, Brian Head, who was crew on the above ships. He'll be amazed to see this site when I point it out to him. Details are still patchy but I know he was on the final voyage of Strathnaver. I have dozens of his slides and am working through the slow process of scanning them. Possibly of interest to the Aussies and also ex-crew will be some great shots of Strathnaver as she headed out of Sydney for the last time. Interested in hearing from any ex-crew or passengers and happy to exchange photos, etc.There are a few photos (scattered among family snaps) at my website with many more to come over the next few weeks.

Name: Alan Lawson
Email: alan5@dodo.com.au on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 23:20:15
From: UK
Home: Melbourne Australia
Ship: Strathaird
Dates: July 2nd to Aug 2nd 1958

Comments: Seems like I will be the only one listed for this trip.

Name: Margaret Batson (nee Stansfield)
Email: mjbats@iprimus.com.au on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 16:19:14
From: Rochdale, Lancashire
Home: Darwin, Australia.
Ship: SS Ranchi
Dates: 1948

Comments: In 1948 we sailed from Tilbury Docks, London, on the SS Ranchi and arrived at Outer Harbour, Adelaide, Thursday November 4th, 1948. My parents were Ivy and Arthur Stansfield, my two brothers Gerald and Arthur were about nine and 10 and I was 20 months old. I remember being told the day we arrived at Outer Harbour it was raining and overcast and also during the voyage there was a measles epidemic on board. My parents befriended another couple Jim and Alice Tattingham and their two young daughters Margaret and Joy and they remained friends for many years, all parents have since passed on.

Name: Vic Hook
Email: motocross@tiscali.co.uk on Sunday, November 21, 2004 at 19:30:27
From: New Malden, Surrey
Home: Huntly, Aberdeenshire
Ship: Arcadia
Dates: April 65 - July 67

Comments: Crew on board SS Arcadia. Worked as Utility Steward, and Public Room Steward. Did five round the World trips and numerous Aussie cruises and got paid for it!  Played in crew pop group (drums) on board ship and we even got on the TV in Hobart, Tasmania. J. Greene was Captain for most of my trips and the Purser was a chap called Wyeth. Many happy memories of the £10 Immigrant Passenger trips out to Aussie. Those were the days.

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