Twenty Years Before the Antenna Mast

I Joined the Merchant Navy 20th July 1967 as Radio Officer with Marconi Marine.

This had been agreed beforehand, and Marconi had given me a "sub" (a loan) to help buy my first uniform and other nautical requirements. My mother thought I looked very smart, I was not so sure and thought I looked a bit silly. I was never one for dressing up. It was part of the job however, so it was all packed, and I was ready to go, somewhat nervous at what was in store for me.

Ordered to the Marconi East Ham Depot, I had wait in a somber paneled waiting room with a few other (experienced) radio officers. One, a gentleman from the Radio Officers Union regaled me to join, which I duly did. Our names were called out over a loudspeaker to see the personnel officer for our next appointment. It seems the days of sending the names in Morse (as used to be the case) were gone! I was interviewed by a Mr. Padfield and told to join my first ship, a Ben-line passenger cargo vessel as a trainee Radio Officer. I was also introduced to my Chief, a Mr. Nelson Whitehead, who had sailed on the ship many times before and was a regular Ben-Line man. He was an ex New Zealander, and tended to speak his mind. For all that, he was a fair and experienced officer, and we got on well. We signed on at the shipping office at Victoria Docks. This procedure meant we signed on the ships' articles of agreement, promising to abide by them. In turn we would be paid a fixed sum and the ship would have to conform to the British Shipping Regulations: with respect to our living conditions, leave, food etc. These were minimal standards, and reading through them reminded me of the bad old days of sail, with salt pork and "donkeys breakfasts" - the mattress one slept on stuffed with straw that one reads about. (Many of the regulations did not seem to have been updated since the early 1900's!).

Also, we could not be compelled to stay on the ship for longer than 2 years, though that seemed quite long enough to me! It was usual to start and end a voyage in the U.K. however sometimes, especially with tramp steamers; it could be a long time before the ship visited the U.K. again. After 2 years, the crew MUST be released and if necessary, flown or otherwise sent home. It was not unknown for some crew to sail as passengers or Supernumeraries members on another of the company ships heading for the U.K. This saved the price of the airfare and was considered to conform to the regulations: even if the crew involved were not too happy at spending another few weeks (or months) at sea before getting home. Later, many shipping companies changed to 6-monthly running articles, which then limited the longest period on board. It was of course possible to, "voluntarily" extend and a number shipping companies tried to encourage this with various incentives. The costs involved in flying a crew home could eat up a significant percentage of the profits of a voyage, despite the special seaman's discounts given by some airlines.

As Radio Officers working for Marconi, we were only "loaned" to the ship. We were employed and paid by Marconi Marine, and signed on the ship at a nominal fee of one shilling per month (which we never received) just to satisfy the formalities. Later, when working for Canadian Pacific, I was working for the shipping line itself, and signed on as a particular rank with its appropriate rate of pay. I signed onto the MV Benhope as 2nd Radio Officer, at the grand rate of 1 shilling per month. I signed on the ship as the 2nd R/O, but was in reality classed as a Junior R/O.

This was about the lowest form of life apart from a first trip deck or engine cadet, and I was not allowed to be in charge of a watch by myself until I had completed at least 6 months service as a Junior or Trainee. Although the Chief Radio Officer may allow me to be on watch by myself, it was his responsibility to ensure that everything was correctly done, and I would always have to call him if anything unusual cropped up. Under the old Merchant Shipping Radio Rules, I had to work an 8 hour watch (0800 - 1000, 1200-1400, 1600-1800 and 2000-2200) and it was some comfort to know that legally, we would not be left behind. A ship of over 1800 tons could not sail without us! It must have someone on board with a Master Mariners certificate, a Chief Engineers certificate, a cooks certificate and a Radio Officer before sailing deep sea. I was allowed to draw up to 12 pounds a month on board for my own use. The balance of my 46 pounds per month salary would be paid into my bank account (minus tax and stoppages). Oh! What riches!