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This site was launched in September 2002
Have changed to Broadband. My email address is now gordontumber4@aol.com
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GSS/C (Gravesend) Blazer Badge
Joe Barnett (81) posts photos of ships he served on back in the 1940's
Three excellent sites to visit for details of Raymond Steed, Galley Boy, who is the youngest recorded WW2 service death. Raymond was 14 years and 207 days old when his ship the Empire Mons hit a mine on 26th April, 1943 http://www.mowbars.plus.com/History/Steed%20RV.html http://www.mercantilemarine.org/showthread.php?t=931&highlight=steed http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Pdf/Raymond%20V-1.pdf
Reg Golden sent in this Class Photo taken around March 1952. Reg is 4th from left in 2nd row.
Barrie Smith writes:
Donald Jones sent in this photo. His name was later changed to Don Williamson. He writes: "Someone once said that "Old age is the most wonderful time of ones life" what a lot of balony. God give me a chance to be that little 17 year old erk (Front Row third from right) Donald Jones, and you would see happiness personified. Alas we only get one shot eh? Were we lucky or what !!. Weep for the lads who are lost for a life these days. They do not know how unlucky they are" And so say all of us!! Don would love to her from anyone who remembers him. His email address is :
Russ Bundy writes
Visit this brilliant site that includes web pages from John Townsend's site. John, an ex Gravesend Sea School boy , sadly crossed the bar in Decmber 2006
Joe Barnett records a great site to visit for news of the RMS RANGITIKI. Log on to
The Gravesend Sea School was established in 1918 shortly after the end of WW1 when an expanding Merchant Navy urgently needed trained seamen. It was housed in what was formerly a Seamen's Home originally built in 1886 and was to provide short-term but intensive training for youths between the ages of 16 and 17. It was established to accommodate 150 boys at any given time and the first recorded intake was on Thursday 19th September 1918. Additional training was provided on the ex-HMPS Triton; a beautiful little ex-naval craft moored off Gravesend. A concise history of the School can be found in the book "School for Seamen" written by Roy Derham MBE who trained for a seafaring career on the Vindicatrix. Copies are still available from jdmeadowcroft@tiscali.co.uk. John is General Secretary of the Gravesend Sea School/College Association which was formed four years ago by popular request from former Instructors and Old Boys.When war with Germany seemed imminent in early 1939, the School was evacuated for safety reasons to the Vindicatrix, berthed at Sharpness for that purpose. Gravesend was too close for comfort to London's extensive docklands; a prime target for German bombers. At the end of the war the School opened up again and the Vindicatrix was also kept open for training to replace the 30,000 seamen who lost their lives during WW2.In 1967 the old School ceased to function for training purposes and was replaced by a brand new building offering far superior facilities, but Old Boys still remember with pride and affection their training at the old establishment.Sadly the old building has suffered the fate of progress. and all that remains of its existence is a brass plaque on the wall surrounding flats that have taken its place.But the memories will live on for some time yet in the minds of former trainees. For anyone interested, the Gravesend Sea School/Association is also open to Associate Membership. The annual subscription is £5 ( £8 for overseas members ) and a newsletter is produced four times a year which carries stories and articles from members of all ages. An application form can be downloaded at
Plaque reads: Gravesend Sea School 1918 - 1967 Former Sailors Home built 1886 (Straw House) During this time over one third of British Merchant NavySeamen were trained at Gravesend. Gravesend has an ancient maritime history and was well located to serve the shipping trade to the world and one of Britain's greatest ports. The school's origin lay in the demand for seafarers at the end of the First World War to support the increasing Merchant Fleet and was a unique experience in obtaining "boys of good character" for the sea with no exact counterpart in the world.
On Thursday 16th February 2006 the Commemorative Plaque was unveiled on the site of what was once the Gravesend Sea School. GSS/C Association. Click here forPlaque Dedication Photo Gallery.
GSS REMEMBERED
Stories required for this new section from Old Boys of Gravesend Sea School or our very closely associated Vindicatrix training ship. .http://www.vindicatrix-hq.fsnet.co.uk/ The Merchant Navy as we knew it is sadly no more, but as the sun sets on our life span we should make future generations aware of that vital link between youth and manhood that our training provided.
Page 4 of Class Photos now online. Click here
Updates: Friday 3rd June 2009 on Page 5 class photos.
List of Members added and updated 26th September 2008
Visits to GSS/C Postings are not accurate. Computer hicc-up. S/Be in the thousands.
Postings 2 now online and updated 5.06.09
Were you a crew member of the ORIANA ? Visit this excellent site produced by
Mike Fruin , a GSS Old Boy would like to get in contact with other GSS Old Boys living in Tasmania. Mike can be contacted by email at
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  GSS/C Class Photos updated 07.03.07
From Richard Taylor Secretary Naval Historical Collections & Research Association Tel: Wakefield (01924) 256644 Dear Mr Tumber I have recently been in touch with John Meadowcroft as I am trying to piece together as much as I can of the story of Arthur Derek Hill, who trained as a steward at Gravesend in 1944-45. I have some ephemera relating to his time in the MN, including a photo taken at Gravesend. I have now identified Arthur as the person fourth from the left in the back row. I would be happy to hear from any members who can help with information on Arthur, and any others who appear in the photo. Who, I wonder, was the Chief Steward in the centre of the front row. After leaving the school in January 1945, Arthur went on to serve in the Ormonde and the Invicta, before signing up for the Queen Elizabeth in May-July 1946. He was rated as an assistant waiter but I'm not quite sure what his duties would have been as at this time the QE was being refurbished after the war. Best wishes Richard
From John Bernard The Falmouth Branch of the Merchant Navy Association - an individual Cornish Branch ( we are not members of the MNA National) last year on March 2005 received the Freedom of the City of Falmouth on behalf of the Merchant Navy to commemorate the sacrifices and heroism paid by Merchant Seamen in two World Wars, and other conflicts since then where the Merchant Navy have been involved. This makes the Falmouth Branch unique in this country !! A few Cities have awarded the Freedom to the M.N, but Falmouth is the only Town in the country to have bestowed this honour. John.bernard6@btinternet.com
Can You Help? Arthur Paternoster 
Keryn Clement asks: I am trying to contact anyone who was on the ICENIC when she berthed in Nelson (N.Z) in February/March 1964. I have this photo of four young men from that visit that I would like names for. Someone has said maybe 3rd from left is Melvin and far right is Dave I would be most grateful for any help. Kind regards Keryn k.clement@xtra.co.nz
Paul Forster writes (14.02.06): I went to NSTS Gravesend from August to October 1969. I joined BP in November and served on British Beacon, British Loyalty and two trips on British Security. It would be great to hear from anyone who knew me. I was in U Class at NSTS.
Bill King , Secretary of NSW/ACT Vindicatrix Association writes to offer GSS Old Boys the chance to buy silver-plated replicas of the GSS and NSTS Cap Badges we so proudly wore. Cost per badge is $15 (about £6 and includes postage). Payment by Money Order available from any Bank and payable in Australian Dollars to Vindicatrix Association. Address to Bill King, PO Box 2001, Homsby, Westfield, NSW 1635, Australia. This is a one-off offer so get in quick to avoid disappointment. Also please note details of their Annual Reunion from Bill Davis .Click  
Qaisar Qayyum kindly asked my permission to reproduce "A Letter To Head Office" from my website. Below I am pleased to reciprocate by giving links to excellent websites to which he is associated.
Sadly friend and colleague Ken Wheatland Crossed the Bar at 0400 on Monday 19th September. You may wish to read a couple of stories Ken sent in some time ago Click
Intro to ss maritime. Click here. Read about the pitiful state and fate of the once glorious Oriana. "ssMaritime is a ship lovers paradise for it has many articles featuring both great and lesser known liners of yesteryear as well as vintage liners still in service as cruise ships. These ships with a long and memorable history, yet they have survived and successfully compete in today's cruise market. I trust that you will enjoy the many features and photographs on ssMaritime, thus come and relive the days you may have spent onboard one of these fine ocean-going liners, be it as a passenger, crew member, or as one who have admired them from the shore! Each month we will feature a "Ship of the Month". I trust you will enjoy the many seafaring delights there are on offer"
Check out:  Peter Steele (Australia) would like to contact anyone in these photos kindly forwarded by Bill Young from All At Sea website (W.Australia). 
For those interested in Australia's highly valued contribution to WW2 at sea, go to: 
This recent letter to the Daily Mail (Sept 2005) from Maurice Cross, veteran of the Murmansk convoys, reminded me that it wasn't just the Government who paid scant attention to the contribution the men of the Merchant Navy made to the war effort. During the 60th anniversary of V-E Day (Victory in Europe 1945) our local library displayed an excellent collage of pictures and newspaper clippings of the actual day. It was disappointing to note that not a mention was made of the contribution and sacrifices made of the men of the Merchant Navy. The only mention I personally noted was on the popular Paul O'Grady daytime chat show. Paul is to be thanked for inviting onto his show a survivor of the Murmansk convoys who experienced the horrors of the war at sea at the tender age of 14. But then Paul originates from the Wirral area and would be very much aware of the heartache and losses experienced by the people whose men folk went to sea from the once busy port of Liverpool. They are certainly no strangers to tragedy. Over 33,000 seamen lost their lives in WW2. Men whose wages were stopped the moment a torpedo struck their ship. Men who still vividly remember the horrors of watching their shipmates drown or horrible burn to death when ships carrying high octane blew up in a fiery ball. Men who survived and returned home only to sign on and ship out yet again to face the enemy with guts and determination to make their contribution to the war effort. One survivor recently told me how they even had to pay for the tiny MN badge that was the only recognition they had that they were part of the serving manpower. Yet another survivor told me how giggling girls would approach them on leave and present them with a white feather. They would be asked if MN stood for Maternity Nurse. Not much respect there for brave men putting their lives on the line to feed a beleaguered country desperate for food, and a war machine hungry for supplies. At least the South African Government made a donation which bought the pleasant Springbok estate in Alfold, Surrey for retired and ailing seamen.   Read about Springbok at Sachel Court at: http://mswmsociety.org.uk/The%20Charity.htm Read Tom Fletchers account of V-E Day at http://www.macksites.com/PART8.htm 
Andrew Clark invites anyone interested in buying a compilation of amateur film of P&O and Orient Liners in the 1950's and 60's to visit Copies are available in VHS or DVD. Check this website for Part Two featuring 37 ships with short biographies
Why not visit The Captains Cabin Knock before entering
A new link to the Prince of Wales Sea School
Updated Membership Lists - 25th August 2008 Alf Cook, an Old Boy of the GSS invites you to take a look at the ships he sailed on during the 1940s at: http://www.shipsoflongago.co.uk/ Fred "Jolly Jack" Hodder shares his adventures at sea after leaving the Gravesend Sea School at http://www.m-navydays.com/newpages/JollyJack_2/JollyJack.htm Follow the story of Stan Mayes, from teenage Mate on Thames Sailing Barges through to the hell of WW2 Atlantic convoys. Updated and concluded 05.11.2004
Stan Mayes recollections of his WW2 experiences has resulted in one visitor to his pages getting first-hand information on his late father's wartime experiences; he and Stan shared the same lifeboat on one occasion after their ship was torpedoed. I have also put another visitor in touch with Stan who has provided sought after information on another incident. Click here for another excellent worthwhile site to explore from Old Salt Ambrose Jones 
Appeals and enquiries can now be found under Postings.  Sad news received that Eddie Hassan, known to us all as The Welsh Bard, passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Sunday 9th March 2003. He will be missed by all. |