Shipping Federation Office, Dock Street

[Doc Vernon]

On leaving Cape Town after joining the old Dunnottar Castle, (I was issued with a temporary Seamans Card paper type ) until we arrived in KG5 I was then given a letter from the Captain to report to the Board of Trade Offices in Dock Street to obtain my permanent Seamans Discharge.Book and ID Card (the green one then)
I had signed Articles for 2years in Cape Town aboard Ship, with UCL FG
But circumstances led to that 2 Year Contract being shortened,a lot of you will recall why! I wont repeat it.
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

On the regular 2 years Articles Vernon, these would of automatically closed on vessels return to UK and new ones reopened. A running agreement saved a lot of paperwork and those wishing to stay on ship just did so. No unneccessary signing off and back on. Shipping masters from the Pool were not used as extensively as they used to be and all the paperwork could be done by one of the ships personnel, in your case I would imagine the purser, unless the old man wanted to do it himself. As 2nd, Mate I often got the job thrown at me, which I could of done without. It did however give me time off at the shipping office and hence to the nearest ale house. Cheers John S.

[john walker]

- - - Updated - - -

I went there to join the MN back in 1960. The guy on the gate told me to be very careful with the guy doing the interviews. Unsuspecting I went in and there he was as camp as could be and me so inocent at the time. When i came out the guy on the gate aked me how I got on, I told him in no uncertain terms that I would never 'get on' with him or any others like him. Then the first ship I got was with UCL, AAghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Some bugger with a warped sense of humor no doubt.

John 'Aaghhhhhhhhhhh! Some bugger with a warped sense of humour no doubt' Being an appropriate choice of words when describing a shipping company that had a reputation (Rightly or wrongly?) For the number of sodomites in it's employment.

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 AM ----------

Hi Chris & Don
you are both correct, the Board of Trade/ Merchantile Marine Office was in Dock street, it as where you were issued with a Discharge Book & Red ID card also EDH & AB certs etc.
Prescot St was where the "Pool" or "Shipping Federation" was based.

I used the B.O.T offices a few times in the late sixties and early seventies and at that stage off their existence they were in Ensign street which runs parallel with Dock street. this was accessible either by walking down Cable street or the highway. If you new the area you could take a short cut through the Dock street entrance of the Red Ensign Club and come out the rear exit into Ensign street. Prescot street was my pool for about 13 years and I had the dubious pleasure of living in Dock street for about 5 years before it was yuppified.

[Don Rafferty]

'........... either by walking down Cable street or the highway.' Wasn't Cable Street colloquially known as Cable Strasse?..............was Leman Street where the Union was?

[john walker]

Don, Cable street had a reputation as a location for houses of ill repute from Victorian times till the 1950's. it was originally named after the rope makers who used the original lane to lay their wares out ready for for plaiting into ropes hence Cable street. it is probably better remembered now for the Battle of Cable Street, when the local people which had a large Jewish population battled to stop Mosley and his black shirts marching through the area. I only ever used the Union office (N.U.S.) that was situated inside the same building that housed the Pool in Prescot Street.
As an aside LEMAN comes from the words for lover or mistress as this road was also known for its brothels. Between the pubs and brothels in that area it must have been difficult for the seamen of Victorian times to remain sober and virtuous.

[gray_marian]

#23&24, John & Don, Thank you for your posts. This may appeal also:

Victorian London - Thames - Docks - London Docks
www.victorianlondon.org/thames/londondocks.htm Cached
The London Dock system is much more ... street to the river ; the old entrance ... the Secretary of the London Dock Company at 109 Leadenhall Street, ...And

Day the East End said 'No pasaran' to Blackshirts | UK ...
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/s...efarright.past Cached
Demonstrators flee police during a protest in Cable Street, east London, ... The Battle of Cable Street is a history lesson for us all.

[Colin Wood]

Was doing some research trying to find out where and how seaman were engaged in the 1850's and low and behold, there in Google under Dock Street was 'our sites discussion on The Shipping Federation House'. It was where in 1952 I got my Dis A book and red identity card, and was terrified by a certain examiner for 2nd. 1st. mate tickets, the b..std died before I could drag my masters from him.

Anyway, under the Merchant Service Act of 1845 all seaman & officers were required to be registered and records of engagement are now kept at Kew under BT references, but how and where were they engaged???

[Stuart Henderson]

Hi John,

Yes, I do have my fathers Discharge Books.



A large number of his discharge entries are stamped or hand written Dock Street, and his General Service Contract and BS Identity Card are stamped Dock Street.

Regards

Chris

Hi Chris, Your Dad started a year before me. It was interesting to see the ships he sailed on. I worked on the Samaria where he was a waiter, this was the old Cunarder Samaria which didnt last much longer, funny enough in later years I sailed on the new Samaria a cargo ship in the sixties. Also sailed on the DRAKE like your Dad but couple of years later she was on the french run carrying cognac from Tonay Chatente in France to London docks near dock St. GSNC was one of my favourite companies,short trips,no bull and great for seeing curranr girlfriend more often. Have photo of drake if you are interested.
Stuart

[Chris Champion]

Hi Stuart,

Yes, I would like a digital copy of the Drake.

I caught up with Dad this week primarily to discuss and clarify the location of the SFO in Dock Street, but I did ask him if he remembered anything from his days sailing on the Drake. The following is an extractfrom the conversation:

"On my first voyage onboard the Drake we sailed to Tonnay-Charente situated on the river 'la Charente' to collect a cargo of Hennessey Brandy, then sailed back to Southampton to unload. During my time onboard the Drake we made three further trips to Tonnay-Charente to collect Brandy, off loading in London twice and once more in SOuthampton. On our outward journay's the Drake was often used for transporting bales of wool and/or general cargo from London to the French Channel ports of Calais, Dieppe and Boulogne. Trips to Tonnay-Charent were always eventful; this was due to the narrowness of the river and the ship not being able to turn around. To overcomethis problem the Captain would run the ship's bow's up onto the bank, but kept the engines running. With this manoeuvre the ship would eventually turn and correct itself with the help of the river current."

Regards

Chris

[Chris Champion]

Hi All,

I finally caught up with my Father this week to clarify exactly where the Shipping Federation and National Union of Seaman's Office were in Dock Street when he was in the Merchant Navy. Attached are pictures I shared with Dad to help jog his memory, and from the images he has confirmed the building image I shared in my original thread was the Shipping Federation Office during his time in the Merchant Navy.

The map image shows the location of the SF+NUSO. The image of the Old Sailor's Home is exactly how Dad remembers it during the times he stayed there. There are also two current day images; one looking north up Dock Street with the SF+NUSO on the left and the Sailor's Home/Red Ensign Club on the right, the other picture is the old SFO which is now a Letting Office.

Hope this jogs some memories.

Chris