British Ship Adoption Society

THE BRITISH SHIP ADOPTION SOCIETY

The "Clan Stewart's" voyage 15 ended during our summer holidays, when she arrived back at Liverpool after a round voyage to South and South-East African ports. As may be seen from the dates given below, this was a very speedy voyage, though a few days were lost at Lourengo Marques (partly through rain) and at Beira waiting for a berth. The voyage was without incident except for the unusual duty of having to stop at sea to dump 175 tons of toxic residue : this was done off Morocco, far out to sea, as a requirement is a minimum depth of 2,500 fathoms. Another example of the trends of modern industry is the presence in the homeward cargo of such items as 50 tons of radio-active ore (which raises many difficulties of stowage), petralite ore (for making cathode ray tubes), and silliminite ore. Indeed, the cargo was as mixed as usual, including 1,000 tons of rayon pulp, besides large quantities of asbestos, copper, canned goods, calcium carbide, hides, vermiculite, fruit juice, Mica waste, vanadium and wolfram—nearly 7,000 tons in all.

Capt. Graham writes interestingly of developments at Lourenco Marques, a rapidly developing city : "a very attractive city with many fine buildings and homes. A new church is being built, which is of a most interesting design. It is circular, and the roof consists of what I can best describe as 14 triangles. The homes are very colourful and very modern in design. Another fine building is the Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1944. The interior decoration is very simple, and round the walls are panels of bronze depicting the Stations of the Cross. There is also a very fine museum called the "Alvaro de Castro Museum" after a one time governor of Mozambique. Most of the animals are shown in tableau form in their true to life state."

Dates and ports of call for voyage 15 are :

Port Birkenhead ... Dakar (for oil) ... Durban ... Lourengo Marques Beira ... ... Lourengo Marques Durban ... East London ... Port Elizabeth ... Cape Town ... Dakar (for oil) Liverpool

Arrival

26th May 7th June 14th June 19th June 8th July 12th July 14th July 17th July 18th July 30th July 7th August

Departure 20th May 27th May 13th June 18th June 6th July 11th July 14th July 16th July 17th July 20th July 30th July

Other ports of discharge were Barrow and Glasgow, and the ship was back at Liverpool on 25th August ready to load for voyage 16. This voyage, a circumnavigation of Africa, was completed on 29th November, and some details will be given in the next "Peterite".

C.C.F.

ARMY SECTION

With the appointment of D. L. Brown as Contingent Warrant Officer, the position of Senior N.C.O. was filled from the R.A.F. Section for the first time for some years.

The most notable feature of the term's training was the improvement in the general standard of turn-out, and this reflects credit on the N.C.O.'s, who now almost always carry out the weekly inspections. The most consistent effort to attain smartness has been in the Basic Section.

The Band has achieved a good standard already, and has obviously benefited from the professional instruction given to some of the buglers last summer.

In the Signals Platoon, now commanded by Lieutenant Hall, the acquisition of better equipment, with the hope of more to come, is providing an increasingly important technical interest.

The M.T. Detachment has got off to a good start with the great help of Command Workshops.

The Dronfield Trophy has been won by The Grove.

MAIN EVENTS

Tuesday, 22nd November. Visit by Group Captain J. L. W. Ellacombe, D.F.C., R.A.F., Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force, Linton-on-Ouse, who took the salute at a March Past, and presented a Flying Scholarship badge to Corporal Shubrook, and a Certificate "T" to Acting C.Q.M.S. Dobson.

Tuesday, 13th December. Visit by Commander C. R. J. Coxon, R.N., Senior Naval Officer at Royal Air Force, Linton-on-Ouse, who took the salute at a March Past and addressed the R.N. Section.

ANNUAL CAMPS

Army Camp will be at Westdown, Salisbury Plain, from 1st to 9th August.

R.A.F. Camp will be at Royal Air Force, Cranwell, from 31st July to 8th August.

R.N. SECTION

The improvement in the standard of drill and turn-out was one of the most noticeable features of the term. The section responded rapidly to the brisk drill instruction of C.P.O. Gregory, from Lintonon-Ouse. P.O. Smart has done much by his example and enthusiasm to ensure that the turn-out has always been up to the required high standard.