The grand old days of sea travel

[OZDUCK]

Following on from Ikara's thread about "The grand old days of air travel". I present the "Farewell Dinner" menu from the ship my wife travelled on from Singapore to Fremantle when her family came to Australia to live in the 1950's. As you can see the ship, although it only sailed on the Singapore/Fremantle run, provided a firmly "British" fare. The MV Gorgon (Blue Funnel Line) was a sister ship to the ill-fated Centaur sunk by a Japanese submarine off the Queensland coast in 1943 while serving, and clearly marked as such, as a Hospital Ship. The Gorgon was not a luxury passenger vessel but a combined passenger/cargo ship. It used to stop at several ports in Indonesia to pick up cargo and would also pick up cargo at ports along the West Australian coastline including loading cattle. It was also well know for doing a 'school run' by carrying children from Singapore to study at boarding schools in Perth.

As an aside, you will note that the Captain had an MBE. I had a look and he was awarded this because of his bravery when, as a Second Mate, he used his merchant vessels deck gun against an Italian submarine that sank his ship by gunfire in the South Atlantic in 1941. He scored several hits on the submarine.

 

[Pushka]

Thinking of cruise memories. The great times. We were having a gin tasting and making session the other week and which as each gin was placed and we were asked to taste, reminded us of the grand days of cruising where with a lovely outlook, the greatest thought on your mind was which style of spirit or coughtail to try next and which curry or sushi to select from the buffet. Sigh. We miss them.

 

[OZDUCK]

I forgot to put in a photo of the Gorgon. This is obviously 'colourised' - the funnel was much more blue than purple.