Thread: Ex ARMY Apprentices - not just a trade

Originally Posted by Fatso

Don't worry Midshipmen got the same treatment from Chief Stokers in the bilges , The Navy days then were a lot different to todays Navy i am told , at times i wished i had never joined and other times i was extremely and happy proud that i did . There are lots of other stories to be told and some better kept quite about . Not sure how anyone can drink pusses rum or any rum as to me it tasted like cats **** , we used to wait for new recruits to arrive on board to see if they drank grog and if they didn't you buddied up to get his two can beer ration , good days .

Being a 'tiffie, our future differed from the stoker side [as you would know] we had to get our boiler ticket, then engine room ticket, before we could start to progress in rank. Once the boiler ticket was done, we shifted to the engine room , where, under the watchful eye of the engine room Articifer, we dutifully traced every steam line and learned the role of every valve [ and where to find it in the dark] in the engine room, all part of gaining an engine room ticket. At this stage we were teamed up with a senior 'tiffie, and began the learning process of the other part of our job, the maintenance of all things engineering. A daunting prospect, but never a dull moment. On Vampire the boy 'tiffies had to do all the dirty jobs such as boiler cleans, funnel cleans, fuel tank cleans, bilge cleans, before moving on to better things. Kept you grounded, Chief 'Tiff said. You got to know the stokers well, and we had a close knit team on Vamps. the system worked well. Funny how you forget the stench of overalls soaked with FFO, or the joy of being soaked with sweat working on a boiler room fan on the top plates of the boiler room. Good times.

Well , in the tradition of if you do it, do it well, I shall hijack the thread a little more. Sorry W& KO, I think you will understand. I must expand on my mutterings about Vampire, she wasn't the only ship with a good crew, I think the saying is shipside grey and Bristol fashion. [ here's looking at you RN] All three Daring's and crew were cut from the same mould. The value of that training and morale was no more evident than when Melbourne hit the Voyager, back in 64. The PO stoker I/C of B boiler at that time, even though the ship had been turned on its side, Didn't leave the boiler room until the boiler had been shut down, and made safe. And his crew [ probably two men] Stuck to the finish. Doesn't sound like much, but I've steamed the B boiler on a Daring, and I know how frightening that would have been.

Petty Officer Engineering Mechanic Edgar James McDermott, Queen's Commendation. For brave conduct and devotion to duty when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in remaining at his post in B boiler room in near darkness, assessing the damage, closing down the hatches and air locks, shutting down high pressure boilers at considerable risk to his personal safety, in order to ensure that the boiler did not explode, which would have caused disaster to those on the after section.

Now, I know I'm pushing the friendship, but I can't post one without all.

​QUEEN honours Voyager men

George Cross Medal...(Late) Chief Petty Officer Rogers helped many men to escape from the Voyager (II)'s rapidly sinking forward section. In the darkness and confusion following the collision, he organised the evacuation of the cafeteria where there were between 50-60 men. He stayed behind to look after those who could not escape, and led them in prayer and a hymn. He upheld the highest tradition of service at sea, and his rating as Chief Petty Officer (Coxswain). Chief Petty Officer Rogers was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for service with the Royal Navy in 1944. He transferred to the RAN in 1950.


Electrical Mechanic (Electronics) First Class William Joseph Condon, Albert Medal for Gallantry in saving life at sea. In recognition and his outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty in saving life at sea when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in remaining at his post to the end in the sinking ship, holding the emergency lantern to show others the path to the escape scuttle and losing his life thereby.


Midshipman Kerry Francis Marien, Albert Medal for gallantry in saving life at sea. In recognition of his gallantry in attempting to save life at sea when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision. In leaving the safety of a life raft to attempt a rescue, he thereby lost his life.

Petty Officer Douglas Moore, George Medal. In recognition of his brave and distinguished conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in assisting the survivors to evacuate the sinking ship, and in rescuing an unconscious man in the water, and for leadership and devotion to duty in organising the boarding of life-rafts and taking charge of life-rafts containing survivors in great adversity. (Petty Officer) Moore was awarded the British Empire Medal for his part in a hazardous diving operation undertaken by the Navy for the Snowy Mountains Authority at Lake Eucumbene in 1961).


Leading Seaman Raymond Ernest Rich, British Empire Medal. In recognition of his brave and distinguished conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in assisting with the maintenance of moral of survivors in the ship and the orderly evacuation of the sinking ship, in rescuing a man who was drowning, for leadership and devotion to duty in organising the boarding of life rafts containing the survivors, and maintaining the morale of survivors in great adversity.


Petty Officer Geoffrey Percival Worth, British Empire Medal. In recognition of his brave and distinguished conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in assisting survivors to evacuate the sinking ship, in leaving the safety of the life raft to rescue a drowning man, and for leadership and devotion to duty in organising the boarding of life-rafts and taking charge of life rafts containing survivors and in maintaining the moral of survivors in great adversity.


Leading Electrical Mechanic Brian Victor Longbotham, British Empire Medal. In recognition of his brave conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in remaining in the water by the sinking ship, assisting survivors and organising them into a party, and for personal courage in leaving the safety of a lifeboat to rescue a drowning man.


Leading Sick Berth Attendant John Rennie Wilson, British Empire Medal. In recognition of his brave and distinguished conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in that although in great pain from his injuries, he refused an injection of morphia and insisted on helping other injured men, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the nursing profession.

Able Seaman Eric Noel Robson, British Empire Medal. In recognition of his brave conduct when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in showing others the escape route in the sinking ship and assisting them towards the escape hatch before escaping himself.


Petty Officer Engineering Mechanic Edgar James McDermott, Queen's Commendation. For brave conduct and devotion to duty when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in remaining at his post in B boiler room in near darkness, assessing the damage, closing down the hatches and air locks, shutting down high pressure boilers at considerable risk to his personal safety, in order to ensure that the boiler did not explode, which would have caused disaster to those on the after section.


Engineering Mechanic Hugh Francis Gilvarry, Queen's Commendation. In recognition of his brave conduct and devotion to duty when HMAS Voyager sank after collision, in remaining at his post as diesel fuel pump watchkeeper alone in the after engine room in order to ensure the continued operation of the diesel generator, which was the only remaining source of power, until ordered to abandon ship.


Electrical Artificer Second Class Anthony Page, Queen's Commendation. In recognition of his brave conduct and devotion to duty when HMAS Voyager was sunk after collision, in entering B engine room to start the diesel generator so that power was restored to the after section of the ship, without which the other measures being taken to preserve the ship and safety of the crew would have been very difficult.

Post all you like......I’ve only just checked back in on the thread, actually not sure why I posted the link.

signing the dotted line was the worse decision at age 16....grinding out a nine year sentence was a tough gig

Originally Posted by Fatso

I was not an Appy but a Hairy Arsed Stocker and joined in 1962 and spent a large amount of time on the Admiralty paten Three Drum Boiler's and engine rooms as shown in the video , during maintenance sounding the tubes from the top drum of the Boiler as shown in the video was a **** job , but being in the bottom drum catching the little ball bearings was an even bigger **** job .

Try renewing the spiral wound gasket on the de-superheater pipework in the de-superheater drum on a Charles F Adams destroyer. First up, dress up in a fearnaught suit. Have a rope tied around your legs, so your safety number can pull you out if the worst happens, and you get overcome with the heat [ The boiler had not been shut down long]Work your way along the top of the pipework, do the job, making sure you replace the gasket in the correct manner, at the correct tension. At completion, look back to signal your safety number to pull the rope out as you slowly move out. Then notice your safety number is no longer there. He went to the café when stand easy was piped! It was at this point I learned the value of a proper briefing before starting, and not taking for granted people know what they are doing. My fault, but he didn't do anything like that again.