|
Letters
Father, Colin Moore, was aboard Seeteufel in 1938, are there any pictures? Dear Mr Gregory, I wonder if you or any of the many people who correspond with you have any photos or cine film taken aboard the German yacht "Seeteufel" in the year 1938. The reason I ask is that My late father, Colin Moore, was aboard Seeteufel in that year. He was apparently employed by the count in New Zealand (where he was born) and sailed as far as Batavia. He and an Australian photographer, Geoff Powell, left the yacht there after the Munich crisis and made their way back to Sydney. Sydney, I believe, was something of a Mecca for Kiwis in those days, as it still is to some extent. My father settled in Australia and married my mother, a WRAN third officer, in Sydney after the war. Dad mentioned his trip on the yacht now and then, but it meant little to me at the time. I would love to see any photos or moving footage of the ship's passengers and crew to see if I can spot Dad. My mother had a couple of photos but they were lost over the years. Perhaps you know where some may be found. look forward to hearing from you. Cheers,
Thank you for your fascinating E-Mail, no I have not ever had the slightest hint of the trip your Dad had with the Count to Batavia in 1938, let alone any photos or cine film shot then. I would love to unravel this one. By Bcc copy to you of my message to Matthias Maurer in Halle Germany, you wiil see I have asked if he can assist us, he is President of the Board of the newly formed Felix von Luckner Society, whose basic objectives are to build a Memorial to the Count in the city of Halle, he was responsible for saving it being devasted by the American Army in its rush to the east to beat the Russdians into Berlin in 1945. Of course they failed there. But the Count was able to stop US troops bombarding and destroying his city. The society would also dearly love to purchase his Seeadler, and refit her, I believe she is in Russian hands. Nice to hear from you, and I will be in touch again when I hear from Matthias. Regards,
Here is a piece I just unearthed, this sailor ex Seeteufel, left in NZ, to become a citizen, and only died last month. It is the time your Dad joined the Count in 1938. What a name coincidence, he started a photographic businees with my surname, namely GREGORY. I never cease to be amazed what the internet may bring forth. All the best, Mac.
|
