Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Hi there,
 
I hope you don't mind me contacting you - discovered your weblog and realise you might have info that I'm seeking. I appreciate that your site is devoted to WWII and my query is for an earlier period, but......  I live in hope.
 
Background: My father emigrated from the UK to Australia in 1925, travelling out from Liverpool on the SS Vedic and arriving in Melbourne on 16 December as part of a Salvation Army re-location scheme for unemployed British young men. (We were lucky to obtain a copy of the ship's passenger list, containing my Dad's name, from the Vic. State Library on a visit 2 years ago.) I know he worked in farming at a place called Modella, near Longwarry, Vic. and on our first visit to Oz in the mid-90's I even met some of the people (now deceased) who knew him. (A fascinating story to maybe discuss over a VB or three, one day!)

He had to return to England in 1930 to resolve some family problems, met my mother and never returned to Oz. He died in 1971, before I started to explore his history, and so a lot of his knowledge is lost to me.

Until a few weeks ago, I had been unable to learn anything about his return journey to the UK. Then, in some old family papers (that were nearly thrown out by my sister!), I discovered a leaflet containing the Programme of Events for his journey home. It contains information on the journey (Fremantle to Toulon, 28'th July to 21'st August, 1930), the names of the 'Third Class Sports and Entertainments Committee, the events planned for the journey, the Shipping Line (Orient), the Captain's name (Commander W. S. Shelford, R.N.R), and a photograph of the ship. Amazingly, there is no mention anywhere of the ship's name!!

In trying to find more on the internet, I came across your weblog and a response you gave to someone that contained a picture of the SS Oronsay.  To my untutored eye, she looks remarkably similar to my father's ship picture attached).  So....

I would truly appreciate any guidance, references, advice, information you can provide.

Many thanks and best wishes

Ken Camsey
 
 
I would sure your Dad's ship back in 1930 was Oronsay 1, torpedoed in 1942.

Compare this photo with your Dad's one, they look identical.

Your Commander W S Shelford RNR was an Orient Captain in 1911, I will send some details of that in a separate E -Mail.

The Australian test cricket team with Bradman in it, sailed to England in an Orient Line ship for the test series in 1930, but I could not find her name, I will mail the route that ship took, which would have been the same as your Dad's trip.

Its amazing no matter what I do, cannot find the sailing dates ex Australia to England for Oronsay 1 in 1930, very strange.

Hope this helps a little.

Best regards. 
Mac.

Ken,
 
The Orient Line track chart from Australia to England in 1930.
 
It sailed via Fremantle and Toulon.

Best regards.
 
Mac.

Ken,

Details of Captain Shelford in 1911, plus a book on the Orient Line

Regards,

Mac.

ahoy.weblog@gmail.com

OMRAH - 1917

Code letters:  QRGJ                   Official Number:  108782

Master:  Captain W.S. Shelford

Rigging:  steel twin screws Schooner;

2 steel decks sheathed in wood; steel Spar Deck sheathed in teak; 10 cemented bulkheads;

fitted with electric light, refrigerating machinery & wireless; cellular double bottom, aft 67 feet, under engine & boilers 144 feet, forward 181 feet, 978 tons;

Forward Peak Tank 69 tons;

Aft Peak Tank 135 tons

Tonnage:  8,130 tons gross, 4,955 under deck and 4,429 net

Dimensions:  490.7 feet long, 56.7 foot beam and holds 26 feet deep;

Poop 77 feet; Bridge 260 feet; Forecastle 66 feet

Construction:  1899, Fairfield Co. Ltd. in Glasgow

Propulsion:  triple expansion engine with 6 cylinders of 33, 54 1/2 & 89 inches diameter respectively;

stroke 57 inches; operating 180 p.s.i.; 1,772 nominal horsepower;

3 double ended and 2 single ended boilers; 32 ribbed furnaces; grate surface 588 sq. ft.; heating surface 27,070 sq. ft.;

engine by the builders

Owners:  Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

Port of registry:  Glasgow

Ken,

Details of SS Vedic from Greatships.com for you, your Dad's ship to Australia in 1925 . Interesting she was chartered by the Salvos, and was also the first White Star ship to be powered by turbines.

Best wishes,
Mac.

Hi Mac,

I'm truly gobsmacked, both by the speed of your response and the amount of information you have given me. A million thanks!!!!  Never mind the VB, if/when we next come to Oz name your own brew!

We may be coming over again, probably in December if we can get tickets for the 5 days at either Adelaide, Melbourne, or Sydney) and we plan to visit Melbourne to catch up with the Salvos. Their records are pretty shaky in so far as individuals are concerned, but they have a lot of detail about the immigration scheme in general so we plan to visit with them. When we can confirm dates, we would love to meet up with you and express our appreciation face to face.

I'll organise getting a copy of "Orient Line - A Fleet History" and, in the meantime if you come across any more info relating to the Vedic, the Oronsay, or Captain Shelford I'd be grateful if you could share with us. 

Finally, I've attached  a copy of the top of the first page of the Vedic's Passenger List.  I'm not sure, but I read the Master's name as 'Joe Kearney'.  Do you have any info on him?

Once again, Mac, many thanks.  Can't express how grateful I am for your help.

Ken

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