BI Logbook

Quick reference - BI ships mentioned on this page: Amra, Carpentaria, Chindwara, Chakdina, Chupra, Dara, Devonia, Dorunda, Dwarka, Egra, Empire Gannet, Fazilka, Kampala, Karanja, Kenya, Malda, Modasa, Morvada, Neuralia, Olinda, Palamcotta, Queda, Querimba, Rajula, Sangola, Tairea, Talma, Uganda, Waroonga, Woodarra

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Mary Glanville, UK - Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 19:42:02
My late husband John Glanville, after completing a two-year training on the South African Training Ship General Botha, joined BI as a cadet in 1947 on Eastern Service. He was involved with the movement of people between India and Pakistan at the time of Partition and the delivery of urns containing Gandhi's ashes to the Indian communities in Mombasa and Durban. He was also on a ship, possibly the ss Tairea at the time of the Yangtze Incident. He had to leave the service in 1950 when his eyesight necessitated the wearing of glasses, his final ship being Carpentaria and returned to Southern Rhodesia. I am interested to hear more about his service during that time. I was a passenger on Uganda in 1956 from London to Beira when the ship was diverted via Cape Town due to the Suez Crisis.

Myra Davies, UK - Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:18:10
I am new to the BI logbook and have just read John Engel's entry on 14 January 05. My father, Hugh O'May, also served on the Amra, though I couldn't say which years he was on her, but I'd be interested to know if Mr Engel's father remembers him or has any photos in which he might appear.

Douglas Ferro, Gibraltar - Monday, February 18, 2008 at 20:27:23
My mother was evacuated from Gibraltar to Madeira on the Neuralia on 10.08.1940. I would be interested to know whether there are any passenger lists available for this.

Joyce Andersen UK - Monday, February 18, 2008 at 17:23:37
Want to contact Peta Hunt re - Tom Hunt who was on HMS Chakdina. I have a friend who was on that ship when it was sunk.

Ian McWhannell, India - Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 13:05:38
Brian Agnew was trying to contact me. Sorry been in Goa for years not NZ. Also spend the summer in France at the Old Tower Hotel, Noyers sur Serein, in Burgandy.

Myra Davies (nee O'May), UK - Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 21:26:39
I have just read Robert Jacobs' entry on 24 Nov 06 about his father Tom who survived the sinking of the Waroonga in 1943. My father, Hugh Harper O'May, also survived this event and arrived home in Scotland to see his new-born daughter (myself). There is a photo of the ship's company taken in 1939 in Philip Dilworth's cadet journal. I think (though not sure) my father is fourth from the right in the front row. I wonder if Tom Jacobs is also in the photo. I agree our fathers would have been fascinated to see what can be discovered on the internet.

Sahay P, Canada - Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 08:50:12
Interested in s.s. Sangola trip from India to Fiji Islands ~ Feb. 1908.

William Roberts, UK - Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 12:00:23
I came across the site by accident as I was researching one of my uncle's ships the Rubystone. I like the site very much and will be a frequent visistor.

David Bell, UK - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 21:06:53
Only just discovered this site. Looking through the log extracts, I see the name Paddy Mawhirt mentioned. I sailed with him on Chakdina and last saw him when he was on a Gulf D. If you are still out there big man, give me a buzz -- also Jim Talbot (Elect). Regards to all. Dave Bell (BI 1963/74)

John White, Australia - Monday, February 11, 2008 at 09:55:17
I sailed on Chindwara 1953-56. I live in Melbourne and would like to find David Whitehouse and any other ex shipmates. Has anyone heard from Dave Martin?

Phil Incledon - Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 17:55:07
I have just spotted Frank Erhorn's entry in the 2003 abstracts. I must confess, the names mentioned do not ring any bells. Would Frank like to give me a clue ( deck or engine)? I must admit, I have only visited the BI web site very very occasionally, partly because of the Yahoo add-on, which deluged me with unrelated material (and from which I am now unsubscribed)

David Proctor, France - Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 15:28:34
Found this site by accident. Brought back many memories of my seagoing days in the early seventies. I joined BI as an Eng Cadet in September 1971 - only to find myself part of GCD in the October Revolution.

Sue Saltmarsh (nee Black) - Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 18:23:40
I have a handbook titled the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd. Regulations and Instructions 1949 - this was given to my Dad - John Black (from Motherwell) it was issued to him in 1956 - he served on the Chindwarra, Amra, Dara, Chupra, Woodarra and Queda - somewhere between 1952 - 1962

Graham Golby, UK - Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 16:55:08
I am looking for details and a photograph if possible of HM tug Coringa lost in the Atlantic 1940, Can you oblige

Bernard Ashworth, UK - Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 09:21:12
Sailed winter 1957 would like arrival date in Hong Kong

Darryl Reynolds, Australia - Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 13:49:48
My great grand father and his parents (Plath) arrived in Queensland Australia in 1886 aboard Dorunda from Germany. I was excited to see a ship of that name in service at that time. Possibly this ship is the one.

Armand Di Rienzo, US - Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 13:49:48
To Toni Hull [ref log entry Jul 1, 2007] Sorry I did not get back to you sooner, you can ask me anything about the Banfora, and hopefully I will try to answer

David Bell, UK - Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 20:11:02
Did not know this site existed. See Paddy Mawhirt featuring in several articles. Give me a buzz big man if you are still around. This also applies to any other old pals not wanted by Interpol. Dave Bell, BI (Eastern Service) 1963/74

Ian Ferguson, Alex Stiff, UK - Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 22:32:33
To Dave Mitchell ex Rajula. Could you please get in touch using this new email link [email address supplied].

Alex Stiff, Australia - Monday, January 28, 2008 at 11:08:05
Barr(Paddy) Mawhirt - Are you a relation 2nd cousin to Charles Barr Boyd of Newtownards, Northern Ireland? [This posting has been cut. This site and the logbook pages are designed for exchanges about BI, its people and ships and cannot be used as general family history boards - Editor]

Mahrie Locket, Canada - Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 21:59:19
My father was Alan K M Patterson who served on various BI ships during World War 2. I am currently doing research on this time period of his life and have also just completed and published his diaries. They can be read in a book called Radio Man Marconi Sahib.

David Palmer - Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 18:49:20
Anybody remember Derrick Palmer, Purser BI, Empire Gannet and others. Posted by Son David Palmer

Praveen Chand, New Zealand - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 04:34:39
I am trying to locate passeger list for ship Fazilka SS trip from India to Fiji in 1901

Rita Mondon, UK - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 01:25:30
I have been a passenger on both ss Kampala and ss Karanja sailing to and fro between the east coast of Africa and the Seychelles during the years 1959 - 1966. I was only a child then exploring the whole of the ship and having the time of my life on the open waves. My last trip was in 1966, i was aged 10. My parents, older sister, younger brother and i, boarded one of the BI ships, SS Karanja or SS Kampala ( not sure which one) in Beira (having travelled from Botswana by steam train ) for Seychelles. I remember the ship stopped in Zanzibar, we took the opportunity to go on shore and see what great bargains we could get !!
Our ship continued her voyage stopping in Mombasa for almost four days whilst her hull was painted from head to toe before sailing to Seychelles.
I loved to hang out on deck and watch the sea through the railings for ages.
I will always remember the friendly, cheerful crew who would always stop to chat with me. One or two of the officers would always give me a small tub of vanilla ice-cream with a litte wooden spoon and even to this day, whenever i eat vanilla ice-cream, it somehow triggers off memories of these happy moments spent on a beautiful lady of a ship with wonderful kind people. Where are those boys now ??
There were days when the Indian Ocean was very turbulent, i would simply watch from an empty lounge ( most of the passengers were tucked away in their cabins) as the ship rolled, the sky and sea took turns to appear in view and to me, it was all a great big adventure !!
The sight of Silhouette island looming in the horizon would signal to every Seychellois on board that they were almost home. Great excitement indeed !!
Due to shallow waters, no big ships could get into port hence they had to moor way out beside St Ann Island. A whale boat would transport passengers to and from the ship to Port Victoria. Climbing down from the ship seemed such a very long way down. The whale boat crew were dressed in large kaki shorts and matlot type cotton white short sleeved shirts with a blue rim around the collar and sleeve and a great big straw hat. Amongst all the noise and commotion,the unloading of passengers flowed very smoothly. I am curious to know what became of these two elegant ladies, it saddens me to think that their dedicated, hard working lives may have come to an end with little dignity on the scrap heap. I just hope not !!

Priyanka Iriyagolle, Sri Lanka - Monday, January 21, 2008 at 07:38:45
Tony (Gehan) Ekneligoda - Trying to contact you, it's been too long.

Roy Grimmitt, UK - Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 15:53:16
My father (Roy Grimmitt) travelled on the Ranchi on the 12th Oct 1928 with his mother. My grandfather travelled on the Morvada 10th Nov 1922. I am interested in finding out more about the ships and what other ships my grandfather, grandmother and father travelled between Indai and UK

David White, UK - Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 18:42:46
Genuine researcher and former MN Radio Officer - am trying to locate a copy of television programme cc early 1980s starring Dwarka shortly before she was withdrawn.

Kathryn Langley, Australia - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 12:06:46
I am searching for any information anyone might have about my grandparents Eckford and Gladys Chatelier Langley and their family who travelled from India to Fremantle, Western Australia aboard ss Talma in 1947 (date unknown).

Ian McWhannell, Goa - Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 06:43:17
I saw Brian Agnew was trying to find my NZ address last year as he was visiting NZ. Please advise Brian and others I sailed with that for over 20 years I have lived in Goa. I am totally surprised that not more BI sea staff did not retire here! Always interested in old shipmates who revisit India and who come to Goa.

Chelsey Dollman, Canada - Friday, January 11, 2008 at 04:37:24
My great great grandfather, Arthur Charles Francis Field, was a First Mate on a couple of your ships. He served in the mid-1800s. I have the original logbooks, as well as his journals from the voyages, letters to his families from the BI explaining his shipwrecks, as well as his certification letters from BI and seamen's company. I am always interested in finding out more about his life as a first mate and seaman, and wondered if you had any tangable records or any records at all of his employment with your company. If you do, would you please contact me?

Gwyn Lewis, UK - Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 20:07:11
Recently found two BI postcards of ss Modasa and the other could be ss Woodarra. (No name shown on photo but ss Woodarra stamped on reverse and signed Martins, steward in charge). Both possibly from the early/ mid 1950's. They belonged to my late great uncle, Sam Stoneman, who only completed a few short voyages in BI during his seagoing career from 1915 to 1954 when he retired as chief engineer. Do you want them for your archives? The Woodarra appears to be on trials judging by her bow wave and the close proximity of habitation. Great site, lots of memories.

	DEVON POWs Komet incident
	Commander	R Redwood
	Chief Officer	S Henderson
	2.O	F C Connolly
	3.O	W Pritchard
	4.O	R S Beesley
	Cadet	A G Dowdney
	Cadet	N G Brodie
	Cadet	W Errington
	Cadet	H W Hughes
	Cadet	D N Scott
	Purser	R H Bartley
	Chief Engineer	J Henderson
	2EO	J W Dowthwaite
	3EO	K C McDougall
	4EO	J Andrew
	JEO	J P Cullis
	JEO	J C Davis
	JEO	F Rouse
	JE	G Ratchford
	JE	R Smith
	Ch Refr Off	P K Rea
	2.Refr Off	A Miller
	Surgeon	A H Hallen
	Carpenter	H W Ferguson
	plus 19 Indian seamen

Richard Bracher, UK - Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 10:34:16
Many thanks for Editor's note ref the sinking of ss Devon on 19 August 1941. Another of my school mates, Cadet Bill Errington, was aboard and spent four years in the Milag POW camp in Germany. My recollection is that Devon was operating as a cadet training ship. The fact that 144 survivors were transferred to the Komet suggests that there could have been, perhaps, 20 - 30 cadets amongst them. Anything known? [Devon's prisoners of war taken in the Komet incident, and published in Valiant Voyaging, are shown on the right. Under BI's ownership, beginning in 1934, when the vessel was bought from NZSC/Federal Line, Devon had accommodation for 38 cadets - Editor]

Robin Riley, UK - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 18:12:02
I have a Lunch menu card of BI ss Kenya dated 13th May 1937 (found it in an old atlas). I have become interested in the ship and its history and enjoyed the detail I have found. Help request: Can anyone advise please where I may research where Kenya was steaming on that date; also where it is possible to obtain a photograph of the vessel.

John Welsh, Isle of Man - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 17:21:12
I am trying to establish which BI ship was attacked in the Mediterrean during WWII while serving as a Hospital Ship during the siege of Tobruk I believe my uncle Herbert Welsh was the captain but I am not certain it was a BI ship

Robert Gibbins, UK - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 15:55:16
My father (Robert Ovens Gibbins) served in the 1920-30's.

Richard Bracher, UK - Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 10:20:16
Ref Derek Hargreaves info of Sept 2007. I served as cadet in Malda for the voyage UK to Singapore via Panama Canal in 1941. I was transferred to Querimba in Calcutta but my fellow cadet and school mate, Peter Davies, was aboard Malda when she was sunk on 6th April 1942. The Malda's fatal casualty list was heavy - far worse than qouted in Derek's piece. The MN Memorial Garden on Tower Hill, London, has a tablet to those lost on Malda but it carries only one name - Edmund Sale (Junior Engineer). Peter Davies assured me that a number of the Indian crew also lost their lives. After some considerable letter writing I obtained a list of the details of 26 membeers of the Indian crew who died that day. The list was provided to the Registry of Shipping & Seamen by the BI head office. I have also copy of details of the Bombay 1939-1945 Memorial and the Chittagong Memorial. These memorials commemorate 438 sailors of the former Royal Indian Navy and 6093 sailors of the former Indian Merchant Navy. These memorials are situated in the Indian Seamen's Hostel, Bombay, and in a "similarly appropriate building in Chittagong selected by the Government of Pakistan". I expressed my view to British authorities that it would have been appropriate for all those seaman serving in British ships should be commemoriated also here where the general public has access but was informed that "this was not policy". [Richard, you raise several interesting points. One is that the three Malda fatalities given by Derek Hargreaves, with which you disagree, are those named in BI's book Valiant Voyaging. It would seem strange, though not impossible, for BI to state one version of casualties in print, in its own book, and another to the RGSS. It would be most interesting if you could provide a scan of the RGSS letter you received. Another point is the 'policy' or otherwise of naming Indian seaman on the MN memorial on Tower Hill. In another context on this Logbook page, it is shown that Indian seamen in BI (and probably in other companies like P&O and Bibby, too) signed articles of agreement opened in India, regardless of which ship they were sent to. Articles travelled with them and were sent back to India with the men when they signed off. The point here is that, perhaps, RGSS in Cardiff claims 'no knowledge' or at least no interest in such seamen, who although sailing in British ships were nevertheless contracted under Indian articles by India Shipping Masters in Karachi, Bombay or Calcutta. Such official disinterest may now be evincing itself in the case of Indian seamen who were lost in British ships as a refusal to acknowledge their presence, extending to the "not policy" response regarding the MN memorial. Again, it would be illuminating to hear which authority supplied this response - Editor]

Richard Bracher, UK - Monday, January 7, 2008 at 16:49:41
Useful info concerning loss of ss Devon in WW2. Am seeking list of casualties. [Were there any casualities? Valiant Voyaging and Laxon & Perry give none, the latter saying that all 144 on board Devon were transferred to the raider Komet - Editor]

Mike Evans, UK - Monday, January 7, 2008 at 16:38:51
I am trying to get in touch with anyone who was on Chindwara between 1968 and 1970, basically the trip from UK - Red Sea - Indian Coast - Australia - India - USA - UK. The intention is to have a 40th reunion. Provisionally we are looking at trying to arrange something in London in October. So far we have got Ray Boyd, Jan Pritchard, Dale Worthington, Nick Pearson and Mike Evans signed up but would like to hear from anyone else on hte trip that would be interested in meeting up.


	Devonia (BI 1962-1967) was one of the relatively few ships in BI's history not built originally for the company. However, she was a near sister of troopships Dunera and Dilwara and in 1962 BI took the opportunity of acquiring her from Bibby Line (ex Devonshire) for immediate conversion to an educational cruise ship. Five years' happy service ensued.

Muriel Brand (nee Shinn), UK - Monday, January 7, 2008 at 12:47:50
Sailed on ms Devonia in April 1965 on an educational cruise whilst at Sudbury Girls High School in Suffolk. Sailed from Genoa to Venice, visiting Naples , Corfu, Athens, Delphi & Itea. Wonderful memories!

Joy Normile, US - Monday, January 7, 2008 at 05:25:28
How can I find out more about the comments about the ss Mooltan from Colombo Ceylon and three children on board who disembarked in Fremantle, Western Australia on Dec. 25, 1925 [Mooltan was a P&O vessel - the third of this name - built in 1923. For more information, I suggest you search the many sites referencing P&O ships - Editor]

Jo Hill, UK - Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 17:32:16
Jos Grimwood [re various previous logbook entries including Dara fire references] was my brother in law. He sadly died of throat cancer on 1/7/2000. His widow, my sister Sue, lives close by. If anyone has any questions about Jos she would be pleased to hear from you.

Robyn Heggen, Australia - Friday, January 4, 2008 at 03:42:40
Re Hazel Harradence‘s log entry (Oct 22, 2007) regarding picture of Dorunda. If you search the web for Dorunda Queensland Library you should find a picture of Dorunda docked at Port Said, Egypt

Jim Hepburn, UK - Thursday, January 3, 2008 [Monday, December 24, 2007 at 19:47:14]
My only connection with BI is that my Dad who died last year, was brought back from East Africa in 1946 on a BI troopship, after spending 6 years as a bomber pilot with the RAF. He came back from Mombasa in the Aug/Sept of 1946. I was born in the June of 47...... Ever since then I have been very keen on East Africa and Indian shipping and BI. So I am sorry that I am not an ex employee. Rather, I spent my early days in steel making derricks and davits for our great ships. I retired last week Dec 21.

Alan Faragher, UK - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 11:40:17
Would like to contact anyone who sailed with me on the Kenya, Palamcotta, Olinda from 1952 to 1955.

Robyn Heggen, Australia - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 03:09:59
Exellent site. Would there be a crew list available of ss Dorunda's voyage London/Brisbane ETA March 1885? [This is a big ask - to use current parlance - but you could try The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which holds any existing BI personnel records. You could also try the Public Record Office at Kew (both these places are near London and have their own websites) which houses all ships’ official Logbooks and Articles of Agreement for the crew. In the case of BI and other companies employing ‘lascar’ seamen, ships’ articles kept in the UK will record only British or European seamen (in BI’s case, largely the officers and petty officers). Ships’ articles for BI’s Indian seamen were opened in India, ie under Indian administration and if they still exist will almost certainly be in India - Editor]


	Egra (BI 1911-1950) with (below) members of the ship’s company, unidentified apart from Josiah Dewis, far right, in the Maldives, July 1942

Richard Dewis, UK - Tuesday, January 1, 2008 12:17:01
Re my father Josiah William Dewis (P/JX216317) who served on ss Egra as a A/PO Gunner during WWII. Family documents show that he was on board ss Harpasa on 05/04/1942 when she was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Calcutta. He was rescued by a Indo-China Navy vessel the TAKSANG which was in turn lost within 24 hours. We then have evidence that he was treated in Calcutta Hospital before showing up as A/PO Gunner on board Egra. Convoy records obtained tie up with his own records from then till Sept 1943 on board Egra. He then shows up during Operation Matador [January 1945 - amphibious assault to capture the strategic port of Kyaukpyu, at the northern tip of Ramree Island, south of Akyab, Burma, from the Japanese using the Indian 71st Brigade] again on board Egra in Jan 1945. I am trying to fill the gap between October 1943 and Dec 1944 and then Feb 1945 to Oct 1945. Is there any way I can find out if he was attached to another BI ship during this period. I have his records of ports visited. Whilst he was alive my father never spoke much about his exploits other than he lost two ships within 24 hours. [I am not sure whether gunners were employed by the companies in whose ships they served or by the RN. I suspect the latter, and wonder whether you have tried the MoD, Imperial War Museum or National Maritime Museum at Greenwich for their records. Gunners were I think signed on ships’ articles of agreement (regardless of who paid them) and thus it might be worth a trip to the Public Record Office at Kew where mercantile marine Articles and Logbooks are stored - Editor]

FOR ALL THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION (BI)

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©John Prescott 2000-2008

FOR ALL THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION (BI)

BI-bliography | BI Events | Links | Ships | History | Join BI group Song & Verse | Paintings | Insignia | Logbook | HOME ©John Prescott 2000-2008

BI-bliography | BI Events | Links | Ships | History | Join BI group
Song & Verse | Paintings | Insignia | Logbook | HOME

©John Prescott 2000-2008