HMT or SS Nevasa -- The Royal Air Force

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- John Cooper, 13/12/04 21:01:52

Hi Jessica
I have passed your message on, there may be other replies too, thanks very much
JC

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- John Robb Macnab, 30/01/06 4:29:02

Good morning Jessica,
I read that you sailed on the Nevasa in 1958 enroute to Singapore. You have some photographs of her taken on the journey. I helped to build the Nevasa when I was an apprentice with Barclay Curle and have a lasting fondness for her. The only pictures that I had of the ship I threw away when coming here to Australia. My I take you up on your offer that you made to John Cooper and ask you to email me some .
Regards
John Robb Macnab

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[> [> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- John Cooper, 30/01/06 9:25:06

John
I think your best bet would be to send Jessica an email by just clicking on her name as this post is some 13 months old now.
Cheers
John

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[> [> [> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Eric Shepherd, 1/02/06 16:33:04

What about the HMT or SS Oxfordshire I was on the maiden voyage of this ship. Round the cape and then straight across the Indian Ocean to Singapore.
Are there any more of you out there perhaps we could swap tales.
Eric

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Barrie Sanderson, 10/04/06 19:34:48

To Eric Sheppard:

Hello Eric. I have only recently found this site so not sure how it works. I would like to contact you, so if you see this would you Email me: SSNEVASA@aol.com.
It is about the book on the ship 'wot is being wrote' I would like to discuss.
Hope you are keeping well after all these years, best regards ...... Barrie

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Vincent aston, 9/11/15 17:39:51

Hi I sailed on the ss nevasa from Southampton to singapore in September 1960.my father was in the Raf ..I'm trying to find out the actual date that we sailed ..

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[> SS Nevasa -- Karen Lyons, 27/02/07 19:23:12

In my memory chest, I have discovered a lapel pin marked, "SS Nevasa." There is a blue rim circling the pin and a white flag with red 'X' in the center of the flag. If this pin would hold sentimental value for you I would be happy to give it to you. Please include "SS NEVASA" in the subject line of your email. Karen Lyons

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- LARRY WEBSTER, 6/04/07 21:57:44

We sailed to Hong Kong on the Nevasa in 1959 I had my sixth birthday on board my brother his first.The dates being the 2nd & 3rd of September.My brother took his first steps when the ship rolled.
They played Little Drummer Boy on the ships tanoy for us.
I remember we passed the oxfordshire on her way back to England. Im sure my sister has photos from the ship.
When will the book be released & were will it be available from.

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Albert Forsyth, 18/07/07 14:18:46

I sailed Home on the Nevasa in December 1956 on her return maiden voyage from Hong Kong. We docked at Southampton about the fifth or sixth of January 1957 after sailing via Singapore, Durban in South Africa and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. We would have no doubt come home via the Suez Canal. But Colonel Nasser sank a few boats in it so we came the long way round. A great ship and fast. I believe the voyage only took twenty six days. I sent a postcard, bought on board ship to one of my pals we left in Hong Kong, and I had it passed to me when he tragically passed away a couple of years ago. It was a good ship and the entertainment was great.

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[> [> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Brian Ellis, 3/02/08 23:15:29

Albert referred to the return maiden journey from Hong Kong. My father was posted to Hong Kong with the RAF and we, my father, mother, sister and I, travelled there on the Nevasa. It would have been about 1955/1956. I would have been 3 going on 4 but still have some vivid memories of the journey. First the smell of the railway station that you only get from steam locos, probably Waterloo. I remember embarking and huge crowds. I guess it was Southhampton. I remember stopping off at the Canaries. We went ashore. I think we were at sea for Christmas. I remember a bad storm. We all had to put our life jackets on. My Mum said it was a practice. The ship was listing from side to side so that the clouds looked as though they touched the sea. My mum said that was where the rain came from. The clouds dipped into the sea, picked up water and then dropped it on us. The restaurant played Greensleeves every meal and always smelled of soup. There was a nursery for children. It housed a wonderful rocking horse. I remember seeing Table mountain. I also remember perhaps saving the Nevasa from a watery grave. My mother and father were having their evening meal. My sister and I were asleep in our cabin. I was awoken by an acrid smell; cordite and bakerlite. Our electric fan was smoking and about ready to burst into flames...I think. I wandered out into the corridor and alerted someone...possibly crew and the problem was dealt with. Other memories come to me every so often. That was my first taste of big cruise ships and I quite enjoyed it.

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Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Mark Cross, 30/12/07 13:07:16

In 1973 when I was 11 I sailed on the ship SS Nevasa. It had then been converted into a cruise liner for school excursions. We travelled from Southampton to Spain,Portugal,canary islands, USA and South America all for �60.00! It was a memorable experiance. If you want any further information please contact me.

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- David Evans, 25/02/09 10:49:17

I was 6 or 7 when we left Liverpool en route to Singapore where my father was to command 19th Signal Regiment. We stopped at Gib, Cyprus, through Suez ( the band played Slow Boat to China - extraordinary what you remember after so long) onto Aden, Ceylon, Penang and finally Singapore ( three weeks in all I think). I can still recall the thrill of nearing port usually in early morning. I have loved the sea ever since. We returned in December 1960 on the Oxfordshire I think where a cold and miserable England greeted a nine year old on his way to boarding school. Flying is not quite the same, nor indeed is the world in 2009.

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[> HMT or SS Nevasa - 1959 to Hong Kong -- P Hobbs, 29/03/09 19:52:04

Hi, I am researching into the national service of my father in law Anthony Caller who shipped to HK on Nevasa in Oct 1959 as a gunner in the Irish Regiment Royal Artilliary returning around Aug 1961. He wrote an unpubished book of this time. I would appreciate any information regarding this trip.

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Brian Kelly, 1/01/10 13:31:04

Greetings from British East Reading. I sailed to Aden in the Nevasa during March/April 1962 on an RAF posting, calling at Malta & Port Siad I am not sure if it was her last trip but there were far fewer service personnel on board so we did not have big queues during meal times and apart from a slight swell in the Bay of Biscay it was a pleasant voyage. I enjoyed my 2 years in Aden

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- David Lee, 26/01/10 14:51:29

Hi All,
Sailed on Nevasa to Singapore mid 1961. I understood that it was her last trip as a troop carrier, but apparently not.
It was a fantastic voyage, one I shall never forget or regret taking.
I have so many memories of her - some funny - none of them sad.
My wishes to all who knew her.
Bless you all.
David (ex army)

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Nick Morrissey, 11/04/10 1:39:44

jessica and others, I also sailed on the Oct 1956 sailing to Hong Kong Signal Regiment. I remember getting sunburnt
( and subsequently charged )on the deck. We stopped at Dakar for fuel, it was the filthiest place in the world.
But the rest of the journey was fine. We were treated like royalty in Durban being the first troopship since the war,
and the Lady that sang on the dock in the second world war
was there.

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Ken Warren, 26/01/11 19:21:51

I was also on this sailing and agree with your sentiments regarding Dakar and also remember the reception in Durban. The local people really took us to their hearts and treated us to a wonderful time in their City. Thanks for reminding me of the journey. I still have the fronts of two menu card from the voyage.

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[> [> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Amy Baker, 29/09/12 21:50:12

I have lots of menus from 1956 and 1959 when my father was on board. Does anyone know if they hold any value?

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Ann Hodgkinson, 15/05/10 1:19:55

On my father's war record it indicates he left Melbourne 29/12/40 on H.T. Mauretania and was transhipped onto the H.M.T. Nevasa 15/1/41 arriving Colombo (Cylon - Sri Lanka) on 31/1/41. I believe the Mauretania was hit by an enemy torbedo on this vogyage, but cannot find a reference to that incident.

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Kevin Dodd, 13/06/11 19:57:18

I was only 6 months old when we sailed out of Southampton in 1958 on the Nevasa heading for Singapore. My Father was serving with 2nd field regt RA, and we returned on the Oxfordshire in 1961.

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Elizabeth Donovan nee Harris, 9/05/12 16:53:23

Found this whilst researching my voyages and I too left Southampton in 1958 on board the Oxfordshire and returned in March 1961 on Nevasa (although Chas Conlon above did it the other way round (I may be wrong!!)

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- chas conlon, 27/02/12 20:12:41

We sailed to Penang Malaya in June 1960. The trip was eventful. A crewman died near Tobruk and was buried at sea. We had a royal naval escort through the suez canal and survived lost stabilisers in the Indian Ocean as well as a violent storm in the Red Sea.My dad was stationed at RAF Butterworth.

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Jennifer Murray, 25/02/13 9:14:08

sailed on SS Nevassa with Gloster's to posting in Cyprus 1962. have many memories of the chaotic school room set up, the menu's and photos of the pool made for the children from a container. our cabin was above the water line but for the families below it life was not so much fun.

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- john todd, 1/01/15 14:25:49

hello i sailed on the nevasa in january 1958 when it was a troopship best holiday i ever had we were going to aden
i stil remember the music that was played at the time. we picked up the royal marines from malta to cyprus.i was in the royal east kent regiment the buffs

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Mike Breslin, 11/04/15 19:25:49

Left Southampton on Nevasa for Cyprus but can't clearly remember the departure date from Southampton, think it might have been February or March 1958, I was with the Royal West Kent regiment, would also like to remember date of arrival Cyprus, Nevasa stopped at Gibralta and Malta on route. Returned on the Devonshire, can't remember but think arrived back Southampton November 1959 or was it some time in December 59 ?

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Jane Moody, 14/09/15 15:08:00

my father was in the royal navy and the family set sail to Ceylon in 1959-1960 not too sure on the date as i was very young at the time. i think we sailed on the SS Oxfordshire and traveled back on the SS Nervassa would love to see some photos of the inside of the ships and does any one know the routes that were taken? unfortunately both my parents have died so i have know one to ask.
would be great to know what it was like and also the ports we may of stopped off at.
Thank you, Jane

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Les Robinson, 25/09/15 15:52:08

Sailed from Singapore to Southampton on the SS Nevasa in 1959, In company with my Mother, Ivy Robinson and my two brothers Grahame and Stephen. I was 3 years 8 months old when we docked in Southampton when I was 3 years 8 months old on the 20 February 1959. I always believed that we had arrived back home via the Suez Canal but the passenger list states via Durban, South Africa and I believe that we must have left Singapore, where my father was stationed, Cyril L E A Robinson, sometime in January 1959. Anyone one out there on board? and any information in relation to it, or pictures please. My email address is ssgt.7357@ntlworld.com

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[> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Frances Farmer, 1/10/15 11:46:55

Hello everyone who has fond memories of the Nevasa. I sailed on her with my family on 23rd September 1961 to Kenya. After Mombasa she left en route to Singapore. My father, Sam Prior, was in 3 RHA. I was 11 years old at the time and have great memories of the 18 day trip, stopping at Gibralter, Port Said and Aden. Of all the posts on this site, there is only one from someone on that 1961 trip! Where are all the others?

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- frank marsh, 21/01/16 14:30:32

I was also on board SS Nevasa on that voyage as I served in D Battery RHA one of the three gun batteries in 3RHA

I have mentioned the voyage in my book !" The Last National Serviceman"

An incredible voyage and particularly when the engines stopped near the North African coast - just off Bizerta and really too close for comfort as the French and Tunisians were fighting each other - the French eventually leaving in October 1961

From memory this was the last time D Battery was transported by sea as thereafter we were flown by the RAF, Aden Airways and BUA.

Very good to hear from you and I hope your father is well

Regards

Frank Marsh ( 2nd Lt NS D Battery RHA)

Frank

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Hilary tudor, 9/02/17 16:01:32

Hi, my family were also on the navasa September 23 1961,we were a family of six children and the local news paper took pictures of us because we were the largest family boarding.
I was 10 years old and the eldest at the time.
Have you got more information please.

Hilary

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[> [> Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Hilary Tudor, 10/02/17 20:40:24

Hi Frances,
Not sure if you have read my post that I put on yesterday.
My family were also on the ss navasa September 23rd 1961, we were a family of six children and the local paper took photos of us being the largest family on board.
I was 10 at the time.
I would love to be able to get them pictures and have more information on this subject.
Hilary

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Re: HMT or SS Nevasa -- Marilyn Jennings, 25/08/16 22:44:00

Memories and curiosity has somehow brought me to this site.
I was a 10 year old travelling with mother and 2 younger brothers from Singapore to Southampton on the Nevasa! Think we left July 1962, and father ( RAF) remained to complete tour of diuty.
Wonderful adventure, though not impressed about having to attend lessons on board!
We stopped off at Columbia ( Ceylon ) Aden and Malta. Travelled through the the Suez Canal where market traders came on board and set up their stalls! We stopped at Gibralter but did not disembark.
One of the best educational experiences of my life!