The Far East calls

Both Brian Davis and I had itchy feet after about 5 months in 'Kampala', partly because we felt we needed to get some cargo ship time in, partly, in my case, because I had seen plenty of East Africa but nowhere else, and partly because 'Kampala' was not going to call at Durban any more. Durban was the one 'civilised' (from our point of view) port. Messrs Killick, Willoughby and Donald Gill had made good friends in Durban, as had many of the other Officers, and Brian and I were welcomed by the same families.

However, we arrived in Bombay and both Brian Davis and I went up to see Captain Bicknell and 'asked for a shift'. I asked to go to the new Cadet ship, but was told that Cadet ships were not within his terms of reference. Still, we both got a 'shift', both to the same ship, 'Pentakota'

'Pentakota' at moorings in the Hooghli river, Calcutta

The Master of the 'Pentakota' at this time was Captain Brian O'Brian (Bob) Martyn, Chief Officer Eric John Clark, 2/O Butcher, Chief Engineer was 'Wally' Meech, Purser Graham Taylor; McGiveron was the Sparks, and his cabin was next one abaft the Cadets' cabin (forward of our cabin was the Butler's office), in the Starboard alleyway. Sid Hart was Third Engineer.

We joined 'Pentakota' on Tuesday 1st November 1949, and on Saturday 5th I was promoted to Acting 3rd. Officer on £26.10 a month! First thing to do was get the appropriate epaulettes. We sailed for Karachi to complete discharge, and loaded cotton for Pondicherry - thence to Calcutta where I reverted to Cadet after just over a month, and a Certificated 3/O joined us - Ted Roche, whose main interest was photography. In no time his cabin came to resemble a photographer's workshop with lights, cameras, developers, the lot.

Captain Bob Martyn had acquired a huge pair of Japanese binoculars. These binoculars were pivoted atop a stout tube, designed to hold the binoculars at eye height when fitted into a socket on the deck, and held by a clamp at rail height. The carpenter had made sockets and clamps in various positions, on both sides of the Bridge, to hold the tube in place. When an important landmark or buoy was sighted it was necessary to heave the binoculars (with tube) into the appropriate position, line them onto the landmark, and report to Captain Bob, who would then come across and peer away.

We loaded down to our marks with coal at Garden Reach, and after mooring at Matier Bruges for a short while, headed for Cochin, our port of discharge, arriving there on Christmas day. The Butler did us proud for Christmas Dinner - white wine with the fish, then champagne, and brandy with the coffee.

'Pentakota', Cochin, 25th December 1949 l-r back row me; Graham Taylor, Purser; 2/E/O; Brian Davies, Cadet; 5/E/O?; Ted Roche, 3/O, two Stewards. In front, 2E/O; 4E/O; Wally Meech, C/E/O; Captain Bob Martyn.

We were in Cochin for about nine days. It is a beautiful natural harbour set amongst palms and greenery, and with one hotel at that time, the Malabar, very popular, particularly because of its swimming pool with an entrance fee of one chip (rupee).

A lot of drinking went on on New Year's Day and after we had rung 16 bells, blown the whistle for a few minutes and had time for a short reflection, four of us decided to first foot the 'Clan BacBean' ahead of us. It was also decided that as I was the darkest I should carry a sizeable lump of coal in my left and, and a paper Union Jack on a stick in my right.

It was a hot night, and 'Clan Macbean' was a fair distance from our coal jetty. Arriving at the top of their gangway I enquired of the Quartermaster on duty 'Sub Sahibs kidder hai, Sukunni?' to which he replied 'Well, I am afraid that I have lost track of them for the moment, but I would not be surprised if you found them all having a drink in the Captain's cabin'. So up we went, and after I had been thanked for the coal and asked politely to leave it outside, we were given a right royal welcome. When we left, the party was a lot less subdued that it had been when we arrived. My embarrassment came when, back in 'Pentakota' I saw in a mirror that my face and shirt were black with coal dust.