'Pentakota' goes Bombay for Barytes

Extracts from my diary

We left Abadan on Monday 23rd January, 1950, with stations at about 0900. Slight fog over the river. Tug 'Lady Curzon' forward had very intricate fire-fighting appliances. Our backspring parted but we got away safely. The Harbour Master, Mr. Marvell, executed a beautiful short-round turn to Port before handing over to River Pilot No.5. Down the river at a good lick, and reached the pilot vessel (where about eleven ships, mostly tankers, were anchored) at around 1330. Spent morning and afternoon shoring up bitumen in No.2 Tweendeck F'd with John the Carpenter who made a good job of it. Went down No.4 also, to see if I could find what was giving us this slight list to Port. Nothing in Tweendeck, but the Chief E/O reminded us of the off-centre shaft tunnel. Toothache tonight for about 2 hours, but it went away and I felt fine. To bed at 11pm.

Tuesday 24th January 1950
Up at 7 to paint dimensions etc. on lifeboat gunwales. Changed into whites this morning. At least, we two did, but no-one else. Chief E/O Wally Meech a bit annoyed, I think. This morning painted outside railings on Monkey Island, and while doing this Matey boy comes up, to tell us Old Man expresses 'Extreme Dissatisfaction' with top of our cupboard. Silly old coon. So we have to wash out every part of our cabin tomorrow. Also, he wants us to start writing up an Official Diary. Damn silly. Studied this afternoon - looked at kite aerial kit. To bed 11pm.

Wednesday, 25th January 1950

Up at 7, started to wash the cabin out. It took till 12.30, and even then it wasn't finished. Bulkheads in cabin still look pretty awful, but that is due to patches of different coloured paint here and there.

Started [official] diary, also measured up wires in afternoon, that had just been coated with liberal dose of fish oil. Measured six wires in all, 3F, 3A (including 2 back springs). Shared Sparks' supper, talked about his shortcomings (this is becoming a habit, tea with Sparks). To bed at about 11pm. This also seems to be becoming a habit.

Thursday 26th January, 1950

Up at 7 today, and after taking temperatures (we are working this so that I take them in morning, and him [Brian Davies] in afternoon) I started helping him finish cabin off. We did underneath bunks and settee. Filthy. Looked as though all dust had been swept underneath there for years. Found rat trap (back breaker). Finished the cabin (we even used varnish polish) at 11.30, and then did an hour's painting up on the monkey island. After lunch we studied. I am getting on pretty well with the Articles.

Today India became a Republic. White Ensigns lowered. Bad that. No more R.I.N. New National Anthem didn't sound too bad. Tea at 4 as usual, dinner at six. Reading 'The Patience of Maigret' by Simenon. Good book, comprising two detective stories. Supper with Sparks, me with my usual glass of char and 2 tomato sandwiches. More about the shortcomings. Second Mate in none too good a trim. Had a row with 3rd. Mate, or so I have heard. Still awake at 11.30. Half hours' Clocks, GMT+4 (Friday)

Friday 27th January 1950

Up at 7, took temps & started work on the Monkey Island again. Finished everything by 12. Tested the loud hailer twice, once with 3rd Mate, once with Mate. Mate told me to say articles [Rule of the Road, or Collision Regulations] through the mike - the b....., but no change in Loud Hailer, still out of order. Mate also said that we had made a mistake in the number of tiers in Nos. 1, 2 & 4 lower holds. We went down to look. There were 7 tiers, as we had said. Mate was wrong in the end - he thought there were six. A wind has sprung up on the beam - coming from S. Talk of a cyclone in the district. Cooler today than it was yesterday. Were listening to some good music last night, in the smoke room (can't use my radio because of waking the 2nd Mate). Found a programme up in the 40 metres somehwere - dance music non-stop for about an hour. Before that we were listening to the New Records from B.B.C. General Overseas. Everyone talking about Bombay now - who gets a shift sort of thing. C/E/O has asked for one. Mate wouldn't mind a shift. Played Monopoly with the Purser & Brian. Afterwards Brian and I went down below for some tea with Sparks, and to bed near 11.30. Half hours' clocks. Sat. gmt+5.

Saturday 28th January 1950

Up at 7, and after taking temperatures started painting again on the Monkey Island. That's all we did all morning, except for - no, I'm wrong. After taking the temperatures I helped Davies find where the upper and lower tiers came in relation to the hatch beams. After that I made a sort of plan of it, & then, at about 11.15, I started painting on the M.I. until 12.30. The Old Man came round on his Rounds of Inspection, & into the cabin with the Mate, Eric J. From now on I shall call Old Man Bobby O'B & the Mate Eric J. Well, Bobby O'B asked if we had removed the dust from the top of the cupboard, and I said 'yes, sir', in a sort of hollw voice, so he ran his finger along it, and his finger came away cleaner than it was before. He also looked under the bunk & made a nuisance of himself whilst I glared at his back & Eric J. wore a happy smile on his silly mug. Piped down this afternoon, which I spent reading a novel about this last war, & well written too. This evening played Monopoly with Sparks, who had to leave early, Purser and Brian Davies. Brian was called out by Eric J. for a few minutes, while Eric J poured out his troubles. It seems that one tier in No.2 L.H. had been marked for Auckland on the cargo plan, and yet was for Brisbane. He is feeling happier about it now (Sunday) Half hours clocks, now on Indian Standard time gmt+51/2 hours.

Sunday 29th January 1950

Day of rest. Also another Sunday at Sea (re 1/2 day's leave). Up at 7 this morning. Temperatures. Finished the painting on the Flying Bridge. Everybody happy. Breakfast this morning, Corn Flakes, Kippers, York Ham, Onion Omelette, Rolls, & Coffee, after which I feel satisfied. After breakfast I wrote yesterday's diary, & am now writing this. It has just struck 4 bells [10am]. Bombay tomorrow. I might as well give the ports this vessel is going to, in their proper order. Bombay, Colombo, Surabaya, Port Moresby, Bowen, Brisbane, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Sidney. Very nice. Wouldn't mind staying, but it would mess my leave up. Much warmer today. Temperature up in 80's. Uncomfortable in bed at night. Khandalla is in Bombay (or is getting there at the same time as us) so I must go and see old Derek Slope. Nice bloke, Slope. Wonder if Boris Gordon got his shift from Itinda? I have heard she is making same run as we did (Calcutta-Cochin coal, light to Abadan for bitumen). If she does, Gordon will be cheesed as hell. All three Cadets on that ship (Bonner, Leeson & Boris Gordon) were asking for shifts that time in Calcutta. Hear that Brian Palmer has gone to sit ticket.

Monday 30th January 1950

Up at the unearthly hour of 5 for stations. Pitch black. Got 3 letters today. Willoughby and McLeod came [over] from Karanja & I learnt that Ewing was on Ismaila, with a new cadet. Went across this evening after six & had a good yarn with him. He has a radio set and a .177 BSA Cadet air rifle. Brooks of Mantola is Old Man on Ismaila. Ewing, Brian and I went across to Metro, & saw 'The Three Musketeers' in Technicolor. Out late, & to bed at 1230 after a long & tiring day.

Tuesday 31st January 1950

Today at about ten, went to signalling school. At about 6 McLeod came across to see if we were going to the cinema show on Karanja (it is worked by Willoughby) but Brian and I were going to Ismaila for a party with Mobbly, Ewing & their two girl friends (both very nice, as it appeared). Having party in cabin when a P&O cadet comes across from 'Surat'. Worcester type. Definitely snobbish. Had a go at Mobley's clarinet. Now I want to buy one. Had a chat with Slim Salmon the Mate as well. Had a good evening altogether. To bed at 1230.

Wednesday 1st February 1950

Ewing shifted today to Barpeta - he reckons his cabin over there isn't so bad, even though it is so small. Mobbley (also of Ismaila) shifted to Karanja. He is a first tripper. McLeod (another new Cadet) was transferred from Karanja to Khandalla pro-tem. Willoughby still on Karanja, Slope still on Khandalla.

Didn't go ashore all day, was going to bed early, when old Slope came in, at about 5pm, and calmly says he can't get back before 1230 on Ranee. He stayed for dinner, & then I got changed, & we were going to see a picture at the Mission. Just before we left, in walks Willoughby, Mobbley and McLeod, saying that Ewing wants us on Barpeta. We all go across to Barpeta which is in Victoria Dock and a good walk. We eventually got there, & had a lemonade, & started talking, when I suggested going across to Orna, and fill them in, so the seven of us went across to Orna & there we found one Baty (or Batie) that Ewing knew. The third mate came in and talked a bit too. We left that ship at about 11 and, splitting up, went our various ways. Another late night, & I am going to the pictures tomorrow night with Derek Slope, & maybe Brian, if something doesn't come to stop us. To bed at 1230.

My 'official' diary for 1st. February reads as follows:

0700 - checking shelter deck hatchways for battens, tarpaulins, hatch boards etc. & checking no. of weather boards for each of 6 Shelter Deck doorways.

1000 - Went to Chief Water Inspector's Office to ask for water (vessel needed between 300 and 400 tons) & stood by for any small jobs arising out of tomorrow's survey for the renewal of the Load Line Certificate.

1400 - commenced checking the Load Line batten with the Chief Officer. All marks found to be a shade too high, therefore each load line mark was chiselled out a little further down.

Thursday 2nd February 1950

Slope & McLeod came along in a taxi, and we were just in time for the beginning of the picture at the 'New Empire', Bob Hope in 'The Great Lover'. Pretty good. All those Republic News films got me down, though. Said goodbye to Slope. Fine. To bed at 1230. Didn't do much work all day. Khandalla is now in Prince's Dock Nos. 4 & 5, having come in from harbour at 9 this morning.

My 'official' diary for 2nd February reads as follows:

Completed the Load Line Batten before breakfast. Surveyor boarded, surveyed all main deck hatches, tarpaulins, battens, & all ventilator plugs & ventilator covers; also the weather boards for shelter deck doorways. Also surveyed were the ventilator pipes etc.
Cargoes loaded in this port are Barytes, ground nuts and cotton waste.
Took periodical soundings of No.5 d.b. Stbd while filling with fresh water. At a sounding of 3' 6" I turned the water off on the wharf, & put the hose into No.6 Stbd and commenced filling it. No.5 was full at about 1730. [turning the water off at a sounding of 3'6" means the tank was full and the water wasn't allowed to come up the air pipes to deck level and put a lot of pressure on the tank top]
The stowage factor of Barytes is 22 cu.ft. to the ton. Bitumen is 40-45 cu.ft. to the ton.

Friday 3rd February 1950

Got up at about 0745 feeling dead tired. I must stay on board tonight. Anyway, we are sailing tomorrow and that will be a great relief.

'Surat' left this morning at 0930. She is a beautiful ship in a stately sort of way. She does 21 knots, and is supposed to be specially strengthened for work as an auxiliary cruiser in the event of war. I suppose that is why she has that speed, as well.

'Dara' is in now. Must go across & get my other pen. If it is still there. I hope she comes alongside today. 'Barpeta' has just left Victoria Docks (I am writing this at 1100am) with Ewing as Cadet. Poor Ewing.

Not much chance of us getting a shift now, anyway.
Tonight we had our first try at printing. We made 7 prints of various negatives, &, with Ted Roche's help, we didn't do at all badly, considering.