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Extracts from the
"Irrawaddy Magazine"
I.F.C.
Snippets (1)
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"Irrawaddy Magazine"
I.F.C.
Snippets (1)
press ctrl f to search this page
Aug. 1927
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Apr. 1928
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Apr. 1929
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Oct. 1931
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April 1928 - Issue No. 3
(Written at the top of the cover page of this edition is the name of Capt. Collins and “Shwelan” Capt. R. Fenton – Wrote to us last November congratulating us on the magazine. He wishes us every success. Capt. Fenton retired from the Service in 1897. He was leaving home for the Canary Islands to winter there, returning in April, when the “country gets aired a bit.” The following have returned from leave in January:- W. Chapman J. Scott Capt. P.C. Thomas Capt. C. Fry Capt. Sharpe – Is still going strong in London. He is in an electrical business and we hear that he is in splendid health. J.L. Hutchinson - who was in Command of the Service is now Chief Officers of the “Amarapoora.” He was in Rangoon lately and did not forget to send in his subscription. Mr Hammersley - passed an examination held in Rangoon for Masters last Dec. Mr Ferns - passed an examination held in Rangoon for Masters last Dec. Capt. S.H. Lewis - returned in December last together with Mrs Lewis. We give Mrs Lewis a hearty welcome to the land of sunshine and peacocks. Capt. A.E. Fryer - retirement - as a youngster went to sea in 1892 in the good old style...... etc... ... as 3rd mate being...... etc.... .... was fortunate enough to pitch on the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co.....etc... ...he joined the service in December 1902 ......etc .....he was chosen to be First Officer of the R.M.S. “Japan” .....etc... |
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April 1928 – Issue No. 3
Capt. F. Shaw – an account of the adventures of Capt. J. Allan, in the Mediterranean, sinking submarines entitled The Odyssey of Brig X. Continued in the July 1928 - Issue No. 4, Oct 1928 - Issue No. 5, reprinted in Jan. 1929 - Issue No 1 and April 1929 – Issue No. 2. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 1928 – Issue No 4
Messrs. Garven, Martin and Ledder - Passed the examinations for Masters, held on March 19th Messrs. McCallum and Green. – Passed the examination for 1st class Engr’s. held on March 19th last. Capt. J.B. Allan Retired from the Service at the end of May and although we wish him all the very best and a long and happy life of ease, we still regret that we have to lose his cheerful voice and face from our midst. (There follows a description of his life, from school through to his war experiences. A summary of his war experiences, which was written by Capt. Allan at the request of the Lt.-Governor Sir R. Craddock, is reproduced here and continued in the Jan. 1929 Issue No.1) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 1928 - No. 5.
Capt. Beckett We are sure that the adventures of the “Palow” during the Burmese war of 1885 which Capt. Beckett, her Commander, has very kindly written for us, will interest all our readers. The “Palow” was broken up in 1924 and the gunshot mark on the stanchion, which Capt. Beckett mentions, could be seen plainly. It was on a stanchion on the forward saloon deck on the starboard side. Capt. Beckett corrects a mistake that was made in the History of the Flotilla about the “Sladen” being the first ship captured. We are always glad to receive corrections like this, especially about the days long gone by. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1928 - No. 5.
Capt. W. Fraser has been appointed Superintendent of Pilots in succession to the late Capt. T.E. Vivian. |
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July 1928 - Issue No. 4.
Retirement R. Sinclair On the afternoon of the 22nd of December last, a farewell address was presented to Mr. R. Sinclair by the members of the... etc... was composed of the following:- F.W. Wales Chairman Mg Ba Bwa Hony. Treasurer A. Lawton Hony. Secretary Rangoon Office Staff J.V. Reynolds U Tha Dun Oung U Mya C. Ramaswamy U Po Yin S.J. Sherazee U Po San U Po Chit J.H. Templeton Agents & Staffs A.H. Belletty Local Engineers and Gunners G. Garstin Supercargoes and Weighing Staff U Shwe Hla Mandalay Staff U Shwe Han Moulmein Staff U San Hla Baw Steamer Clerks and Outward Dept. When Mr and Mrs Sinclair arrived they were conducted to the platform ... . Other names mentioned in this article:- Miss Hla Hla Mg Ba Hmaw Daw Chit W.T. Henry K. Ee Leong |
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Oct. 1928 -Issue No. 5.
H. Morgan - Acting Port Chaplain Letter to the Editor regarding his work with the “Mission to Seamen,” at 245 Dalhousie St. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1928 - Issue No. 5.
Curtis & Co. - Advert for The English Pharmacy, Established 1888. B. Road, Merchant St. Mandalay. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1928 - Issue No. 5.
Magazine Staff: Capt. A.E. Woods Hony. Editor G.D. Garven Asst. Hony. Editor Capt. T.F. Musgrave Foreign Correspondent A. Tait Hony. Treasurer Printed at:- The Burma Express. 54 C Road, Mandalay ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1928 - Issue No. 5
Capt. Allan - retirement In our last we mentioned that Capt. Allan had retired. It will interest a number of our readers to hear that he spent a very quiet week in Rangoon before sailing. He left by the Madras Mail. We are pleased that his idea of a quiet week does not come very often. His quiet intervals only seemed to last while he slept. Still we believe that he enjoyed himself and was, at the end, sorry to leave us all. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1927 - Issue No. 1.
Magazine Staff:- Capt. E.A. Woods Editor J. Reid Sub Editor Capt. F. Musgrave Foreign Corresponde |
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October 1928 - Issue No. 5.
Lt. Carey, Lt. Mansell, Gunner Spears, (Spears was 28 yrs. of age and had put in seven yrs. in H.M. Navy.) ...... During my years of service on the Irrawaddy I have only known of one unsolved mystery. I am enabled through the courtesy of the Marine Transport Officer at Mandalay, who has kindly let me have the file to be able to give an outline of the mysterious disappearance of Gunner Spears from the R.I.M. steamer “Bhamo.” This little stern-wheeler was bound for Bhamo and had as her Commander Lt. Carey. On the 17th June 1906 the “Bhamo” banked in about two miles below the village of Kalone. Lt. Carey, Lt. Mansell of the 91st Punjabis’ and Gunner Spears set out for a shoot. After going some distance into the jungle they separated about 5 p.m. After that they could locate each other by hearing the report of the guns in use. As the evening proceeded the first two Officers mentioned, returned to the steamer, naturally thinking that in due course the Gunner would follow them. At 8.30 p.m. it was reported to Lt. Carey that Gunner Spears had not returned....... etc.... |
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April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Capt. J.A.O. Terndrup Retires from the Company’s service on July 31st 1929. (the July 1929 – Issue No. 8 has a brief history of his life and can be read in the Flotilla Personalities section.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Capt. T.F. Musgrave. Appointed Commodore from Dec. 1st last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 1929 - Issue No. 2
A. Tait & Miss A. Millet, Rev’d. Park, Capt. Hanna. On Wednesday February 27th the wedding of A. Tait, our honorary Treasurer and Miss A. Millet took place at St. Mary’s Ch. Mandalay. The ceremony was performed by the Rev’d. Mr Park, M.A., the best man being Capt. Hanna, Mahratta Light Infantry. After the register was signed a reception was held in the Upper Burma Club. Mr & Mrs Tait left on the “Taping” for Bhamo to spend their honeymoon. All who know Mr Tait will wish him a long and happy married life. |
April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Dr. A.D. Spence
Has just retired after 27 years work in Burma.
He was born on the 5th April 1878 on the lower Grampians, north of Montrose in the County of Angus, Scotland. Educated at Montrose Academy and at Edinburgh University, he walked the London Hospitals for 18 months for post graduate work.
He arrived in Burma on the 31st of October 1901,then being 23 years of age.
He had been consulting Medical Officer to the Flotilla Company for the whole of his service out here.
Always full of life and with a ready joke and laugh for all he was well known in Rangoon.
He was President of the Caledonian Society and had the honour of receiving the Viceroy and Governor of Burma at their annual dinner this last year.
He cheery face will be missed by his many friends in Burma. May he have many years of a happy and pleasant retired life.
Dr. A.D. Spence
Has just retired after 27 years work in Burma.
He was born on the 5th April 1878 on the lower Grampians, north of Montrose in the County of Angus, Scotland. Educated at Montrose Academy and at Edinburgh University, he walked the London Hospitals for 18 months for post graduate work.
He arrived in Burma on the 31st of October 1901,then being 23 years of age.
He had been consulting Medical Officer to the Flotilla Company for the whole of his service out here.
Always full of life and with a ready joke and laugh for all he was well known in Rangoon.
He was President of the Caledonian Society and had the honour of receiving the Viceroy and Governor of Burma at their annual dinner this last year.
He cheery face will be missed by his many friends in Burma. May he have many years of a happy and pleasant retired life.
April 1929 - Issue No. 2
Mr Niven, Mr MacGibbon, Dr. Spence
On February 5th 1928 judging for the competition for the best private garden in Rangoon was carried out by the Agri-Horticultural Society.
The first prize was awarded to Mr Niven’s garden in Windermere Park and the second prize to Mr MacGibbon’s garden off Signal Pagoda Road where “the standard of excellence was high.”
The Committee then reported that Dr. Spence’s garden and orchard on the Victoria Lakes were of exceptional interest, though the owner did not compete for any prize.
They are stocked with coffee, cinnamon, clove, mangosteen, fig trees from Mesopotamia, oranges of many kinds, lemons and numerous ornamental shrubs of unusual types.
It is an experimental garden filled with treasures of all types in the plant kingdom. There are several plantations of sweet peas (one of which is illustrated here) the moon flower, opening in the evening and mignonette smelling as sweet as at home.
The Cape gooseberry, wild strawberry, kale, nutmegs, cloves and other spices all flourish in abundance.
The owner is a botanist and a gardener and he knew each plant and where it could be found in the garden. (There a photo of a well kept garden simply entitled Rossie Gardens. Sweet Peas.)
Mr Niven, Mr MacGibbon, Dr. Spence
On February 5th 1928 judging for the competition for the best private garden in Rangoon was carried out by the Agri-Horticultural Society.
The first prize was awarded to Mr Niven’s garden in Windermere Park and the second prize to Mr MacGibbon’s garden off Signal Pagoda Road where “the standard of excellence was high.”
The Committee then reported that Dr. Spence’s garden and orchard on the Victoria Lakes were of exceptional interest, though the owner did not compete for any prize.
They are stocked with coffee, cinnamon, clove, mangosteen, fig trees from Mesopotamia, oranges of many kinds, lemons and numerous ornamental shrubs of unusual types.
It is an experimental garden filled with treasures of all types in the plant kingdom. There are several plantations of sweet peas (one of which is illustrated here) the moon flower, opening in the evening and mignonette smelling as sweet as at home.
The Cape gooseberry, wild strawberry, kale, nutmegs, cloves and other spices all flourish in abundance.
The owner is a botanist and a gardener and he knew each plant and where it could be found in the garden. (There a photo of a well kept garden simply entitled Rossie Gardens. Sweet Peas.)
July 1929 - Issue No. 8.
Extracts from my Diary by W.A.B.
29th Dec. 1929 describes his voyage on the vessel “Mingyi” Commanded by Capt. E. Hill and the “Sarak” Capt. C.H. Brentnall.
Extracts from my Diary by W.A.B.
29th Dec. 1929 describes his voyage on the vessel “Mingyi” Commanded by Capt. E. Hill and the “Sarak” Capt. C.H. Brentnall.
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April 1929 - Issue No. 2
I.F. Co. Football Club - A.G. DuBurn, Maung Ba Bwa ... Football in Burma, thanks to the efforts of A.G. DuBurn, has re<HR width=1, size=500 >ached so certain a standard of excellence that no less an authority than the present Bishop of Rangoon, who in his day played for the famous Corinthians, has expressed astonishment both at the high levels of play and at the exemplary behaviour of the spectators. The I.F. Football Club was formed two seasons ago thanks to the efforts of Maung Ba Bwa who has carried the Club on his shoulders since its inception. The Club entered the competitive arena of the B.A.A. on their now familiar ground at Kandawglay in the season of 1827 and fought on the lowest rung of the competition ladder, finishing third. In 1928 they did better and finished second after having successfully contested this position with the Variav Clun in a “play-off.” The club’s record in the Junior League, 2nd Divn. was :- Played 8 Won 6 Lost 2 Goals, for 31 Goals against 7. It is to be hoped that this excellent record will ensure their promotion to the higher Divn. in the new season now fast approaching. The club also entered for the Junior Cup and in a big entry knocked out three teams before meeting an exceptionally strong combination in the semi-final and going down to them in a very gallant fight. The successive stages were as follow:- 1st Round v Rezan Won 10 – 0 2nd “ v I.C.A. “ 1 - 0 3rd “ v United F.C. “ 2 – 1 Semi-final v Burmans Lost 0 - 4 Maung Ba Bwa is to be heartily congratulated on the successful result of his efforts and it is to be hoped that he will give the Club the benefit of his assistance for many years to come. R.D. |
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Oct. 1931 - Issue No. 17.
I.F. Co. Football Club, Maung Ba Bwa Last year the Football Club lapsed into temporary oblivion, not because of lack of players but because it was felt that, with business in its depressing state, the cost of maintaining the Club could be better employed in other directions. However, the enthusiasm of the Honorary Secretary Maung Ba Bwa, rose superior to the temporary eclipse and with great determination he revived the Club in the present season. Hitherto the Club had found a place in the Second Divn. of the Junior League B.A.A. and had always been in the running for top honours, but had just failed to earn first place. Unfortunately the year’s lapse deprived them of their place in the Second Divn. and at the beginning of this season they had to contend themselves with a place in the Third Divn. The team however showed no discouragement at this turn of events...etc... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 1931 - Issue No. 17
King Mindon - The Insurrection of 1866 Copies of correspondence from eyewitness Capt. E.B. Sladen. He also mentions some of the Europeans present at the Palace or in Mandalay at the time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 1929 - Issue No. 8.
Magazine Staff:- Capt. E.A. Woods, Hony. Editor Capt. T.F. Musgrave, Asst. Hony. Editor T. McCowat, Asst. Hony. Editor J. Brodie, Hony. Treasurer |
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July 1929 - Issue No. 8.
Agents At Prome In 1887 the Company’s first Agent at Prome was appointed in the person of C.J.H.H. Dennis. Previous to that time an Anglo-Indian retired Government servant Mr Barrett, had acted as a kind of Shore Superintendent on a pay of Rs 70/- per month. In 1887 Mr Dennis was appointed the first Agent with Mg Bah Bah, now Agent at Thayetmyo, as Agency clerk. After Mr Dennis came:-
July 1929
Issue No. 8 Notes on Flotilla History - Capt. Vince - was the first Marine Superintendent The Flotilla in 1881:-
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Oct. 1927 - Issue No. 1.
Note - The Cover bears the name of Capt. Collins written in pencil. Messrs. Railston and Macartney We hear that the new scale of salaries for officers has been sanctioned by the Directors to come into force from 1st Sep. 1927. This scale was recently put before the Manager for consideration by a deputation from the officers consisting of Messrs. Railston and Macartney. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Orlando Chisnall Retirement - It is with regret that we hear that Mr Orlando Chisnall has had to retire on account of bad health. An excellent shipmate and always ran straight. We hope that he will have many years of happy retirement. He will be greatly missed at Bridge and Billiard parties. May he always hold a Grand Slam hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It will interest our readers to know that several of the old hands are still going strong:- Capt. MacNabb in New Zealand Capt. Carey in Guernsey, a member of the Legislative Council Capt. Hope in the North of England Capt. Alexander at Annisikan, near Maymyo Capt. Fenton in the South of England Capt. J. Sharpe in London Capt. Scott-Robertson at Nice Robert Barr in Dumbarton A. Baillie and we hear, the next Provost. D. Watson and Mr Paxton in Dumbarton Messrs Robertson and Johnson in Australia G. Lawrence in the East of Scotland G. Thomson at Dumbarton Capt. Thimms, Chairman of the “Warspite” and President of numerous Committee and Hospitals. Still goes, at 77, to three dances a week an always dances with nurses, as he says that they are compelled to have a bath. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. Reid - Chief Officer of the “Panthay” passed the exams. for Burmese colloquial on Aug. 23rd last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Capt. Chubb - Having just returned from leave , is now in the “Shwemyo.” We welcome Mrs Chubb on her first visit to the land of Pagodas and fair ladies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Capt. Anderson on relief by Capt. Chubb is now in the “Samalouk” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Capt. Balmer has proceeded on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Capt. Rowley on relief by Capt. Railston & Capt. Magil proceed on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr Chambers and Mr Kidd are proceeding on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr Simpson is now in command of the “Chinchow” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr Brentnall relieves Capt. Railston in command of the “Kokchow” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Messrs. Chapman, Stevenson, Findlay and Smith are on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Captain’s Bichard, Thomas, Lewis and Fry are on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mr Graham, Rangoon Foundry, has proceed on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Messrs. Thomson, Morrison, Craig and Watt from Dalla are also on leave. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Capt. Coutts is now in the “Prome” |
July 1929 - Issue No. 8
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“Sikkim” by H. Lennox The “Sikkim” as many of our readers will perhaps remember, belonged to the I.F.C. She was one of the many of this Company’s steamers requisitioned by Government for war service in Mesopotamia. She was a stern-wheeler and fitted out as a hospital ship, being given the number H.S. 1.
Her Commander was Lt. Armstrong, R.I.M. and it was to this steamer that I was appointed on the 5th January 1915 in Bombay, as No. One or as we would say in the Merchant Service, mate. A few very busy days were spent fitting out and storing the ship for our voyage to Basra. I am sure Armstrong and myself must have walked miles in one day hunting up stores in R.I.M. dockyard. About the middle of January we were taken in tow by the R.I.M. “Sarasvati” under the command of Commander Rose Price R.I.M. I am sorry to say that I cannot give the log of that voyage from Bombay to Basra. However, as far as I remember, the voyage took ten or eleven days. The weather, most of the way, was good: although one night off the Onions, just at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the weather was very bad and great credit was due to the Commander of the “Sarasvati,” who managed to bring us through that night. On our arrival at Fao we were anchored, our floats fitted and steam raised. We then proceeded on our own up to Basra. On arrival we anchored a little below the General Hospital. The “Sikkim” was, I think the first real hospital ship on the Tigris. At Basra all the beds were fitted up, about 130 I think, medical comforts were taken on board and a permanent Medical staff appointed to us. The only name I remember was Capt. Williams, I.M.S. the Medical Officer in charge of the “Sikkim.” On board was a very nice little operating room, hoist from main deck to upper deck, a complete soda water plant and many electric lights and fans throughout the ship. Our first trip up the river we were greeted with phrases such s “just what we need” “at last a real hospital ship” “by jove! it won’t be so bad travelling down river now if we are wounded” Such phrases like these clearly showed that we were very welcome. I know there was need for improvements in the transport of wounded and the “Sikkim” was the first advance made in that line. Our run was from the first Field Hospital to Amara or Basra. One trip I shall remember, it was on the 16th April 1915, just as we were rounding the bend of the river below Sheik Saad. We saw a cloud of smoke go up from Kut-al-amara. This told us the sad news that General Townsend had surrendered. Little did we think that within the next 24 hours the “Sikkim” would be ordered up to Kut-al-amara. It came about in this way. In the hospital at Kut-al-amara there were a little over one thousand wounded soldiers, mostly Indians. These poor fellows were so badly wounded, and, as all medical comforts at Kut had run short many weeks before, their wounds had become septic, it was impossible for the Turks to take them away. So an exchange of prisoners was arranged. The “Sikkim” was ordered to bring down all the wounded. At 6 a.m. on the 17th April we hoisted a white flag and proceeded up river to a given point where we could see a British soldier holding up a white flag on the bank. This point was half way between the British and Turkish trenches (front line) Here we banked in and received on board two Turkish officers and then proceeded to Kut. An Armistice had been arranged during the transport of wounded. We made four trips to Kut, only one trip each day. Our first trip was full of trouble. We carried away two of the overhead telegraph wires, which annoyed the Turks: then when we came up to the “Julnar” we were asked to tow her off. This we refused to do, being a hospital ship. Then when we got to Kut we had to stay there fully 24 hours till the final agreement had been reached, with regard to the exchange of prisoners. The “Julnar” was the vessel which was loaded with provisions and had made a gallant attempt to run the blockade. This vessel was manned by the Navy and her pilot was the late Lt. Cowley V.C. Lt. Cowley volunteered to pilot this ship, knowing full well that, should anything happen to her and should he be saved from the ship, he would be sure to meet death at the hands of the Turks. (As a matter of fact a price had been put on his head by the Turks.- Ed) He was saved from the ship, I believe, but was killed by the Turks later on. How true this is I do not know, the story of his death was told to me by a Turkish officer. The method the Turks used to stop the ship was a wire across the river at an angle of 45 degrees, leading on to a sandbank. When the “Julnar” came along during the night, she hit the wire and ran over on to the sandbank and stuck. When we saw her she was simply riddled with bullet holes and we could see the Turks carting off all our provisions. When we arrived at Kut a Turkish guard was placed wound the ship and nobody was allowed within fifty yards of us. It was a heart breaking sight to see our poor soldiers being marched off by the Turks on their long way to Constantinople, or near there. Almost within fifty feet of our ship and ahead of our jetty at Kut-al-amara, we saw several unfortunate men being hanged. The method used was a tripod of wood. In the centre of the tripod the victim was made to stand on an ordinary brick, the rope was put round his neck, the knot being at the back. When all was ready the brick was pulled away from under him and I am sure the unfortunate victim must have taken hours to die. To say the least of it, it was absolutely cruel. These men I was told, were mostly Arabs and Armenians who had been interpreters and clerks to our forces in Kut. On one of our trips down river from Kut, just as we reached the Turkish front line trenches, Capt, Armstrong and myself were standing on the bridge. Suddenly we heard two shots from a rifle. One bullet, I am sure, was meant for one of us, as we could actually hear the “swish” over our heads. The other shot went through the spray sheet at the stern, passed through the bathroom and buried itself in the key-hole of the ice-chest. Had there been no ice-chest there, the bullet would have most certainly killed the patient in the cot forward of the ice-chest. This was the first and only wound the “Sikkim” received. In concluding this article I would like to tell you something about the Commander of the “Sikkim.” Lt. Armstrong R.I.M. like his ship, came from the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. When the Inland Water Transport came to Mespot. Armstrong joined them and soon rose to the rank of Major. Not long after Bagdad had been taken, Major Armstrong, with a small party, was sent up river above Bagdad to sound and buoy the channels. His motor boat broke down, he was surprised by a small band of Turkish cavalry and most of the party, including Armstrong himself, were killed. Major Armstrong was awarded the Military Cross. He was a fine gentleman and was a great favourite with everyone who met him. |
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Oct. 1931 - Issue No. 17.
H.R. Dix
An announcement that H.R. Dix, Chief Engineer of the “Nepaul” has accepted the Editorship for the ensuing year. R. Dry, Editor John Tindal News of a friend – I have received a letter from John Tindal and I am sure it will give readers as much pleasure to read it as it did myself:- On board the Cunard R.M.S. “Aquitania” 22 June 1931 ...... etc.... I noticed in the paper the other day that some rebels has been shot in the Prome District and that Austin (D.S.P.) had been wounded.......etc... visited Paterson’s family at Catalina Island and I think he has chosen a fine spot to settle down.... etc... and there met our old skipper “Poongyi” Thompson. We spend the day together... etc... also met some of Fraser’s people who are settled here and call on the Hockings (he used to be in the Company)... etc. I saw Capt. Coutts’ mother, a dear old lady ... etc... Floating staff who left for home leave during the third quarter:- Capt. Fry - Left on 30th June and so did Capt. Fraser who is due back on 30th Sept. Capt. Gillison and Balmer left in July Capt. Keenan - The “Kentung” has had a rake fitted and for the last two months has been scraping the mud bank opposite the mill at Wabaloukthouk in the Bassein Creek. At low water the marks of the rakes teeth are just like cart wheel tracks in the mud. Capt Keenan inspected the results on the 13th September and expressed himself as satisfied that there was a distinct improvement in this particular part. It is interesting to note that Raking the mud as a means of improving a creek was first advocated in Burma in 1857 and with reference to the creek connecting the Pegu and Sittang rivers. Mr Frew - Writes that he has gone with friends to see the Norwegian Fiords, no names mentioned but I don’t believe they are men friends. Messrs. Chapman, Scott, A. Findlay, Stevenson all sailed in July and all expected to be out on the “twelfth.” |
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Oct. 1931 - Issue No. 17.
Capt. Tindal
After running at night on the Irrawaddy, avoiding pirates in China Seas, hobnobbing with bandits in Mexico being nearly bumped off in Chicago.... etc... Messrs. Ferns and Hammersley left in August. Mr Graham of the Foundry left on the 3rd Sept. for Australia. Messrs. Davidson, McMeikan and McKendrick, returned from leave J.J. Watson returned on 15th Sept. Walter Martin We hear that Walter Martin had to undergo a serious operation at home, which is bad luck after spending so long in hospital here earlier in the year. He has come safely through again and was last heard of as recuperating in the Highlands. The “Margaret” When the lofted Flats were built they added a new type of craft to the amazing collection now to be seen on the river but the “Margaret” which you might think from the name is a graceful yacht, is just about the weirdest looking vessel afloat. With a pipe sticking out aft, with legs forward and a pair of jibs reaching high up in the air, it looks more like a praying mantis than a vessel. This is a floating pumping plan to deal with silting up the area behind the wall at Lanywa. It will be appearing on the river next month and will no doubt strike terror into the hearts of the rebels who see it. They may be excused if they take it for an engine of destruction to be used against them. Capt. Roy Fenton Who saw service with the Flotilla and retired before most of ever thought of the East, has sent me a letter which I reproduce. He writes from the Canary Islands on 5th Mar. 1931. Dear Capt. Woods, .... etc. I have heard nothing of or from Terndrup so I suppose he had settled down in France .... etc. I had a letter from Hope, he appears to be still going strong, he is 80 or 82 I think.... etc... I was sorry to hear of Medd’s death; I can just remember him as C.O. with Hole when I retired... |