Pembroke Coast – Drawing by Robert A Wilson –

Thanks Richard,

Yes, a smart little ship. Life aboard was not all that bad. Being a coaster, the food was good. Accommodation was practically standard for that era. The crew of 5 lived in a small cabin under the poop deck (The two forward portholes of the group of four in the after end. The only content of their cabin was two double berths (upper and lower) and one single berth. The cook and boy shared a small cabin on the deck above. Captain, mate, 2nd mate and three engineers all had small cabins that only contained bunk, wardrobe, daybed and washbasin. The captain and chief engineer had desks as well. I have sailed in similar ships, but without the luxury of a washbasin, and it was not as bad as you may imagine. Twin screw was unusual for a coaster. She did not last long – hit by a bomb in port in 1940!

Bob

In the two coasters I sailed in, everyone aboard had their own cabins and the crew cabins were about the same as the officers, except that the captains had their own bathrooms. But the chief engineers only had cabins like the rest of us, without even a wash basin. Everyone (except me) had to pay for their food as well, but as I worked for a radio company and not the shipping company, the shipping company had to supply my food.

What coaster were you one? Mine were Frederick T Everard, and the flatiron Wandsworth. Here is the famous painting of the Wandsworth in the Science Museum, London: **LINK**

In Pembroke Coast, there were two separate galleys for crew and officers, I have never come across that before. But as they had to pay for their food, I expect they would have ensured the cook provided them with good grub! On the Wandsworth the two mates did four hours on, four hours off watches, because the captain didn't seem inclined to keep a watch, but the chief engineer did the 8 – 12, so the three of them did 4 on, 8 off.

Looks a lot bigger that 1,599. No doubt good accommodation. Not one I have ever heard of though!

Sounds luxurious. Here is the officer accommodation in the Wandsworth. I was behind the bridge opposite from the 2nd engineer. He wouldn't occupy the real 2nds cabin below, because there was only one way out up the stairs if it sank, so he took the 3rd's cabin, whilst the 3rd went below in the 2nds cabin. (The ship did eventually sink, 7 years after I left!) My cabin was incorrectly labelled "Radio operator" that I never was, as I never even bothered with an operator's certificate that was only good for trawlers and tugs, so even on the Wandsworth, I was qualified with a 1st class certificate, good for chief in the largest passenger liners afloat. I was not completely miserable there – but it was an awful winter in the North Sea in '62. Interesting experience, and two years later, I shook it all off when I arrived in the RMS Transvaal Castle of 30,000 grt and never looked back after that –