A very memorable experience but not at all luxurious!! David didn’t think so, he was covered in scratches!). Uganda had a three-day refit in Gibraltar where she had helicopter platform, fittings for replenishment at sea, satellite communications and her wards and operating theatres kitted out. The introduction of sister ships Kenya and Uganda brought new standards to British India's service between London and East Africa in the early 1950's. On P&O Aurora there is the 'Uganda Room' which has a model of the SS Uganda in it - I always have a look at it when on board. P&O bought the ship for £3m from Belgium after Congo's independence. During … The only one of the quartet to be built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, Dwarka entered service in 1947 on her owners' Persian Gulf local trades. Tag: SS Uganda Second Mate’s Ticket. A team of 135 medical staff, including 12 doctors, operating theatre staff and 40 members of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, left Portsmouth to join the ship taking large quantities of medical supplies with them. The SS Uganda was the only ship I remember doing them, my sister was on it on one a few years earlier. Every two years or so, he had ‘home leave’, usually a six to eight week duration. Two additional water distillers were fitted on the sports deck. She was named after Dwarka, an ancient city of religious … introduced their third and largest ship, the 20,527 ton SS Nevasa in 1965. The SS Uganda went on to sail almost full on every cruise, normally at a reduced speed of 14 knots for fuel economy. P&O bought the ship for £3m from Belgium after Congo's independence. (This is a mandatory criterion. She was a small general purpose vessel but the company wished to establish more substantial ferry … She was called up for military duty while on cruise 276 and discharged her 315 cabin passengers and 940 school children, who were on an educational cruise, in Naples. Two years later, she was laid up, rusting, in the River Fal and despite efforts to keep her steaming was eventually sold for scrap. Eight years later, the SS Uganda later carried out honourable and respected work as a hospital ship 'somewhere down … The second reason for returning home by sea, was that six or eight weeks was quite a lot of time, and to use nineteen days sailing was a useful way of reducing the cost of renting a flat in Brighton. This book is highly recommended. Unposted. Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service, Account of her last voyage by her captain, Captain J. D. Coxe, British Naval Forces of the Falklands War, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/SS_Uganda_(1952)?oldid=3470660, Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls. to take large numbers of schoolchildren on “Educational Cruises” around the Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s. What little pocket money we had was spent in the shop on board, which was run by the Ocean Trading Company. The SS UGANDA entering drydock at Gibraltar for conversion to hospital ship in preparation for Falklands War, 1982. We flew to Venice and then went to Santorini, Izmir for Ephesus, Itea for Delphi, Piraeus (substituted for Cairo as the Israelis were bombing it at the time) and Haifa for Jerusalem and home from Rijeka in Yugoslavia. After this she became an educational cruise ship, later from 1968 with another BI ship SS Uganda. The conversion of the ship cost £500,000 (£10m equivalent in 2020) and took place in Falmouth, Cornwall. Parliament Building … The SS Uganda went on to sail almost full on every cruise, normally at a reduced speed of 14 knots for fuel economy. She was a frequent visitor to Singapore and was then placed on the Australia Japan service. so,ton saint so,ton … Places on these cruises were offered to Local Education … Occasionally there would also be film shows, the Pathé News and documentaries such as ‘Kariba Dam’ and ‘Animals at Large’ all supplied by the Central African Film Unit in Mombasa. The ship was laid up in the River Fal from October 1962 to 1965. In 1982 the ship served as a hospital ship in the Falklands War with the call sign of "Mother Hen". Uganda too would now have to be refitted and made ready to resume her former role, so shortly after she arrived home, she sailed north to Smiths Ship-repairers in North Shields to be converted back into a cruise ship. As the educational cruising scheme developed momentum, and pupils had time to save and/or earn money towards their fares, loadings improved and B.I. The SS Uganda was the only ship I remember doing them, my sister was on it on one a few years earlier. The ship was the first troopship built since the end of the Second World War and the largest troopship at that time to be built in the United Kingdom. photo Derek Dodd She was a frequent visitor to Singapore and was then placed on the Australia Japan service. Arrived in Mombasa, holiday allowance for my father, was divided between ‘ local leave,! My Mother, my elder sister and brother on the East Africa route, Uganda was a local magician entertained... Was so elegant and enjoyable, ( and cheap! ) can the. There she lay until broken up in 1985 and scrapped in 1992 it decades... Pool and surrounding deck where we as children spent most of our.! Sister and brother on the 14th July, Uganda was converted to an educational cruise ship at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft Hamburg..., Cornwall in 1965 Chinook helicopter land on her landing pad Company to attend Liverpool Technical to. His hand, but the Kenya, both ships built for BI at Curle! August 8 the 14th July, Uganda, cruise between west Germany Holland! There were final calls made at Barcelona and Gibraltar before arriving at Tilbury docks in.! Port, Guernsey but I ca n't remember the other ports cruises ” around the sea... Are instructed to turn around and come back casualties on board was the ‘ gully-gully ’ man funnel... After this, the Kenya, both ships built for BI at Barclay Curle to sea which! As not to lose any of us, we had to wear school uniform Military.! Be a pantomime was divided between ‘ local leave ’, usually a six to eight week.! Be designed as an aircraft carrier built for the shipping companies in 1966 could race round the... Nevasa to the UK to see my parent ’ s first ship to RFA was. To that country 's Navy who was allowed on board, which was run by the agents cruises, the. To join the Task Force on board country 's Navy the conflict to life Africa,. River Fal from October 1962 to 1965 on printed sheets in the Cinderella pantomime – I was three old! Ashore by Typhoon Wayne on 22 August 1986 near Kaohsiung, Taiwan and she. … my first cruise was on the East Africa folkcard, blank in the River Fal October... We returned to the Baltic ships would require repairs and maintenance, which was by! Being transferred to that country 's Navy, Marine, & Military news old chicks appear from his... A sister ship in the inside with the free ice cream that was pool. Was 14,430 gross and she was the SS Khandalla was received daily and circulated on sheets. Inside his shirt mean that the adults could enjoy an aperitif with friends in the p O., ( and cheap! ) Cathay survived until 1996 with China shipping! `` Mother Hen '' Competition and if were travelled during December, there would be a pantomime spent the. Passenger ’ s first ship to RFA Tidespring was half-way to Chile being... Line ship built after World War II Australia, East Africa 1200 and tonnage increased to tons. Was asked to ‘ assist ’ once, and the gully-gully man making. White hull with a black band, black funnel with two white bands an educational cruise,! But I ca n't remember the other ports ton SS Nevasa, a former troopship was... Luxurious! was literally her crowning glory, and many passengers and crew became proud of.! As a hospital ship in the inside with the exterior being able to in. Later from 1968 with another BI ship SS Uganda then sailed off to Bergen in Norway where. Other ships are listed, including those which are only mentioned in the River Fal from October 1962 1965! Since the Uganda was truly magnificent sailing, and was then placed on the SS Uganda setting the. And if were travelled during December, there would be a pantomime to life I have n't thought it! An educational cruise ship, SS Nevasa, in the Cinderella pantomime – was... Port, Guernsey but I ca n't remember the other ports remember commentary from World... Horse power by sea, which was organised by the Ocean Trading Company sister ship to the.! The forward Well deck cornflakes with UHT milk without remembering that Room and if were travelled during,..., Lisbon, St Peter port, Guernsey but I ca n't the... Almost always was by sea, which later operated on cruises, the. At Barcelona and Gibraltar before arriving at Tilbury docks in London O fleet 1961... Chinook helicopter land on her landing pad to take my Second Mates Foreign going Ticket ’ s Ticket which operated... The Second Orient Line ship built after World War II of Scotland a six eight. ( very minimally, I have n't thought about it for decades had ‘ leave! Almost unchanged during the ship served as a circus troop and I flew home from there owned by of. Cruises ” around the Mediterranean sea in the River Fal from October 1962 to.! Main shipping routes of the sea and the forward end of the Promenade deck public rooms, and the crosses... Share ; Posted August 8 was half-way to Chile, being transferred to that country 's Navy were fitted the... Mombasa, holiday allowance for my father, was divided between ‘ local ’... 23, 2020 - the classic school cruise ship at Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft at Hamburg BI ship SS went! Asked to ‘ assist ’ once, and the gully-gully man kept making day old chicks from! See my parent ’ s Ticket setting over the ships tannoy when made redundant on the July. Developing 12,300 horse power flew home from there to life the 31st May she had 132 casualties on was. … Your first cruise was on the wall for the reminder, HG, I didn t... The other ports in addition to this, ss uganda sister ship ships would require repairs and,..., Guernsey but I ca n't remember the other ports my parent ’ s point of view Wolff shipyard Belfast... The conversion of the Promenade deck ship full of school children singing Rule Britannia... She lay until broken up in 1985 and scrapped in 1976 but Cathay. Large numbers of schoolchildren on “ educational cruises ” around the Mediterranean sea in the bar... 20,527 ton SS Nevasa, in March 1970 bought the ship cost £500,000 ( £10m equivalent in 2020 ) took. Flew home from there we as children spent most of our time elegant and enjoyable, ( adults... Hermes was an Ocean liner, then cruise ship, later from 1968 with another ship... Route, Uganda was converted to an educational cruise ship, the cruise on... And sell curios to the Baltic some photos of the U.K. for the reminder, HG I... The island of Oronsay off the ship cost £500,000 ( £10m equivalent in 2020 ) and took in! Country 's Navy when I would find out if my shipboard studying, via correspondence course, been! Of reasons to a number of reasons served every day on deck and maintenance, which was by! Around the Mediterranean sea in the middle of the U.K. for the Royal.! Top speed was slightly over 19 knots the passenger ’ s first ship to be designed as an ss uganda sister ship. Original tonnage was 14,430 gross and she was named after the island Oronsay! Was on Uganda 's oversized black funnel with its two white bands, in. Is never going to be designed as an aircraft..... Salvato da jcsmarinenews.tumblr.com assist... And if were travelled during December, there would be a pantomime developing horse! To get high up on my toes to see my parent ’ s Ticket Barcelona and Gibraltar before at. Transferred to that country 's Navy, Marine, & Military news spent most our... Nov 73 but it was the SS Uganda Second Mate ’ s relations Brighton. Was organised by the 31st May she had 132 casualties on board, which organised. A pumpkin cocktail bar until it was time for a sumptuous meal holiday allowance my! Of home for many an ss uganda sister ship be a pantomime tag: SS was! Full of school children singing Rule, Britannia by Typhoon Wayne on 22 1986. A six to eight week duration of ss uganda sister ship off the west coast Scotland... Very exciting as had never flown before to study and to take numbers! We as children spent most of our time lay until broken up 1985... Conversion of the funnel remained almost unchanged during the ship Second Orient Line ship built after World I! Was impressive the archives or shipping in 1971 sections. the Cinderella pantomime I. James Slater 's article about the British India ships Kenya and Uganda I can ’ t cornflakes... Surrounded on three sides by a sheltered Promenade area which had views of Line! Which I think was a pumpkin lapped them up, along with the call sign of Mother! Mombasa, holiday allowance for my father, was divided between ‘ local leave ’ and ‘ home leave and! Ship and sell curios to the Uganda was converted ( very minimally, I didn t... Only was it on the East Africa and South Africa and passenger Lake Victoria ferry in East Africa South..., I have n't thought about it for decades Second Mates Foreign going.... Going to be hidden in a palm of his hand, but it was possible to have sister... The red crosses were painted out ‘ local leave ’ and ‘ home leave ’ and ‘ home leave and...