[Bob Smith]

I have just had a long conversation with my Uncle, who was an engineer on the Ben line ships. He worked a lot out of HK and visited Australia a number of times, including Fremantle and Darwin. The time period is earlier than you are researching (50’s and early 60’s) but it might be of some help. I used to live in the East End of London and I can remember going to the reading room of the local library with my late Mother so she could check the paper to see when when my Uncle might dock in London. It was always a big event when he did, and on one occasion brought my mother an exquisitely designed silk dressing gown he had bought in HK.

[Bob Smith]

Thomas, thanks for this link. It’s exactly what I was looking for and will have a close look in the next few days. The only drawback I see is that access is not free so I might have to raid the piggy bank!

Bob Smith

[Bob Smith]

Brilliant Frank. It’s just what I need and useful advice for the future. It might be a short note but it has contemporary detail in it that I couldn’t fine elsewhere.

Bob Smith

[Bob Smith]

Frank

Thank you for this amazingly quick reply. I’ll have another go using you advice. Cheers bob

[Bob Smith]

Not sure about the accuracy of this Wikipedia entry as taking enemy ships, renaming them and using them dates back to time immemorial. I have never heard the term before but perhaps it was used for a long established practice after 1807. (captured enemy ships were not always renamed but usually were before being refitted and pressed into service.)
If it is possible to find out who the author of the wiki article is, they could be asked for sources and references but it’s a new term for me.

[Bob Smith]

Thanks for the swift response. A good place for me to start and book already winging its way from Amazon!

[Bob Smith]

It is rare that things can be blamed on one person. Clearly Fisher had overall responsibility but would have received ‘expert’ advice and acted on it. Two issues mentioned jump out. Firstly, submarines. Once the RN realised the deadly effect the German boats ere having, counter measures were adopted and its one submarine building programme was stepped up. Secondly, Scapa Flow. I’m not sure this was ever seen as a vulnerable anchorage in WW1 although block ships were sunk early on. It is when the Royal Oak was sunk in WW2 that its vulnerability was exposed and that led to the construction of the Churchill barriers. There were certainly vulnerabilities outside of the flow as the German Navy laid many mines, as the Hampshire was to discover, but minehunting operations were regular and for the most part effective. Missing a few can hardly be blamed on Fisher.

[Author]

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