Ship's Visitors Book

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95 Date: Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 13:34:26

Michelle Orai (Theorais@aol.com  / no home page)

 wrote

Hi there
 
Firstly I would like to say how much I enjoyed your site, I found it through a search engine.  
A couple of years ago my Mum passed away, and when sorting through her things we came across a journal written by my father who died in 1968...it makes for interesting reading, unfortunately he didn't finish it but it does mention his journey on the Rangitiki, from Liverpool on the 26th July 1942 with the RAF. He mentions that they held a concert party and the first show was in Freetown Harbour and it was a huge success, I attach a copy of the programme for you to see. 
I don't know whether this will ring any bells for any one out there but I hope it will be seen by people who remember it.  I would dearly love to hear from anyone who has any memories of my father - his name was Neville Graydon Lewis and he was from Wales.  They are some names mentioned on the programme and it would be fantastic to hear from someone who has shared memories. 
Please let me know if you find this of interest...I could copy out the journal with regards his journey if this is the case, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. 
 
Very best regards,

    Michelle Orai

94 Date: 21 April 2008 09:32:32  

Michael (Dilloyddavi@aol.com  / no home page)

 wrote

Wonderful website Richard
My American cousin and I are searching a relative who emigrated to NZ. His surname was JARVIS and an Alfred Jarvis sailed from London to Wellington aboard RANGITIKI on 25th May 1939.
Do you know where the records of passengers are kept and where in NZ we need to go to find out where he lived?
Hope you can help.
 
Regards
   Michael
   Living in Cheshire, England

93 Date: Sunday, 20 Jan 2008 12:50:01

Jack Higgins (abud@abud.karoo.co.uk)  / no home page)

Hi Richard,
Have just read your memories section and thanks for your efforts.What is quite a coincidence is the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.My wife and I stayed there for five days in 1984 so seeing the photos again certainly brought back very pleasant memories.
 
   Jack Higgins

92 Date:  Sunday, 20 Jan 2008 12:50:01

Lynn Chesterman  (fchesterman@ihug.co.nz / no home page)

 wrote:

Thank you for you information on Rangitiki.
I have been searching for some time for any information and exact date of my arrival in NZ.   
With the help of NZ Archives I now know I arrived with my mother on the Rangitiki on 6 December 1946.  My father was in the RNZAF and met my mother in England - I think 1943.  My mother had told me about the trip we made out to NZ but I only found out which ship in an old letter recently.
Just in case someone can help or was on the same voyage, my mother's name was Mary (Mollie) Johnston from Harrogate, her maiden name was Fawcett, and my name is Lynne Paula (now Chesterman). Arriving in Wellington 6 December 1946.  My Father was Bruce Gibb Johnston in the RNZAF.
I remember my mother telling me we shared a cabin with Alma Henderson (a Scottish Lady) with two children.  A daughter Ann, and son Derrie.  I know we kept in contact with the family who lived in Thorndon, Wellington when I was young.  Not sure where they are now.  Just another little bit of information.  Also my father had an older brother Ian, who was in the Navy overseas during the war.  I don't know very much about his past but will be looking into it as I have heard his daughter was going to write a book about him.

I thank you for your site and will continue to read any up-dates.  Hope one day to hear from another passenger who came out on this same trip.

    Lynne Chesterman (Picton, New Zealand)

91 Date: Thursday, 13 Dec 2007 20:37:59

Steve Bowler  (plant_transport@yahoo.co.uk / no home page)

 wrote:

Hello,

As one gets older I would guess that it comes to us all that we must try and find out about our fathers and forefathers. My father, to be frank, was an awkward SOB, who took no BS from anyone. 
He ran away from home in Mansfield Notts when he was 14 and signed up in to the Merchant Navy as a boy sailor. 
He served in the Merchant Navy throughout the second world war and left the service in 1947 because he did not agree with the unions. 
One of the ships he served on was the Rangitiki, as I have a photo of her and also his seaman's log book that states that he was aboard. 
So I wonder if anyone here now or maybe will visit in the future remembers Larry Bowler?
I believe that the ship was attacked off Crete (or Sicily?) and my dad suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs that troubled him up to his death in 1994. 
I think my dad (probably more so due to his very young age) suffered from what we know now as PTSD throughout his life after the war. 
Anyway that's all in the past ... I would love to hear from anyone who served with my dad or knew him.
I have two searches underway at the moment, one for my dad and another for my great-grandad who was at the Somme .... 
I get quiet upset to be honest about all my relatives who served in the world wars,,, the sacrifices they made for us who survive them is ..well ... its just incredible 

Thank you and Kind Regards

    Steve Bowler

90 Date: Sunday, 11 Nov 2007 08:48:30

Linda Pound  ( lindapound@hotmail.com / no home page )

 wrote:
  
My mother travelled on the Rangitiki from New York to Liverpool in Nov/Dec1944 as a war bride from Canada to rejoin my father who was in the RAF.  Do you have any information about this crossing?

 


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