ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

 

Orient Line

RMS Orion

The Trooper

On August 17, 2005 I received an interesting email from Mr. Ron Abbott who lives in Boston UK. His father was a soldier who sailed home on the Orion at the end of the way from India. Whilst Mr. Abbot was researching some material for a VE/VJ Day exhibition in Hungerford in the UK, he came across a number of interesting items.

Ron Abbot wrote about his father;

“My father, Jack Abbott (1921 - 1992), joined the Royal Artillery at the start of the Second World War. His first posting was to the anti-aircraft batteries in Essex, in the Shoeburyness and Canvey Islandareas. Whilst serving there he met my mother, Olive Cox, and they were married in July 1944. Not long after this he was sent overseas to Burma. Luckily for him, the end of the war came before he was involved in any action out there. The principle of 'last in, last out' must have been in operation, since he was not repatriated until April 1946. Among his war souvenirs is a book entitled 'Westward Bound' (printed by Sree Saraswaty Press Ltd, 32 Upper Circular Road, Calcutta on the 18th January 1946), which gives details of the repatriation process and includes information, with maps, on Deolali Camp where soldiers were billeted before moving to Mumbai (then Bombay) for the voyage home. The ship that brought him home was the Orion. He also preserved two copies of the ship's 'newspaper' - issue 20 (Wednesday 27th March 1946) and issue 29 (Saturday 6th April 1946), the 'Final and Souvenir Number', printed rather than copied. The voyage lasted from March 21st to April 6th. Jack arrived home with the rank of sergeant; he is pictured on his return home to Ipswich, Suffolk, happy and with his arms turned outward to display his three stripes!”

A photograph of Sergeant Jack Abbot--

This page contains Orion Oracle No 20. On our next page is Orion Oracle No 29, which was written by Captain Charles Fox C.B.E., Master of RMS Orion, and Lieut-Col C.A.R. McRae., Officer Commanding Troops. This final Oracle was printed on superior paper and was meant to be a special souvenir edition.

I am sure that all ex soldiers who sailed on the Orion and those interested in troop ships will enjoy reading these Oracles.

Special request; should anyone have a photograph of the Orion during the days she was as a trooper, I would much appreciate a copy.

Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This fine ship served her country well! 

 

Orion Index

 

RMS Orion                                          Orion Mainpage

Photo Album                                     Interior and exterior photos of the Orion

Passenger Contribution - 1            Ben Zuber heads for Australia

Passenger Contribution - 2         Jack Abbott - a Soldiers Tale - “Orion Oracle” No 20

Passenger Contribution - 3            Jack Abbott - a Soldiers Tale - “Orion Oracle” No 29

Passenger Contribution - 4         William Rishton

Passenger Contribution - 5            Anne Lee

Orient Line – A Fleet History

Is available for £23.50 plus p&p from “Ships in Focus”

email: sales@shipsinfocus.co.uk

 

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Also Visit our Features on the following Orient Lines/P&O Ships

Orient Lines: RMS OrcadesSS Oronsay - SS Oriana - RMS Orion

P&O: RMS Strathaird SS Iberia - SS Canberra

 

I trust you have enjoyed reading about this loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!

 

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Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

  

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PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!

 

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Photographs on ssmaritime and its associate pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me by supporters without details regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite the owners of these images, if they would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they often refuse to give me credit and at times even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

 

 

 

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