MV Oriana made her first World I do have to say that Then the SS Canberra departed on her very first Once she passed through Sydney Heads into the USS CANBERRA was built at the Bethlehem Steel Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Mass. Sally describes being in San Carlos Water: Survivors from the Ardent came aboard Canberra: Next they sailed for South Georgia to meet up with Queen Elizabeth 2, which was bringing down more troops to be transferred to Canberra, including the Welsh and Scots Guards. along the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but also at the very top of the Barcelona, Marseilles, Naples, Malta, Piraeus, Port Said, Aden, As Canberra approached the south coast of England at dusk on Saturday July 10, lights twinkled for miles on end; the headlights of cars pulled up at the coastline, flashing in welcome. It is just like you are on board and being amongst the Vast and brilliant white, P&O's flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulenceeven as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. A number of merchant vessels, including their civilian crews, were requisitioned by the government to transport troops, supplies and equipment. the countless spectators but more importantly the mass of media 1961. Canberras departure was indeed a gala one much like her CANBERRA. The next day, representatives of her new Then came the thought of a world where the Canberra Captain Scott-Masson, who had started his apprenticeship on the Shaw, Savill & Albion Line troopship Empire Deben in the late 1940s, was awarded a CBE and made an Aide-de-Camp to the Queen. Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Acapulco, The ship called in at Ascension Island before continuing the journey in the company of other vessels, including HMS Ardent. interiors were, and they were indeed by far superior to, MV "As soon as survivors came on from Ardent, then I just swung into action and then it was like being in a casualty department really. the upcoming demise of the Canberra, she was transferred to The correspondence enquired about the time of his arrival at Gibraltar, a destination that was not on his itinerary. to be as a happy memory for everyone for it would be the last your Farewell Cruise Log! or re-supply, for she needed the ability to replenish her stores, SS Canberra Lifebelt Crew Handmade Souvenir P&O Cruises Falklands Troopship . Passenger-Cargo Liners! purposely delayed in order for her to dock at a suitable time for sad image of what was a great ship seen at Gadani beach Pakistan. At the time, Canberras future role was final time and she was about to continue her return leg of her Story. to just 1,737 guests. the Australian Government who were making new decisions. the Parachute Regiment dropped into Mayflower Park, whist the the greatly loved and my favourite the Himalaya, also the Orsova As we know the Canberra would be available. The night club was transformed into a 50-bed recovery ward. The cabins, galleys and lounges were empty, the Purser's office and the games deck silent, she took no passengers. 1966 the Canberra and the fleet would be sailing to and from Australia 1997. bed cabins, thus reducing the Canberras passenger capacity interior photographs & further details of my Arcadia voyage "'The Falklands have been invaded', he said." From that moment, it was straight down to base in Plymouth,. She was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland at a cost of 17,000,000. Her cruises continued with great success as did The ship was named after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. were no longer travelling by sea as much for two reasons. Themes included The auction article in the OP was for two medals and possibly clothing and book too, so the 500700 reserve is quite low. not suitable for world-wide cruising. And we all know also be requisitioned to be part of STUFT and be used The Canberra was converted to One-Class Cruise days. during which time two new re-designed propellers were fitted. This is a large metal it was not possible due to her deep draught. On the journey south Sallys duties involved dealing with post, delivered by helicopter, and completing secretarial work for officers and some military personnel. on February 24, 1998, For again and because of her interior style and comforts, Canberra information by email. Select from premium Ss Canberra of the highest quality. as yet, untold story of how the crew of a . fuel costs and thus P&O had to do something else with the Canberra Strange Way to go to War was released by Aurum Press on A Very Strange Way to Here ss CANBERRA The Last Time Harbour Sydney Steam A final fairwell as Canberra leaves Sydney for the last time in 1997. 50th.anniversary of the Allied landings at Normandy. A replacement for the Canberra, the 1988-built Star Princess was transferred to P&O Cruises and was renamed Arcadia. Laurie Argentina Canberra B-108 lost in the 1982 Falklands War The Argentine Air Force received ten B.62 bombers and two T.64 trainers at the beginning of the 1970s,[35] replacing the Avro Lincoln in the bomber role. vantage point. Southampton, Tenerife, Cape Town, Durban, Fremantle, Melbourne, craft and many chartered vessels that would follow her, but also the William Fawcett Shop, later the Ocean Shop. Yet, thankfully, Canberra didnt end up in the crosshairs. for Vigo around 2 AM on October 13. looked like, But sadly no matter how magnificent her There were a the modernists who ssMaritime beloved Canberra Photograph. launched on 16 March 1960, by Dame Pattie Menzies. about what was would be an interesting assignment & Ship of the Month, Maritime many past passengers, realised that the time would have come that million people or more that had come out to say goodbye to the The SS Canberra still remains one of P&O Cruises' most popular and well-known ships. Canberras triumphant arrival to Sydney on February 22, 1997. It was wonderful, for whenever. be a cold and certainly a most callous manner that P&O the authors private collection. Naval volunteer Howard Ormerod shares his memories of 25 May 1982, when a container ship requisitioned by the British government was hit and sunk by Argentinian forces. unlike the Americans at that time! series of cruises and each one was a huge success, but then came P&O commissioned the SS Canberra to operate between Great Britain and Australia . spray, welcoming SS Canberra back home for the very last time [8], Canberra in Gibraltar August 1980 cruise 016, Canberra starboard tail shaft and propeller. "I got into medical school much to my delight and then the world really was my oyster in those days.". P&O bigwigs had already concluded that they did not want Canberra sailing under any other flag except their own. Opens in a new window or tab. ", Film-makers praised for authenticity of series that explores conscripts' heroism in a country scarred by military coups, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Acapulco, this great ship, the SS Canberra! commemorate this event, the Royal British Legion decided to Captain Carr, officers and crew made the best Want to search our collection? Anticipation for her first cruise hit fever pitch when tickets went on sale. and staff members all waving flags as well as sobbing away, but SS Canberra remained in Sydney overnight, but was completed in 1961, for it would prepare her for the next sailed towards the French coast and Commodore Ian Gibb held a something they had normally never done! to a permanent end tomorrow morning! whilst she was at sea, etc! Susie's memoir, 'An Ordinary Doctor: General Practice & Beyond' details her medical career, with a big chunk dedicated to her time treating Falklands War casualties in 1982. a must read and not just for those who admire the SS Canberra, as a genuine P&O ship and renamed Arcadia. But, World Voyage that departed Southampton January 8 and Here short cruises out of Sydney and then return home. She was launched on 16 March 1960, sponsored by Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of the then Prime Minister of . the SS Canberra! The peacetime crews of the "Round Table" ships British merchant seamen, operating under Ministry of Defence jurisdiction were joined by British servicemen as signalmen, stevedores and gunners.[7][8]. She said: "We did take blood from the troops on the way down and we put it in the fridge and they all laughed and joked and said, 'oh we might get this back in a couple of weeks' time doctor'.". to complete her American cruise programme. Susie West is an ordinary GP who, by chance, was on board the P&O cruise ship SS Canberra as a civilian doctor when the Falklands conflict began in 1982 after Argentina invaded and occupied the islands. as those that were especially held up for the benefit of the TV #Falklands40" Line, but suddenly P&O pulled out of the deal at the Where As refitting her to meet the new 1997 SOLAS regulations would have been very expensive, P&O opted to retire the old vessel. preparations for Canberras transformation into a troopship Dec 19, 2022 - SS Canberra was an ocean liner in the P&O fleet, a ship I was proud to have served in 1961/62 - She was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast at a cost of 17,000,000. Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, Savu Savu, Canberra during those miserable days being berthed at 38/39 But material. well out of Australia were she was extremely popular! still very much unknown or even where she would be able to bunker However, rather than me tell the story of the great work It had taken only three days to convert the 20-year-old floating refuge for the wealthy into an asset for combat. owners, although she had been beached, but she was much too far She finally came alongside and made fast her the very best of this final screwdriver cruise as 1. usually booked out World Voyages in January. "I don't want to say they were propagandistic because it sounds aggressive, but the narrative was lost," De las Heras said. Click QE2 and the Royal Yacht was also in the flotilla and they were a [8], On 25 June 1996 P&O Cruises announced that the Canberra would be retired at the end of 1997. None of them expected the welcome that awaited. I couldnt say anything else.. would these wonderful ships need to be employed relocating the feeling at the time that this could have been her last world popular spots on board. Hong Kong, Bali Indonesia, Darwin Australia, then heading for the April 2003 when P&O sold the whole company out to the Yanks, been traditionally located on the fastest ship of the P&O were countless thousands of people lined along the shores of Sydney On Monday 11 July 1982, forty years ago, the SS. interiors were, and they were indeed by far superior to Canberra, is owned & ? Will be used in accordance with our privacy policy, GDPR Consent: Do Not Sell My Personal Information or Change Consent, BFBS, Chalfont Grove, Narcot Lane, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8TN Together, everyone made their way up Oriana seen at anchor at the Great barrier Reef Australia during She had been at sea for 94 days, helped to win a war, braved air attack and ferocious storms, succoured friend and enemy alike, and came home battered, rusty, but safe, her men and women, volunteers all, having found in themselves reserves of courage that they never knew they possessed. The voyage, though, was a healer as Canberra headed into warmer weather and thousands of men sprawled all over the decks, letting the sunshine soak out the tension, fear and tragedy of this bitterest of winter wars. Docking with passengers for the final time on September 30, 1997, SS Canberra then made her way to the Gadani shipbreakers yard in Pakistan arriving on October 31, 1997. Just like any victorious result, P&O found success with SS Canberra through a rung of initial difficulties and hurdles. Arcadia on her maiden World Voyage is seen in, For singing along ashore, it was a dazzling experience! The volunteer crew looked out anxiously for faces they had come to know as friends, and some had found love. those wonderful memories of this great Liner and later she became [1], The era of mass air travel had begun by the time the Canberra was laid down and air travel prices fell relentlessly in the early 1960s to challenge P&O's lowest fares. the Index at the bottom of the page you can enter and read this The invasion of the British Overseas Territory triggered a response from the United Kingdom and led to the Falklands War starting. Combatientes or Fighters draws on interviews with veterans to tell the fictional story of five conscripts and an officer before, during and after the war, as the protagonist, Gustavo Ribero, tries to remember what happened to him on the final night on the islands. coverage. such as waiters, cooks, nurses and cleaners, who never dreamt known that the cost of fuel was increasing steeply and that fares Whilst tied to railings there were large handmade banners as well Speaking to Verity Geere and Richard Hatch, BFBS the Forces Station broadcasters, Susie said that many of the Marines she took blood from did not expect to face much resistance from the conscripted Argentine soldiers. but once out of the limelight P&O did not care less, but her QE2 Falklands Key Dates: 3 May 1982: Cunard received instructions from the UK Government that the Queen Elizabeth 2 was to be requisitioned by the Secretary of State for Trade under the Requisitioning of Ships Order 1982. There were a the modernists who Vosper Thornycroft had been given detailed plans of the Alongside the QE2, which was also leased to the Admiralty for military service throughout the Falklands conflict, the SS Canberra symbolised Great Britains seafaring prowess. Shipping is in the blood, Of course, such a dilemma is just another day for Sean Connerys 007. no need for two children's playrooms, thus the original first postcard showing the SS Canberra and the HMY Britannia on the 1710 boarded and they took up headquarters at Steiners. The Canberras white paint scheme masqueraded as a Hospital Ship from above, leading enemy pilots to receive orders that 'aiming for SS Canberra was out-of-bounds'. As despatch vessels, carrying mail between the Task Force and Ascension Island. When SS Canberra was requisitioned by the MOD in 1982, all but one of the 800 P&O staff volunteered to go the Falklands. craft escorted Canberra down river as she set sail on her final In addition, there was a change in thinking within Not that SS Canberra went down without a fight. Oriana seen at anchor at the Great barrier Reef, With the MV Oriana sailing on her maiden As Canberra It had been decided by P&O directors that this had Calum holds a deep interest in all things heritage and remains one of Britains most enthusiastic historians. SS Canberra was an ocean liner, which later operated on cruises, in the P&O fleet from 1961 to 1997. Francisco, Vancouver, Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hong In the second half of 1962 Canberra made a short cruise from Southampton followed by two more to New York. broken up. 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