Comments for The ShipWatcher Blog

Comment on SS Orford by Jeff Galatin

Jeff Galatin — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:44:47 +0000

I have the following two items relating to the
S.S. Orford:

Entertainments Committee leaflet including names of committee members plus Balance Sheet and names of prize winners of on-board events – fancy dress dance, whist drive, bridge tournament, aquatic sports, gymkhana and various other competitions.
Probably 1928?

Wooden Horse Racing Club – Summer Meeting Race Card 27th September 1928.

Am happy to send photos -please email me.

Comment on RMS Orion / SS Orion by Gloria COOPER

Gloria COOPER — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 10:54:20 +0000

Our family left Tilbury on the Orion on the 28 Feb 1963 the 62/63 winter in UK was freezing, we eventually arrived in Sydney on 4th April, to start a new life as a 18year old newly married,,,,62 years on having 3 children 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.,,,I can remember there being an outbreak of measles on board, also being stuck in the Bitter lakes for many hours. having to wait for a large convoy of ships to go through the Suez Canal.

Comment on SS Orford by Gary Gowers

Gary Gowers — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:34:32 +0000

We have obtained through my wife’s now deceased parents what seems to be a silver snuff/pill box with the Orient Steam line crest on the lid and the name SS Orford underneath … would anyone happen to know what this actually is and where it came from ?
Many thanks.

Comment on RMS Orion / SS Orion by Sheilah Gamble

Sheilah Gamble — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:48:59 +0000

I travelled out on the SS Orion from Tilbury in December 1962 with my family. I had my 5th birthday on the ship. Mum and Dad were Adam and Sheilah Gaines. I only have brief glimpses of what was a wonderful voyage in my memory. We disembarked in Melbourne and spent about two years at Holmsglen Hostel where we met many wonderful people. I fondly remember Sylvia who was Egyptian. I would love to catch up with anyone from the Hostel or who travelled on the SS Orion in December 1962. Sheilah Gamble (nee Gaines)

Comment on SS Orford by Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:18:21 +0000

I have a silver ‘Sugar Shaker’ that is inscribed SS ORFORD around its base. I have held onto it as I was told it was removed from officers mess when SS ORORD was run aground in Marseilles.

Comment on MV Italia by Bernd Lauber

Bernd Lauber — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 19:45:42 +0000

My father. Rudolf Lauber also was on the ship during the January crossing in 1954. He had a ZEISS Contaflex which he bought with what little money he had. He took some black and white slides of the ice buildup on the ship, and he described how cold it was. I just came across this blog accidentally today while doing family research. Hi name is on the Ellis Island database for that journey. Sadly, he just passed away 1 years ago. I wish I had found this blog earlier. He was sharp to the last days…. would have been nice to ask him more.

Comment on MV Italia by Dorly

Dorly — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 16:01:50 +0000

I was born in Germany in 1953 to a German mother & GI father. We joined him in NYC after sailing on the Italia across the Atlantic 8/23/53 when I was 5 mos old. My mother used to have souvenirs of the trip in one of her drawers & I would pore over it. She died in 2020 & I guess she no longer had anything about the ship by then. She led a colorful life, marrying three times.

What’s unusual is we got married on August 23, not realizing the significance of that date. We are also going on our FIRST CRUISE on 8/23, to AK, not across the Atlantic, for our 45th Anniversary. I remember my mother saying she was seasick on the voyage but my older sister, who was almost 5, enjoyed the trip. She brought her Rosenthal China from Germany, which was left to me. I have a family who doesn’t eat fancy.

Comment on SS Orford by Mark Owens

Mark Owens — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:00:50 +0000

For those interested in the ‘Orford’, my small British brand (Otway & Orford) has just created a lovely silk pocket square featuring a 1930s painting of the ‘Orford’ leaving Dubrovnik. The pocket square is called ‘Into the Storm’.

Comment on SS Orford by Mark Owens

Mark Owens — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:58:31 +0000

There’s a documentary from 1933 that I’ve discovered called ‘Liner Cruising South’. It is the story of a Caribbean cruise on the ‘Orford’. It’s available to view at the British Film Institute in London.

Comment on RMS Orion / SS Orion by Stephen Martin

Stephen Martin — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 07:52:36 +0000

My parents travelled from Tilbury in October 1951 to Melbourne. I wish I had asked them more about the journey.