A postcard from Grant in South Australia.
Built for Orient Lines in 1928, SS Orford was loaned to France during WW2 as a troop carrier. She ran aground in Marseilles while evacuating troops in 1940. It took seven years for her to be refloated, after which she was scrapped.
She made many journeys between Australia and England in the 1930’s. In 1934 she carried Don Bradman’s cricket team “The Invincibles” from Australia to England along with the Australian Davis Cup tennis team.
My father Frank Arthur Hutchinson was on the SS Orford as a purser I beleive. Is there any way I could find out more about it – i.e. when he was actually with the ship and what voyages he made. Any help or information would be appreciated. Kind regards Lenna
I have an unofficial publication The ORFORD CALENDER with itinerary for the voyage on the 29th Sep 1929 to 2nd Jan 1930 Britain to Australia, table of distances etc. I intend to put it on ebay; I don’t expect it to be a huge money maker but just thought you may be interested. Geoff.
Hey Neil,
I was just googling some information about Orford, and had to drop into your site to say hi. A bit of extra info on Orford which led to my search – it is the ship on the Sydney Harbour bridge commemorative stamp from 1932 – http://www.flickr.com/photos/80651083@N00/166876546/
Thanks for the info. Hey that’s a great stamp. I might have a look through my albums here and see if I have it.
My late father was a steerage passenger on the Orford on it’s maiden voyage from England to Australia, with several other Dreadnought Boys.
I have just purchased a photo album of a family cruise aboard the Orford dated august 1931 it has signed menus of passengers and crew.
My grandmother cruised on the orford after leaving scotland in 1928 on a work scheme at the age of 25 with a group of young ladies who had to work in Australia for 2 years. Some went back after 2 years of work. My grandmother meet my grandfather who is scottish and then came out to settle in New Zealand.
My grandmother, mother and aunt sailed on the Orford in Oct/Nov 1928 from Naples to Melbourne, Australia, to be reunited with my grandfather who had sailed to Aust in 1922. They were very simple and poor family so the luxuriousness of this ship leaves me baffled as to how they afforded it. No assisted passage for them I know.
My father was the third Engineer on the Orford in 1938 and met my mother during a cruise of the Med. I have menus and some pictures of their cruise taken on board.
Hi Sue
My late father sailed on the Orford from London to Sydney arriving 7/4/1938. I would love to see your photos of the ship as there are not many available
regards
Geoff Ackerman
I have a nice postcard image of the S.S. Orford. Again with crew in a boat in the foreground and hilly terrain in back but the bow pointing to the right.
My Grandfather and his Wife and Family,returned from Australia (Brisbane) on the Orford, in 1934.It appears the Australian Test team,
and the Davis Cup team were also on board,and my Father and two brothers were able to watch them exercise on board.My Dad was only
13 at the time,so it must have been a great trip,with so many famous people on board.He never mentioned it,sad!
My grandfather, Wilfred Bone, worked on the Orford as an ‘Oiler/Greaser’ from 1937 right up until it was bombed & ran aground in Marseilles harbour on 1st June 1942. He managed to escape the fire by climbing down a rope. Somehow he found his way back through France, across the channel & to his parents house in Chatham Kent arriving there at 3.00am in just his boiler suit & white plimsoles. He had to throw stones up at the bedroom windows to wake the family.
My dad (Jack Williams) came out from the UK on the SS Orford as part of the New Settlers Scheme. He came out as a 16yo in 1937/38 we think and disembarked in Brisbane. The route must have been via the Suez as he can remember camel trains along the banks. Are there passenger lists available?? Would love to know more!!
My 2x great grandfather took a cruise on the Orford and I have a picture of him in Pompeii in July 1938. Can anyone help work out where the cruise went?
I have sword and scabard style paper knife inscribed ss orford. Of any value?
Hi Phillip, I am Paul Cross & am also one Wilfred’s grandchildren & I have his MN Discharge book in my possession as grandad gave it to me when he knew I wanted to follow in his & my dads footsteps and also go to sea.
It is the one of the only things I have left of my grandparents & I treasure it beyond price as when my grandmother died one of the family gutted the house before anyone could get there and it caused a lot of upset. I was away at sea at the time & the first I knew was when I got back to the uk.
My Dad William A Hall was a crew member of the Orford for 4 years. He must have known Wilfred. He joined Orford as a deck boy aged 14 in 1936 and was a crew member until she sank off Marseille when he was mentioned in the details as a minor, just 17. He was sunk 6 more times during the war but amazingly survived the war including convoy PQ 18 although I would not say totally unscathed.
My Grandfather E Dawson was a piper in the Gordon Highlanders. He was on the S.S Orfords maiden voyage to Australia 11th November 1928 and played “lament” in the Armistice Day service onboard. He meet my Grandmother Christina on board and both worked in Victoria and then came to settle in Christchurch New Zealand.
Hi ,
I have to hand through a sequence of deceased estates, a pair of SS Orford cuff links.
Might they be of interest to command or passengers of her?
J G de Graaff
My late father John (Jack) Nash travelled on SS Orford from Sydney, departing on March 30th 1932, stopping at Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle, arriving at Tilbury on the 12th May 1932. I have his diary written until April 16th 1932 after leaving WA
He returned on SS Otranto from UK on September 16th 1932. His diary is full of photos on this return trip, plus he won the Otranto Cup for deck sports (which I now own)
As far as I know my mother went to New Zealand on the SS Orford as part of a group of gymnasts who did demonstrations during the voyage. However I cannot find any information about this. Would be interested to hear from anyone who can help. I also have a teaspoon and a powder compact with the ships insignia on them
Very interesting to read all the comments. My grandfather was captain of the Orford and he was in command when Bradman and team mates traveled to England for the Ashes.
I was wondering whether Mike Alden’s photo album has any pictures or the signature of Captain Owens?
I have a family phot album of a cruise on Orford to the Norwegian fiords in 1928…..
I have a picture of the SS Orford with the Australian Cricket Teams signature on it. No date but by the sounds of it, it could be from 1934?? I am unable to upload a picture. It would be worth getting it valued. Any ideas where or who would be best to do this?
Hi Meg
I am not qualified to value it, but if you email me a copy of both sides of the postcard I will add it to this post. Perhaps someone will see it and give you a helpful valuation?
mail@neilennis.com
Would anyone know whether this ship sailed to Sydney in oct 25 1931,as I am try to find my late uncle’s where a bout’s I have his entry Alien papers naming this ship.as the one he travelled on.
In reply to Mark Owens, there is a photograph of Captain Owens at https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162499416/view taken in ca 1934
The Orford’s last voyage as a cruise ship was under command of Captain Norman Savage who was my wife’s great-uncle. I am trying to determine when he took command and if he was the Captain when it was bombed and set on fire on 1 Jun 1940 – I am under the impression that he was.
He was later Captain of the SS Oronsay when it was sunk by the Italian submarine Archimede on 9 Oct 1942. I am also trying to determine when he took command of the Oronsay.
Any leads would be appreciated
Attn Robin Stutchbury.
You don’t give detail but if he shares your name, could this be him? I found it on Ancestry.
Name Mr P J Stutchbury (from Blockley Gloucestershire)
Gender Male
Departure Age 69
Birth Date abt 1862
Departure Date 20 Nov 1931
Departure Port England
Ship Name Port Fremantle
Shipping Line Commonwealth & Dominion Line Limited
I hope this link works as it shows the passenger list:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/146246695:2997?tid=&pid=&queryId=180166c2-7b03-4666-8773-261b9fabfd04&_phsrc=jEg840&_phstart=successSource
In reply to Chris McCartney, thank you very much for sending the link to the photo of my grandfather, Captain Owens.
This may help you in narrowing down when your wife’s great uncle took command of the ‘Orford’. Captain Owens was next given command of the latest Orient Line liner ‘Orion’, which had its maiden voyage during August 1935.