I have received from the P.R.O. a copy of an application for a seaman's card and discharge book. It is dated the 12th June 1961, and the applicant was rated as a trimmer with no previous maritime service or training. in the "official use" section it says, "Ship now joining Cunard Co ES 25's", though the last letter could be a c. Can anyone cast light on this? Jeremy Wilkes

The rating of 'trimmer' would be the lowest of the low in the stoke hole of a steam ship. A stoker would actually shovel coal into the boiler and have a little skill in knowing where to place the coal in order to keep the fire burning well and producing maximum steam. The trimmer would shovel coal from the bunkers to an area accessible to the stoker. The action of trimming would be using the coal from bunkers in turn in order to keep the ship on an even keel and not listing which could be caused by using too much coal from bunkers on one side of the ship. It is possible that Cunard had accepted the applicant, and told him to get his card and discharge book without knowing which ship he would be assigned to. I think that in London the discharge books were issued by an office in Prescott Street near Aldgate. It is probable that the books took a few days to issue and needed the production of a birth certificate and possibly parents consent if under age. It would therefore not be possible to allocate the applicant to a ship until he had his documents and had returned to the shipping office with them. I had distant dealings with some of this in the late 1960's when most youths were taken on as laundry boys, but only if they had no 'police history'. The Norwegian merchant navy however were more lenient and would overlook a not too serious conviction. Hope this helps. Regards Barry On 05/01/2012 21:38, Jeremy Wilkes wrote: > I have received from the P.R.O. a copy of an application for a seaman's > card and discharge book. It is dated the 12th June 1961, and the > applicant was rated as a trimmer with no previous maritime service or > training. in the "official use" section it says, "Ship now joining > Cunard Co ES 25's", though the last letter could be a c. > > Can anyone cast light on this? > > Jeremy Wilkes > >