HMT Mamari
From Our Contribution
 StateLibQld_1_144547 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMT Mamari |
| Builder/Built | 1904 Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Type | passenger / refrigerated cargo ship |
| Displacement | 6,689 tons tons |
| Speed | 13 knots |
Contents
Remarks
Built for the Shaw Savill & Albion Line. Used on the New Zealand to London route, and later Antwerp to New York. Sold to Bernstein Red Star Line, Hamburg in 1928 and renamed Gerolstein. Later names were Consul (1939)and Consul Horn (1939)when owned by Horn HC - Dampfschiffs - Rhederal Horn - Fruchtdampfer AG of Lubeck. Sunk by mine of the coast of the Netherlands (NE of Borkum) on 20 Jul 1942, and lies in 14m of water.
Soldiers carried
Liverpool to Fremantle 21 December 1918 - 27 January 1919
Extracts from the diary of Melvin James Sawtell Harrigan
Extracted from a Facebook page Melvin James Sawtell Harrigan, maintained by James McQualter, a grandson, in honour of his memory. Melvin shared this journey with Reg Cockshott and Fred Chester. 150 Cpl Mechanic Harrigan originally enlisted with the Light Horse, serving with the 1st and 12th Regiments before in late 1916 seeking a transfer to the newly formed Australian Flying Corps. He served with the 2nd Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps as a member of their ground staff in France. Many of the men coming home would have had similar experiences before, during and at the conclusion of their vioyages.
21 December Up at 1am this morning had breakfast and after roll call the first mob of 450 got away per hoof for Warminster. Our party was very lucky in having a fine night to march out. The “Saxon” and “Nestor” mob marched out in pouring rain. We kicked up a big noise enroute to the station singing and yelling all the way. The YMCA shouted us tea and biscuits. After an hours wait, our train arrived and we boarded amidst a big hubbub. We went via Swindon, Crewe and Birmingham to Liverpool. Ran right on to the boat. A band played us off. We pulled out to midstream to await for some firemen.
22 December Went to bed in hammocks early last night. The morning broke dirty and foggy. Our firemen came along early so at 1.30pm we set off for home. We passed a big wreck just outside of a battleship that had been torpedoed. We soon ran into rough weather. We had a rough spin all night.
23 December We passed the Isle of Ogman and Welsh coast last night and pitched and tossed all day.
24 December We passed the Scillies and lighthouse early this morning. The sea is still rough though the gale has subsided a bit. We ran into the Bay of Biscay today. It was pretty rough also.
25 December The sea was a bit calmer today in fact much calmer than the Irish Sea. No sight of land today.
26 December A very nice day. We ran into calmer waters during the day and much warmer. We passed Cape St Vincent at daylight. It was fine to see the sun rise over the mountains of Spain. It was an uneventful day but nice and warm. There is not much shipping to be seen. I suppose most of it is at the bottom.
27 December Pretty chilly this morning. We passed Gibraltar on the left shortly after sunrise. On our right is the rugged coast of Morocco with a town right on the sea front opposite the gib. At the rear of the gib is the high Spanish mountains. The Mediterranean Sea here opens out from 3 miles at the neck to a vast expanse on the left. We left the snow capped mountains of Spain. We had a great run today averaging 12 knots. The sea was calm. Every day gets warmer.
28 December We skirted the coast of Algeria today and saw some fine views. The high snow capped mountains set well back with the grassy low ridges running down to the sea. We passed the City of Algiers that looked well from the sea set back on a big bay. The sea was choppy, the weather warm.
29 December Pretty calm today and very uneventful. We had a church parade in the forward part of the ship and played cards during the rest of the day. I am eating like a horse now and can hardly get enough but we are fed well. Had a life buoy parade today. Passed islands on the left today.
30 December The sea was choppy today and the sky was cloudy and overcast, a little rain fell. We passed Malta this morning, it was a good way off.
31 December Rather a chilly day but the old tub kept cutting out her 13 knots over a long gentle swell in the sea.Played cards all day, Principally, Rummy and 500. Wrote letters tonight to be posted at Port Said. We passed 3 ships early tonight. Some interesting signalling went on. Went to bed late, so goodbye to the old year.
1 January 1919 Paid 30 bob today. A chap hurt his spine on physical jerks this morning. Reported case of typhoid among the ships crew.
2 January The balance of pay was handed out this morning. We had a quiet day and the ship done a lot of gambling especially last night. The place was like a casino. We changed our course south about 5pm and at dusk saw the Port Said light in the distance. We soon ran up and waited for the pilot. In half an hour he was aboard and took us in through the lighted buoys. There was a sea wall on the right with De Lessep’s Monument. The town looked pretty at night with all the different coloured lights. We gave the Arabs a great reception as we entered the canal for our moorings, those who could talk to them. There are hundreds of motor launches here. We are to take in coal and water here.
3 January Got out of bed early and had a look round the ship. Port Said is a fine place with a power of shipping about. We had sport with the Arab fruit vendors and tricksters who came aboard to entertain us. Some of the boys got ashore last night in fact some swam ashore. The Major was very wild about it. We spent a lazy and enjoyable day while the ship took on fresh water and green vegetables for the troops. We were surprised to see the ‘Bokara’ come in with her load of boys during the afternoon. We gave them a great hoy. We passed her last in the Bay of Biscay. She anchored ahead of us. We set off at 5 o’clock through the canal passing several ships sunk at their moorings. We passed Kantara at 9 o’clock. It has grown into a very big place with numerous wharves. There is also an iron railway bridge over the canal.
4 January I did not see Somalia last night having gone to bed. We are to get our coal at Aden. We were still steaming down the canal when I got out of my bunk but an hour later we drew out into the harbour at Port Suez and anchored. The ‘Bokara’ came out after us shortly after and anchored near by. In front lay the Aberdeen liner ‘Miltiades’ loaded with English brides of Aussie soldiers. We took on mails for Aden during the morning. We had great sport with the Arab fruit sellers in dhows. One mob nearly got swamped by getting under the ships water pipe. A Tommy officer also got snubbed for putting his spoke in. We weighed anchor at lunch and started south over a glorious sea and cloudy sky. A little rain fell. We got a piano on today.
5 January No sight of land today only the pancake lighthouse. The sea was calm and it was very boring. It was an uneventful day and most of the fellows lay round sleeping and gambling etc.
6 January A bright sunny day. The sea is a bit choppy. We passed some small islands with light houses, one was on a dangerous reef just submerged. Passed several ships. The ‘Miltiades’ came up on us tonight. We have not seen any thing of the ‘Bokara’. Play cards till night. Most of the boys have a good time at music and debates in the evening. Some fellows argued we passed the Hells Gates tonight late.
7 January Up early. No sight of land. The sea got choppy this morning and got a bit rough towards night. Went on guard at nine this morning with a sergeant and 24 men. It is a very rag time guard. I had a busy and tiresome day looking for men to go on duty. The Aberdeen liner with the Aussie wives, ‘Miltiades’, kept behind us all day. She came up last night and was unable to pass us. I guess the poor dears on board will be a bit bilious.