Heroes of the ocean waves
WHEN Gordon Harts-horne was a boy, he wanted to see the world.
“My uncle was in the Royal Navy during the Second World War,” said Captain Harts-horne, who was born in 1946. “I always wanted to go to sea as a lad. My dad did, too, but he became a textile engineer.”
After his O levels, Capt Hartshorne, who lives in Denver, went for an apprenticeship as a navigating officer in the merchant navy with Texaco.
It led to a 36-year Merchant Navy career for Capt Hartshorne, who eventually ended up in charge of massive fuel tankers, getting his wish to travel the world over, in good seas and in bad.
Today, Capt Hartshorne (61), who is retired from his Merchant Navy work, has fond memories of his time at sea, memories he is keen to share with others. In fact, he has just formed a new West Norfolk branch of the Merchant Navy Association for like-minded people to reminisce, swap stories and enjoy trips out. Already, there are 13 members and interest is growing.
Capt Hartshorne considers merchant seamen are every bit as much heroes as those who serve on the sea in the armed forces – though this fact is sometimes forgotten.
“The association started in 1989 to get recognition for the 30,000 merchant seamen lost in the last world war,” said Capt Hartshorne. One-in-four men were lost in the Merchant Navy, a higher percentage than any of the armed forces.
supplies
“The merchant seamen had to keep the supply lines open and the Royal Navy couldn’t protect us,” he said, adding merchant seamen did not have an official uniform until after the Second World War.
There have also been some very famous links with the merchant seamen tradition. “The Cutty Sark was a merchant ship,” said Capt Hartshorne, adding that Admiral Lord Nelson was also on merchant ships when he was very young.
“Captain Cook was also a merchant seaman originally,” he added.
“Ninety-five per cent of the world’s goods are transported by sea,” said Capt Hartshorne, feeling no-one should be in any doubt about how important the work of merchant seamen was.
The new association branch, which meets at 11am on the second Wednesday of every other month at Downham Conservative Club in Bridge Street, welcomed anyone with a love of the sea, including members of the public.
“We have got a member who used to be a harbour master in Malta and one who is a former dock master in Lynn,” said Capt Hartshorne.
He met his wife of 37 years, Emma, in Malta, during his travels. The couple have three grown-up children – David (36), Kenneth (32) and Christine (28).
Capt Hartshorne can tell the group of many tales from his life on the high seas, with water crashing over the bow in rough weather as he travelled thousands of miles. Sometimes the journeys took weeks on end to complete.
“I have been all over the place, including Africa, America, New Zealand and the Red Sea,” said Capt Hartshorne.
Asked if he ever regretted not joining the Royal Navy he added: “The conditions of the Merchant Navy are far superior – and you don’t have to stand to attention!”
And asked if he had ever suffered from sea sickness he said: “No – but if someone else was being sick, I always felt a little queasy.”
l Anyone wanting to find out any more about the West Norfolk branch of the Merchant Navy Association can contact Capt Hartshorne on 01366 383998 or email geharty@ aol.com
sarah.reedman@
lynnnews.co.uk
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
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