Man Overboard?
A query with the apparent mileage discrepancies on this cruise has now been answered.
Terry Offord from Southampton writes…
I served on board RMS Caronia on the World Cruise 1956 and note from your itinerary that the
trip on 12th-16th March from Colombo (Ceylon) to Singapore was 4 days and the mileage was more
than it should be. I wonder if you are aware of the reason for this…?
When the ship was about 300 miles out after leaving Colombo, a boy rating (Deck hand) fell asleep in a rope locker and got locked in. The entire ship was searched and when he could not be found it was assumed he may have fallen overboard. As a result, the ship turned around and headed back towards Colombo in search for him.
Upon resighting the port of Colombo, the lad was found in the rope locker and the ship resumed its journey to Singapore. For the remainder of the cruise the poor lad had to be accompanied by a Master at Arms wherever he went on board and was never allowed ashore again at any of the ports visited.
If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…
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