In B&C
98 Jun 02 was a request
for
Pathe film or photographs of the Empire Orwell and
above, in B&C
99 Dec 02, was another request for a photograph.
Our stalwart on
all matters Hong Kong, Maj John
Denny, sent the displacement weight -
18,036 tons - and said: 'I have a pic copied from a
postcard (bought on the ship) which I can prise out of my
album and loan, unless you get a better offer.'
B&C 99
 Our
good Suffolk friend, Tony
Rogers, provided a picture, right, and
some information.
'I was looking at your excellent page on the internet and
saw the request for Pathe newsreel film of The Empire
Orwell so looked up their archive site and found that
there is a short section of film of the Empire Orwell
dated 1951 and titled 'The Royal Norfolk's off to Korea'.
The code is PM1471 01-29-15 and running time 1.30.
Sadly they say that at the moment they are unable to deal
with requests from the public, but surely The Royal
Norfolk Regiment does not come under this category?
At least it may be worth a telephone call.'
B&C 99
Our erudite
historian extraordinaire on matters Korea and Hong Kong, Jerry Willmott,
sent his berthing card and a photograph with a quote from
a press cutting, saying: 'I do not have a complete picture
but here is a (not particularly good) photograph of part
of the ship. If you persevere, who knows, you may collect
enough “sections” to assemble a complete photograph.'
The attached
article stated: 'A paddle portable post-box, a willing
quayside helper, and these Privates of The 1st Bn, Royal
Norfolk Regt get their last-minute letters away from The
Troopship Empire Orwell, taking them from Southampton to
Korea. On the quayside is Mrs Elizabeth Waring of The
Southampton NAAFI The soldiers are Privates Derrick Potter
(19) of Maulden, Bedfordshire and Peter
Slinn (19) from Ipswich (nearest camera)'.
Click
here for a picture of Peter Slinn in Norwich at the
Regimental Dinner Sep 01
Peter Slinn 1951 |
Peter Slinn 2001 |
 'The second picture is yet another piece of historic trivia
from my past, my personal berthing card for the
aforementioned “Cruise”.
“F” deck was well below the water line and pretty
sordid, particularly when the seas became a little “choppy”.
Mind you, it wasn’t all bad as on these occasions, there
were few queues on the mess deck and unlimited rations for
those privileged few for whom the sea held no vertiginous
terror.'
B&C 99 Gentlemen - thanks. These responses
arrived even before the paper copy of B&C 98 Jun 02
was printed! |
From
B&C
98 Jun 02 GR REID MM, CPL
JEFFRIES AND CURLY WILLIAMS
B&C Norfolk Editor