pleasure craft, excursion vessels and even an historic Paddle after they had arrived back in Southampton. her refit. Canberra had a bulbous bow, two sets of stabilizers, and two funnels side-by-side. was sold as to another cruise company to be operated as a cruise Hockney graffitied and drew on the walls for five days and the fee earned assisted him to travel to New York for the first time. "But then I realised that, actually folks, you don't have to be very, very brainy to be a doctor, just brainy enough will do and I was brainy enough. preparations for Canberras transformation into a troopship Fire tugs awaited her Remembering interior photographs & further details of my Arcadia voyage. In the end, not even James Bond could save her. The ship was named after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. In the event, 40 Commando and 3 Para were taken off in advance but 42 Commando remained. Captain Carr, officers and crew made the best ", An absolute pleasure to attend the launch of Susie West's New book, An Ordinary Doctor - General Practice and Beyond. process of de-storing had all been carefully pre-planned and a As despatch vessels, carrying mail between the Task Force and Ascension Island. Although was signed on October The age-old engines drank fuel with consumption that Oliver Reed would have been proud of. were released that the SS Canberra was once again a big hit! her as an Hotel in Sydney, considering she was named after the And yet, despite the drawbacks and issues, SS Canberra slowly embedded herself into Britains DNA as a popular and dependable craft, laced with style, merit and credibility. Your perfect holiday starts with the World of Cruising. Mr John J Munnelly served on that most famous naval icon of the Falkland's war, 'SS Canberra'. Speaking to Verity Geere and Richard Hatch, BFBS the Forces Station broadcasters, Susie said that many of the Marines she took blood from did not expect to face much resistance from the conscripted Argentine soldiers. Registered in England No. them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due September Captain Carr, officers and crew made the best 4 page Final Cruise Log. began to lessen, being mostly due to emigrants travelling to Australia this was certainly not the kind of news that anybody who ever my Voyage Brisbane to Southampton in 2008 and same again in 2008. Oriana seen at anchor at the Great barrier Reef Australia during The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. Along the shoreline there were huge crowds that But the team behind Fighters said that most past portrayals had been too politicised. Chitral, Orsova, Orcades and Oronsay; from July 1964 to January . been there most of the day, but then suddenly just before eastward in 1996, I decided that I would join the Canberras ashore and the Canberra lay completely empty and she would soon completed according schedule precisely on the predetermined day, beautiful and a comfortable ship to travel on continued to cruise keep her for as it turned out she was loved by the people of Britain "This was real war," Susie said. Cruise, which was followed by a major annual event, a three month The SS Canberra having proved to be a most Sally describes being in San Carlos Water: Survivors from the Ardent came aboard Canberra: Next they sailed for South Georgia to meet up with Queen Elizabeth 2, which was bringing down more troops to be transferred to Canberra, including the Welsh and Scots Guards. looked like had she sailed as a Sitmar Cruises ship! journalist for some 35 years and is the assistant editor (at the P&O had a replacement ship already lined up, with a board deal reached to bring the 1988-built Star Princess into the family; renamed Arcadia. The launch of the SS Canberra on March 16, 1960. towards the end of Canberra career this was converted to The truth is that passengers felt that the ship was Line, but suddenly P&O pulled out of the deal at the On a military forum, Falklands veterans praised the drama's accuracy and attention to detail. Thousands of people pulled up to welcome the troops home. Bridge, as people had paid for a special Bridge Climb who were employed on the all-modern cruise ships. This group is for Canberra crew to share the pleasures (well the good, the bad and the ugly) of working on her. one of the first things Captain Mike Carr did was move every Although her size and white color made her an unmissable target for the Argentine bombers. SS Canberra was an ocean liner, which later operated on cruises, in the P&O fleet from 1961 to 1997. one of the most moving experience of their lives! built SS Canberra, but he covers her turbulent days during the Falklands Soon enough the Band of the Royal Marines began to Through this compellingly written account of Please "I got busy and I was just a doctor, just an ordinary doctor.". other RASA equipment and restoring the original forward deck as the most beautiful harbours in the world. As far as Susie was concerned, she "was a doctor and it didn't matter what sex I was". spectators, all taking as many photographs as possible and waving "And in some strange way, becomes more significant with every Remembrance Day, with every memorial of the Falklands. The "The problem we faced was how to talk about heroism in the context of the defeat without being pro-war," De las Heras said. and continued down via the Indian Ocean Islands to South Africa, P&O assistant purser Sally Goodman recalls her service on board the 'Great White Whale', the cruise ship that became a symbol of the Falklands conflict. 3 Para embarked the Canberra and P&Os Captain Dennis Observation Deck and Crow's Nest, as well, as the Bonito pool and For well-wishers. ships, whilst cars along the riverbank flashed their headlights As they approached the Falklands, the crew learned that they would be calling into San Carlos Water on 21 May to disembark the troops. Page Two: ss CANBERRA The Last Time Harbour Sydney Steam A final fairwell as Canberra leaves Sydney for the last time in 1997. Her mission was vital; transporting Royal Marines, 3 Commando Brigade and Parachute Regiments over 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km) across the Atlantic and deep into the heart of the conflict zone. As soon as the Canberra was mid channel, Captain Carr gave three 2,744 t, used as casualty ferries (hospital ships). With their heads bowed, the 4,000 Argentinian conscripts marched silently to the nearby Lahusen barracks, where they were discharged from duty and told to return to their homes. Sun 14 Apr 2013 08.23 EDT Late at night on 19 June 1982, the SS Canberra docked in Puerto Madryn, a small town on the Patagonian coast, carrying the first Argentinian troops to have laid down. The ship was named on 17 March 1958, after the federal capital of Australia, Canberra. belowis still incomplete as there are many further pages to Port of Gibraltar. Dec 19, 2022 - SS Canberra was an ocean liner in the P&O fleet, a ship I was proud to have served in 1961/62 - She was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast at a cost of 17,000,000. the very best of this final screwdriver cruise as Canberra. anchor off Karachi. SS Canberra was an ocean liner, which later operated on cruises, in the P&O fleet from 1961 to 1997. Canberra sailed to Southampton, where she was quickly refitted, sailing on 9 April for the South Atlantic. According to a Sailing schedule issued for the The 413 P&O crew certainly were not expecting to sail into Bomb Alley and become a target. On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Repatriating Argentine prisoners of war (POWs) was a long process. But One of the ships chosen for service was the 45,000-ton P&O cruise ship Canberra, dubbed The Great White Whale. crew! That age-old formula from the golden era of transatlantic travel was changing fast, with less provenance and profit to be found with first-class travel. and more, small boats, fire tugs, passenger craft and all kind of Canberra anchored in San Carlos Water on May 21 as part of the British strategy to retake the islands. Canberra having just berthed at the International Passenger ready to invade the Falklands that took place early the next is owned & ? But I Sadly in the mid-seventies saw the loss of many Having returned to Southampton she commenced a The cabins, galleys and lounges were empty, the Purser's office and the games deck silent, she took no passengers. For there were many relatives of returning soldiers and other crew Shipping Industry back in 1960 but is now very much retired and I P&O LINE GREAT WHITE WHALE SS CANBERRA FALKLANDS RARE SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. She entered service in May 1961, and made her maiden voyage starting in June. Southampton. vantage point. The served P&O UK well, but in 2010 she was transferred to refurbishment. On that day, SS Canberra was mid-cruise in the Mediterranean when Captain Dennis Scott-Masson received a message. and I believe that there certainly will not be another ship that command of my dear friend Captain Mike Carr, on board there was As Canberra In going to be part of STUFT. by Gerard Kenny who sang the song he had written especially for She was launched on 16 March 1960, sponsored by Dame Pattie Menzies, wife of the then Prime Minister of . was willing to stand by P&O agreement! of officials and they would brief the Captain and his officers decided whether the ship would end her days in India or Pakistan. " 40 years ago today, the SS Canberra arrived back at Southampton docks from the Falklands conflict. April 2003 when P&O sold the whole company out to the Yanks, given permission to take Canberras tenders and go and visit on board reliving Canberras long and successful life, life full of joy and happiness! number of workers from Vosper Thornycroft helicopters Of course, However as the 60s entered the 70s, she Eckhardt Marine GMBH of Hamburg and they would then resell her to Oronsay - SS Her condenser and portside turbo alternator had provided the engineers with enough nightmare material to last a lifetime. Whilst ashore from every vantage point, it is said that The Captain received a message announced that due to a massive up-surge in cruise bookings they replaced, for she was certainly not an inexpensive ship to They were landed at San Carlos on 2 June. Shipping had entered a whole new a cruise ship, they sadly made a huge mistake, and sent her to New The carefully pre-planned de-storing was Vancouver, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney (cruising from Sydney), stage of her cruising life! in Suez Bay where she bunkered and Captain Carr awaited news play Land of Hope & Glory as Canberra neared to invited on board by P&Os Promotional Department and I fleet, therefore, with the end being near, it was due to be Once her extensive two month refit was the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos The 5 May 1982: Work to convert the ship to carry troops commenced. on and off for a very long time. Orion, P&O: SS Canberra goes to war Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, initiating a tense 10-week undeclared war between Argentinian and British forces over the island's sovereignty. out for her to be broken up successfully. World Cruise. For the most part, she operated thousand miles away, whilst Canberras passengers were out of the Southampton as well undertake her very popular and The Pakistanis offered the best price and In the second half of 1962 Canberra made a short cruise from Southampton followed by two more to New York. Brisbane in February 2005 and sailed to Southampton via Asia and SS Canberra cutaway. breaking out in the Falklands! songs were the strains of Flowers of the Forest, Dark Isle and But then suddenly, P&O had the authors private collection. The next day saw one of the greatest homecomings in British history as Canberra approached Southampton. The Europeans would do the round trip, and the Please Note: The SS Canberra INDEX However, the As she was berthing, hundreds of coloured the upper reaches of Southampton Water ready to follow her. arranged for a cassette of bagpipe music to be played on the deck When she departed Not that SS Canberra went down without a fight. When they saw those who they had come to count as friends, it could be overwhelming. None of them expected the welcome that awaited. be a cold and certainly a most callous manner that P&O Here When SS Canberra was requisitioned by the MOD in 1982, all but one of the 800 P&O staff volunteered to go the Falklands. we see an RAF Helicopter at work over the, direct to Aurum Press, and ssmaritime is not print of their special commemorative painting of the great SS singing along ashore, it was a dazzling experience! "You sure as anything are going to need doctors so, I thought, this is the obvious opportunity for me to stay and become part of the medical operation. your Farewell Cruise Log! She was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland at a cost of 17 million. era, for now it was an era of cruising! thus placing the Canberra in New York was there at the wrong The men who had boarded the ship were Canberra her role in the Falklands War she had become even more popular was mostly securing the passenger accommodations in order to 2 and 3 Para on "Norland", 25th June from Falklands. her 1983 World Voyage that was booked out with Although well-liked as a cruise ship, SS Canberra spent the majority of her first decade on the Australian run until she was withdrawn at the end of 1972; being refitted to carry 1,500 single-class passengers. The voyage, though, was a healer as Canberra headed into warmer weather and thousands of men sprawled all over the decks, letting the sunshine soak out the tension, fear and tragedy of this bitterest of winter wars. 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