The Northern Star
by Harry Hignett
In 1955 Shaw Savill Lines inaugurated a new service with their new ship Southern Cross. It was not only new but for an ocean liner, it was a revolutionary design. The engines were placed aft leaving most of the hull entirely free for passenger accommodation. With the success of this development, P&o promptly ordered a new, similar vessel from the same builders to be named Canberra. Building on this success the company ordered another similar but larger vessel Northern Star. By 1963 the two vessels were making round-the-World cruises from the UK, each in the opposite direction, one passing through the Panama Canal to the Pacific the other calling at Cape Town on the way to Australia. The Southern Cross had accommodation for 1,200 passengers, and the Northern Star could carry more than 1,400 passengers. To modern travellers the accommodation seems quite primitive, with a few ‘en-suite’ cabins but an abundance of four-berth cabins. The reader will realise this in the diary extracts below. At the time reliable, experienced crews were becoming more difficult to obtain with plenty of work ashore. Seagoing staff wanted short voyages and these Shaw Savill vessels had crews over 400 that would be away for three months.
A doctor with two nursing sisters and 3 stewards were the medical staff to care for passengers and crew, within a fully equipped hospital. An assistant doctor was recruited by offering free passage for a qualified doctor and his wife. Daniel Morgan (known to the officers as Danny) an experienced surgeon joined the Northern star for her inaugural cruise.
Five years later he decided to retire and also during his last voyage, wrote a diary.
The first port of call was Las Palmas where plenty of cheap wine was available. The diary begins a day after leaving Las Palmas for Cape Town
Day 6, Wednesday 31st July 1968
The day began with arguments with crew members maintaining that they were not drunk at logging session (fines for misdemeanour). The surgery was full during the morning and most of those present were suffering from D & v (diarrhoea and vomiting).
A search has been organised to discover hidden booze. Several MAs (master at arms) and officers are briefed on the after deck and then they go off in bunches to search. A large quantity was discovered in the ships laundry. This success came after a tip-off. More booze was found in the Cinema Lounge and the boys are now on the Crown and anchor board.
At 10pm a man reports to me that he wants to be locked up. I’ve never had such a request before. He keeps getting an urge to throw himself overboard. He won’t be talked out of it and in order not to give him a comfortable bed in the hospital I locked him up in the brig in the vain hope that he won’t ask tomorrow night.
The Pursers’ staff are looking for the young girl passengers and asking them to help with Bingo sessions.
A doctor’s wife introduced herself to me in the Tavern and asked me to dance with her. I had not the heart to refuse but she was a silly bitch. Her husband apparently knew me some years ago and told her to find me.
Day 7
The night has been extremely hot. The hospital bell seems to be ringing more than usual.
The young girl whom I saw a couple of days ago is creating. Cabin companions are up in arms, she goes out of her way to make a noise and wakes them during the early hours of the morning.
The next call was from the P.A. (Pethedine addict) who has played on the good offices of the ladies sharing the cabin with her. She is unclean and has been incontinent! There is little doubt now that this is a big social problem.
On the lower deck in a 4-berth cabin there is a lady who climbs onto the chair to pass water into the basin. I was called to see her because she was dizzy. But she is only dizzy when she does the climbing. I then mustered the MAs and Nursing Sister in order that our case of Schizo may get his for the night.
one of the female officers who has been going around with a bandage every night since the voyage began told me that the main reason was that she had a tattoo mark which she wanted me to remove. It all happened when she was in the Wrens many years ago. It’s a swallow with “Mum” written across it. I will have to get her seen to probably at Wellington. She has now quite a complex about this. Her attendances at the various functions are nil because she hates people asking her why is the bandage always on her arm.
Inspections were rather a disappointment, some of the cutlery used in the dining saloon was dirty.
Having heard of the tragedy on the gothic we are going to increase our emergency drill techniques. The gothic, a Shaw Savill vessel in mid-Pacific, suffered a fire in which several crew and passengers died.
I’m quite sick of the man who wants to go overboard. He is just a nuisance now and plays up to it. Unfortunately the best hospital ward is being decorated these days because the weather is not good and painting outside is impossible.
One poor old lady with crutches has found herself in a top bunk. She is completely unable to walk let alone climb. There is a row going on between her and the lady in the berth below. The lady in the berth below is a Christian and teaches the scriptures but won’t let her sit on her berth even for a minute, she says the old lady smells terribly. The Social Hostess has managed to find the P.a., a man who makes her laugh all the time. I give her a talk each day and she has given me quite an interesting account of her life in London. There is little doubt now that some of her problems are of her own making. The P.A. is making things difficult because the B.R.S. (bedroom steward) is isolated with V.D. She insists on seeing him, he does not want to see her for embarrassment. The letter she has written to him is quite odd. She wants his name and address which is indeed something. I think she is out to cause trouble for him.
A German youth has been sleeping with a young girl of 17. Her mother has seven children. The deck officers have reprimanded the girl but the mother says there is nothing she can do about her, because babies 6 and 7 that the mother has really belongs to the daughter.
The South African coast can be seen on the horizon. Cape Town tomorrow
Day 14
The surgery was heavy in spite of last night’s landfall. Many of the people on board seem to have overdone it a bit. A good many have D&V this morning.
The P.a. is a little more settled now but far from having an insight into the problem. Nothing really helps in her case, she just needs a man about her to attend to the natural things of life. The man who wanted to go overboard does not seem to want to go anymore and is planning to drive from Cape Town to Durban. This will help him no doubt.
The Port Health forms are all filled and signed by both Captain and I. after hard work we got all the vaccinations done. Although quite a lot of things seem to be on the map I have little to write about that I have not written about before.
There have been a few telephone calls from the Southern Cross this morning as they passed. Regards have been exchanged between the various officers.
I will be reducing a Colles # (fracture of the wrist) this evening. This is a child who fell from the upper bunk.
Day 26
It was quite an interesting day. No real troubles. Everyone was in the festive mood and this was Landfall Dinner. One woman approached me about losing weight. She guarantees a fall of one pound per day with this machine which vibrates. She guarantees the umbilicus will move 1.5 inches in one week. If thoughts of this meant a little to me I think I would have a go.
The rest of the day was kept quiet. We got rid of our problems at last and all the passengers were happy with the many tours arranged. Everyone was back on board early to listen to the cricket from England. Several business people came to say good-bye to me on my last voyage.
I had a letter from a Dr’s wife in Adelaide asking me up for the day but I could not go really.
Arrival in Melbourne was without much hitch. I was asked by a girl to terminate her pregnancy. She has plenty of money and obviously thinks I can be bought. I sent a specimen for test = +ve. She was disappointed by the result but there is no doubt now.
Mr & Mrs M. came for drinks at night but all was over by 11pm. We landed the fellow with the head injury but picked up another with abdominal obstruction. Bob had to be admitted to the psychosis ward at Melbourne too, unfortunately we had to leave him there and carry his clothes on. A mistake on our part.
Day 32
I forgot to mention Mr S who was doing well with another Mrs S, whose husband was inactive but on board. She just had to be in all the games to prove something. Mr S. is an uncle of a well-known film star. This glory he exploited to the full but during the voyage. She splashed the headlines in a divorce case which knocked him back a bit, but his suntan made him attractive to Mrs S. He was very interested in her too and made very considerable enquiries about ATT. Yes, because she lacerated her knee in a fall. I have never had to cope with such concern and panic.
Day out of Melbourne is a little dull. We are busy with an abdominal obstruction. He has recently been operated on at Fremantle. The surgery was light fortunately.
Four crew members had to be paid off at Melbourne because they are all tangled up with drugs etc.
One man was also running round with a knife. He had to be tackled and put on the bridge and subsequently in the brig.
In the afternoon I was visited by a lady who knew I was friendly with the Chef. Apparently he took her necklace to repair or it might have been a bracelet but anyway it was not returned. The same gentleman passed me a cheque that bounced.
Dr Fitzgerald has been over in England trying to get his new preparations on the market. Two girls on board were attending his cabin each day. They apparently both suffered from asthma and were taken up by his promise of an immediate cure and indeed felt better. One was a married woman and was rather suspicious of it all. She acquired a small quantity of this material and told me about it. When I examined it on the slide under the microscope it was human sperm. No action is going to be taken because he is leaving in two days.
Day 37
In Auckland a glorious evening of arrival and I went out for a T bone steak. Had an early night. Many came the next morning and stayed for a couple of hours. The tours went to Rotorua. This is a sight to be seen. Capt. and others went off to play golf. Many went to the races. Farewell to Auckland was a wonderful sight. Several missed the ship. Some were lucky enough to be brought out by the Pilot boat and others missed altogether. A couple of young 15 year old girls were put off, obviously ditched by boyfriends.
Day 38
Having left Auckland it becomes necessary for the Pursers to have another look through the new passengers. The girls are eyed at the counter with some enthusiasm. Those that reach a certain number of points are recruited for Lotto. If not lotto it is the quiz on Sunday.
On reaching port a great wave of invites are issued by the young officers in opposition to the Stewards. The latter attend dives but the girls all new to Pacific Ports are unable to distinguish. It looks as if Mary is in trouble again. She got rid of one pregnancy on the Australian coast but some of us never learn.
Day 40
It’s a Sunday and one day out of Auckland. One man says his wife is in the Captain’s Cabin. Unfortunately he is obviously coming my way. How long will he last I don’t know.
Another man a German called out in the night to look for his girlfriend. He is already under my care.
The DBS from Wellington, an epileptic, is not taking his tablets and having fits.
The sun is already out and gorgeous. Several cases of sunburns are reporting. Tomorrow is antipodes day and a big antipodes dance is laid on in the Cinema Lounge.
One man (crew member) has jumped at Auckland, married with a kid and his personal effects suggest him to be an outstanding transvestite.
Crossing the international date-line
Day 41
Antipodes day is no different from any other day except that there are a lot of arguments about an extra days pay. Union delegates with their books can’t sort this one out. One girl was lost because she could not see antipodes day on the pill card.
The dance in the cinema is quite busy because they are trying hard to date up for Tahiti.
I am collecting ‘nuts’ in a big way and now I have a girl from Melbourne.
Day 42
We are all getting ready to watch the arrival on board in Rarotonga and about 30 people are getting off. They all arrive in the afternoon. The thought of arriving there makes people quite excited. One girl stowaway from NZ is going to be put off there.
We have a few seasick which is strange as the sea is quite calm.
Big flood in the crew accommodation.
Excitement mounts as we see Raratonga in the distance. Every wing of the ship is full of people looking out as if it was discovered by them personally. It’s quite the usual tropical island. There is a landing strip but not in use at the moment. Hospitals can be made out and the islanders are very proud of these. There is a wreck of a large yacht on the shore. it’s been there for some years now. We took the Americans who were cruising the world in her back with us some four years ago. All attempts to get her off failed. She was a 700 tonner.
Any baby born on the island the day we arrive I understand will be named after us. Tropical plants are arriving by the ton.
We are now on our way to Tahiti. The excitement grows. The Skipper, Purser and wife are on the way to Moorea in a small boat and away from it all. I have been asked but I don’t think I can go really.
A game of Lotto is in progress and last minute dates (tours) for the day in Tahiti are being made. The weather is quite hot.
It has just been made known that two stewards have jumped ship at Raratonga. They made a raft out of drums and jumped over the side and away. The discovery was late, no one would expect this to be possible.
A member of the crew was severely injured and needed urgent surgical action. A steward breaking all the rules, dived into a swimming pool which had very little water therein. He was severely concussed but able to reach his cabin, and then fell into a coma. The surgeon needed to relieve the pressure in head and asked the Chief Engineer for an electric drill. The latter pointed out that the ship’s equipment was unsuitable but suggested that the small drill privately purchased a week or so earlier by the Chief Electrician might be used. The packet containing the drill was unopened and ideal. Five holes were drilled and the man survived.
Day 45
Arrival in Tahiti is quite spectacular. The Tahitian music plays us into place.
The people rush ashore. There is a crowd of stewards on the quay-side all waiting for their respective girl friends. Off they all go to Quinns which is a real dive. Most of them return to be on boat drill at 10:30.
A couple of lifeboats are leaving during the afternoon to take the officers and some girls for a swim. Back at around 5 p.m. The afternoon creates quite a problem when the officers see the girlfriends they have dated coming back arm in arm with stewards and they are high and dry. Unfortunately there is a road traffic accident with a fatality.
One girl from NZ is supposed to land.
Day 46
Some of our schitz are playing up more and more. I have one in the straight jacket. Early this morning we had a burial at sea of the woman killed. Her husband is in the hospital with broken limbs.
Two of our officers were left behind in the hospital after injuries in a car crash. Everyone here is tired out but the surgery was full. However it’s empty everywhere and all seem to be in bed early.
Day 48
Dr C. insists that there is a stowaway on board. Nobody seems to want to believe him but he has the information from somewhere. He has given some details of the man’s nationality and everything. If there is, this man is talking too much.
The girl that should have disembarked is down in the crew quarters every night and laughs at being reprimanded. She is a little bag. Her parents have paid her fare back to Tahiti.
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