Built at Vickers-Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd., Newcastle-upon Tyne in 1960 she was 495 feet long and 8,509gt.

Trapped in the Great Bitter lake in 1967 during the Israel Arab war. Abandoned to the London War Risks Insurance Association.

John Hughes's story.

I was the Junior Electrician and was one of the chaps that that departed with the "first wave" so to speak.During the first day of the conflict I was "up the after mast" repairing the navigation lights. The Egyptians were entrenched on the West bank they pointed their rifles at me pretending to shoot. This was just before the first wave of Mirages at approx 0915 hrs. Naturally I scampered down the aft mast ladder rather sharpish and sprained my ankle jumping off the last 8ft of ladder to the deck!!The 6th Engineer and [his father was a "Grand Master of a certain Scottish Lodge"] departed the ship and were given the custody of 6 midshipmen and due to some issues with a group of AB's. This resulted in a night in Cyprus [Nicosia] on the company. [It ended with the middy's being thrown out of a certain night spot!! Since one of them attempted to kiss the "ruby stone" out of the "belly dancers navel". The Chief Engineer (Scottish) had banned the 6th Engineer and I from going ashore together a few times on this last voyage of Melampus [was this the blind leading the blind!].Our journey to Cairo Airport from the Bitter Lakes was by bus and we were escorted by Egyptian armed guards. We were "dressed in our "Blues" as the Egyptians had requested. As expected were sometimes mistaken for the "odd Israeli prisoner" and the "odd rock was thrown at the bus enroute.
.
We travelled from Cairo Airport via the Egyptian Air force in Russian manufactured planes.
I sat at the back of the pane with the stewardess and my mate the 6th engineer (sadly names decay with passage of time). During the flight the pilot came aft during the journey and chatted how he had been trained in Russia to fly the plane.
On this journey to Cairo I carried mail out for some of the Lads that we left behind. We were searched for mail at the airport, however I hid "letters under the white cover of my BF peaked hat which was not found and I posted in the UK. As I'm over 6'2" tall helped on this one.On returning to the UK we were met by immigration and we all had to sign "certain official papers" that precluded all from discussing the situation!Sadly I did not stay on board as I had wished being single, as Jim the Chief Electrician [Scottish Chap] had a family to look after. It was not to be since India Buildings Engineering made the choice that the junior depart ship.

I was signed off the ship by the second engineer a "little chap who was about 5 ft and a fag end high".!!! [Think he was a Geordie].I was due to be "best man at my mates wedding" and the Bitter lakes conflict stopped that one. The wedding present that I bought in Kobe arrived 2 years later in my "sea chest" and stinking of "smelly engine room "jocks & socks" .[No wonder the customs officers kept it sealed.].My BF uniform hangs to this day in my garage minus my cap. I would love a peaked cap with a BF badge to add to it, mine has disappeared over the years.With time I have lost the names of the crew I think the first mate was named "Phil" and a new Captain relived the old Captain in Singapore [he used to wear a trilby and liked tipple of Pink gins" I'm not sure if his nick name was a Pinky Johnson]. I have found Graham with a bit of "Internet detective work" and have just had a chat with him on the phone.
p.s Ian thanks for your website. It has taken me 38 years to "track" and speak to an "old shipmate"!! One day soon I will "digitize" my 35mm slides and send you a few.
I have attempted to contact the 6th Engineer by emailing Liverpool Maritime Museum.Maritime Museum.

Regards
John

31/7/2005