Edinburgh History - Leith Docks in the 1940s

Leith Dockers

Thank you to Hugh Hainey, who was brought up at 2 Royston Mains Avenue in the 1940s, for e-mailing me with the following comments.

Hugh wrote:

Leith Dockers - War Service

"Most of our dads were dockers at Leith Docks but in 1942 most of them were conscripted into the RE to form a Dock Squadron.

A lot were blown up in an German air attack on Barri in Italy they were off loading Ammo Ships. There were also Nerve Gases but that has only come to light several years ago.

My dad was blown up and suffered the rest of his life with shrapnel in his spine. He never claimed a pension and continued to work as a docker until he retired he always said that he could not bring up a family on a war pension. (Changed Days.)"

Hugh Hainey, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland: March 2005

Thank you to Brian Fox, now living in Wells, Somerset, England, who wrote:

Furness Withy

"My Father worked in Leith Docks during the war and retired in 1960. He worked for Furness Withy and was in charge of the electric trucks used to unload/load ships.

The docks were a restricted area during the war, but he used to take me with him for a treat on occasions to see his repair workshop. It was quite an adventure for me."

Customs & Excise

"I also worked in the docks in Customs & Excise for about 5 years. They were very busy in those days but as far as I can see most commerce has disappeared now."

Brian Fox, Wells, Somerset, England: May 8, 2006

Wooden War Ship

Question

Jim Telfer-Smith, a MN Engineer from 1942 until 1956, writes:

Training Ship

"What was the name of the old wooden war ship that acted as a training ship? Are there any photographs of her?

The last time I saw her was about the 1950's. All I can remember of her was her gun ports and the deck covered with a wooden cover,

Your help would be appreciated."

Jim Telfer-Smith, Loughborough, Leicestershire: August 7, 2006

Answer 1

Thank you to John Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh who replied, giving the name of the ship as TS Dolphin. Incidentally, the Merchant Navy Officers' web site also has an impressive photo of T.S. Dolphin, taken at night in Leith Docks.

John wrote:

T.S. Dolphin

"The ship is T.S. Dolphin.

When attending Leith Nautical College, in the 50's and 60's, I used to have my lunch on board - her being the training vessel for cooks , stewards etc as well as deck boys.

At that time she was berthed in the East Old Dock

This page from the Merchant Navy Officers' web site gives more details of T.S. Dolphin:

- from its launch in Middlesbrough in 1882

- until it was towed from Leith Docks to be broken up at Bo'ness 95 years later.

John D Stevenson, Trinity, Edinburgh: August 9, 2006

Answer 2

Thank you to Bill Elder, now working at Flotta Oil Terminal, Scapa, Orkney, Scotland, for his recollections below:

'Dolphin Boys'

"I had been a 'Dolphin Boy' for the 14 week training period from 7th Jan 1963. I had been brought up by my Aunt (my mother and Father had died when I was very young) and this training was available to a certain number of orphan boys at each intake.

Arrival from Wick

I remember arriving at the Gates of the then West Dock about 10.30 at night in the middle of a Blizzard! I had travelled all the way down from Wick having left at 6 am that morning. The Dock policeman felt sorry for me and gave me a cup of cocoa before sending me aboard the training ship.

Leith

I spent some great times in the Leith area. My first girlfriend was from the Kirkgate (small world, her mother was from Wick). We used to do our courting in a little cinema along the road from the DK school.

Merchant Navy Career

Like it says in the story about the Dolphin I was one of the thousands of boys who made a career in the Merchant Navy, sailing first with Salvesen's of Leith, also Ben Line and Gibson Curry Line, I also sailed with many other British Company's but the Leith Jobs were best!

North Sea Oil

As the story went on many of us boys found jobs in the ever growing exploration of the North sea. The experience I gained there has led me to a Job at the Talisman Oil terminal on Flotta on the Orkney Islands; not far from my roots but my wife and I chose to stay in Alness, the Best Blooming Town in Britain once again, having just won the Champion of Champions this year.

King of Norway

During my spell on board the T.S.Dolphin I remember we had a visit from the then King of Norway. My aunt said she had received a copy of the Edinburgh Evening News, showing a photo of the King with Captain Tait of the Dolphin and some of the Boys, I was one of the Boys in the group but she never kept the cutting for me to see.

Is there any way with your obviously wide experience that you could direct me to find copies of the photos from that time?

Bill Elder, Flotta Oil Terminal, Scapa, Orkney, Scotland: October 17, 2006

Bill: I suggest that the Edinburgh Room at Edinburgh Central Library might be a good place to start. They have books of Press Cuttings with articles and pictures. These may well include Royal Visits to Edinburgh and Leith.

Try e-mailing them, to see if they can help. I'll send you a note of their e-mail address. - Peter Stubbs: October 22, 2006

Answer 3

Thank you to Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh, who wrote:

Sailings - Leith to Orkney & Shetland

"I don't know about sailing to Denmark, but the North of Scotland Steam Navigation Co used to go to the Shetlands and Orkneys. All their boats carried a few passengers but the one built like a small liner was the St Ninian, then the St Magnus and Olaf.

I sailed on the St Clements to Aberdeen and Kirkwall.

Currie line had a couple of Ships going to Denmark, the Gothland and Horsa"

Bill Elder, Flotta Oil Terminal, Scapa, Orkney, Scotland: October 17, 2006

Recollections by Margaret Adams

Warwick, Warwickshire, England

Thank you to Margaret Adams who wrote:

Liner - 1932

"My dad used to take me walking in Leith docks, and to the sands at the Martello Tower when I was about 7 years old.

He took me to meet my mother when she came off one of the liners in Leith Docks in 1932. The ship sailed to the Orkneys and Denmark but I don't remember its name.

Margaret Adams: June 20, 2007

Question

Do you know the names of ships that sailed from Leith to the Orkneys and Denmark in 1932? If so, please e-mail me and I'll pass on your message to Margaret.

Thank you. - Peter Stubbs, June 26, 2007

Answer 1

Thank you to Donald Jack who replied:

Orkney

"The ships sailing to Orkney would be those of the North of Scotland and Orkney and Shetland Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. They were:

- St. Clair

- St. Magnus

- St. Rognvald

- St. Sunniv

The St. Sunniva was very distinctive, having a bowsprit.

Baltic

They sailed from the Albert Dock. The ships sailing to the Baltic would be those of the Currie Line. They were:

- the Courland.

- the Gothland

- the Hengist

- the Horsa

They sailed from the Victoria Dock. The Captain of the Horsa was David Sinclair (now deceased) who lived at 4 Dudley Terrace

Donald Jack, October 13 + 14, 2007

Answer 2

Thank you to Eric Gold, East London who wrote:

Orkney

"In the 1960s and on to the late 1970s there were two ships that sailed from the Albert and Imperial Dock in Leith to Aberdeen then on to Orkney and Shetland, then back again on the same route to Leith. They were

- St. Clair

- St. Ninian

Eric Gold, East London: October 14, 2007

Answer 3

Thank you to Terry McGuire, Coventry Warwickshire, who wrote:

Sailings - Leith to Orkney & Shetland

"Regarding the entries on the North Of Scotland , Orkney and Shetland boats sailing from Leith, I think the oldest was the 'Amelia'.

She was claimed 'sunk' by the Germans three times during the war, but survived undamaged. I believe she was 'iron built', as opposed to steel.

I remember her at the West Pier berth in Leith, with cargoes of silver sand, much used on football pitches at Easter Road and Tynecastle. I think she was sold on to Greek owners"

Terry McGuire: Coventry, Warwickshire, England: October 27, 2007

Answer 4

Thank you to Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, for providing more details about SS Amelia, mentioned in Answer 3 above.

Walter wrote:

SS Amelia

"I must declare a vested interest here. 'Amelia' was indeed a stalwart regular trader, owned by Cooper & Co. of Kirkwall. Captain George Moody, a friend of our family, who lived inn Dudley Avenue, ran this ship for many years.

SS Amelia, Official Number 104069, was 341 gross tons, built in Ayr in 1894. Her permanent berth in Leith was at the Shore, just opposite Tower Street. She only carried general goods, Leith / Orkney / Shetland / Aberdeen / Leith. and after sixty-one honourable years of service was scrapped at Charlestown in May 1955, having been sold for £3550."

Walter Lyle Hume, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England: October 27, 2007

Recollections by John Ross

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England

Thank you to John Ross who wrote:

Grandfather's Work

"My Grandfather was a night & day watchman in Leith Docks. I can remember him taking me to work when I was on holiday from school. His job was with Landing Craft I can' t remember the firm he worked for.

He also was watchman for a firm called Ruberoid in Granton."

Peanuts

"I also remember, once in Leith docks going up to a big shed which was full of peanuts, shaking the doors and getting some nuts come out through a little gap at bottom.

I thick there was a thing called the ground nut scheme."

Father's Car