Well-informed story of 1960s seafaring
c/o Cunard House, by Bill Ferguson
Former seafarer Bill Ferguson has come up with an intriguing book in c/o Cunard House, which blurs the lines between memoir and novel, reflecting his time with Port Line, a Cunard cargo liner subsidiary. The semi-autobiographical story is narrated in the third person through Jack, a Cornish seafarer, and follows his career progression in the 1960s aboard several Port Line refrigerated cargo ships.
'Jack' is also revealed to be a trade union member, rather reluctantly parting with his subs for the old National Union of Seamen (now part of the RMT) at a time when union reps used to come onboard for the cash.
The book's title refers to Cunard House, the London headquarters of Port Line Ltd, where mail for 'sea staff' was addressed before being forwarded to their respective vessels. Ferguson provides a brief background on the British Merchant Navy in the mid-20th century and the skills required, including the deck department rank structure of a Port Line vessel. These ranks are cleverly brought to life during Jack's journey from a country boy on private seafarer training to becoming a deck officer.
c/o Cunard House: 88 Leadenhall Street, London EC3
By Bill Ferguson
Whittles Publishing, £18.99
ISBN: 978 18499 55829
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Salvage story told through a treasure trove of images
In the Wake of the Empress of Ireland, by David Saint-PierreThe sinking of the Empress of Ireland in 1914 remains the worst peacetime disaster in Canadian history. Of the 1,477 people onboard, 1,012 died as the ocean liner went down in just 14 minutes.
Fighting on after D-Day
Normandy: The Sailors’ Story, by Nick HewittTo tie in with the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year, Yale University Press published this detailed and readable book by veteran ship restorer and historian Nick Hewitt, which puts the efforts of the Allied navies in the Battle for France centre stage.
Scotland's WW2 supply crews
Never to Return, by Roderick G MacleanAs remembrance season approaches, we often look out for new titles on the Merchant Navy in wartime, and Never to Return fits the bill this year.
New northern take on the Titanic tragedy
Titanic: The Greater Manchester Connections, by James W BancroftFew maritime tragedies have held such a place in the public imagination as that of the Titanic. The tales and testimonies of passengers aboard that doomed voyage in 1912 have inspired countless books and several film adaptations, some more fictionalised than others.