ORONTES

I was on board Orontes in August 1956 leaving Adelaide for the UK. A few days into the voyage 5 stowaways were found in a life boat. A teen age girl and 4 siblings. Their mother had died and they were trying to reach their father in the UK. The Orient Line took compassion on them and let them stay aboard housed in the ships infirmary for the rest of the trip.

My parents, sister and I travelled on the Orontes from Southhampton to Melbourne, arriving August 1957. We were on H deck and although the trip was interesting, I thought as a child that the ship was pretty awful. I fondly remember a lovely Irish steward though who stepped in when I’d purposely locked myself into the cabin and he talked me out!

My parents, sister and I travelled on the Orontes from Southhampton to Melbourne, arriving August 1957. We were on H deck and although the trip was interesting, I thought as a child that the ship was pretty awful. I fondly remember a lovely Irish steward though who stepped in when I’d purposely locked myself into the cabin and he talked me out! There was a young woman who died after falling overboard which was very sad.

my Grandparents Reginald and Ella Whiting docked in Adelaide in 1955 on this ship from the UK.

My mother, my sister Rosemary and I were evacuated on the SS Orontes from Colombo, Ceylon in March 1942 soon after Singapore fell. It was a long voyage around the Cape of Good Hope where some of the passengers were persuaded to disembark. We crossed the Atlantic at the height of the Battle of the Atlantic and arrived safely at Liverpool in an air raid.

My mother and father met on the Orontes while travelling from London to Melbourne in 1950. My mother was a nurse from Melbourne and had been living in England with her sister for the past several years. She worked at the Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital. My father was born in Birmingham in England, was evacuated to the country during the war until he joined the Royal Merchant Navy in 1943. In 1947 he went to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, left in 1950, returned home to Birmingham briefly, then left for Melbourne for an adventure with no specific purpose. I have several photographs of them on the ship in a group, before they became acquainted. They met during the voyage and on their arrival in Melbourne they spent some time travelling in Australia, then returned to Melbourne. They were married in August 1951 and had 4 children of which I am the youngest. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2001 and sadly passed away within a month of each other soon afterwards.

Left England February 1958 Traveled to Perth Western Australia arriving labour day Travelled with mother father two brothers and two sisters Came out as £10 pom's Not a single regret about coming to Australia Was twelve when we left now seventy five

We travelled from Tilbury to Sydney in June July 1958. D deck. Wonderful journey except at Colombo. Our much lived table waiter went ashore for a jolly. As the ship was casting off he came running down the wharf at superhuman speed. Alas, it was too late. He rejoined us by plane at the next port which must have been at Fremantle. It was a relief. But consider this, My father, Arthur Braine former LRDG travelled on Orontes in its troop ship colours in March 1945 from Tunisia to Britain. In the Bay of Biscay the convoy was attacked by a German U boat which in turn was sunk by a convoy escort. One of the German ratings on the sub was a distant relative of my father's.

I was 9 when we left England, from Southampton. My Father Stephen, my Mother Joan, myself, ( the eldest) my sister Lesley Ann, another sister Margaret Joyce, and my brother Stephen Joseph. It was an adventure I've never forgotten, it was December 1956', and we landed on 16th Febuary 1957. I remember the whole trip. Crossing the Equator, getting lost in Cape Town. ( my poor Mother) all the Dolphins jumping. Crossing the Panama Canal. It was wonderful!!!

I travelled from southhampton england to australia. in 1953 when i was a small child, i do have memories of contracting measles and being very sick.

Returned to England with my family, mum and dad and my two brothers after emigrating in December 1959. Due to health issues we returned to the UK from Sydney on the Orontes end of January 1960. We enjoyed a brilliant trip and remember the old ship very fondly. I managed at the age of 12 to reach the final of the men’s table tennis doubles which was a little unusual for someone as young as I was. Love to hear from anyone on that voyage.

My Father,Mum and I were passengers in 1949. The only memories I have are pictures of the 3 of us in Colombo enroute to Sydney. I was 15mths old so have not got any recollection at all. My Dad was given assisted passage by his company Alfred Herbert Pty Ltd in Coventry England. It was an opportunity he took up with great pride. Being sent to the new land of opportunity as Sales/Service engineer couldn't have come at a better time. Australia was on a recruitment drive to break into manufacturing and production was a gift of a lifetime. He was sent to Adelaide in 1953 to open the Offices for AH which gave him and mum the chance to buy our first home in Marion. By this time my sister Linda had been born back in Sydney and we acquired our first puppy dog Rex also from Sydney. We thought we had struck gold. Next born Patricia1957 I was hoping for a brother. Kevin soon came along in 1960.Then lastly Julie Anne 1964. I was lucky enough to be presented a Student apprenticeship with Alfred Herbert and sailed off back to the country of birth aboard TS Flavia leaving Outer Harbour Adelaide 1965 arriving a wintery February in Tilbury London. Spent 6years in Coventry returning on Qantas 1971 with my wife Linda and son Marcus 3mths old. I am trying to trace my parents passenger records but have not had much success. Any suggestions greatly accepted.

Came to Australia in 1959, with father, mother, brother and sister, had 10th birthday on board. Such a memorable experience, discovered I did not have sea legs.

Leaving Newcastle upon Tyne Central Station in March 1959 was like witnessing a funeral for the living. Everyone was ashen faced. I was 10, my sister 2, my parents in their early 40s. We were in a cabin on C deck. The Orontes was splendid, wood paneled and luxurious. All was well until just out of Tilbury Dock. The Bay of Biscay was unimagable. To this day I cannot believe what my eyes saw. Waves were towering over the ship. Ropes along the gangways had to be gripped with full strength. I was violently ill, violently ill. Later in the Pacific, it was like looking out over infinite space. It was the most marvelous way to emigrate -- a month in limbo. Unforgettable.

I am a South African and worked as a table waiter in the second dining room on Orontes final voyage. January 1962 to UK. I have vivid memories of serving the 10 pound Poms going to Australia and the more leisurely serving on way back to UK. Yvonne and Heather were two girls at my table going to the Overseas Visitors Club in Earls Court, where I lived between travels. Any suggestions where to find a passenger list for the final voyage?

I am a South African and worked as a table waiter in the second dining room on Orontes final voyage. January 1962 to UK. I have vivid memories of serving the 10 pound Poms going to Australia and the more leisurely serving on way back to UK. Yvonne and Heather were two girls at my table going to the Overseas Visitors Club in Earls Court, where I lived between travels. Any suggestions where to find a passenger list for the final voyage?

I arrived from London to Port Adelaide on the Orontes on 24th March 1955 with my brother and parents. We were taken to Finsbury Hostel then later onto Gepps Cross Hostel. My father Jack Toach was assured work in Australia and my brother had bronchitis and we were advised to move. My father served on the Ark Royal which was sunk during the war and survived 4 days in the water.

My Dad, Mum and 2 brothers left Tilbury for Melbourne on the RMS Orontes on the 23rd July 1957. I know we arrived early on a Sunday morning but am not sure which one. I would love to work out the date of our arrival in Melbourne.

I was on board this ship around 1961, traveling from Sydney/Melbourne to the UK

I was on the Orontes also in 1955 from Southhampton to Sydney via Algiers, Port Said (Egypt) Aden, Columbo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and finally Sydney. A man on the Sydney Harbour Bridge committed suicide by jumping off intending to land on our stern but missed. That was March 30th, 1955. It took 6 weeks from the U.K to Sydney. I was 5 years old. We immigrated from my city Newport in the country of my birth, Wales. It was a wonderful ship, I remember every day we were sailing!!!

When did I arrive in Australia

Yes! left on 4 February 1958, it was my 6th Birthday. Amazing! I remember getting off at Fremantle WA briefly, my father took my 3-year-old brother at the time and me to a park somewhere there. My mother wasn't well so she stayed on board. First and the last voyage on a ship since then, but still have great childhood memories.

Yes! left on 4 February 1958, it was my 6th Birthday. Amazing! I remember getting off at Fremantle WA briefly, my father took my 3-year-old brother at the time and me to a park somewhere there. My mother wasn't well so she stayed on board. Then we travelled to Melbourne where we disembarked and took a train to Mt Isa, but then returned to Melbourne 6 months later for good. First and the last voyage on a ship since then, but still have great childhood memories.

We came to Australia in December 1946 arriving here in January 1947. We travelled on the Orontes and I was 8 at the time

With my parents and 2 sisters we left England on 31 May 1955 to live in New Zealand. We sailed on the Orontes to Australia and then sailed on the Wanganella from Australia to Wellington. Have very fond memories of both ships as a child. Especially our trip from Southhampton to Adelaide stopping at Naples and going through the Suez Canal.

My family (apart from my oldest sister) traveled to the UK around Christmas 1960 on the Orontes. I was just 5 years old, but remember quite a lot about the trip which took about 6 weeks. My Dad was English and had immigrated to Australia many years before, leaving his family of sisters behind. We went over to visit them as one auntie was very ill and we stayed for 2 years.