One from 1998, an anniversary present for a ex steward who met his future wife on board Orontes -- she was a stewardess on that particular trip !
Picture added on 30 August 2007
Comments:
I was two years old and was on the Orontes on what was supposed to be its last trip to be scrapped in Australia in 1957/58. It ended up the ship went back to Britain. We came to Aus on the ten pound plan. We arrived in Sydney in March 1958. My mother, dad and I were on the boat and our name was Kennedy. I spent some time in the infirmary having my tonsils out. It is great to see a picture of this ship. Thank you for posting it. Cheers Jan
My mother travelled on SS Orontes on the assisted passage scheme, in 1959. I have 4 dinner menu cards (dates Nov-Dec 1959. The artwork is by Douglas Annand.
I came out to Australia with my parents in 1959, We landed in Melbourne. The surname is Luke. Its good t compare the Oronte's with the modern cruise ships, and in 1959 we thought the Oronte's was modern.
We travelled on oronte depart Southhamton July 1960 arrived Adelaide late August.I can still remember a lot of the trip and have many items of intrest. Being a large family mum and dad with six children we shared two cabins on D deck
My brother Jim Burke (R.I.P) and his new bride Veronica Tharme sailed from Southampton on the Orontes and arrived in Station Pier, Melbourne on April 06 1959.
Added by Terri Strange on 04 February 2009.
I travelled from Tilbury and arrived Brisbane march 9th 1961, they had to cut the masts as they were just to high to go under the storey bridge, was first and last time it went to Brisbane, took 6 weeks and 2 days, captains name was Britain,
I joined this ship in Jan '61 as ships assistant carpenter to Jerry White. My first sailing was Tilbury to Sydney via Suez, I did 3 trips and as far as I know it was scrapped in Valencia '62 after I left ship at Tilbury.
I was 8 years old when we sailed on the Orontes from England to Melbourne in 1957. I would love to find out the deck plans if any exist. Can I get a photo ship that I can print out from anywhere please.
My parents, brother and I returned to Australia from England in 1954. We arrived in Fremantle on 25 February 1954. I have been unable to find a departure date for this sailing from London. Does anybody know how long it took?
My family travelled on the Orontes from Southhampton Dec 1959. Arrived in Freemantle Jan 1960, then to Adelaide to Melbourne, where we disenbarked to begin our new life in Australia.
hi, do you have any information on the orontes being used as a troopship in 1942 my father sailed on the same named ship on 23rd of june from alexandria to sicily ready to invade italy and are there any pictures of the ship during the war years thanks
My Grandfather sailed from Tilbury Docks to Brisbane on the 'Orontes' 100 years ago in January 2010. He was in his 20's and came to Austalia to make a new life. He ended up farming in NSW and was very proud to name his farm 'Orontes'. As the date just recently passed, it was quite a nostalgic day with lots of thoughts on the hardships of leaving a family behind and particularly the great vision he must have had. The farm is still in our family to this day. Another interesting fact is that we still remain in contact with all of his family in England & also Canada. We are now up to the 5th generation in this country, all bought about by his brave decision to depart his homeland and start a new life.
Added by Anne Gunn on 04 February 2010.
My Father sailed from Tilbury Docks to Brisbane on January 7th 1910 on the first "Orontes" and returned on this the second "Orontes", to visit his homeland in 1950.
Added by Joy Drury on 14 February 2010.
My mother in law and son and daughter came from Tibury to Melbourne around 1949 , joan lee, and daughter Donna son Tony( born Utrecht1948 ) on trip back to australia from Holland
I am preparing a new book in which the second Orontes features and would welcome photos (especially interior) of the ship and details of any souvenirs such as dinner menus, voyage calendars or other memorabilia, especially pre-WWII. I will ensure you receive full credit if the materials are used.
A beautiful picture. I remember Orontes with great affection. I sailed in her from October 1960 right up to her last voyage, paying off on 19th February 1962. Incidentally was the Stewardess's first name Shirley. I seem to remember a lovely couple, he a Steward who were very much in love and I do remember a wedding. When I look at this picture I remember having a photograph taken with a pal. We were sitting on the gunn'ell under the lifeboat which can be seen on the starboard side forard well deck. I have often wondered what might have became of us had we leaned back a bit too far and gone over the wall.
i was asst headwaiter on orontes 1958 1960 nice memories
Added by Bert Sanchez on 30 April 2010.
I came to Melbourne on the Orontes . We left Tilbury in Dec 1959 via Suez, arriving in Jan 1960. I came with my Mum, Dad, sister & brother.Our Surname Matthews.
Added by Jacky Veltman on 03 May 2010.
Built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow as were most Orient Line ships. She was completed in 1929 and was scrapped in Spain in 1962.
Jacky Veltman and family must have been on the same voyage as my family.
Added by Kirsi Sade on 03 May 2010.
My father, James Donaldson, served on the Orontes in the early 1950's. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who may remember him. He worked in the engine room. He served in the British Merchant Navy from 1950-1956 and would have served on other ships as well. Any information would be appreciated.
Alasdair, I have dinner menu from the night of the equator crossing also full passenger list for the 9 May 1961 migrant trip Tilbury - Australia arriving Sydney 15 June. Any good to you?
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I was one of the first families sponsored by the presbyterian church of australia. we travelled from Tilbury docks on Orontes (pictured) in 1957 TV, news paper reporters greeted us after docking in Melb.
Added by Iain bremner on 15 October 2010.
I sailed on Orontes the latter part of 1956. We were diverted to Singapore to pick up Refugees from Jarkata and take them to Holland. Bickford, His Brother was ChiefSteward on the Oronsay, which I rejoined after this trip on Orontes, Fond memories
My family sailed from Tilbury in June 1959 on the Orontes, arriving in Melbourne on the 13th July. I was eight at the time and have been told that the ship was reported as missing at sea when all contact was lost for two days during a violent storm. My families name is Harbisher.
I traveled with my mother to Sydney from Tilbury on the Orontes in 1948 to catch up with my father who had gone out about 6 months earlier in the Orion.
My parents, sister and brother left Tilbury on the SS Orontes in 1960 for Adelaide. We arrived in Adelaide on 1st. May 1960. I was 8 years old then. I still have fond memories of the trip. My dad being a Church of England minister was able to take services when needed on board.
Added by Mark Robjohns on 24 November 2010.
SS Orontes made a voyage as a troop ship in 1946 from Bombay, sailing on 30th June making land fall at Southampton 16th July. Capt V.U.Hinds was one of the passengers.
Hi to all the Oronties passengers from the 1957 voyage to Melbourne...I was 11 at the time , could anybody tell me how long the voyage took , and a passenger name list arrived in Australia May 1957, I am now 66 and this piece of nostalgia has made my day looking through these archives.thanks Kay Richardson.father Fredrick Alfred Richardson, mother Ivy Lillian.
hello I was only 14 months old and learnt to walk on this ship, have some wonderful photos of us on board , it was just mum and dad and I . still living in wa and loved reading everyones comments . Elaine Chapman (Kenna)
Added by Elaine Chapman (Kenna) on 08 January 2011.
My father, aged 5, his twin baby sisters and my grandparents travelled on the Orontes in May 1939 after fleeing Nazi Germany. My grandfather had already been interned in a concentration camp called Sachsenhausen, Oranienberg - this was just prior to the war and he was released and told to leave Germany immediately - they arrived in Melbourne in May/June 1939 - my family have menus from the ship and postcards from the various ports, possibly photos - That ship helped save my family's life and led to a wonderful life in Melbourne far from what went on to happen in Germany.
Added by Fran Baum on 09 January 2011.
My dad was in the merchant navy, this was the name of his ship..does anyone have any copies of the ship or any information on it......
Maureen, if you go to www.pnc.com.au/~byceme/orontes/ORONTES.htm you will find lots of postcard views of this and previous ships of the same name. Not sure of the relevance of the capitals but that's how it appears in the site name so best to type it this way. Wikimedia will also give you details of measurements etc.. Good hunting
My mother, father and I travelled on the Orontes in May 1957 (Fredrick, Joan and Philip Reid)to Melbourne. I would love to find out who else travelled on the same voyage. Does any one have a passenger list? My parents occationally talk about the voyage and mention names on the trip.
this is the 55th Anniversary of my arrival in Sydney with my parents and brother and sister. The picture of the the ship at sea of the Australian Coast is a poignant reminder of a memorable voyage and the beginning of of a wonderful life in Australia
To celebrate the 55th Anniversary of my arrival in Sydney in November 1956. My wife Pat and I are revisiting the Fremantle to Sydney voyage on P&O Pacific Sun departing Fremantle 28 October and dur to Arrive Sydney 5 November.
My Mother brought us two children to Australia on the SS Orontes in 1956. I was 5, my sister 6. Memories are vague, we had to come around the Cape, because Suez Canal was having strife, would love to know more about her and have a passenger list or any other memorabilia from that trip, photocopies that is, just so as I can add it to our family History. If anyone can help with things like that, please let me know, even the dates of sailing and arrival I am unaware of. Our last name is White.
My daughter has given me this site. We were on the Orontes May/June 1961 voyage, possibly the youngest family ...my wife & I were 22 and we had an 18 month old daughter...it all seemed a big adventure.....could we do it now ? I doubt it !
I remember sleeping on deck as it was too hot below & waking up in the morning realising you had to bunk down FORWARD of the funnels, otherwise you were covered in soot !
We arev celebrating our 50th anniversary in OZ this year and are going to Sydney for a week to relive some memories. When we disembarked our daughter's photo was on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. SO glad I found this link...Flora & Tom Blackwood
My Mother Angela von Keudell (age 20)took this ship on July 13th 1955 from Sydney, Australia to London to marry her future husband Dr.Siegfried Rosenbaum from melbourne Australia. Does anyone remember my mother. She travelled alone for 6 weeks.
Loved our voyage on the Orontes in May 1957. What fun we children had. Thanks, Australia, for sponsoring us all. Australia is now home to about 36 of us.
I was on the Orontes that arrived in Fremantle on 25/02/1954. I was on my way to Sydney. I thought that it was the last voyage for the Orontes. I was not a sponsored passenger, although I was in a cheaper cabin for 2 we had the run of the ship all classes, that was very fortunate. I have the passenger list somewhere in the old suitcase I came with. Being French I did not speak any English still I had a good time on the Orontes.
re the Orontes. I had a great aunt named Harriet Elizabeth Ebsworth who left Bribane and arrived in the UK on the 15th February 1913. I am wondering how I can find a year when she left the UK on the outwood voyage. She appears to have been a medical student, age 25. roy smith
I would like to communicate and share memories with anyone who travelled / worked aboard Orontes on the May / June 1961 voyage. Our family were aboard and disembarked at Adelaide on 10th June (I think)
I came to Australia (Sydney and went to Cabramatta Hostel) in November 1959 (and that was supposed to be it's last trip but was wrecked in Spain in 1962) as a nine year old who emigrated from Belfast.
My parents and my two siblings arrived from the UK on assisted passage on the Orontes. it docked at Port Adelaide 10.06.61, They are very excited about it being their 50th year in Australia. ( I was born sometime later)
Today 10/6/61, fifty years ago the Orontes docked at Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide where I disembarked, aged 26. I have many happy memories of the voyage, but it was hot going down the Red Sea. I remember the waiters bringing ice cream at 11.00A.M. and sleeping on the deck as our small cabin on "D" deck was shared by 6 young blokes and had zero ventilation. There was a following wind which didn't help the ventilation system. I loved the old ship, it was a real ship and it had character!!
I have an old painting/canvas of the Orontes on the Suez Canal
Added by Dawn on 22 June 2011.
I sailed from England to Melbourne in 1960. Two things l do remember is dad being very cross just because l embarrassed him by being sick at the dinning room table on our first night at sea and getting chucked out of the womens toilets by a steward. For some reason the gents toilet bowls were to high for me to have a wee. I dont remember where l went after that. In my defence l was only four. Im sure l had some good times.
Added by Gary Morris on 26 July 2011.
Hi My name is Eddie Vella I sailed from Sydney to Naples with my mum on the Orontes 31st August 1960..What a great trip that was I was 19years old and had a great time, , , , We spent 6 months in Malta and Travelled back to Sydney on the SS Oronsay in March 1961
Ah, brings back wonderful memories. Was anyone on the Orontes that arrived in Sydney (ex Tilbury via Suez) on Saturday morning 16th May 1953? My Mother, Father & Brother arrived in Australia to live.
Hi My father was an officer on the Orontes 1960/61 his name was Frederick (Freddie) Morgan I believe he was a Junior Engineer, does anyone remember him. He was presumed to be lost overboard sometime during 1961.
Mum and I sailed on the ORONTES from Tilbury on the 7th May 1954 and arrived in Melbourne on the 7th June 1954, having traversed the Suez Canal during a difficult time and just before the ships stopped coming out that way. Anyone out there who was on that sailing, I would love to hear from you. I was 16 years old then and my name is John Dickinson
I did four trips on Orontes as senior ordinary seaman from 15-7-1957 to 3-8-1958 I boxed for passenger entertainment, was tea chest base player in crew band called Deep Sea Rythm Boys. Chip Pan was our bosuns mate and my job was to empty swimming pool every night, scrub it all down with liquid soap and disinfectant. then refill. We were in the Indonesian crisis and were last passenger ship through Suez Canal owing to bombing. We had woman overboard in great Australian Bite. I have a million stories of life on Orontes also paper reviews if anyone interested. I also deck crew photographs
Glad to hear of another deck crew member . I was beginning to think she sailed without seamen. TED GREGG , E. DECK AFT 1952/3
Added by TED GREGG on 03 October 2011.
My family migrated on the Orontes in January 1957 for Perth, I was 10 and remember a happy trip with table tennis, swimming and the crossing of the Equator. Memories include visits to Las Palmas, Cape Town and Durban on route, and a particularly rough day crossing the Bay of Biscay. I have copies of the passenger list and several menus.
Added by Henry Houghton on 14 October 2011.
Hi Henry, I'm not sure if I came out in 56 or 57, could you check the Passenger list for me?
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My family & I migrated to Australia on the Orontes departing Tilbury docks & arriving in Melbourne on 6th April 1959. I was the youngest at 8 years of age. Our cabin steward was Mr Luck who used to entertain my brother & I while our parents played Bingo, referred to at the time as 'Housey Housey'. I recall my father won the fancy dress night award as 'A stowaway from Aden' my mother having lambasted him in a cocoa concoction to colour his pale skin. Ha!....it would be politically incorrect to do that these days. I also recall the port of Aden & all the locals in small boats alongside the ship selling their wares i.e. timber & leather camel pouffe, one of which we bought at the time. Anyone who is happy to share copies of photos or menu's etc please contact me. Cheers.
On the 3rd of october Jimmy Forman [ordinary seaman], mentioned the'deep sea rhythm boys'and a woman overboard in the "bight". Firstly the band was founded by John Sharplin and Leslie Long. They were stewards. They are both deceased after many years living in Adelaide. The woman who went over the wall was miss Adele Duffield, who was a friend of theirs. When on leave they all used to board at Johns parents house in Gillingham. One of Johns younger brothers, (David), was also a steward on the Orontes and Oronsay. David is 74 an lives in Qld. I am Roger, Johns youngest brother! I also live in Adelaide and see Johns family often. I am also an ex steward. A 4th brother, richard (now deceased) was an able seaman! He regarded us as housemaids with testicles! Our father was 26 years Royal Navy, so it was a tradition in our family to go to sea. I am now 64 and live quietly here in adelaide with my wife of 27 years. You may have known David as well Jimmy! Best wishes to all ex crew!
My brother and I departed Tilbury October and arrived in Sydney on 1 December 1960 aboard the "Orontes". We came under a Dr Barnardo's program and were later referred to as "unaccompanied child migrants" (part of the stolen generation?). WE came from the East End and when we arrived in Australia we lived in Kiama on the South Coast of NSW. We thought we had died and woken in heaven. I remember picking up the Australian Olympic Team in Naples (1960 Rome Olympics) and my brother and I sharing a table in the dining room with Betty Cuthbert. Great memories.
My Dutch father, Gerard van der Sommen, sailed for Melbourne on the Orontes on 26 April 1950. Whether the ship called at Rotterdam or if he would have had to travel from there to Tilbury first I do not know. He described the Orontes as a beautiful ship and the passengers as quite an international lot. He played bridge each night with a French textile dealer, an English farmer's son and a New Zealand sheep farmer and shared a cabin with another Dutchman. He was working on his knowledge of the English language and found plenty of passengers to practice with. Each morning he was awakened at 6.30 by the "bath steward", had tea in his cabin at 7.15am and in his letters home described the breakfasts elaborate, lunches lavish with the finest foods and dinners quite formal. There were 1100 passengers and 485 crew onboard. English Player cigarettes were very cheap (1.25 guilders for fifty!) We, his family joined him in Australia the following year but sailed on different ship.
I was 12 yo when she was scrapt by my uncle in Valencia. She was the first big liner I had seen. I remember tha I liked to wander with my dog by the quiet decks, cabins, ..... There are still in my house some furnitures from the Orontes.
Cheers
Jan
Added by Jan on 17 September 2007.