HMT
‘Dorsetshire’
(Hired Military Transport) Contributed by Pat HAYNES (49B) (Pat Haynes was recalled to H.Q. on 12th
September 2013. ‘In
Memoriam’.) |
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The MV ‘Dorsetshire’ served as a hospital ship during WWII; where
and when it became to be used as a Troopship is lost in time, She transported
one of the last REME drafts to the Far East. Draft DLKTT departed Liverpool
on 1st September 1953 bound for Aden, Colombo, Singapore and Hong
Kong. On its return to UK it was retired from service. __________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Members
of Draft DLKTT
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Pat
HAYNES, ‘Dickie’ BIRD and ‘Taffy’ BANFIELD were posted to Singapore District Workshop
REME as the first British Ors to work as Refrigeration Mechanics in the
Workshop. Gordon BONNER was posted to Hong Kong.
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(back row) – Dickie
Bird, Spiv Young [ex-Arborfield
48B], Gordon Usher, Gordon Bonner (front row) – Pat Butch
Haynes, Jock Kerr, Taffy Banfield |
(back row) – Geordie
Usher, Spiv Young, Gordon Bonner, Taffy Banfield (front row) – Pat Butch
Haynes, Dickie Bird, Jock Kerr |
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Gordon BONNER 49B features in the photos above and has added the
following comments……… ‘We left Liverpool in October of 1953, arriving in Singapore
six weeks later. I then spent some
time in the Nee Soon Garrison until I embarked on the Empire Windrush to Hong
Kong, arriving in 50 Command Workshop, Yen Chow Street, Kowloon in December
1953. What was interesting was that I
was the only regular soldier in the unit below the rank of Sergeant. All Corporals and the rest were National
Servicemen. I had a long association
with 50 Command in that I was there 1953 to 56, Craftsman to Sergeant, gun
tiffy to 58 Ayres Company, 34 Regt RA 1959 to 60 in Hong Kong with 50 as my
second line support, and finally Captain in 50 Command as O’ic REME Tech
Services Far East 1973 to 76’. Gordon has contributed several items to the web site and they
can be accessed from the links below... |
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_________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Pat has contributed several items to the web site and they can
be accessed from the links below…
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Pat’s Photo Album Pat’s Documents Page. Pat’s Memoire. |
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First Published: 7th November 2006. Latest Updates: 1st November 2013. __________________________________________________________________________________ |
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