Some of the great ships I sailed on as a young cadet officer. After my ' Mohican' episode I assumed I would be in bad books for the duration of my apprenticeship. However, as I learned later in life, having a certain infamous reputation brings your name to mind when managers are looking to fill important vacancies. My next berth was on the company passenger vessel, the 'Aureol', British mail ship to West Africa. Hated the strict regime on board. Lost my uniform cap as I inspected the bow of the ship in the middle of an Atlantic gale, yours truly dressed in full uniform whites, including the whitened linen shoes. Captain was a complete martinet, waxed moustache and all but in fairness not that unusual for the day. I claimed for my cap on my fathers household insurance, claiming that for all intent and purposes the ship was my home at the time. Cannot remember the company unfortunately but one of their actuaries must have retained a sense of humour, they paid out! My next few berths were the much coveted Aussie run and resulted in a march on HQ by other cadets.
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