I sailed on the DEVONSHIRE(a Bibby line ship) from Port Said to Limassol in April 1956,after being posted from Abu Sueir. The Devonshire, after a distinguished career, took up trooping duties in the 40's before being sold to the British India Steamship Navigation Company in 1962. She was decommisioned in 1967 and scrapped the same year in Italy. br>

The ASTURIAS(Royal mail Line) was used in WW2 as an Armed Merchant cruiser before going on the Migrant run to Australia after the war.In 1953 she was converted for trooping duties until 1957(I sailed home on her from Cyprus in January 1957).In September of the same year she was sent to Faslane to be scrapped.Before the end the ships decks were used to film scenes in the making of the film 'A Night To Remember' the story of the Titanic.

THE EMPIRE CLYDE(Anchor line)was originally the CAMERONIA before being renamed in 1953.Most of her career was involved in trooping.She took part in the North African landings in December 1942 when she was hit by a torpedo, surviving to limp into Bone. From 1948 to 1952 the Empire Clyde was engaged in taking Emigrants to Australia before reverting once more to trooping.I sailed on her from Liverpool to Egypt in October 1955.After a distinguished career she was finally scrapped at Newport on 22 October 1957.

Troopship Devonshire

Troopship Devonshire at Liverpool Docks (courtesy of Tony Carter)

Empire Clyde(formerly Cameronia),built in 1921 and renamed in1953 was decommissioned in1957 before being broken up in Wales.

MV ASTURIAS IN HER ROLE AS A HOSPITAL SHIP

Royal Mail vessel Asturias(2) second of 2 ships of the same name. First one sold to Japan before being scrapped in 1933. The photo shows the Asturias before the dummy forward funnel was removed in 1940. .

Archie Taylor, Chris,John(yours truly)and Mick Rivers aboard Empire Clyde enroute to Port Said October 1955.