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Letters
Family sailed in Marine Phoenix to Australia during 1947 I have just read some of the messages concerning the trips by the “Marine Phoenix” to Australia during 1947. My mother, father and my twin brother and I were on the voyage which departed San Francisco some time during December and crossed the date line on Xmas day 1947. Dad had been an attaché to the Australian Embassy in Washington for 18 months. I remember that we missed Xmas Day. We sailed to Sydney via Pago Pago, Suva and Auckland. It was definitely a troopship with segregated accommodation. Mum was in a large cabin deep in the ship and my brother and I slept head to toe in a 24 person cabin on the main deck. I think that one of us was to sleep with our mum in the female cabin but it was decided that there were things that a little 8 year old could not see. I cannot remember the food so I assume that it was OK and fairly basic. We had a rough trip across the Tasman with waves over the funnel. This brings back some memories especially arriving at the Wooloomooloo Finger Wharf and seeing my grandfather with his big bush hat. All the best
Thank you for taking the time to write about your family voyage in the Marine Phoenix. We are always pleased to be able to add to a specific subject on AHOY. What service was your Father representing as an attache in Washington? Kindest regards, back to letters index |
