Archifdy Ceredigion Archives
MUSEUM COLLECTION

Acc. 2934

Ref: MUS/230/1/10

MUS/230/1/10: Capt. Roberts post-Samkansa career
The Samkansa was sold in 1947 and by September of that year he was serving on the Otrantes. He may have been Chief Officer on the Orion in April the following year and was serving on the Orantes by the following September. By October of 1948 he was on the newly launched Orcades and went on leave of absence with the International Refugee Organisation before appearing on the trooper Empire Orwell in May 1951. The Orcades sister ship, the Oronsay, was launched in 1951, Roberts being its Staff Comander, temporarily taking over as captain in November 1952. He was appointed captain of the Otranto in December 1954 and April 1956, of the Oronsay in May of 1957 and May of 1958, of the Orcades and then the Orion in 1959.
In the earlier part of this period Roberts received letters at the Tring and Icklesham vicarages. The Rev. W. T. Rees, incumbent of Tring, 1942-47, and Icklesham, 1947-1952, is likely to have been a connection of his wife, nee Mary Rees, of Llandre. A William Thomas Rees is listed in Crockford’s 1924 directory as a graduate of Lampeter (1910), a naval chaplain 1914-18, thereafter an RAF chaplain, retaining the relative rank of squadron leader until 1954 at least (Supplement to the London Gazette, 10 August 1954). See MUS/230/2/1/3 for possible photograph.

MUS/230/1/10/1
Material relating to the period 1947 to 1951, prior to Roberts’ appointment to the Oronsay.

MUS/230/1/10/1/1
Letter from Admiral Sir John H.D. Cunningham, First Sea Lord, Chief of Naval Staff, to Lieutenant Commander R.W. Roberts R.N.R. of the Orantes, agreeing to give his recommendation for Robert’s becoming an ‘Elder Brother’, presumably of Trinity House.
19 September 1947

MUS/230/1/10/1/2
Typescript document, ‘Orion. Duties of Master-at-arms: Sea Routine.
January 1947

MUS/230/1/10/1/3
SS Orion Arabian Sea Meeting Race Card, Chief Officer’s copy, gatefold on pink card.
6 April 1948

MUS/230/1/10/1/4
Draft letter dated from the Orcades c/o Vickers Armstrong shipyards, Barrow-in-Furness, to the Orient Steam Navigation Co. Marine Superintendent, concerning details of the ship’s equipment. This suggests that Roberts was involved in the ship’s fitting out.
17 September 1948

MUS/230/1/10/1/5
Two page document from the Shipyard Manager’s Office, Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furnace, minutes of a meeting held 29 September concerning the provision of fire precautions when the Orcades joined the ship, anticipated to be 6 October.
8 October 1948

MUS/230/1/10/1/6
Merchant Navy Clothing Book issued to Richard Roberts, The Vicarage, Tring.
16 February 1949

MUS/230/1/10/1/7
Copy of letter, in envelope addressed to Roberts at the Vicarage, Icklesham, from International Refugee Organisation (RFO) to the Orient Steam Navigation Company, commending Captain Roberts, who had been seconded to their Shipping Division.
29 August 1949

MUS/230/1/10/1/8
Confidential report on the transport of displaced persons from Naples to Australia. Apparently written by Roberts when he had completed a voyage to Australia on the Orcades following his RFO secondment.
1949-1950

MUS/230/1/10/1/9
1. Report on the conduct of J.C. Pyburn, 3rd Radio Officer. S.S. Orcades, voyage ending November 1949.
2. Slip, ‘G’ Deck Crew Cabins’ locks, S.S. Orcades, Voyage 5 �" Out.
29 December 1949

MUS/230/1/10/1/10
Two pages of documents, ‘Duties of the Master of Arms’ and ‘Fog and Closing of Scuttles Organisation’, the first of which is dated from the Orcades.
January 1950

MUS/230/1/10/1/11
Deck Department Report Sheet: S.S. Orcades Voyage 5, including a report on Chief Officer R.W. Roberts as, ‘A very excellent officer’. Five pages, undated.

MUS/230/1/10/1/12
Printed notice from the Merchant Navy Hotel, announcing the opening of their London Hotel on 5 February 1951
1950-1951

MUS/230/1/10/1/13
Card, addressed to R.W. Roberts (Staff Captain), c/o Vickers Armstrong, giving details of Merchant Navy Defence Course (Officers), to be held at HMS Eaglet, Salthouse Dock, Liverpool.
8 February 1951

MUS/230/1/10/1/14
Ship’s Standing Orders for the troopship Empire Orwell, addressed to the Staff Commander. The Empire Orwell was the refitted German liner Pretoria. On this occasion the ship was transporting the Royal Sussex Regiment.

MUS/230/1/10/2
Material relating to the Oronsay in the period 1951-54, when Roberts was Staff Commander. The ship was launched 30 June 1950. As with the Orcades, it appears that Roberts was involved in the Oronsay’s fitting out.

MUS/230/1/10/2/1
Report, ‘Some Aspects of the Oronsay fire in the Buccleuch Dock, Barrow-in-Furness, on the night of Saturday 28 October 1950’.
1950

MUS/230/1/10/2/2
Vickers-Armstrong, program of harbour trials for the Oronsay, three pages.
20 February 1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/3
Document from Shipyard Manager’s Office, Arrangements agreed with Captain Shurrock … with regard to arrival of Oronsay’s crew, 29 March, six pages.
27 March 1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/4
1. Covering letter from the Orient Company Managers to Oronsay’s captain concerning seating plan for luncheon to be held onboard on 15 May.
11 May 1951
2. Two page seating list.
3. Seating plan. Two copies.
4. Ship’s particulars, presumably produced for the luncheon.

MUS/230/1/10/2/5
1. Letter from the Orient Company Managers to the Oronsay’s captain concerning three further luncheon parties. Three pages.
2 August 1951
2. Minutes of a meeting held to discuss administrative details for the 15 May luncheon. Two pages.
1951
3. Ticket or invitation card for the Inspection of the R.M.S. Oronsay at Tilbury Dock, 21 August 1951. Three copies.
1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/6
Souvenir booklet, ‘Oronsay, list of guests 22nd August 1951’.
22 August 1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/7
Souvenir booklet, ‘Oronsay, technical details’.

MUS/230/1/10/2/8
Reproduced fliers or handouts for deck activities on Oronsay’s Voyage 2 �" Outward.
1. Aquatic sport, illustrated with humorous hat-wearing fish.
1 September 1951
2. Invitation to a treasure hunt, doggerel verse and clues illustrated with semi-erotic sketch. Two pages, two copies of first page, one of second.
8 September 1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/9
SS Oronsay, Voyage 3 �" Home: uses of the broadcasting system. Attached: Orcades loudspeaker grouping; Orion loudspeaker grouping; Oronsay loudspeaker grouping.
1951-1952

MUS/230/1/10/2/10
‘Orientations’, 14 stanza poem celebrating ‘titbits and topicalities/ on board the Oronsay’, by Basil Dowling. Two pages.
January 1952

MUS/230/1/10/2/11
Letter from the Orient Company Managers informing Captain Roberts that as Captain Shurrock had left the Oronsay, he was to draw captain’s pay for the remainder of the voyage.
26 November 1951

MUS/230/1/10/2/12
Draft letter from Oronsay’s captain to Mr Geddes of the Orient Company, concerning the proposed ship’s sports office. Two pages.
18 November 1952

MUS/230/1/10/2/13
Copy of a letter from the Managers to Oronsay’s Captain, at Tilbury Docks, extending their good wishes for the ship’s first Pacific voyage.
24 November 1953

MUS/230/1/10/2/14
Report on Pacific Voyage 1. S.S. “Oronsay”, by J.D. Bates, Sydney. 11 pages.
21 May 1954

MUS/230/1/10/2/15
Typescript information leaflet, ‘The Cocos Isands’, S.S. Oronsay. Mentions Royal visit 5 April 1954.

MUS/230/1/10/2/16
Itinerary details for Oronsay’s Cruises Nos. 26-7, Cruise No. one page each for: Athens; Syracuse (4 September); Cadiz (7 September); Syracuse (17 September); Famagusta (20 September); Beirut (21 September); Rhodes (23 September); Messina (25 September); Algiers (27 September); Lisbon (29 September); Palma. 13 Pages.
September 1954

MUS/230/1/10/2/17
Letter from the Orient Company Managers to Oronsay’s Captain, c/o Southampton, ordering him to proceed to Hamburg for turbine repairs. Includes copies of correspondence between the Company and Hamburg concerns. Four pages.
30 September 1954

MUS/230/1/10/2/18
Letter from the Managers to Roberts ordering him to relinquish command of the Oronsay to Captain Hawker on arrival at Tilbury and to proceed on leave before taking over the Otranto from Captain Pinckney.
8 October 1954

MUS/230/1/10/2/19
Navigational report or document, Courses and distances etc. Sydney to Vancouver, supplied to Second Officer Oronsay from Second Officer Aorangi. Ends with passing kindest regards to Staff Commander Roberts ex Samkansa. Two pages.

MUS/230/1/10/2/20
Staff Commander’s copy of Guessing Competition, S.S. Oronsay, printed on card.

MUS/230/1/10/2/21
Envelope, ‘Views of Orient Line “Oronsay”, containing ten black and white photographic prints, all of views of first class facilities.

MUS/230/1/10/2/22
Christmas card, from on board the Orient liner Oronsay, with aerial view of ship, in embossed card folder with ribbon. Two copies, one inscribed, ‘To my darling May/Mary with all my love’.

MUS/230/1/10/2/23
Four page typescript document, Public Inspection of R.M.S. “Oronsay” on Sunday 24 June.

MUS/230/1/10/3
Material from the period 1954, when Roberts took command of the Otranto for the first time, up to 1961.

MUS/230/1/10/3/1
Notices of appointments from the Orient Steam Navigation Company to Captain Roberts.
1. Appointment as Captain of the Otranto as from 28 November.
13 December 1954
2. Appointment as Captain of the Otranto as from 1 April.
17 April 1956
3. Appointment as Captain of the Oronsay as from 22 May.
5 June 1957
4. Appointment as Captain of the Oronsay as from 6 May.
20 May 1958

MUS/230/1/10/3/2
Handwritten draft of motivational speech intended to be delivered on the boat deck of the Otranto to the crew in the early part of the voyage. High adventure is promised. Five sides of lined foolscap.

MUS/230/1/10/3/3
Captain’s copy of the Otranto’s Dance Record Catalogue. Begins with Vaughn Monroe and Orchestra’s Mexicali Trail Sound Off and ends with the March of the Cards from Alice in Wonderland (Hugo Winterhalter and Orchestra). Nine pages.

MUS/230/1/10/3/4
Typescript document, ‘Lessons from S.S. Stratheden’, concerning the misadventures and loss of life that ensued by the Stratheden went to the rescue of a Greek trawler. Two copies, one single and one two page,
June 1955

MUS/230/1/10/3/5
Documents relating to a suspected case of small pox on board the Orion at Naples.

MUS/230/1/10/3/5/1
Handwritten covering letter from Naples to Roberts on the Orion at Tilbury Docks, with enclosed copy of five page letter from Holme & Co. of Naples to the Orient Company Managers reporting on a case of suspected small pox on the Orion (this turned out to be chicken pox (see MUS/230/1/10/3/6/2)
30 June 1959

MUS/230/1/10/3/5/2
1. Covering letter from the Orient Company Managers to Roberts at Sea Haven, Borth.
15 July 1959
2. Copy of two page letter from the Orient Company Managers to John Hatch at Transport House, thanking him for his kind remarks concerning his happy voyage on the Orion, despite the unfortunate occurrence of chicken pox at Naples (see MUS/230/1/10/3/5).
15 July 1959
3. Copy of two page letter, on Labour Party headed paper, to the Managing Director of the Orient Line, from John Hatch, congratulating them on the conduct of the Orion’s officers, in particular in relation to the crisis at Naples.
13 July 1959

MUS/230/1/10/3/5/3
1. Covering letter from the Orient Company Managers to Roberts at Sea Haven, Borth.
15 July 1959
2. 2. Copy of letter from the Orient Company Managers to Dr G.R. Staley, thanking him for his letter.
15 July 1959
3. Copy of letter from Dr Staley to the Company, thanking it for their cheque for fifty guineas and praising Captain Roberts of the Orion.
9 July 1959
4. Copy of letter from the Company Managers to Dr Staley thanking him for his assistance during the illness of the Orion’s Surgeon, particularly on arrival at Naples, and enclosing a cheque for thirty guineas.
8 July 1959

MUS/230/1/10/3/6
Copy of press release reporting the arrival of the Orcades at Manila carrying more than 400 passengers on a round-the-world cruise.
11 April 1959

MUS/230/1/10/3/7
Order of service for Remembrance Day on Board the Orcades, card.
8 November 1959

MUS/230/1/10/3/8
Orient Line. “Orcades”. Record Catalogue. Twenty-two pages, bound.

MUS/230/1/10/3/9
Documents concerning Oronsay’s encounter with Typhoon Mamie.

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/1
Six Marconigram messages addressed to Oronsay concerning first the relay of an SOS message from the Irish Ash, which was unable to assist, and then the distress of various Japanese fishing boats caught in bad weather. Final message requests further information.
17-18 October 1960

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/2
Two pages of ship’s log for Monday 17 October, detailing worsening weather conditions, seas reported as ‘huge’ through the late morning.
17 October 1960

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/3
Extract from messages received by the Oronsay on subject of SOS sent by Japanese fishing vessel Aburatsu and rebroadcast from Irish Ash. Twp copies, second copy signed by Radio Officer.
17-18 October 1960

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/4
S.S. Oronsay. Messages received relative to SOS calls and Typhoon Mamie with synopsis of action taken. Three copies.
20 October 1960

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/5
Two page typescript, ‘Oronsay’s Experience of Typhoon Mamie’. Five copies. First four copies identical, the fourth with handwritten corrections and emendations. These are followed in the fifth copy, which is signed.

MUS/230/1/10/3/9/6
Two page typescript, ‘Draft, Typhoon’, apparently not completed. With a nod to Conrad, Roberts reports how Oronsay was overtaken by the typhoon and attempted to go to the aid of a Japanese fishing boat in distress, but was obliged to heave to.

MUS/230/1/10/3/10
1. Orient Company Chairman’s Newsletter, November 1960, six pages, marked Private. Concerns government financial aid for construction of Cunard liner to replace Queen Mary, presumably the QEII; a royal inspection of the Oriana; staff training courses.
November 1960
2. Attached photograph showing Queen inspecting a dish washing machine.
21 October 1960

MUS/230/1/10/3/11
Program of P & O Orient Lines Passenger Sailings: 1. Outward; 2. Homeward.
December 1961.

MUS/230/1/10/4
Undated post-war material, including much concerned with crossing-the-line ceremonies and Australia Day commemorations. The collection includes photographs of what are likely to be wartime crossing-the-line ceremonies (MUS/230/2/2/12-14).

MUS/230/1/10/4/1
List of provisions, ‘Cocos Barrel’, from butter to cake, on R.M.S. Orion headed notepaper.

MUS/230/1/10/4/2
Crossing the Line: King Neptune.

MUS/230/1/10/4/2/1
Printed crossing the line certificate on card purporting to be issued by Neptunus Rex aboard the Orcades. Three copies, one pink, two green. One of latter filled out in pencil, ‘at 0630 May 17th 1949.
17 May 1949

MUS/230/1/10/4/2/2
Orient Line crossing the line certificate issued by Neptunus Rex on board the Oronsay. Design by Douglas Shenton Annand (1903-1976), an Australian artist and graphic designer who carried out a number of commissions for the Orient Company in the post war period, including murals.
1951-

MUS/230/1/10/4/2/3
Printed colour crossing the line certificate issued by Neptunus Rex. Design by Lynton Lamb (1907-1977), English artist and designer best known for book jackets, posters etc. Two copies.

MUS/230/1/10/4/2/4
Rejected dialogue for a Crossing the Line ceremony, involving King Neptune, Davy Jones and the Ship’s Captain. Pencil on foolscap, apparently draft for following (MUS/230/1/10/4/2/2).

MUS/230/1/10/4/2/5
‘Crossing the Line’. At Sea, S.S. Oronsay. Reproduced two page typescript dialogue, with line illustration, involving King Neptune, Davy Jones and the Ship’s Captain and others. Two copies.
1951-

MUS/230/1/10/4/3
Papers relating to Australia Day and New Zealand Day.

MUS/230/1/10/4/3/1
Two page typescript, Australia Day’, text of speech or address, apparently by an Australian. Two copies, one incomplete.
1952-

MUS/230/1/10/4/3/2
Three page typescript, ‘Australia Day, 26th January. Introductory Remarks and Short Historical Survey. Text of speech or address.

MUS/230/1/10/4/3/3
Two page typescript, ‘New Zealand Day’, introductory remarks and address to be delivered by Mr …

MUS/230/1/10/4/3/4
‘Australia Day’; New Zealand Day’, poems written by A.P. Herbert on board Oronsay.
1951-

MUS/230/1/10/4/3/5
Copies or reproductions of documents relating to voyages to Australia in the 1890s.
1. Three page typescript, ‘Copies of letters from Master of Barwue Saranack to his owners in New York, written while vessel discharged cargo at Freemantle, October �" November 1892.
2. Poster or illustration, ‘On the “Thomas Stephens” London to Sydney, with scenes of shipboard life.

MUS/230/1/10/4/4
‘Programs arranged for (Sunday) recitals of Light Classical Music (Recorded)’. Voyage 6 Homeward. The dates given indicate that this was one of the following years: 1950; 1961; 1967.

MUS/230/1/10/4/5
‘Modifications to Uniform. Captains and Officers’.

MUS/230/1/10/4/6
‘Life Saving Appliances: equipment in lifeboats’.

MUS/230/1/10/4/7
Table showing voyages and seasonal areas, also indicating seasonal variations in maximum load draft.

MUS/230/1/10/4/8
Two seating plans addressed to Captain Roberts, one dated 26 May 1964, for events presided over by ‘The Deputy Master’, presumably of Trinity House.
26 May 1964

MUS/230/1/10/4/9
Program for annual service of the Corporation of Trinity House on Trinity Monday at St James’, Garlickhythe.
Undated

MUS/230/1/10/4/10
Newspaper cutting, ‘Migration Record Tomorrow’, reporting on the imminent arrival of the largest group of British migrants (1,358) to be sponsored by a private organisation on board the Orontes, this being the largest group since February 1952.

MUS/230/1/10/4/11
Business card, Commander D.W. Chamberlain R.N.R., Surveyor of Ships to the Govt. of British Guiana.