Cunard Liner's Permanent Master Dies
Ex Head of Carinthia and Caronia
Extract from New York Times:
LONDON, 03 August 1959
Capt. Andrew MacKellar permanent master of the Cunard liner Queen Mary died last night in
Southampton General Hospital. He was 62 years old.
Capt. Andrew MacKellar
Taken ill on a voyage from New York, Captain MacKellar had been hospitalised since 23 June, when
Queen Mary arrived at Southampton.
After an apprenticeship in the Glasgow Royal Technical College's cadet ship Vivid, Captain
MacKellar joined the Cunard Line in 1924. His first passenger liner command was the Ascania
in 1950.
In 1954 he was the master of the Saxonia when she made her maiden voyage. He also had
commanded the Carinthia and the Caronia and served aboard the Ivernia. He
was appointed to command the Queen Mary last August.
Caronia Service
Capt. Andrew MacKellar first joined the “Green Goddess” as Staff Captain in New York on 26 February 1949.
The Caronia had just completed her very first cruise, to the West Indies. He then served as Master from 07 August 1957 until 22 May 1958
The English Language Gains A New Word
With Alacrity!
This month saw the release of a hit-parade song in the U.S.A. that took the World by storm. The phenomenon may have been
short-lived but the harmonies produced by the Everly Brothers are still much appreciated today. After leaving New York
“ahkisstya” became the “in” word on almost everyone's lips.
The song was adopted as a favourite both by the “Cunard Yanks” on board, and with the younger gay guys. If you
met with a small group in the working alleyway, they'd link arms and dance toward you singing this song, with many a
finger point flourish. Though not everyone was that taken.
As the 1960s approached, a whole generation of folk, mostly born before 1920, saw the manner in which the “old ways”
were being cast aside with such relish almost as a sacrilege. They are worthy of respect though, bearing in mind that
they were recently involved in an horrific war, having been born ahead of or during what was meant to be “the war
to end all wars”. Alacrity - bah humbug!
Ink Strike - UK Faces News Blackout
Late in June 1959 began the worst industrial dispute in the printing industry for 30 years. The UK print unions happened
to have a stranglehold on a key aspect of their industry: production of printing ink. The dispute lasted for several
weeks, impacting the greater majority of national newspapers and periodicals.
Passenger Lists Affected
How does this story have an effect upon Caronia's August 1959 sailing? Well, among the ephemera distributed on board was a
passenger list booklet for each class. This was usually printed ashore ahead of sailing day and would normally be
delivered to passengers as soon as possible after the ship had sailed.
With the delivery would be a loose-leaf addendum, hastily produced by the Purser's Office indicating any changes to the
published list. Instead, there was an ad-hoc production of lists for each class cobbled together between the Pursers
and on-board printers.
The ship's printers were not on strike. Having signed "Articles" they were committed to joining the ship. To not do so
could be treated by the Captain as a mutinous act, with severe punishments!
Quite what impact the ink shortage had on Caronia's print-shop is unknown, though it was probably minimal. There would
no doubt have been ample amounts in Cunard's central stores. Otherwise, quick transfer of supplies through agents in Le
Havre or Cherbourg would also avoid local upsets in UK ports.
12 August Emergency PaxList
Below are images of the emergency list issued to Cabin Class passengers. Access to a list for First Class is sought.
Programme includes the showing of “Look Back in Anger”, - described as “An electrifying adult experience… from
the sensational play by John Osborne that shocked the World!”
Being able to compare both the 1st and Cabin daily programmes shows that there wasn't a great deal of difference
between the two classes on board Caronia. Certainly, the bigger ships were not as relaxed.
Westbound Transatlantic
Steaming Le Havre to New York 3,170 miles
Log Abstract… At: 12 Noon Position: 41.02N | 66.19W Travelled: 518 miles
Moderate to fresh Westerly breeze, moderate sea, low swell, fine
344 nmi to New York
Capt. Andrew MacKellar
