Captain Bill Nelson MBE, RN - RIP

Antipodean Andy · May 24, 2009

Just watched the wonderful Michael Palin in his Around The World In 20 Years during which he searches for the crew of the dhow he travelled on from Dubai to India in the late 80s while filming Around The World in 80 Days. He spoke to the former Dubai harbour master who, at 86, I figured had to be RN or MN during the war. This is what I've found so far:

Gulfnews: Former harbour master and maritime expert dies

Dubai: A former Dubai harbour master has died in his sleep at the age of 87.

Captain Bill Nelson, who passed on his maritime expertise to the city for over three decades, passed away at his home in Edinburgh, Scotland on Friday evening.

Captain Nelson arrived in Dubai in 1975 as marine advisor to the late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and was responsible for setting up a port management system for the Creek including a radio station to facilitate communication between vessels.

Dubai was home

He moved on to become Harbour Master for the Creek; a role which involved managing the establishment of sea lights and buoys around the waters of Dubai. He also worked on the Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali projects.

Captain Nelson lived with his wife Dorothy in Dubai for over thirty years in various different locations of the city. But he moved back to Scotland only five weeks ago after being diagnosed with a serious stomach ulcer.

Norman Turnbull, a close friend, told Gulf News on Monday: "Dorothy helped put Bill to bed on Friday evening and he died peacefully in his sleep."

Frank O'Brien, another close friend, added: "I spoke to both Bill and Dorothy on Friday. Bill seemed in fine form; he was complaining about the freezing weather in Scotland but he commented on the opening of Atlantis, which he had seen on TV."

Captain Nelson spent his entire life on the open seas, joining the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He also served in Malta at the same time Prince Philip was working there as a Royal Navy officer in the 1950s, a posting he told Gulf News in the summer that he particularly enjoyed.

He joined the Kuwait Shipping Company, now called the United Arab Shipping Company, in 1955 where he worked for many years before moving to Dubai.

Captain Nelson, who leaves behind two daughters and a son, also served as chaplain of the Dubai-based Mission to Seafarers for many years.
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Antipodean Andy · May 24, 2009

Ooh, here's a good history including an account of his torpedoing and time in a lifeboat:

www.thecatenians.com/files/4C164DC6-8FBA-4BFA-AC74-9BC0016E8E93.aspx/P38-42InMemoriam.pdf

Brothers of Scarborough Circle mourn the loss of one of their oldest serving members, Bill Nelson MBE who, after a period of failing health, died peacefully at home in Edinburgh on 23rd November 2008.

Assisted by Bill’s daughter, Isobel, David Jolliffe writes: Bill was born in Whitby in 1921 and was educated at St Hilda’s RC school and Whitby Grammar. Like so many others from Whitby, Bill heard the call of the sea and by the age of 15 he was apprentice seaman aboard the “Lindenbank”. He remained a Merchant seaman until the Second World War when he was commissioned into the Royal Navy.

In 1941 he was third officer aboard the SS Trevilley when it was torpedoed off the coast of Africa. The crew had to abandon ship into three lifeboats, one of which was rescued by a British warship and while another was captured and its passengers imprisoned in a POW camp. Bill, as the only trained seaman in the third boat, took charge and after being adrift for 15 days landed his colleagues safely but exhausted in a Dutch colony where he celebrated his 21st Birthday. On his return to the UK he was awarded the MBE. Bill served in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Middle East and was on his way to Japan when the “bombs” were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

After the war he served in Malta and married Nancy, his wife of 47 years. They had four children, Bill, Roderick, Jane and Isobel. Sadly Roderick died in 1977 and Nancy died in 1996.

Captain Bill Nelson moved to Dubai in 1975 as marine adviser to the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and was responsible for setting up a port management system for the City. He moved on to become Harbour Master, a role that involved the establishment of sea lights and buoys around the waters of Dubai. Bill also served as chaplain of the Dubai-based Mission to Seafarers for many years. He married Dorothy in 2002, retired earlier this year and moved back to Scotland only a short while before he died.

Bill will be fondly remembered by his family and friends as an extrovert who loved being with people. His door was always open and he always made fellow travellers and newcomers to Dubai very welcome. Nobody arrived in Dubai without being welcomed by Bill and a “wee dram”.

Throughout his life his heart was always in Whitby and he returned there and to meetings of Scarborough Circle during every leave, without fail. It was to Whitby that he returned for his last voyage where the large attendance at his Requiem Mass bore witness to the esteem and affection in which he was held by those who knew him. He will be greatly missed.
May he rest in peace
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Hugh, do you have anything further on SS Trevilley and her survivors?

liverpool annie · May 24, 2009

One of his children has done the family tree !!

WILLIAM NELSON MBE , son of WILLIAM NELSON and HANNAH, AGNES PARSONS, was born on 27 September 1921 in WHITBY, NORTH YORKSHIRE. He was baptised on 2 October 1921 in ST HILDA, S, WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. He was educated at ST HILDA'S SCHOOL from 1926 to 1931 in WHITBY. He was educated at THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL from 1931 to 1937 in WHITBY. From 20 September 1937 to May 1939 he was an APPRENTICE SEAMAN TO WEIRS in S.S..LINDENBANK 1st ship. Captain was Marmaduke Jackson,
A Master Mariner R.E. Vasey of 21 Falcon Terrace, Whitby, was witness to Signature of Surety

Lindenbank 1930 1939 stranded on Arena Island, Sulu Sea, refloated but sank. 5,057. From 29 May 1939 to 8 August 1939 WILLIAM was an APPRENTICE SEAMAN TO WEIRS in m.v. "FOYLEBANK " 2nd Ship. Captain was Capt H J Smith. From 10 November 1939 to 2 April 1940 WILLIAM was an APPRENTICE SEAMAN TO WEIRS in M.T. " INVERSUIR ". Captain was Capt Dickenson . From 12 April 1940 to 20 November 1940 WILLIAM was an APPRENTICE SEAMAN TO WEIRS in m.v. "LARCHBANK ". Captain was Capt Stephens
1943 torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I.27. On 20 October 1940 WILLIAM was an ABLE SEAMAN in Indenture completed. Dad's Indenture was completed on the 20th November 1940, and had sufficent sea service to undertake the examination for a tempory Second mate's Cerificate of Competance. From 7 June 1941 to 6 June 1942 WILLIAM was a THIRD MATE in "OLIVEBANK". 1954 sold to Moller Line UK, London renamed Blyth Navigator. From 22 July 1942 to 25 August 1942 WILLIAM was a THIRD OFFICER in m.v. TREVILLEY. He had the title 'MBE' on 27 April 1943 in ENGLAND. was awarded his MBE for taking command of the life boat when the Trevilley was torpedoed by U68- Kapt Karl- Friedrich - Mertan,12/9/1942 they made it through and were picked up off the Gold Coast after spending two weeks at sea, he spent his 21st birthday recovering in a mission. WILLIAM was educated at PRESIDENT addl. for R.N.C. FOR TRAINING from 24 May 1943 to 11 June 1943 in GREENWICH. PROBP. TEMPY. SUB. LIEUT. From 24 May 1943 to 21 January 1955 WILLIAM was a ROYAL NAVY in MALTA. He was educated at PEMBROKE addl. for courses from 12 June 1943 to 11 August 1943. PRIBY. TEMPY. SUB. LIEUT. WILLIAM was educated at CANADA addl. for Corvette Class on coming from 12 August 1943 to 29 August 1943. PROBY. TEMPY. SUB. LIEUT. WILLIAM married AGNES COOK SHARP on 18 November 1949 in PARK CHURCH. Witness 's were Beatrice (Bunny ) T Borland and Donald A MacNeil
WILLIAM was educated at CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY OF A FOREIGN GOING STEAMSHIP on 11 July 1955 in NAUTICAL COLLAGE. Passed Examination. On 29 July 1955 WILLIAM was a MASTER in GLASGOW, LANARK, SCOTLAND. Master Certificate of Competency of a Foreign Going Steamship. From 19 September 1956 to 6 June 1957 WILLIAM was a CHIEF OFFICER, in R.F.A EARNER / R.F.A. SAUCY. From September 1957 to October 1966 he was a MASTER in R.F.A.MOORSMAN. B.F.P.O.Ship. From 11 October 1966 to 16 May 1969 WILLIAM was a CHIEF OFFICER, SECOND OFFICER in CLAN LINE. From 7 October 1969 to 28 April 1977 he was a MASTER in KUWAIT SHIPPING LINE. On 6 July 1977 he was a MARINE ADVISER in DUBAI, U.A.E. He died on 23 November 2008 in EDINBURGH.
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JOSHUA PARSONS

Antipodean Andy · May 24, 2009

Good find, Annie.

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