MASTER OF THE GOTHIC

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27212, 2 December 1953, Page 8

MASTER OF THE GOTHIC

CAREER OF CAPTAIN AITCHISON MANY VISITS TO N.Z. IN DOMINION MONARCH (From a Reuter Correspondent) . LONDON. Captain David Aitchison master of the liner Gothic which will carry the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to New Zealand and Australia, paid his first visit “down under” in 1919 and has been making it a habit ever since. “I have spent almost as much time there as I have in England.” he said, “and I have many friends in the two Dominions whom I hope to see again.” A Yorkshire man. Captain Aitchison served his apprenticeship from 1909 to 1913 with a Sunderland firm. The outbreak of the World War I found him in Hamburg—he was interned for the duration. After the war he joined the Shaw Savill Line (owners of the Gothic) earning his master’s certificate in 1922 and his extra master’s certificate in 1923. But a few years later, he left Shaw Savill to join a salvage and towage company. Returning to Shaw Savill in 1933 as chief officer. Captain Aitchison became staff captain on the 27,000 ton liner Dominion Monarch in 1938, served for a spell in other vessels and then rejoined the Dominion Monarch as master in 1951. He took command of the Gothic last April. Captain Aitchison hates publicity and prefers to do his job quietly and without any fuss. He would not comment on the new honour which has come to him because he thinks it incorrect to discuss his passengers. His officers are all sea veterans too. The chief officer, Mr H. O. V. Andersen, has been to sea more than 23 years; chief engineer Oliver Charters for nearly 30 years; senior second engineer D. M. V. Parkinson served aboard the Dominion Monarch in 1942 when the Japanese invasion nearly overtook her in dry dock at Singapore. Tt was the engineers who got her under way in time to clear the port before Singapore fell. Purser E. Cordery was appointed two years ago especially for the Commonwealth tour, which was to have taken place then. Chief Steward W. A. Ray was aboard the Waiwera when she was torpedoed in 1942.

While the crew keeps the ship on the move. Major Francis V. Dunn. Director of Music to the Royal yachts, will see that she can have music wherever she goes. He has an elegant spinnet in his cabin. Among neighbours within hearing distance of the spinnet will be the Queen’s New Zealand and Australian Equerries. Lieutenant Jeremy Hall of the Royal New Zealand Navy will have for quarters a simple cabin with a russet and beige colour scheme. His Australian counterpart. Wing Commander Maurice Cowan of the Royal Australian Air Force, has a similar cabin furnished in shades of *green.