 PUNTA CORDA PHOTO FROM ALEX MILLER |
 SAN CARLOS PHOTO FROM ALEX MILLER |
| LAKE TANKER FAMILIES | ||
| IF YOU HAVE FAMILY (FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS, WHOMEVER) WHO WERE ON THE LAKE TANKERS, SEND ME A EMAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CORRESPOND WITH OTHERS WHO ALSO HAD FAMILIES ON THE LAKE TANKERS. | ||
| I WILL ONLY SHARE YOU EMAIL ADDRESS WITH OTHER LAKE TANKER FAMILIES AND ONLY IF YOU GIVE ME PERMISSION TO DO SO. | ||
| AS FOR PHOTOS AND OTHER MEMORABILIA, IF YOU HAVE ANY AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: dje9537459@austin.rr.com | ||
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LAKE FLEET FAMILIES |
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KAREN CLUBB, GRANDDAUGHTER OF CAPTAIN FRANK AND ESTER LAURENSON |
| THE GIBBONS FAMILY |
| BRYAN MCCALL |
| DAVID McKEE/JIM SAMSON |
| HUGH CHANDLER |
| CAPT. JAMES HILL |
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PROOF THIS WORKS, READ BELOW. |
| Hi Danny, A few days ago I had an e-mail out of the blue from a guy by the name of Alexander Millar. He said that he had gotten my e-address from you and I'm glad you gave it to him. His dad had been in Aruba, or at least with the lake fleet from about 1927 to 1942 and on sorting through some old pictures, he was intrigued as to who the other persons were who in them. How he found your Lago-colony site I don't know - ( he also knows about Auke Visser's site with all the Esso ships listed, most with pictures) but he had read my few words about how we came to Aruba and as his parents had a association with Islandmagee decided to ask if I could identify some of the people.. Anyhow to cut a long story short - he sent me an e-mail asking if I would be able to help, one particular picture had three men looking at a copy of my Northern Ireland weekly newspaper "The Larne Times". I had seen a similar picture and asked if one of the men was wearing a straw hat - he replied "Yes" and attached it to his reply. His Dad is in it, standing right next to mine. So, after some 60 or 70 years he and I now know who is in the pictures. My sister in Northern Ireland has also been in touch with him - he is coming to her place next week to see if she can identify other persons - but it also turns out he had worked in the Civil Service in Belfast, in the same building as my sister for many many years. Ain't it a small world. Rgds., Bill |
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AND THIS FROM ALEX MILLAR |
| Just on a point of interest and a remarkable coincidence, a few
weeks ago I noticed an article on the site which I thought was similar
to my own father's experience in Lago Tankers so I wrote to Dan Jensen
requesting the e-mail address of the writer. On receiving this, I
contacted a Bill McMaster, whose father also hailed from Northern
Ireland and, like my father, sailed on lake tankers in the 1930's. It
turned out that both of us had a copy of the same photograph, showing
our two fathers standing beside each other reading a newspaper from home
( see attached ) - neither of us previously knew the identity of the
others in the photo. My father James A G Millar is in the middle and
Bill's father ( also Bill McMaster ) is on the right. I have since met
Bill's sister, Pam, who lives just outside Belfast and it turned out
that we both worked in the same Building for years and actually knew
each other. Talk about it being a small world ! This is a good example
of the benefits which can arise from the web site. Keep up the good work. Regards, Alex.Millar Belfast |
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Capt. James Hill |
| I hadn't visited your Web site in a
while so I was pleasantly surprised to see all the new folders you have
and new photos and other stuff. I noticed you had a section for Tanker
families. Well, my dad, Capt James Hill, was in the Marine Dept, hired
by London Esso in 1938, worked first on tankers traveling
internationally, then went to Aruba in 1946 straight onto the Lake
Fleet. When that was disbanded he moved onto the tugs where he stayed
until he subsequently retired in 1965. I have some photos and I would
love to tell his story with some more detail. My sister Dorothy (Hill)
Ellis (Class of '58) were talking tonight and she was recalling some
details that I didn't know. I told her she needs to record it all so let
me work on that and I will get back with you. Please share my email
address with everyone. All the best and keep up the good work, Olivia Hill (Class of '63) |
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Capt. William M. Russell |
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My father, Capt
Henry J. Turner, was on several of the lake tankers. I don’t know
them all, but I have been able to gather some information just this
last week off a collection of letters he wrote to my mother, Eileen
Turner.
1941 – Pedernales (supernumerary 1st. Mate, sailing as 2nd. Mate) 1944 – Valera (1st. Mate) 1946 – Ambrosio (Master) 1946 – Inverrosa (Master) Some time after the birth of my sister Jane, in 1946, my father worked as a tug captain in San Nicolas Harbor. He retired from Lago in 1965 and died in 1979. Dad was also in Guiria, Venezuela, with my mother in 1943. I not sure, but I believe he was the Harbor Master. I have a letter from a Capt. Hunter who appears to have been my father’s boss while in Guiria. I have been corresponding with William Russell in the UK, Great Nephew of Capt. William M. Russell. Capt. Russell was Master of Valera when torpedoed and sunk by U-518 on 7 March, 1944. He was the only crewmember to perish. My father spent 8 days floating on a raft before being rescued by the U. S. Coast Guard and taken to Margarita Hospital, Panama for treatment. I have attached a picture of Capt. Russell and his wife in Aruba in the 1930’s. I can’t identify the building, but it appears not to be one of our Colony houses. Perhaps it is the Marine Club, or the old elementary school? I have also attached another photo of Capt. Russell taken around 1912. William Russell was able to locate a former German sailor (Peter Petersen) from U-518. Miraculously, Peter and his wife live only 2 hours from me in Ohio. I was able to meet with Peter and his wife for several hours a few months ago. If anyone has any information on Valera, Capt. Russell, my dad, their ships, photos, etc., please share it with us! Best regards, John S. Turner. Capt. USN (Ret.) |
 
Capt. Russell & wife in Aruba in the 1930’s |
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Capt. Russell taken around 1912 |
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Hi Dan,
I noticed in your Lago-colony web-site, a new article, written
by a Capt. J F Fisher from Belfast on life aboard a Lake Tanker
in the 1930's. When I read this and saw his photograph, I
realised that I actually worked with Jack Fisher in the Civil
Service in the 1960's - while I knew then that he was a retired
Captain from the Merchant Navy, I had no idea that he had served
in Aruba. I say this, because my father also served on Lake
Tankers operating out of Aruba during the period 1932 to 1942 -
quite a coincidence !
I would therefore very much like to contact his daughter, Carol
Hinds, to compare notes about this period. I am
presently researching my Father's naval career and this contact
could help to throw some light on it. Do you have an e-mail
address for Carol which you could pass on ? I'm sure it could be
mutually beneficial to discuss our respective father's time with
Esso.
Regards,
Alex. Millar
Belfast.
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