s.s. UGANDA

[Ricardo]

If I'm in the wrong place I apologise, but I'm looking for any
information on the SS UGANDA. Amongst many items in my late mother's
estate is a small metal lapel badge bearing this name and a flag with a
white background and a diagonal cross in red.

The name seems to ring a bell as 'troopship' comes to mind, but I can't
recall anything else, nor have I been able to discover more elsewhere.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

TIA

Ricardo

[Thomas Schoene]

Ricardo wrote:
> If I'm in the wrong place I apologise, but I'm looking for any
> information on the SS UGANDA. Amongst many items in my late mother's
> estate is a small metal lapel badge bearing this name and a flag with a
> white background and a diagonal cross in red.
>
> The name seems to ring a bell as 'troopship' comes to mind, but I can't
> recall anything else, nor have I been able to discover more elsewhere.

A Google search on the term "SS Uganda" will turn up lots of
information. And sci.military.naval might be a better forum for more
details. But here's a short history for you.

SS Uganda was built in 1952 and spend about 15 years as a passenger
liner on the UK-to-East Africa route. In 1967 she was converted to be
an educational cruise ship carrying school children on cruises around
Scandinavia or the Mediterranean. I'd guess that the badge might be a
souvenir from such a cruise. (The white flag with red cross saltaire was
the house flag of the British India Steam Navigation company, Uganda's
original owner.)

In 1982, Uganda served as a hospital ship for the Falklands war. From
1983 to 1985 she was chartered as a troop ship shuttling troops and
supplies between Ascension Island and the new Falklands garrison. She
was then retired and scrapped around 1987.
--
Tom Schoene
To email me, replace "invalid" with "net"

[Gord Beaman]

Thomas Schoene > wrote:

>Ricardo wrote:
>> If I'm in the wrong place I apologise, but I'm looking for any
>> information on the SS UGANDA. Amongst many items in my late mother's
>> estate is a small metal lapel badge bearing this name and a flag with a
>> white background and a diagonal cross in red.
>>
>> The name seems to ring a bell as 'troopship' comes to mind, but I can't
>> recall anything else, nor have I been able to discover more elsewhere.
>
>A Google search on the term "SS Uganda" will turn up lots of
>information. And sci.military.naval might be a better forum for more
>details. But here's a short history for you.
>
>SS Uganda was built in 1952 and spend about 15 years as a passenger
>liner on the UK-to-East Africa route. In 1967 she was converted to be
>an educational cruise ship carrying school children on cruises around
>Scandinavia or the Mediterranean. I'd guess that the badge might be a
>souvenir from such a cruise. (The white flag with red cross saltaire was
>the house flag of the British India Steam Navigation company, Uganda's
>original owner.)
>
>In 1982, Uganda served as a hospital ship for the Falklands war. From
>1983 to 1985 she was chartered as a troop ship shuttling troops and
>supplies between Ascension Island and the new Falklands garrison. She
>was then retired and scrapped around 1987.


And further to Tom's info is that ebay has what appears to be
your pin for sale at: http://tinyurl.com/f2h2o

Many hits also from Google on the ship's name...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

[Ricardo]

Thomas,

Thank you for the information. I left the Paras/airborne (that does NOT
mean infantry) prior to the Falklands war, but my younger brother did
not: we were in the same unit, but he 'disappeared', he did not leave
the army, but did end up in that part of the world before most others
from the UK got there!!!

He, being 'the blue eyed boy' (in my parents' eyes) was also far closer
to mother than I was, except when it came to sorting out the bits and
pieces when I was expected to get it all sorted out, which is why I'll
hang on to the badge.

Perhaps I'd better try and find him again - maybe it wasn't just
bull**** on his part after all...

Thanks,

Ricardo


Thomas Schoene wrote:
> Ricardo wrote:
>
>> If I'm in the wrong place I apologise, but I'm looking for any
>> information on the SS UGANDA. Amongst many items in my late mother's
>> estate is a small metal lapel badge bearing this name and a flag with
>> a white background and a diagonal cross in red.
>>
>> The name seems to ring a bell as 'troopship' comes to mind, but I
>> can't recall anything else, nor have I been able to discover more
>> elsewhere.
>
>
> A Google search on the term "SS Uganda" will turn up lots of
> information. And sci.military.naval might be a better forum for more
> details. But here's a short history for you.
>
> SS Uganda was built in 1952 and spend about 15 years as a passenger
> liner on the UK-to-East Africa route. In 1967 she was converted to be
> an educational cruise ship carrying school children on cruises around
> Scandinavia or the Mediterranean. I'd guess that the badge might be a
> souvenir from such a cruise. (The white flag with red cross saltaire was
> the house flag of the British India Steam Navigation company, Uganda's
> original owner.)
>
> In 1982, Uganda served as a hospital ship for the Falklands war. From
> 1983 to 1985 she was chartered as a troop ship shuttling troops and
> supplies between Ascension Island and the new Falklands garrison. She
> was then retired and scrapped around 1987.

[Ricardo]

Gord,

Thanks to you too. No that's not my badge on display there, but it could
be!!! The strange thing is, having tried eBay, eBid ,QXL, LUKOL, and
whatever LUKOL threw up I did not achieve a single hit, and yet
TROOPSHIP kept coming up in my mind with a 'personal' connection.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Ricardo.

Gord Beaman wrote:
> Thomas Schoene > wrote:
>
>
>>Ricardo wrote:
>>
>>>If I'm in the wrong place I apologise, but I'm looking for any
>>>information on the SS UGANDA. Amongst many items in my late mother's
>>>estate is a small metal lapel badge bearing this name and a flag with a
>>>white background and a diagonal cross in red.
>>>
>>>The name seems to ring a bell as 'troopship' comes to mind, but I can't
>>>recall anything else, nor have I been able to discover more elsewhere.
>>
>>A Google search on the term "SS Uganda" will turn up lots of
>>information. And sci.military.naval might be a better forum for more
>>details. But here's a short history for you.
>>
>>SS Uganda was built in 1952 and spend about 15 years as a passenger
>>liner on the UK-to-East Africa route. In 1967 she was converted to be
>>an educational cruise ship carrying school children on cruises around
>>Scandinavia or the Mediterranean. I'd guess that the badge might be a
>>souvenir from such a cruise. (The white flag with red cross saltaire was
>>the house flag of the British India Steam Navigation company, Uganda's
>>original owner.)
>>
>>In 1982, Uganda served as a hospital ship for the Falklands war. From
>>1983 to 1985 she was chartered as a troop ship shuttling troops and
>>supplies between Ascension Island and the new Falklands garrison. She
>>was then retired and scrapped around 1987.
>
>
>
> And further to Tom's info is that ebay has what appears to be
> your pin for sale at: http://tinyurl.com/f2h2o
>
> Many hits also from Google on the ship's name...

[Thomas Schoene]

Ricardo wrote:
> Thomas,
>
> Thank you for the information. I left the Paras/airborne (that does NOT
> mean infantry) prior to the Falklands war, but my younger brother did
> not: we were in the same unit, but he 'disappeared', he did not leave
> the army, but did end up in that part of the world before most others
> from the UK got there!!!
>
> He, being 'the blue eyed boy' (in my parents' eyes) was also far closer
> to mother than I was, except when it came to sorting out the bits and
> pieces when I was expected to get it all sorted out, which is why I'll
> hang on to the badge.
>
> Perhaps I'd better try and find him again - maybe it wasn't just
> bull**** on his part after all...

FWIW, the Uganda pin you have probably isn't related to the Falklands.
British India was taken over by P&O around 1971, and Uganda flew the
four-colored P&O house flag from that point forward. I'd expect any
souvenirs would also have been using the new colors by 1982.


--
Tom Schoene
To email me, replace "invalid" with "net"

[Ricardo]

Tom,

I'm very grateful for the information. I've always had as little as
possible to do with ships, after an unfortunate incident with a
submarine, so you've been a great help.

I wonder what mother was up to...?

Regards,

Richard



Thomas Schoene wrote:
> Ricardo wrote:
>
>> Thomas,
>>
>> Thank you for the information. I left the Paras/airborne (that does
>> NOT mean infantry) prior to the Falklands war, but my younger brother
>> did not: we were in the same unit, but he 'disappeared', he did not
>> leave the army, but did end up in that part of the world before most
>> others from the UK got there!!!
>>
>> He, being 'the blue eyed boy' (in my parents' eyes) was also far
>> closer to mother than I was, except when it came to sorting out the
>> bits and pieces when I was expected to get it all sorted out, which is
>> why I'll hang on to the badge.
>>
>> Perhaps I'd better try and find him again - maybe it wasn't just
>> bull**** on his part after all...
>
>
> FWIW, the Uganda pin you have probably isn't related to the Falklands.
> British India was taken over by P&O around 1971, and Uganda flew the
> four-colored P&O house flag from that point forward. I'd expect any
> souvenirs would also have been using the new colors by 1982.
>
>