Master Mariner the early years

My father grew up in Cardiff and began work in an accountant's office. He soon discovered the call of the sea and was taken on as an Apprentice on the steamship Llandudno  sailing to the Black Sea ports with coal from the Welsh mines. The end of the nineteenth century was very busy for the South Wales coal industry. Many ships like the Llandudno were engaged to carry coal to Russia and bring a variety of cargoes back to Hamburg and Rotterdam before returning to South Wales for another cargo. He learned to navigate using a SEXTANT in the days before radar, wireless, and modern navigation methods. Take a look at my father's terms and conditions of his service. You will notice that his wages were £4 in his first year rising to £12 in his 4th and final year, a total of £30 over the four years of his    Indentured Apprenticeship. He took his Board of Trade examination for his Master Mariner's Certificate in 1904. This granted him  the title of Captain, although in all his subsequent career, he was never Master of any the ships he served in. It is clear from his Discharge Books that he was well thought of, and  a highly competent ship's Officer.

James aged about 15 or 16

James as an Apprentice

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