My purpose holds to sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars
Having served his apprenticeship in the
British Princess and been discharged 13th
March 1900 Arthur's life for the next ten years, till 22 June 1910,
followed what must have been more-or-less the norm among aspiring ships’
masters; that of the roving seaman, albeit with a possible interlude
as a miner by way of broadening his horizons! His progress is traceable
through the various Certificates of Discharge from each vessel in which
he served, plus the further record in his CONTINUOUS
CERTIFICATE OF DISCHARGE. The images show a complete copy of Arthur's
‘Continuous Certificate of Discharge’ which recorded dates
and destinations of voyages, rank or position held aboard and under
whose command. Each voyage had an entry recording "ability"
and "general conduct" just as his ability and conduct had
been recorded while still an apprentice.
Prospective employers or masters looked askance at any man lacking either ‘papers’ or an unblemished record. While Captain Scott's remarks as previously cited were therefore potentially prejudicial to a man embarking on a career at sea, they seem not to have done any lasting harm, as Arthur progressed steadily up the ladder till he himself became Master of a ship. It is worth adding that in every other reference that I have of Arthur's, he received nothing but unstinting praise both for his personal conduct and his professional skill. The ‘Continuous Discharge’ tells us also that Arthur was 5 feet 11½ inches tall, had blue eyes, brown hair and no tattoos or other distinguishing marks - and so fails to record the "scar on nose" mentioned under "Personal Marks and Peculiarities" on his Board of trade ‘Examination as to Form Vision, Colour Vision, and Colour Ignorance’ dated 23 November 1895.
I am not sure exactly when Arthur became
an employee of the British India Steam Navigation Company - hereafter
B.I.S.N.Co., but shortly before joining a ship of theirs called the
Rewa Arthur received a letter dated 5th
July 1901 from their company secretary;
I have received from Messrs W.Mackinnon & Coy. your
application of the 1st inst. for a berth as a Junior Officer, and I
now confirm the following telegram sent to you today viz:-
"Offer you appointment fourth officer Rewa
employed home line between London Calcutta required join Wednesday please
call Glasgow office tomorrow morning reply do you accept."
and I am obliged for your reply reading "accept appointment will
call Glasgow tomorrow" which I note. The appointment offered you
is subject to your passing the Company's Doctor as being fit for service
in India & on hearing from Messrs W. Mackinnon & Coy. that your
medical certificate is satisfactory. Instructions will be sent to you
as to joining Rewa.
An ‘Appointment’ confirmation
dated 10th July 1901 and countersigned by Arthur was sent to the Commanding
Officer, S.S. Rewa, Central Station, Royal Albert Docks, London stating;
The bearer Mr A.D. Linklater has been appointed
4th Officer of your steamer (and he is to serve on the Coast or Home
Line as the exigencies of the service require him) at a salary of Five
Pounds - Shillings sterling per month. He will begin duty today.
So there was no hanging about! His Board of Trade Certificate grade is stated on the ‘Appointment’ as "Second - No. 036001" and below the words "I accept this appointment and undertake to serve in any British India Steam Navigation Coys. or British India Associated Steamers Coys. Steamers in Indian Coast, Home Line or elsewhere should it be required of me at any time." appears the signature of A.D. Linklater. After leaving the British Princess all the ships he served in were steam ships. They were as follows;
SHIP | RATING | JOINED | DISCHARGED |
---|---|---|---|
British Princess | Apprentice | 10 December 1895 | 13 March 1900 |
City of Edinburgh | Q´master seaman | 21 May 1900 | 2 August 1900 |
Ashruf | 3rd Mate | 13 August 1900 | 22 November 1900 |
Bombay | Q'master seaman | 6 December 1900 | 26 January 1901 |
Rewa | 4th Mate | 12 September 1901 | 21 May 1902 |
Avoca | 3rd Mate | 13 August 1902 | 4 October 1902 |
Upada | 3rd Mate | 23 December 1902 | 15 December 1903 |
Umballa | 3rd Mate | 15 December 1903 | 4 May 1904 |
Dumra | 3rd Mate | 28 May 1904 | 27 January 1905 |
Fultala | 3rd Mate | 26 January 1905 | 14 June 1905 |
Ula | 2nd Mate | 15 June 1905 | 31 January 1906 |
Dunera | 2nd Mate | 13 March 1909 | 23 April 1909 |
Sirdhana | 2nd Mate | 24 April 1909 | 30 June 1909 |
Obra | Sub. Lieut. R.N.R. | 3 July 1909 | 22 June 1910 |