This is an interview with Captain Ben Pike of Burin, Newfoundland. In this interview Captain Pike talks about serving in the Canadian Merchant Navy during WWII, Roland Pickering, rough trips on the North Atlantic, seasickness, being wounded near Barbados during WWII, how he met his wife Thelma, how he joined the Merchant Navy, sailing with Canadian National Steamships, and how he became captain of the Abegweit.
SIDE A 00:00:05 -- 00:13:44 Discussion about serving in the Canadian Merchant Navy during WWII, with mention of convoys and U-boats; Merchant Navy, WWII, convoys, U-boats, German submarines, torpedoes, lifeboats. | SIDE A 00:13:44 -- 00:17:43 Discussion about serving on the Chalmondy and meeting Roland Pickering; Roland Pickering, Chalmondy, SS Strongate, sailors, Merchant Navy, WWII. | SIDE A 00:17:43 -- 00:21:13 Discussion about rough trips on the North Atlantic, with mention of Lady ships and seasickness; Merchant Navy, North Atlantic, hurricanes, seasickness, Lady Rodney, Lady Nelson, 1967, Suez Canal. | SIDE A 00:21:13 -- 00:28:48 Discussion about being wounded near Barbados during WWII and how he met his wife Thelma; Barbados, WWII, Merchant Navy, Thelma Pike, Halifax. | SIDE A 00:28:48 -- 00:31:42 Discussion about joining the Merchant Navy; Merchant Navy, Canadian Navy, wages, WWII. | SIDE A ends at 00:31:42. SIDE B 00:31:50 -- 00:43:29 Discussion about joining the Merchant Navy continues with mention of sailing with Canadian National Steamships; Merchant Navy, WWII, 1939, 1945, pensions, wages, sailors, cargo, ports, Lady Nelson, CNS, Canadian National Steamships. | SIDE B 00:43:29 -- 01:03:30 Discussion about how he became captain of the Abegweit and a story about a trip to Chicago; 1962, Abegweit, Roland Pickering, captain, 1961, MV Abegweit, Michael Ness, Lawson Tremere, Arnold Horne, Bobby Ferguson, sailors. | Tape ends at 01:03:30.
