The English Ship...
By Ray Crucet

It’s destination in the early 50’s was always down under to Australia and on occasion the English ship would dock in Balboa. Word would get out that the "Limey Boat" was in port and a few of the well informed would plan a visit…

Gilmore Jones and I were often on hand for the celebrations. Visitors were welcomed, the drinks were cheap and the English were always celebrating one thing or another...Boxers day, Queen Victoria’s birthday, the Boar war, or simply a good joke. Did I mention that the drinks were cheap? A friendly group was always on hand in the ship’s pub to raise a mug, toss a dart, or poke fun at us as wayward colonists. More often than not our drinks were paid for by our new pals who took great joy in challenging the "Yanks" to a game of darts and of course winning the same. Amazing how a drunken limey wavering to and fro in his stance can center a dart to the board. Ah, but what a fun loving group...

One memorable visit to the English ship was a "late date" affair that Gilmore and I planned for after taking home our "steadies". But there was something different about this passenger ship. It was filled, in the main, with young people and they were not on holiday. They were under contract with the Government to settle in Australia, marry and/or pursue certain trades. It was almost like the indentured trades people of the early 1700’s having to work-off the travel and relocation expense from England to the USA. This ship’s pub was not filled with the loud, bawdy, fun-loving limey’s we expected. Instead, scattered about, were small clusters of people talking quietly and appearing almost frightened. They were of course faced with the beginnings of a mysterious and unknown destiny when their ship made port. But Gilmore and I were not to be put-off. We were in high spirits and in need of cheap drink and fun. In no time at all we turned the pub environment by buying a few rounds, poking fun at, and challenging the English to the dart board. We even tried our voice in a few limericks. It was a good time, getting better...

We organized a shore excursion with a few groups. Four or more into Gil’s V12 Lincoln (1942?) and a like number into my red ‘41 Ford coupe. We gave them the grand tour of the Canal Zone, from Pedro Miguel to Balboa and then into Panama...shopping Central Avenue and dancing at El Rancho. And, oh yes, I fell in love with a red head called Diana (I know, I know...). This goddess of the hunt and the moon was tall, lithesome and with strikingly beautiful green eyes that seemed to smile only for me. She was traveling with her brother who was a stone mason and under contract. And we danced and we talked the night away in low hushed voices. The others ignored us as we were by then holding hands, a couple, apart somehow from the group, yet part of it. It was a special time...

After a breakfast of burgers, fries and gravy at the Diablo Mess Hall we drove the group to the Balboa docks, parked and walked the pier back to the ship at dawn. The group was tired and quieted but all were in a good mood. Good-byes were said all around with hugs and a few kisses, and tears. A sweet and sad time...

A few letters were exchanged in the months that followed. Then came a card...a marriage...a farewell. It was time to move on...