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pilot-boi · 4 years

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Blooming: Chapter 3

Lilies

Flowers get! He could almost hear the video game jingle in his head. Now he just had to get them inside without being caught

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Oh gods, Jaune was going to be in detention for the rest of his life. He was gonna be forced to organize Oobleck’s horrible filing cabinets over and over again for the next forever.

By the time he’d be done, the Vytal Festival will have arrived and Goodwitch will just tell his team that they have to wait now, because he can’t go out and have fun until he’s written “I will not be an idiot” or something into a notebook a thousand times.

But honestly, screw it, this was so worth any punishment she could dish out.

He was hiding on the mailship heading from Vale to the academy, with the first suggestions of dawn light emerging on the horizon. The sky there was a weird, diluted shade of green he’d never quite believe belonged there, despite it being between blue and orange.

Jaune was trying to make himself look small and fade into the shadows in case the captain were to look right at his hiding spot and see him and probably yell at him for hitching a ride back on his mailship. Because this was probably against the rules, right? No way was this okay. So hiding it was.

This was made difficult by him having to fold his awkwardly long limbs into a very small space, and he was certain his elbows kept poking out.

And he also felt so freaking giddy, because he had a big bouquet of lilies clutched to his chest, bought from a flower shop in town. Thank the gods they opened so early.

Jaune didn’t even care that the stems were dripping on his arms as he held onto them, because he was so happy and excited, and he can’t wait to give them to Pyrrha.

The ship shuddered as it landed, and the doors creaked open. As soon as they were wide enough to squeeze himself out, he ducked under the still lifting door, and then he just ran for it.

He had no idea how he wasn’t busted at that moment. An awkwardly tall spindly person dashing across the lawn at the first light of dawn. Bright red flowers, and shiny white armor and everything.

But somehow he made it ashore safe, and he didn’t stop running, ducking into the familiar shade of buildings and forever fall trees that should hide him from any prying eyes.

The first truly golden lights of dawn filtered through the windows, painting patterns across the opposite wall as Jaune made his way down the corridor headed towards the dorms.

He was so caught up amongst the thoughts swirling in his head, his excitement and newfound nerves, that he almost walked right past his team’s room, and he skidded to a halt clumsily when he realised where he was.

He tucked the bouquet behind his back, and reached to open the door with his free hand, fighting with all his might to push down the butterflies in his stomach. But just before he opened the door, he realised something.

Oh.

Right.

Just because he was wide awake and already on his feet, it was still just after dawn and he honestly had no idea what time it was. Jaune, for his part, has not slept a wink, actually, thanks to his romantic adventures.

Pyrrha was quite the early riser, even on the weekends, really the up-and-at-em type, but even she might still be sleeping. Nora definitely was, and it was probably only his hesitation that had kept him from getting clubbed around the head with a stray pillow.

But when he pressed his ear close to the door, he was relieved to hear signs of life from the other side already. Faint footsteps and then the creak of the closet door as it opened and closed.

Jaune had discovered that creak during the first week, and then proceeded to relentlessly annoy them all with it until Nora tried to smother him with a pillow. He was only saved by Ren, chiming in that the school really should have fixed that creak by now.

Jaune had still gotten a face fill of pillow though when he reached for the closet door again.

That was enough proof that Pyrrha was up already though, and so he knocked.

“Who is it?” came the immediate response, quiet because it was so early, but unmistakably Pyrrha.

“It’s me, can I come in?” he asked, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet.

Years of living with a multitude of sisters had carved away any bedroom boundaries he’d once had. Living at Beacon had forced him to relearn them.

And his teammates had learned in turn not to come bursting in unannounced, especially not when any of them, but especially he, might be changing, unless they wanted to be yelled at and then avoided in a panic for the rest of the day.

Later, much later, he’d mustered up the strength to sit them all down and tell them why he hated being walked in on while dressing, but that was all in the past.

“Yes, come in,” came the response, Pyrrha’s voice sounding much more alert than before.

He slipped inside, closing the door behind himself because he wasn’t an idiot, careful to keep his hand with the flowers out of sight the whole time. He was certain that didn’t make him look at all like he was up to something. Nope. Not even a little bit.

And, well, he was up to something, to be honest, so if Pyrrha were to get suspicious, she’d have every right to do so.

#rwby #jaune arc #pyrrha nikos #arkos #lie ren #nora valkyrie #glynda goodwitch #bartholomew oobleck #mine #my writing #blooming #chapter 3

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penpalkingdom · 5 years

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(yay, it's an old two yo pic of me playing my uke but I still like it because we don't see my face haha)

Hi special someone,

My name is Venny (not my real name though), I’m a 19 yo student girl who lives in France. Currently I am following a double cursus of french-russian law. I enjoy it but sometimes I ask myself if I took a wrong turn…

And yes, I speak Russian and French but I am also really interested in English and German (If you’re interested at learning languages in general it would be really cool)

I hope we have some interests in common. For myself : I really enjoy drawing, reading books (I savour every genre from classics to fantasy) or playing ukulele, travelling. Right now I am more interested in analog photography, it’s really nice going outside for a walk with a 40yo camera that still does magic shots. I am also a huge music addict. I listen to everything. Sometimes at 5am it strikes me with blues/jazz and then a few days later I am into metal. (few artists I like at this moment David Bowie, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Jack Stauber, Supertramp, Muse, Inhaler, a lil bit of Kpop, Sacart, Chuck Berry... it really depends of my mood) I enjoy movies, tv shows, cartoons and anime, even though I forget really fast the last episode I’ve watched and therefore I have to re-watch everything again (Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Dead poets society, Rick and Morty, Daria, The Vikings, Psychopass and a lot more...) Sometimes I play games, such as World of Warcraft, The sims 4, Hearthstone, and some other nice games that I find on steam or epic games.

Well… in fact I am just another human being that loves everything c:

I am looking for an open-minded penpal, who respect other people’s opinions (I don't like arguing) and who’s into discovering new things. I would be really happy to share with you your passions and hobbies. Hell yeah, let’s talk about the Morse code this week, how to construct a time machine the next one and then finally about the best way to start a llama farm. Let's talk about robbing Da Vinci's Mona Lisa without being caught. Let's talk about selling socks in another dimension. I want to talk about different topics with you, about everything.

I’ve never had a penpal but I am looking for a long term penpal-ship. In fact I’m kind of tired of “instant” social media, I feel pressured to respond and I can't keep a track of all the messages. Weird, I know, but I like to have time to myself without sounding as if I don't like/don't want to talk with the person. A snail-mailship would be really nice, because it would allow us to take our time if you're like me. I dunno, maybe I could even send you a sock to seal our friendship. And you'll send me back a tree leaf that you've found near your college/high school/work and I'll tell you that it's the best leaf I have ever received and it would be true because I like these kind of simple things. I'd like you to be between 17 and 27yo (if you’re slightly younger or older it’s okay) and preferably from UK but any other country would be nice too!

If you are my special someone you can write me at icedwind @ outlook.fr (without the spaces). Tell me about yourself, what do you like, what you don't (Idk if it sounds creepy/intrusive but I promise I'm quite normal haha) If we both feel easy/comfortable we can switch on snail mail!

I’ll try my best, I promise.

(congrats if you've read my messy message till here and sorry for English mistakes. After all these years I'm still not comfortable to use it properly)

#penpal #snailmail #postcards #electronic mail #18-20 #20-25 #25-30 #all ages #penpalkingdom #submission

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marlaluster · 6 years

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number 20 (not 19) that the devil made a "maximum number of characters reached" message come up for. ...

20. HomePanama ForumPanama ResourcesPanama GuidePanama Real Estate10 Tips for Living in PanamaPanama NewsletterPanama Healthcare GuideExpat Health InsuranceMail Forwarding & MailShipping & MovingAuto Shipping & AutoExpat TaxReal Estate AgenciesRelocation CompaniesPackage ForwardingCurrency ExchangeEducationExpat BankingExpat CounselingExpat FinancePanama Expat BlogsInternational JobsLanguage & Cross-CulturalLegal Services for ExpatsMedical EvacuationPet ShippingSports & RecreationVisa & Immigration EE Panama Select a City: Boquete Panama City JOIN SIGN IN Expats in Panama: Pros and Cons of Living in Panama By Joshua Wood Comments Print Summary: Expats in Panama talks about the pros and cons of living in Panama. Topics include the lower cost of living, bureaucracy, friendly people. Expats in Panama seem to agree that you'll have to come down and explore the country to find out if it's the right place for you! If you are contemplating moving to Panama, we've compiled a list of pros and cons of living in Panama to help with your decision. Everything on the list comes from expats who are living in Panama and some who've lived there in the past. Bureaucracy In Panama Clearly, expats in Panama have varying experiences getting their visas and otherwise navigating the process of entering Panama. Pro: Residency visas are well-priced and easy to obtain An expat noted the relative affordability of getting a visa and her lack of problems in obtaining it, while also adding that, "Panama is welcoming to legal immigrants." Con: Bureaucracy is a Big Part of Life in Panama One expat who lives in Panama wrote that "Dealing with government offices... whoa...seems not everyone is on the same page. You get one answer from one person, go the next day and get another answer." Expats all over the world will read this and say... "YES!" This is not unique to Panama! Another expat advised, "As has been posted here many times, it would complicate things to mention your plans for the Friendly Nations visa to the immigration officials upon entering the country. Panama is also getting 'fierce' about immigration." Deciding Where to Live in PanamaPro: Panama Has Great Options For Expats Boquete, Panama: One expat wrote that inBoquete, it is, "very easy to meet others if you are at all outgoing. There is also a newcomers group that meets a couple of times a month. There is always something happening, somewhere to go, something to do. There are many non-profits looking for volunteers, so just find one that speaks to you." Bocas Del Toro: An expat in Bocas Del Toroadvised others that, "Besides the multicultural Panamanians there are people from all over the world here and seven different Indian tribes. For the most part everyone gets along great. There are occasional clashes as in any community and this is a tight knit one where people help their neighbors. Panama welcomes people from many countries with great expat laws and easy residency." If you are looking for expat life in Panama where you can walk to restaurants and shops, an expat advised that, "Coronado[has a] beach view and is within walking distance to shops and restaurants." The same expat added, "Boquete has a large number of Canadians because the weather is so perfect. Average 70 degrees with highs into the 80's only, so not super hot for swimming pools, and lows around 60 overnight so perfect sleeping weather." Another expat wrote, "If you want hustle and bustle, go to Panama City. If you want just bustle, go to David. If you want tranquila, come to Puerto Armuelles. It's a nice size town with infrastructure and the international company of Del Monte. We get things accomplished around here, but we do it with tranquila. I am a psychologist and was a university professor, and I love it here!" Another expat shared that Pedasi is a clean, charming town with all the requisites for either adventure or rest and relaxation. Just a few minutes to the beach and the gateway to the southern portion of theAzuero, Pedasi and its surroundings offer a great location as a retirement community or traveling destination. Pedasi, along with the eastern portion of the Azuero (Herrera and Los Santos provinces), enjoy less rain and a longer dry season than their neighbors to the west in Veraguas province. This coupled with constant ocean breezes translates into an enjoyable climate even in the wettest months of the rainy season and the hottest months of the dry season. If you're thinking about moving to Panama and haven't narrowed down where you would like to live, consider taking a tour with our partner, Panama Relocation Tours. Con: It Might Take Time to Adjust in Panama The expat in Boquete, Panama added that "the culture is very different than the U.S. and the systems and structures can sometimes make no sense at all. If you can't roll with things when they go wrong or get frustrating, it may not be for you." So make sure you are careful and visit for a period of time to make sure you are getting an accurate sense of what each area is actually like. The Panamanian PeoplePro: Locals in Other Areas are Very Friendly One expat wrote that the people in Panama are "Good humoured, friendly, contented, [and] open-minded people" and a "family-oriented society." Con: Women are Often Perceived as a Commodity in Panama One expat warned a single woman that "Panama is a Latino macho male dominated society" where "As a single woman you could be sexually harassed and perhaps even assaulted by local men who see you as a new toy to use and then toss away after they got what they wanted. The vast majority of people in the country are decent human being[s] but there [is] also a layer of individuals who will victimize you, especially if you have little to no understanding of this dynamics of this environment." Pro: Experiences in Panama as an African American An African-American expat inquired about Panama: "I am interested in learning more about the ethnic minority experience in Panama, African-American in particular. Any input will be greatly appreciated." Can't say much about the ethnic minority experience, as I am white, but at least here in Bocas we have a real diverse population. Black, white red, and yellow. And to my knowledge no one gives color much thought. We're all just living the dream here in paradise. Cost of Living in PanamaPro: Relatively Cheaper Living Expenses An expat from Canada wrote that, "Overall cost of living is lower than in Canada (biggest savings are in services), despite the poor exchange rate for the Canadian Dollar." Pro: There are Some Affordable Places to Live An expat in Panama wrote that, "People can live here, and do live here on a salary of $450 a month. The lifestyle is so basic, I would not want to do that. If you cannot have $2000 a month to live on, I would not even consider it. Make it $25,000 a year for a nice round number and you will not be living in a high rise condo in Panama City. Best to come for a holiday and bring your calculator to find out prices. It is cheaper in the west, the food basket of Panama, than in the east, Panama City." However, as noted above

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airinsight · 7 years

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Embraer solves St. Helena connection problem

For months the inhabitants of the Atlantic island of St. Helena have faced a connectivity problem. The mailship from Cape Town broke down near the end of its life and the there was no way to get on or off the island as easily as before. This was despite the fact the British Government had spent £285m on a new airport.

We have previous stories on the problems this airport faced with wind shear. …

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#e-190 #Embraer #SA Airlink #st. helena

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changesinattitudes · 7 years

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April 4. You’ve probably been wondering where we are.

Yup, its been a while since we’ve posted. Either we have been too busy or when we’ve had time there has been no internet. But now we are in a luxurious marina with nice amenities (after 3 weeks on a boat real showers and toilets are amenities! lol) so its time for an update.

We stayed another day and night at Cambridge Cay. There was another site we wanted to snorkel, Rocky Dundas. Wow, it was spectacular. One cave was small and totally out of the water. The other cave was like a scene out of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Once we swam thru the entrance we were in another world. Stalactites and stalagmites, tunnels and paths lighted by a couple of holes in the ceiling. The youngish crew of Liberty Clipper had gotten there earlier and decorated the cave with candles, a checkered tablecloth on a rock and wine bottles with melted candles as well as bottles filled with wine. It was amazing!

The next day we slipped our mooring ball and motorsailed to Big Major Cay. It was a large protected anchorage filled with dozens of boats including several 150′+/- motor yachts. Here we went to shore to see the swimming pigs. Any of our relatives that farm are probably wondering why someone would sail 100′s of miles over the course of a month to see pigs swim. Really. People pay big bucks to tour operators to come here. Heck, you can see that in Ohio. But it’s a big attraction here, and really kind of neat. They come right up to you to get a handout. One even climbed into a boat to get fed. A couple are huge, someone was guessing 600 lbs +. And the people are about as fun to watch as the pigs.

Staniel Cay is right around the corner from Big Major, about a 1.5 mile dinghy ride. After feeding the pigs we motored over to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club to dispose of trash and sight see. Linda and I walked from one side of the island to the other with friends who were looking to buy some food to reprovision. Supplies come by the mailship the Captain C and she had just docked. It seemed that all the “convenience” stores closed while the ship was in port to unload, transport and restock their shelves. Since Linda had FairWind’s lockers full we continued to tour while our friends waited a couple of hours for the store to reopen. We ended up at the Yacht Club (it seems strange calling it that, it isn’t close by US standards) for a late lunch and watched the fishermen clean their catch and feed the nurse sharks.

Blackpoint Settlement was our next destination. According to other cruisers this was a “must go ashore and eat local food” destination. So we did! That evening we ate at Loraine’s along with two other couples. We were served by Loraine herself and she treated us as guests in her home. The food was good, the ambience and hospitality great!

After Blackpoint we stopped at Rudder Cay for the evening then came to our current location Emerald Cove Marina. Yesterday we purchased day passes into the Sandal’s resort here. All you can eat and drink. I think we got our moneys worth and beat the house, so today is a recuperation day.

Tomorrow we head for Georgetown.

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mailandmoreofpeoria-blog · 5 years

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Packing and Shipping

Here at Mail and More of Peoria we offer superior packing and shipping services to get your packages wherever you need them to be. We offer highly competitive prices to ensure that you won't find a better delivery service out there. With over 10 years of industry experience, we know how to get your packages where they need to go when they need to be there all at an affordable rate that fits well into your budget. For more information on our versatile packing and shipping services, contact us at Mail and More of Peoria today!

https://www.peoriashippingservice.com

#ShippingService #ShippingCompany #PackingCompany #PackingandShipping #PostOfficeServices #DocumentDestruction #DocumentShredding #PrivateMailboxes #MailShipping #DomesticShipping #InternationalShipping #NotaryPublic #FaxServices #CopyingServices #PassportPhotos

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mailandmoreofglendaleaz-blog · 5 years

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Packing and Shipping

Here at Mail and More of Glendale , we offer excellent packing and shipping services to get your packages wherever you need them to be. We offer highly competitive prices to ensure that you won't find a better delivery service out there. With over 10 years of industry experience, we know how to get your packages where they need to go when they need to be there all at an affordable rate that fits well into your budget. For more information on our versatile packing and shipping services, contact us at Mail and More of Glendale today!

https://www.glendaleshippingservice.com/

#MailShippingServices #ShippingService #MailShipping #ShippingCompany #PackingCompany #PackingandShipping #PostOfficeServices #DocumentDestruction #DocumentShredding #PrivateMailboxes #DomesticShipping #InternationalShipping #NotaryPublic #FaxServices #CopyingServices #PassportPhotos

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artsvark · 8 years

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Exhibition: Death in foreign waters - SS Mendi's last voyage

MPS van der Merwe writes: The SS Mendi tragedy is remembered by Iziko Museums of South Africa at the Iziko Maritime Centre in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Death in foreign waters – the last voyage of the SS Mendi

An exhibition called “The last voyage of the SS Mendi: Death in foreign waters” is on permanent display.

In August 1914, war was declared between Britain and Germany. South Africa, as a British Dominion, had a constitutional obligation to support the war. During the First World War, Britain transported thousands of troops from its Dominions to the war fronts. The Royal Navy did not have enough ships to do this, necessitating the British government to charter, or purchase merchant vessels and convert them into troop carriers.

SS MENDI

Type: Steel screw steamer Official Number (ON): 120875 Code Letters: HDGP Year Launched: 1905 Shipbuilder: A Stephen & Sons, Glasgow Owners: British & African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd Managers: Elder Dempster & Co. Ltd Port of Registry: Liverpool Flag: British Engine Builder: A Stephen & Sons, Glasgow Gross Tonnage: 4 230 Net Tonnage: 2 639

Dimensions: Length: 370.2 feet (112.84 metres) Breadth: 46.2 feet (14.08 metres) Depth: 23.3 feet (7.1 metres)

The Elder Dempster Line Karina Class steel screw steamer Mendi was such a vessel (‘Mendi’ is a tribe and dialect of Sierra Leone). The SS Mendi was engaged exclusively in the important Liverpool-West Africa trade until 1916, when she was chartered by the Ministry of Transport. The ship was then fitted out as a troop transport at Lagos in Nigeria, using fittings brought from Liverpool. Holds 1, 2 and 4, were each fitted with ‘tween decks on which the troops would be quartered, while Hold 3 was reserved for cargo.

After a voyage from Lagos to Durban, the SS Mendi, under the command of Captain Henry Arthur Yardley, made for Cape Town, where the 5th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Contingent (SANLC) was embarked. It comprised five officers, 17 non-commissioned officers, and 802 enlisted labourers, together with about 1 500 tons of government cargo. The labourers were quartered in the normal passenger accommodation. The crew was berthed forward, under the quarterdeck. All of the passenger accommodation was cramped and uncomfortable, particularly for those on the ‘tween decks.

The reality of war at sea was brought home to South Africans and especially Capetonians during this time. The Seiner Majestät Schiff Wolf (IV) – probably the greatest raider of them all – left Hamburg on 30 November 1916. The disguised and armed merchant raider, or auxiliary cruiser, was in Cape Town waters on Tuesday, 16 January 1917, when her destructive visit was to start.

On 16 January 1917, the SS Mendi left Cape Town at noon and formed up in convoy with five other merchant ships: the Union-Castle mailship RMS Kenilworth Castle (II) which was also carrying South African troops as well as gold bullion, the Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd passenger liner SS Orsova (l), the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd (White Star Line) liner SS Medic, the Pacific & Orient Steam Navigation Co. passenger liner SS Berrima, and the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd liner SS Port Lyttelton. All these were carrying Australian troops. The six ships were escorted by the HMS Cornwall, an old British County Class cruiser armed with fourteen six-inch guns, and a speed of 24 knots.

Late that afternoon, the lookout on the Wolf (IV) reported seven vessels approaching from the direction of Cape Town. Korvettenkapitän Karl-August Nerger stood on the bridge flying the British flag as the convoy approached. His strict order stipulated that he was to avoid raiding action until he had laid most of his mines, and even from a distance he could tell that an attack would be suicidal folly. The warship was none other than HMS Cornwall, a 9 800 ton armoured cruiser that had sunk the German light cruiser Leipzig during the Battle of the Falkland Islands, and carried more than twice the fire power of the raider. The flag on the Wolf (IV) was lowered and recognised by the cruiser. The SS Mendi was on her final and catastrophic voyage. If the SMS Wolf (IV) had laid her mines earlier, the outcome for the convoy could have been disastrous.

SS DARRO

Type: Steel twin screw steamer Official Number (ON): 132026 Code Letters: JBCW Year Launched: 1912 Shipbuilder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast Owners: Imperial Direct Line Ltd Managers: Elder Dempster & Co. Ltd Port of Registry: Belfast Flag: British Engine Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast Gross Tonnage: 11 484 Net Tonnage: 7 291

Dimensions: Length: 500.7 feet (152.61 metres) Breadth: 62.3 feet (18.99 metres) Depth: 40.2 feet (12.25 metres)

On the afternoon of 20 February 1917, SS Mendi left Plymouth in the company of the Acorn Class (H Class) destroyer HMS Brisk (sunk by a mine on 2 October 1917). It was overcast with threatening mist, light winds and a smooth sea. At 17:30, lookouts were posted, and at 19:30, navigation lights shown. At 03:45 the following morning, conditions worsened, and an hour later the destroyer was alongside SS Mendi requesting her to increase speed, a request Captain Yardley decided not to heed immediately. Minutes later, at 04:57, the much bigger passenger and cargo ship SS Darro (launched in 1912, the same year as the RMS Titanic disaster, and by the same shipbuilders) under command of Captain Henry Winchester Stump, struck the SS Mendi with a heavy right-angled blow between No 1 and No 2 holds. The depth of the cut was about 20 feet (6 metres) below the waterline.

The SS Darro backed out of the opening shortly after striking the SS Mendi. Captain Yardley stopped the engines of the SS Mendi and ordered the boats lowered. Two boats floated and two capsized because they were overloaded. One boat was stoved in, and some were not launched. The boats had a combined capacity for only 298 men, but there were 89 crew and 824 men on board. The rest of the life-saving equipment consisted of life rafts, life rings and life jackets.

It became a struggle for life and survival, as many men were thrown into the water and many jumped into the sea rather than into the life rafts. Many SANLC men were crushed to death as the bow smashed into them where they lay on their blankets on the deck of the hold, and subsequent inrush of water, as they could not fall in at their muster stations. Panic and confusion in the darkness also played a part.

Releasing secured life rafts by untying instead of cutting the ropes wasted precious time. SANLC trooper Jacob Koos Matli saw an abandoned life raft still tied to a railing. Sixteen-year-old William Bonifacius Mathumetse was among the last to jump in the water. He splashed around helplessly, repeating the Lord’s Prayer, before struggling away and coming across two dead soldiers wearing life belts. He pulled them together to make a float, resting upon them.

The ship appears to have gone down by the head, about 20 minutes after the collision. Large numbers of the SANLC labourers and crew members ended up in the water rather than in the boats and life rafts. Trooper Matli and a crew member, William Brownlee, recalled the whirlpool that sucked down many men. A substantial amount of men subsequently died from hypothermia as the water temperature was reported to be eight degrees Celsius. The delay in assistance reaching them, and their inability to find or climb into life rafts, were other factors.

The HMS Brisk sent boats to search for survivors, and landed 137 survivors at Portsmouth after escorting the SS Darro to St Helen’s Road on the east coast of the Isle of Wight. The coal and general cargo steamer Sandsend operated by Pyman SS Co. Ltd (G Pyman & Co.), of West Hartlepool, arrived and her boats picked up 23 survivors (SS Sandsend was sunk by the German submarine UC 48 on 16 September 1917). They were subsequently transferred to the minesweeper HMS Balfour before being landed at Newhaven in Sussex.

One raft apparently made it safely to the Dorset coast with a few survivors aboard. Ndebele-speaker, Alpheus Moliwa Zagubi, and two SANLC companions, appear to have been the last survivors rescued.

The SS Darro was indeed a ship of shame. The Board of Trade Inquiry found that although the master of the SS Darro, Captain Stump, acted appropriately towards his own vessel, he had failed to render assistance to the SS Mendi. No boat was even sent to investigate or assist – and they saw two boats and a raft with survivors coming alongside. They could also hear the shouts of men in the water until about 06:30. There was nothing physically preventing rescue operations. The Inquiry concluded that the collision was caused by the excessive speed of the SS Darro and the failure of Stump to use sound signals. It was also concluded that the loss of the SS Mendi and those on board had been caused by the master of the SS Darro. His master’s certificate was therefore suspended for 12 months.

A faction within the Board of Trade differed with the findings. They were of the opinion that Stump got off lightly. His master’s certificate should have been cancelled rather than suspended. In one memo, Stump was described as “a standing menace to seafarers”.

In the book, Macqueen’s Legacy Ships of the Royal Mail Line, Stuart Nicol, makes the following mention of the Darro: “Darro was involved in a catastrophic accident in February, 1917. Its failure to appear in the Company’s war history was perhaps because it was not an act of war but, for all that the wartime ban on lights probably contributed. She was in the English Channel in foggy conditions when she was in collision with Elder Dempster’s Mendi. The latter vessel carrying South Africans sank in a few minutes and over 650 lives were lost. I have not seen reports of Darro’s losses and damage, but she was back in service by May, 1917. ”

The wreck of the SS Mendi lies roughly 11 nautical miles south-west of St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight in 35-40 metres of water. The site was found in 1945 by sonar, and in 1953 a new survey resulted in an improved position of the site. In 1974, Mr Martin Woodward dived on the site, and his subsequent investigations led him to conclude that it was the wreck of the SS Mendi.

The British-based company, Wessex Archaeology, recorded the site in more detail, as did GrownUPSAC, a branch of the University of Portsmouth Sub-Aqua Club in July 2005. The SS Mendi is remembered in various ways:

SM Bennet Ncwana instituted the Mendi Memorial Club after the First World War, and kept the memory of the SS Mendi alive by an annual commemoration, Mendi Day.

In 1936 the Mendi Memorial Bursary fund was established to sponsor promising black pupils.

Several memorials in South Africa and abroad were erected over the years to commemorate the Mendi tragedy:

Hollybrook Memorial, Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton

Bokleni Memorial, Newtimber, West Sussex

Delville Wood Memorial, Delville Wood, Belgium

Mendi Memorial and Garden of Remembrance, Avalon Cemetery, Soweto

Mendi Memorial, Atteridgeville, Pretoria

Mendi Memorial, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth

Mendi Memorial, Mthatha, Eastern Cape

Mendi Memorial, Maseru, Lesotho

Mendi Memorial, Gaborone, Botswana

Mendi Memorial, University of Cape Town

Mendi Memorial, Nyandeni, near Port St Johns

The Mendi tragedy is also remembered by the SA Navy in the naming of two of their ships, the strike craft SAS Isaac Dyobha, and the SAS Mendi, one of the new corvettes.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery is awarded to South African citizens who have displayed extraordinary acts of bravery.

The Mendi tragedy is remembered by Iziko Museums of South Africa at the Iziko Maritime Centre in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. An exhibition called “The last voyage of the SS Mendi: Death in foreign waters” is on permanent display.

The exhibition consists of panels with images and text discussing the war, the SANNC, the SS Mendi, the tragedy and struggle and survival. Other panels are devoted to remembrance of the ship and the wreck today. Three monitors relay audio-visual documentaries regarding the tragedy and remembrance of the tragedy. There are also a few objects on display coming from the wreck of the SS Mendi, as well as a objects related to the First World War.

It is heartening that this tragedy, since 1994, now forms part of main stream history in South Africa and that the war heroes of the SS Mendi are remembered and honoured. South Africa must never forget them.

Death in foreign waters – the last voyage of the SS Mendi By MPS van der Merwe, Curator: Iziko Social History Collections Department

Exhibition: Death in foreign waters – SS Mendi’s last voyage was originally published on Artsvark

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