Your Reponses

Christine Quilliam - July '08
In response to anyone knowing George Quilliam, he is my dad and yes he was on The Reina. He was the Quarter Master on the wheel when she run aground on the Bermuda Flats. Please get back in touch to christinequilliamathotmaildotcom would be great to hear from anyone who knew my dad way back then.

Karen Leckey - May '08
Hello, my father-Tom Donnelly also was aboard the Reina Del Pacifico when the explosion happened. He also worked in the engine room. He had left the area to go to the toilet and on his return as he reached for the engine room door it blew out.
He went down into the engine room and helped to get people out. He always talked out seeing men with the flesh on their arms hanging off like long gloves. He never had a decent nights sleep after that-I suppose now we would call it post traumatic stess.

Angela Giese - February '08
Hello everybody!

I am an editorial journalist for a German documentary called "missing" - we are trying to find long lost people for their relatives. In this context I am looking for JOSÉ LUIS PADILLA, who was working on the REINA DEL MAR in 1958 and/ until 1960.
In 1958 he conceived a son (Michael Baarsch) while sailing from Peru to Germany who has been looking for his father José Luis Padilla for now almost 50 years.Maybe somebody can give me some hints or further details, maybe some of you or your relatives who used to work on the Reina del Mar even knew him??

To JIM MCLAUGHLIN: If the barmaid was the captain's daughter..do you have any of her contact details??

If so, please let me know and email me: angela.giese at endemol.de or give me a quick call: 0049.221.65030-836 or just post something here!

Thank you all so much,
Angela

William Kerr - Dec '07
My uncle Bob McKay was badly injured in the explosion, he lived in Whiteabbey. his back was so badly damaged that he had to wear a metal brace for the rest of his life. I was told that the shipyard deducted a half day's pay from the men who were injured!

William Ian Morrison. - Mar '07
I was also on the Reina DEL pPacifico in 1947 when the explosion happened.
Since then I have been in shipbuilding in Belfast,Sweden AND Glasgow,then to London where I formed my own company involved in shipbuilding and ship repairing Worldwide.
Still consultant to various shipyards even at 75 .

Lou Pace - Feb '07
It looks like there are a few posts here from crew members of the Reina del Pacifico. Does anyone remember a George Quilliam who may have been a member of the crew? Is there a listing of the victims of the engine room explosion? Any information would be appreciated.

Alex Jackson - Nov '06
I remember the explosion of the "rio" quite well, I lived in Greenisland and can rember seeing the badly burned who lived locally walking up the Station road, a terrible sight. There was a Billy Morrison mentioned in the comments, I wonder did he come from whiteabbey. I now live in Canada, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, but still try to make it back every year if possible, Greenisland, Whiteabbey and Carrickfergus hold terrific memories, ones I will never forget.

Robbie Champion - Nov '06
Have just stumbled on this article and site while looking up some info for my son who is interested in the family history. My father was killed in the Reina del Pacifico explosion on 9 September 1947. His name was Robert McClure (more often known as Bobbie), he was 24 years old and employed as a fitter. He left a loving wife (Ray) and my brother and myself. I was born 5 weeks after he died and was called Roberta after him. My father was a talented sportsman and I am told he was a promising footballer - playing for some of the Belfast teams in an amateur capacity - I know Cliftonville was mentioned as one. I wonder does anyone reading this remember him? Mum couldn't talk about the tragedy - I think it always remained too raw for her and indeed she never remarried. I really wish I had known him.

Mr Lawrence Shaw - Aug '06
My father, Jack Shaw (1912-1993]) served his apprenticeship with Workman & Clark, Belfast and moved to Harland & Wolff when they closed down. He often mentioned the explosion on the Reina del Pacifico having worked on her at the shipyard, I was 10 years old at the time and can recall him speaking of the disaster many times.

Dad served on the MV Merchant Prince, MV Robert F Hand, MV Gold Finder and the MV Chant, which was a three island tanker. We survived the Blitz in 1941 when we lived at 11 Whitewell Drive Greencastle and migrated to Australia on the Mooltan in 1951. I served in the RAN and Australian Merchant Navy on many vessels over many years, i'm a grandfather, now retired on the New South Wales Central Coast. Regards. Laurie Irish Shaw.

Grenville Redmond - Aug '06
My Dad, Bob Redmond (d. 1988) worked in H&W before, during and just after the 2nd WW as an engineer and draughtsman. He told me of this incident in which he lost some of his friends. He recalled how it affected everyone at the yard. I work overseas mostly, but have lived in Whitehead for 20 years (the bright orange house on the promenade!) and love to see the H&W ships or oil exploration vessels or whatever going in and out of the lough. I don't think my Dad was on the Reina del Pacifico at the time, but he would have liked it that people remember men like Fred Johnston, Charlie Thompson, etc. Thanks for this article.

Next time you or your parents are visiting Whitehead please rap our door and come in for a cup of tea and a chat.

Anthony Quelcutti - Aug '06
My father was a Gibraltar evacuee. He is about 68 years old. He has an older brother aged about 80 who is very knowledgeable about what happened. They were in Kensington and then on to Northern Ireland and back to kensington. My father is Jose Quelcutti and my uncle Oscar.

Eleanor Boyd (nee Morrison) - July '06
My dad, Billy Morrison, survived the explosion. He was down in the engine room at the time and took the full force of it. After miraculously surviving it and spending the next six years in and out of hospitals (he was over 90% burned). I'm glad to say that he's still alive at the age of 94! He's had a very productive and fulfilling life, despite his appearance, and he attributes his survival to his faith in God.

Jim Mclaughlin - June '06
I have been following this story with interest since my post Aug. 04 (Jim McLaughlin). Daphne Hamill posted her recollections about the Reina and the survivors of the Repulse and Prince of Wales. A shiver ran up my back, My father worked on the reina, and my wifes uncle was killed on the repulse aged 20. They say its a small world.

Bettina - May '06
I have just bought a cigarette case with this ships name and picture on. It has been interesting reading about this ship and all your comments. It is just sad it had terrible consequencies connected to it

Robert Johnston Gibraltar - Jan '06
Hi, I found your site whilst looking into our family tree my grand father Frederick Johnston was the chief engineer on the Reina when the explosion occurred. He survived the blast but died some days later in hospital.

He had served on the ship through out the 2nd war when it was used as a troop carrier and had been in the british artillery in the 1st war. His son Trevor served with P.S.N.C in amongst other ships the REINA DEL MAR, the pacifico's sister ship until he retired ....... regards to your father.

Joe Gingell, Gibraltar - Jan '06
I am carrying out a research about the Gibraltar evacuees during World War Two and find the comments about the Reina del Pacifico very interesting. From 1944 to 1950 there were about 7000 Gibraltar evacuees living in camps in Northern Ireland. In my research I found out that a few evacuees worked in the Belfast shipyard. These workers lived at a camp in Carryduff.

On the day of the explosion there was a Gibraltar employee working on the Reina del Pacifico during her trials. His name was Leo Guilliano, a plumber working in the boilers’ room. Ten minutes before the accident this employee decided to go aloft to wash his hands for the tea break and was lucky enough to escape the brunt of the explosion. I have photographs of the Gibraltar employees on the deck of the Reina del Pacifico. I have also photographs of the Gibraltar evacuees in the different camps in Northern Ireland. The presence of the Gibraltar evacuees in Northern Ireland came about as result of the outbreak of the Second World War when the bulk of the civilian population in Gibraltar had to be evacuated. The majority of these evacuees went to London where they stayed until July 1944. As a result of the flying bombs, of a total of 13500 evacuees in London 6500 were repatriated to Gibraltar after the war. The remainder 7000 were taken to Northern Ireland were many remained in exile for almost 6 years because of the acute shortage of accommodation in Gibraltar.
I would be very grateful to get in touch with anyone who would like help with my research about the Gibraltar evacuees. I am particularly interested in any information regarding the Gibraltar evacuees in London, at the transit camps in Neilston and Bridge of Weir in Scotland or Chorley in Lancashire and later in Northern Ireland.
Many thanks.

Norman Gibson - Jan '06
My father was on the Reina del Pacifico from April to May 1945, en route to what he called his "own" ship, HMS Hunter, an Escort Aircraft Carrier that went on to Ceylon and Singapore. In Singapore, some of the Hunter's officers were present at the signing of the Japanese surrender on 12th September. [From my father's personal journal]. I was only five at the time of the explosion on Reina del Pacifico and have no idea if my father would have learned of the tragedy after the War. He himself died in 1978.

Geoffrey Osborne - Dec 05
I was apprentice in Tilbury docks 1950 -1955. I worked later in London docks with second engineer from Reina del Mar and he was second on Reina del Pacifico. He had been in six episodes but was on the sister ship when that occured. He gave me good advice where to stand during manoeuvering. I noted on later explosions the positions of dead and injured, especially when reversing after running on heavy fuel. The main advance from the Reina del Pacifico was the introduction of wire rope ladders to enable access after explosions. The later monitoring devices eliminated crank case explosions. Mr Hunter was on the Murmansk convoys and gave me the answer to a question - why do some ships have steam supplies in their water intakes? It was to prevent blockage by ice.

Phil Palmer - Oct '05
My grandfather (aged 96) was on the Reina del Pacifico for 2 transports in 1944 I think he was Chief Writer on board
He is still alive and well and living in Teignmouth, Devon

Steve Ryan - August '05
My father was on this ship sometime in 1950/1 but I know very little else. I think that he was the 4th 5th engineer if that is the correct term. His name was Ronnie Ryan and he died at the very young age of 41 in 1968. It would be interesting if anyone recognises the name.

Charlotte White (nee Thompson ) - August '05
I was very interested to read Ann Downey`s article on the Reina del Pacifico. My father Charlie Thompson was one of the badly burned and only survived for nine days. I was the oldest of three, and my youngest brother was just six weeks old at the time of the accident.

My Brother and I live in England and I was interested to read that Robert Downey had a house in Whitehead N.Ireland as my brother`s mother-in law also lives in Whitehead. He was on holiday there when I found the article and I immediately contacted him with the news. He rang an R. Downey listed in the telephone book but got no responce. We will keep on trying .....

Thank you Ann Downey for this information. after such a long time it was really good to read your letter.

Russell Thompson - August '05
My Father Charles Thompson was killed on the Reina del in 1947. I was 5 weeks old at the time. My mother Lily Thompson didn't talk much about what happened and I am keen to hear from anyone who knew my father.

James Mc Master - July '05
I was an apprentice joiner in the shipyard when the terrible explosion occurred on the Reina Del Pacifico at sea. I remember standing on the deck of the MV Debret as the Reina Del Pacifico was towed back into the shipyard. Shipyard workers stood with their caps off and their heads bowed as the crippled ship passed by. The shipyard was absolutely silent. There were many lunchtime concerts held and collections taken for the relatives of the victims. The talents of the workers in the concerts was unbelievable. Irish tenors, ventriloquists, comedians etc.

Kevin Hendstock, Qld Australia - May '05
I used to see the Reina Del in the Mersey as a small boy. I resolved that, one day, I would become the Capt of the Reina Del Pacifico . In 1981, I flew from Australia to the UK, bought a yacht, a Westerly 33, and sailed it to Istanbul from the Solent , with my wife and young schoolgirl daughter We lived aboard her for 3 years.

I wrote to Harland and Wolfe in Belfast to tell the the story of the schoolboy who made a resolution to become master of the Reina Del Pacifico ................and made ...if but by proxy . They sent me a 10x8 photo of the Reina Del Pacifico.

I was on a cruise on the Fairstar out of Sydney . It was the Captain's cocktail party . The Capt was P&O. The steward at the entrance to the saloon asked me my name to relay it to the Capt.

I said " Capt Hendstock of the Reina Del Pacifico "

The Capt roared with laughter when I told him my Reina Del was Westerly ketch only 10.6 tons.

Maurice R. Dawe - May '05
Interesting to read this article, I am from Northern Ireland but at the time of the incident I was in South Africa on the Royal navy cruiser HMS Nigeria. My brother who was in the RAF came home from South Africa in 1945 on the Reina Del Pacifico. It was a tragedy that never should have happend. Incidently I too live in Canada, in the city of Barrie, Ontario.

Allan Gadd - March 05
Hi. My dad was on the Reina Del Mar as a deck hand travelling to Canada mainly. He was in the merchant navy. His other ships include Boniface, Empress of Canada and Bernard. His name is Frank Gadd. If anyone realises the name I am sure he would love to get in touch. His main routes were Liverpool to Brazil.

Phil Smith - March 05
I travelled on the Reina from Liverpool to Bermuda via La Rochelle and Santander in April 1955 aged three, with my mother. I remember the cabin and the dining room, which seemed quite grand. I also recall seeing the ship from under the dockside sheds, where there were rail tracks, before we embarked in Liverpool. Our trip was uneventful, but in November 1957 my grandparents travelling on the same route, woke up one night between Bermuda and the Azores to find the ship dead in the water, with banging coming from the engine room.

On arrival at Bermuda, we on the steam tender Chauncey M Depew, had to wait out at Five Fathom Hole for her late arrival, since she could not get in through the reef before nightfall. Normally she would have proceeded to Murray's Anchorage, a safe and calm place to lie. Her draught was more than any of the harbours would accept.

On the Reina's last trip in 1958, she was travelling down the Irish Sea outward bound on her usual route, when another engine room explosion occurred. I don't know whether there were any injuries, but the ship was towed into I think, Fishguard, where the passengers disembarked. I see that she was taken from there to Newport to be broken up. I am afraid she was somewhat ill-fated.

I remember seeing her at night at anchor in Murray's Anchorage, in April 1958 during her penultimate outward voyage, on what was to be her final visit to the Island.

I live in Poole, England nowadays...

Daphne Hamill - November '04
I have just found the article on the demise of the above ship. My father, mother, brother, and myself travelled on the Reina del Pacifico in July 1942 from Durban via Capetown to Liverpool. We travelled with the survivoirs of the Repulse and Prince of Wales. These two ships were torpedoed by the Japanese.

Helen Francey, Sydney, Australia - October '04
Hello Ann,
Your posting on the Reina del Pacifico brought back memories for me. In the late 1950's I was working at Woolworth's, High St, Belfast. One of our customers was a gentleman who had suffered dreadful burns, especially to the facial area. I remember being told that he was a survivor of the Reina del Pacifico disaster. Although I knew little about it I never forgot the name of the ship, or that gentleman who had suffered so much.
Kind Regards. Helen Francey.

Jim Mclaughlin - August '04
My father Jim Mclaughlin was a riveter on the Pacifico fortunately he was not in the engine room at the time of the accident however he told me after the accident workmen wanted to cut a plate out of the side shell to allow access to the injured and were prevented from doing so by a manager who was more interested in minimizing damage to the ship than saving men. The manager was physically removed by workers and the plate was burned out regardless.
My dad also worked on the sister ship Reina del Mar and later sailed on her to Peru where he worked for several years in a shipyard there. Many years later after his retirement we dropped into a bar in Portavogie for a pint, and on the wall was a picture of the Reina del Mar, we asked the barmaid about this and she told us her father had been the captain of the ship.

Robert Downey - 9 August '04
I would be very interested in corresponding with anyone related to Harland & Wolff during this time

Karen Leckey - 9 August '04
My Dad, Tom Donnelly, was a survivor of this accident too. He was only 24 at the time.
He had left the engine room and when he returned, as he reached for the door, the explosion blew it out towards him. He spoke about the day sometimes. He recalled seeing men with the flesh hanging off their arms like gloves, having been scalded and of helping to carry people to safety. It traumatised him, he never slept properly after that. I suppose nowadays it would be called post traumatic stress disorder.
Many years later he and a colleague broke into a house that was ablaze to try to rescue a mother and two children. The mother was dead from smoke inhalation, but when they found the children they had been burned and the flesh had fallen away from their bones too, it brought it all back again to him.
Reina del Pacifico was something he carried with him always.

Joseph Todd - 5 August '04
My Dad came from Ballymena and was working in the shipyards for Harland and Wolff from 1946 to 1949 before leaving for Canada.Iwas raised in Mississauga as well.Mum and Dad still reside there. He may have some knowledge to pass on.

Davy Wilson - 7 July '04
Phil,
The manager who was the overseer at most of H&W launches, Mr Watt, he gave me my instructions for the launch of the Krossfonn. Mr Watt also survived that explosion. I believe he was badly scarred. A very pleasant man.
Regards.

Phil Johnson - July '04

My Father, William Johnson, was in the engine room that day and survived, he died last year aged 78. He spoke often about the disaster and together we searched for the reports of the enquiry. He died in a nursing home in Liverpool, on his wall was a photo of the Reina del Pacifico.