Ship's Dghajsa

[keithattard]

I AM KEITH ATTARD FROM MALTA. MY GRANDFATHER JOHN ATTARD WAS SHIPSDGHAJSA ON HMS DARING,DAINTY,DUCHESS,SOLEBAY,LAGOS,MAGPIE,ALAMEIN ,TRAFALGAR,VERULAM,SCARBOROUGH,CHEQUERS AND CHIEFTAIN WHEN THESE SHIPS WAS IN MALTA BETWEEN THE YEARS 1949 AND 1962. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SERVED OF THESE SHIPS AND REMEMBER HIM AND MAY BE HAVE A PHOTO OF HIM OF THAT TIME. THANKS VERY MUCH AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE.xidja@onvol.net

[Batstiger]

Welcome to the forum Keith.
All us ex matelots remember the fantastic job that your grandfather and his fellow Dghajsa men did for the fleet in Malta, we couldn't have done without them.
Do you have any photographs of the fine ships that you have mentioned?

Regards, Bob.

[SCRG1970]

Keith

Welcome to the forum and a fine Maltese name, in the 60s on LION our cooks and stewards were all Maltese and obviously the name Attard was prominent.

Regards

Gerry

[tim lewin]

My father was in Chequers, as was HRH Price Philip in the 1949/50 commission, I was there as a 4-year old. If you look back in the threads in the forum you will find several contemporary pictures, ditto for the Battles.
Good luck and welcome.
tim

[gunnersmate]

Welcome to the forum Keith.
I was on the Duchess 1960/1962 commission, and remember your Grandfather very well. I think he was called Joe at the time. But sadly I have no photographs.
On one of our trips around the Med, we took Joe and his Dghajsa with us, which would be late 61 or early 62 but where we went I really cannot remember.
He scrubbed my hammock fror me on one occasion and lost it, but I did get it back much later.
He was always polite and kind and seemed to be a very nice gent.
Those were the days.

Baz.

[dayerb]

Hi Keith,
Dghajsa attending Chieftain but dont think its your grandfather?
Brian

[Pelican]

I AM KEITH ATTARD FROM MALTA. MY GRANDFATHER JOHN ATTARD WAS SHIPSDGHAJSA ON HMS DARING,DAINTY,DUCHESS,SOLEBAY,LAGOS,MAGPIE,ALAMEIN ,TRAFALGAR,VERULAM,SCARBOROUGH,CHEQUERS AND CHIEFTAIN WHEN THESE SHIPS WAS IN MALTA BETWEEN THE YEARS 1949 AND 1962. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SERVED OF THESE SHIPS AND REMEMBER HIM AND MAY BE HAVE A PHOTO OF HIM OF THAT TIME. THANKS VERY MUCH AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE.xidja@onvol.net Keith I was on Chequers from 1950 until 1952. We had 2 dghajsa's and I'm sure Joe was one of them. I have sent you the only photo I have to your email address as an attachment, of one of them, but in all honesty cannot say if it was your grandfather or not. As you will see it was taken through a porthole. The photo is not very big as we were not very rich and film/developing/printing was not cheap in those days. Please let me know if you receive it? Kind regards David, Mousey, Rye.

[keithattard]

Hi Keith,
Dghajsa attending Chieftain but dont think its your grandfather?
Brian

HI BRIAN
FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO REPLY AND MANY THANKS TO YOU BRIAN FOR YOUR PIC. I AM VERY SOORY TO SAY THAT IIS NOT MY GRANDFATHER THAT ONE THE PIC IN THOSE DAYS THERE WERE HUNDRED OF DGHAJSAS BUT I WILL KEEP IT IN MY COLLECTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. KEITH

[keithattard]

thx everyone for replying. i had problem with my e mail adrees and i changed it to ktyson12(a)
hotmail.com if some one send me on the other e mail i am very sry i dindnt reply to him. thx keith and happy new year to everyone on the forum.

[keithattard]

I AM KEITH ATTARD FROM MALTA. MY GRANDFATHER JOHN ATTARD WAS SHIPSDGHAJSA ON HMS DARING,DAINTY,DUCHESS,SOLEBAY ,LAGOS,MAGPIE,ALAMEIN ,TRAFALGAR,VERULAM,SCARBOROUGH,CHEQUERS (when prince philip served on the ship) AND CHIEFTAIN WHEN THESE SHIPS WAS IN MALTA BETWEEN THE YEARS 1949 AND 1962. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO SERVED OF THESE SHIPS AND REMEMBER HIM AND MAY BE HAVE A PHOTO OF HIM OF THAT TIME. THANKS VERY MUCH AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE. ktyson12(a)hotmail.com

* this thread i make it the second time beacause i had problems with my e mail thx.

[keithattard]

why uu didnt left it as new threat. thx ee very helpfull

[Dreadnought]

Just thought it was better to keep it all together Keith, and to avoid any possible duplication. :)

[Pelican]

HMS CHEQUERS
Hello Keith. Here is a dghajsa snap taken from Chequers sometime between 1950 and 1950. A pity its number is not readable. No doubt the owner could then be identified?

[Pelican]

Keith a posting elsewhere brought forth this response. Did you grandfather also operate in Grand Harbour? Will let you know if Baz adds to the story.

"I was on HMS Delight in the Med and in and out of Malta between 1953 and 55 and I'm sure Johnny Attard was our Dghajsa man during our vists into Grand Harbour. I seem to recall that he was among those assisting in rescuing our motor boat's crew and buoy jumpers in Frenchmans Creek after the navigator went astern hauling the bow buoy underwater, our motorboat dashed in to save the jumpers and right on cue his nibs went ahead, the buoy came up, punched a hole in the motorboat, ship goes astern again to free the boat which made a swift dash round to get hauled out. The cox'n, ginger haired killick* of the boys mess, stood to attention and saluted as his boat went down under him. I seem to recall he got a severe rollicking* for that. Can't recall what happened to the Dork* responsible on the bridge. I think Baz might help out here, he's such a mine of information and was possibly one of the buoy jumpers.
Afraid I dont have any photos of him, I was very seriously busy learning how to be an alcoholic. http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/sites/all/modules/smileys/packs/Roving/innocent.png http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/sites/all/modules/smileys/packs/Roving/beer.png . I have nearly kicked the habit [he lied] http://www.hmsgangesassoc.org/sites/all/modules/smileys/packs/Roving/innocent.png"

* killick - leading seaman. * rollicking - telling off. * Dork - idiot or similar.

[keithattard]

THX MOUSEY yes he also worked in the grand harbour too but when he was official dghaisa-man most of the ships where in sliema creek and i sure my uncle rembember that story of bouy because he is older than my father and he used to be with him as a little boy. my granfather passed away more that 35 years ago. And here there a pic when members of hms daring association they came to malta for a reunion and we took them to see his orginal dghajsa is still in good condition after these years.

[Scurs]

Our dghajsa man (SURPRISE) was SALVO BORG, complete with boat painted "Green Parrot" colour as befitting an Admiral. He (plus boat) often used to come with us on cruises. I recall Salvo getting into a punch-up ashore at Venice in 1962 for nicking tourists from Gondoliers who saw no reason why they should share the "trade" with a Maltese dghajsa! :D

[keithattard]

Yes Salvo borg was from senglea he used to be with a lot of ships official dghajsa he had 3 or 4 dghajsas all painted in green parrot. my granfather went to venice wih a criuse i thing with HMS DUCHESS 1956 or 1961 and he had some problems too with the gondoliers:)

[Pelican]

SHIP'S DGHAJSAS

During a recent visit to Malta Keith kindly took me to see the family dghajsas. They have 3 one of which is in the photos. The one on the left is his grandfather's original now 61 years old and still in good nick. I hope someone will come up with the photos and information he seeks.

[keithattard]

thx for your help