View Full Version : Asian Flu 1957/58
My thoughts turn to the Asian Flu epidemic of 1957/58 with today's news of 'Swine Flu' spreading from Mexico. Asian flu raged through the Med Fleet at that time and I wonder how many supposedly 'active service ready' ships could have actually gone to sea. "Lagos" was in a short refit at Gib. when the flu caught us. Although it lasted on the ship for only a week or so, virtually all the ship's company were immobilised at some time during those weeks, and we would have been hard put to go to sea. Who else remembers Asian flu? Rob T
Derek Dicker
27-04-2009, 11:23
H Jonti, I had recently joined HMS Ganges (7th May 57) remember the asian flu well, most if not all of the trainees were confined to messdecks, I caught it twice ended up in the sickbay proper, happy days
Derek
Batstiger
27-04-2009, 11:44
I remember it well. I was on the Apollo at the time and we were in Hamburg when half the crew went down with it. When the time came to sail we still had to go!
I was one of the lucky ones (which ever way you look at it ) I didn't catch it.
Regards, Bob.
John Odom
27-04-2009, 12:26
We were newly weds in Glendale California. The whole plant weher I worked was barely functional. I was down for a week.
Taffsparks
27-04-2009, 20:36
I'm pretty sure that Mr. Brown Job and his government, having already saved the World from its economic woes, is, as we type, preparing to rescue us all from the ravages of 'Swine Flu', yeah, Pigs might fly!
Remember it well, returning home late at night from a date, caught the last bus from Belper to Derby about a six mile ride and it hit me, I thought I was dying? that bus ride seemed forever on reaching Derby I had to get a Taxi for
the final two miles home I have never felt so ill !!!!
I was in HMS Mercury (Shore establishment in Hampshire) doing a telegraphists course. The sick bay was full and two mess decks were turned into temporary sick bays. I eventually succumbed to the virus, I felt really bad, but the poor chap in the next bed was very ill and at one time I thought he was dying.
As a result I failed the course and had to re sit the exams.
George
Yes I caught it --Maidstone the depot ship at Portsmouth .
Sick bay for a week ----!! Sick bay was full .
They had a memorial plate inscribed to the RN doctor who lost his life when
Sidon sank mounted on the bulkhead --would never have seeen it otherwise .
Was 17 at that time ---memories !
Fred.
I was in Troubridge, we had to sail as a guard ship for the Queen who was flying to Canada. We left about a quarter of the crew behind in Pompey, more of the crew went sick onboard. The weather was terrible, we were the middle ship in the Atlantic & furthest North., we had to keep both boilers flashed & full power on the engines just to keep the ship head on to the gale. There we were, no cooked meals, the galley just could'nt function, most of the crew sick with the maximum men needed in the eng. dept. below. I fortunately escaped the flu (it may be I was immune, what with my own tot & several more from those who could'nt face it) all I know I was watch about with the Chief Stoker in A boiler room. We eventually made it to St Johns , Newfoundland, where we were badly treated by the local population, thats another story.
Francis Stanley
30-04-2009, 10:21
I'm pretty sure that Mr. Brown Job and his government, having already saved the World from its economic woes, is, as we type, preparing to rescue us all from the ravages of 'Swine Flu', yeah, Pigs might fly!
Do you think they might be making a bigger deal of it than is neccesary as it takes the focus on the news away from the credit crunch?
Incidently I heard that an early symptom of swine flu is crackling in the ears!
alanbenn
30-04-2009, 14:19
Do you think they might be making a bigger deal of it than is neccesary as it takes the focus on the news away from the credit crunch?
Incidently I heard that an early symptom of swine flu is crackling in the ears!
Francis you are probably right, why worry ablout the credit crunch it could be worse if you're a victim of 'swine flu'
As a paramedic I can tell you that 'cracklin' in the Ear is not a laughing matter and you should get some 'Oinkment' for it immediately.:p
But, you know the news won't be around for long as the media will soon get 'Pig-sick' of it.:D
Regards
Alan
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Francis Stanley
01-05-2009, 07:59
Alan
I like your STYE L (You started it,:) )
See attached
CanuckFan
01-05-2009, 21:35
My thoughts turn to the Asian Flu epidemic of 1957/58 with today's news of 'Swine Flu' spreading from Mexico. Asian flu raged through the Med Fleet at that time and I wonder how many supposedly 'active service ready' ships could have actually gone to sea. "Lagos" was in a short refit at Gib. when the flu caught us. Although it lasted on the ship for only a week or so, virtually all the ship's company were immobilised at some time during those weeks, and we would have been hard put to go to sea. Who else remembers Asian flu? Rob T
HMS Lagos after a visit to Naples, was supposed to be making a visit to Rappalo (spelling?) in Italy, but we had flu aboard and they, being a resort town, with no flu, wouldnt allow us ashore. Admiralty were consulted and we were directed to Genoa, were they already had Asian flu; so a bit more wouldn't bother them over much. I was one of the over-work peasants who never did get Asian flu.
According to the newspapers, the local brand of Swine flu, or Pig Pukes, seems to be no more violent than any normal flu. They can't understand why it killed so many in Mexico.
Bob
nigelweysom
03-05-2009, 19:32
i wasn't born till 1958 so Ive never seen a flu epidemic never mind a pandemic , but im still not worried
Nigel
Fairlead
07-05-2009, 20:32
I was in INGLESHAM - I remember it because it is the only time I have been sick at sea! - Yes I am one of those lucky ones who is not sea sick.
Fairlead
MartinH-K
07-05-2009, 21:49
I was in Dartmouth... but I was only 1-2 years old so I don't think I can contribute more...:o
I was in Troubridge, we had to sail as a guard ship for the Queen who was flying to Canada. We left about a quarter of the crew behind in Pompey, more of the crew went sick onboard. The weather was terrible, we were the middle ship in the Atlantic & furthest North., we had to keep both boilers flashed & full power on the engines just to keep the ship head on to the gale. There we were, no cooked meals, the galley just could'nt function, most of the crew sick with the maximum men needed in the eng. dept. below. I fortunately escaped the flu (it may be I was immune, what with my own tot & several more from those who could'nt face it) all I know I was watch about with the Chief Stoker in A boiler room. We eventually made it to St Johns , Newfoundland, where we were badly treated by the local population, thats another story.
Speak for yourself,, aisian flue on that trip was great.
As I said in another thread I spent a glorious week being pampered in sick bay, food delivered and the tot warmed up.
Even when I guiltily said I felt well enough to go back to work the M O said,, I think you had better give it another couple of days, I was to weak to argue.
Paddy.
jackdusty1
11-05-2009, 22:42
I was on destoring duties Grays dockyard (CORF) "British West Hartlepool" (great draft!) when I along with some shipmates, was struck down with this "Asian Flu bug" dragging myself to the civvy doc I "suggested" that I had this Asian Flu, his reply was "I will tell you whether you are sick or not!! back to duties I went,aching and miserable for the rest of the day, lucky for me it was Friday, my fellow sufferers were all signed off sick, a lesson I learnt "Let the doc sort out your problem"
Just read this thread for the first time and I thought I would chuck in my two pennyworth. I was doing a short course in Collingwood when I was struck down with the flu. Collingwood had a series of wooden huts as messes and a couple of these were taken over as an emergency sickbay so I reported sick as I was very bad with the flu and very weak. The flu was confirmed and I was told to go back to my mess and pack my kit and move it and my bedding to the new sick bay. Fortunately my mick and tool box were in the baggage store so I did not have them to consider so I packed my kit bag and suit case and staggered about 100 yards to the new sick bay where I had to unpack everything and place in a locker.
I then made my bed and climbed in and promptly went into a deep sleep not caring if I lived or died. I was not there long when I was woken up by an SBA accompanied by the MO who listened to my chest, took my temperature and decided I was too ill to be in the emergency sick bay so I was told to get up, pack my kitbag and suit case, roll my bedding up and I was to be transferred to the main sick bay which must have been about a quarter mile away. So once again I packed my kit and I was very grateful as they provided a lift in a tilly van and on arrival at the main sick bay, I had to hump my kit and bedding to a ward where I was allocated a bed and a locker and told to unpack every thing into my locker and turn in. By then I was worn out and after being given some medicine I went into a deep sleep.
I was in there for five or six days and I must admit I was well looked after until my discharge from the bay where once again like Lazarus I packed my bag, picked up my bedding and walked back to my original mess taking two journeys to do so.
Happy Days (I think)
Alan
Like D Dicker I was at Ganges [same joining date] and went down with it first. Empty Sickbay which filled up quickly. After 3 days I was discharged to find my mess [and others] used as sick stations. Still weak as P1ss, I then found I was expected to collect fannys of soup from the CMG for my sick oppos.
We had just done our finals at GANGES.........the mess was converted into emergency Sick Bay.........everyone caught it....bar one..........I didn't. :)
Upon recovery, Class went off on a "jolly" to Flushing, bar one......I didn't, caught Asian Flu! :o
At least I languished in Sick Bay proper! :D
MelQuick
31-01-2011, 07:42
I was an aircraft apprentice at RAF Halton at the time. Most of us went down with it and ground floor barrack rooms were converted into wards, with 30-40 beds in each, set out 'nose to tail' along each side.
Every now and then, a couple of kitchen orderlies would turn up with a big aluminium trolley, to feed us.
Mel
johnny07
02-02-2011, 18:59
I was an ERA under training at Hms Fisgard. The whole class was in the sick bay
I was what you lot would term a Pongo in Osnabrueck. My unit was only 75 strong and one of the big barrack rooms, normally holding 17 bods, was doubled up for a couple of weeks full of people from workshops, transport and HQ. We plant operators working daily on the old airfield at Achmer seemed immune or mabye it was so damned cold that the bugs died before we did.
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