The Ben-Line

david macdiarmid · Post by **david macdiarmid** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:03 am

My Great Uncle Neil Sutherland,was a Skipper on the Ben-Line.I am looking (hopefully) for information on his life at sea,ships,destinations et al.Neil was born in Leith in 1861 and died in Leith as a retired Shipmaster in 1936,hope someone can help, David

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:59 am

Hello David,

There’s some info in an old post but you would have been there done that.
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... sutherland

I didn’t get very far with this but if you search in the Scotsman Archive for CAPTAIN NEIL SUTHERLAND as an exact phrase there’s a result on 1st December 1936 in a section headed Scottish District News.

I don’t know whether this an article about your fellow or whether it’s a false hit but if the death was about then there must be a good chance it’s an obituary. http://archive.scotsman.com/search.cfm

All the best,
Alan

Thrall · Post by **Thrall** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:59 am

Hi David, you could try this http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capreg.htm , which should give details of all captains and mates up to 1947. I managed to find a librarian at the Guildhall Library to search for me in his "lunch break" for £50 and received all the voyages my man did as mate and captain, but there seems to be perhaps more of a stumbling block now.
Pretty well all voyages that were considered to be worth insuring are there.

See: viewtopic.php?t=5190&highlight=captains

Guid hunting,

Thrall

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:12 pm

For all that have not seen this link it is up and running again.

http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/benline.html

And The Recollections of a Ben Line Cadet

http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/bencadet.html

Orraverybest Hugh.