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Can readers help tugman Ron put names to faces?

Crew of Admiralty in the early 1950s
Crew of Admiralty in the early 1950s

After a lifetime at sea, Ron Kite, of Minster, could tell a wealth of stories, and shared them with scores of fellow tug men.

In retirement he is finding time to catalogue old photographs, but becomes annoyed with himself for not remembering names.

Faces are so familiar, but the identity of the men (some with improbable nicknames) eludes him, and for someone as meticulous as Ron this is frustrating in the extreme.

But hurrah for Memory Lane!

Published photographs always bring results, so, dear readers, let’s help Ron put names to these seafarers.

He is certain the picture was taken in Sheerness dockyard in the early Fifties and could have been aboard either one of the Admiralty paddle tugs Cracker, Advice or Firm.

He can name all the crew except the man in a jumper and the man in overalls, bottom left.

Perhaps Harry Ashman (seaman), Ken Bates (stoker), Tom Portious (engineer), or John Gage (cabin boy) can help.

Possibly William Lowry (master) and Matt Britton have recall.

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