The m.v."Sheaf Mount"

Was another ship built to the orders of the British Government during World War 2. She was originally name "Empire Fancy", and was managed by the Sheaf Line during the war and given by the Government to the company in compensation for war losses.

She was powered by a Doxford 6 cylinder diesel engine. But the engine was only given 3 working cylinders, thus saving on expense and the shortages then prevailing.

I sailed on her between the USA and  Germany from November 1956 to March 1957. She was very very slow. On one day in the Atlantic, bound west to the States, our noon postion was 7 miles nearer to Europe than it had been 24 hours earlier. The "Queen Mary" passed us 5 times!! As we arrived in Glasgow for the last time, the pilot said, as we   were in the River Clyde, that it was a perfect time to test her speed, on the measured mile, as we passed. It was right at the top of High Water. We managed a full 5.7 knots...