Camper and Nicholson - Maid Marion - where is she now?

Hi all. I am also researching the HMS Maid Marion. My grand father served as second steward in 1940 during the evacuation of the BEF from La Rochelle. If there is any chance of seeing the crew photo Paul Samuel , I would be so grateful.

I found a site of the Maid Marion II from Florida. I initially dismissed it but now realise that it has relevance. Does anyone know if the original Maid Marion exists? Thanks for you help so far.

Hi Pete. My grandad also served on the HMS Maid Marion during the BEF evacuation in 1940. Do you have any more details about the ship please?

Will have to find the photos and get my youngest daughter to scan them in!

If you can that will be great.

A very interesting thread, thank you to all contributors.

I was engaged as Radio Officer to Carmargo V as she was changing name to Chimon in July 1969 in Southampton (she was berthed in the "New" Western Docks).

The intention was to sail via Falmouth to Nassau (where she was registered) but after underwater inspection that month, it was found that the hull was badly corroded and the voyage was cancelled. As far as I remember, I was told that she was owned (in 1969 as Chimon) by somebody to do with Fleischmann Margarine Company (not a product that I am familiar with), but I can't vouch for that.

I was paid off in the August '69, after living on board for a month awaiting decisions on her future. As far as I know she was going to Camper and Nicholson's yard for emergency repairs to the hull (not a full job by any means - money was tight!) but I lost any contact with her until about the mid 70s when I saw her in the "Old" Eastern Docks in Southampton. I can't remember her ownership then.

The photo is a very young me in the well-equipped Radio Room in July 1969. She had RCA CW (morse and AM telephony) HF and MF valve gear and a very modern (for the time) Redifon SSB solid state (transistor) all-in-one marine transceiver (just visible on the right-hand edge). I can't remember the VHF: probably one in the radio room and one on the bridge. A radio direction finder (with large round pointer dial) can be partially seen on the bulkhead behind me, hidden by the transmitter cabinet. She was as well equipped as much bigger ships I sailed on subsequently. With the possible exception of that rather tatty curtain behind the receiver!

Her callsign was ZNSS, as can be seen in metal letters on the left hand TX cabinet. A Bahama callsign as befitted her port of registration, Nassau.

All her radio room stationery was custom printed (still with Carmargo V- I don't think I ever saw any Chimon heading). I still have a telegram pad and other paperwork somewhere.

This was my first appointment as a R/O, during the holidays while I was still at Southampton Radio College (College of Technology) and not officially qualified then, but the skipper just wanted someone that could read fast morse and take the Chatham, Massachusetts (WCC) weather forecasts! And very cheap!

I have often wondered what that planned voyage across the Atlantic would have been like, had she sailed. I never went on another yacht. I joined Marconi Marine and my second ship was British Methane's (Shell) Methane Progress, running between Canvey Is and Arzew Algeria. Rather different!

Nick Edwards
Cowes, Isle of Wight

Nipper, your account illuminates a few things about Maid Marion of which I was unaware. One is the misspelling of one of its names. Camargo V is correct while Carmago V is incorrect. I had a photo labeled as the incorrect name and thus failed to realize its identity at first. Your note about Fleischmann's Margarine rang a bell. Julius Fleischmann was one of two brothers, Julius and Max, who were heirs to the great Fleischmann Yeast fortune (later Standard Brands, Nabisco, etc). They were from Cincinnati, Ohio, and both were avid yachtsmen. Max owned at least 22 large yachts over his lifetime including the ones named Haida (at least 5). The 1929 Haida (Cox & Stevens-Krupp) is still around under the name Haida G or maybe Dona Amelia. Julius Fleischmann's Camargo I was the first clipper bow, counter stern diesel yacht, built in the U.S. ( Henry Gielow-Lawley 1928). Here is a shot of Julius's Camargo I

Here is Max Fleischmann's Haida of 1929 which is still around as a private yacht.

Haida was named Sarina in the photo above.

Sarnia is the Latin name for Guernsey, wonder if that is significant?

Hi every ones,
My grandpa was in french navy and participated at the "expedition" to bring "MAID MARION" in Indochina. She called "JAGUSY" at this time. I got some pictures of this epic. Long nightmare for the crew. Machines broke down all the time. Even the cook ! What's worse for French navy officer ?
I dream to built a model of this boat and I'm searching some documents about (plans, drawings, blueprints). Would anybody know where I could find this kind of informations ?

Galagan, I just made contact with a guy in Britain who is scanning all the Camper & Nicholson yacht drawings. He is Jeremy Lines at REMOVED He says to contact Enrico Zaccagni, at REMOVED to acquire drawings. He says they will cost about 100 euros.

I have read with interest the replies to your inquiries. Some I can verify, some predates me, and some is just inaccurate or incomplete. My father was the owner of Camargo V (also I through IV) and so I have some insight. What would you like to know and could you please explain your connection a bit more thoroughly..

Hello, Camargo! Thanks for offering to share information on your father's yachts. I will send you a private message with my e-mail so we can communicate directly. I am an amateur yacht historian and have built a large database of yacht images for larger vessels built prior to WWI. I posted all the photos above. I would really love to know anything you may be willing to share. Let's set up some correspondence.

So Good to Read about the CamargoIV, I new the Owners as we lived in the Same house in NY. They sent me a ticket to Come back from Holland where it was made.
They sent me a photo of the Boat on on Trial run broke down so they Had to be towed in with the Dingy. My Parents knew them . Just Great People and was on the Yacht in Lauderdale. Was so sad when it was sold. Great Memories

she has been sold many times' great yacht" I knew her as Camargo and then sold and Named Utopia I or II. later sold and was In Palm Beach for a while but I have not seen her for a long time' Great memories

HI
You may be confused with the Yachts Camargo" The yacht Camargo from England was over 200 ft and the Yacht Camargo IV was 116ft I think. She was built 1960 or 61 and was a feadship " holland" maybe this will help in your search, after the owners sad death she was sold. She stayed in Miami for years as Utopia 1 or 11 then sold again. Great Yacht