TS Zambezi Print E-mail
Written by Philip Howard Edwards   
Saturday, 11 April 2009 16:49

Towards the end of 1963, I like many other school boys were members of a school cadet corp. In my case sea cadets. We spent many weeks learning how to tie knots, read flags, morse code, march, navigate, sail and build boats. Our pride and joy was a steel hull, complete with cabin, some 5 metres long, to which we were to add an additional 3 metres and a Perkins Diesel engine ! Weeks and month were spent getting this high speed craft ready. Much of the work taking place at Iolanda on the Kafue,under the watchful eye of the CPO ( Chief Petty Officer ) and CO. As a leading seaman I was expected to take the lead and often was required to dive into the murky Kafue river, complete with crocodiles and hippo, which were frankly less menacing than the CO with a cocked service pistol.

Finally built the great day approached and the TS Zambezi was to be launched from the WD and I slip way, just up stream from the Kafue Railway bridge.

The whole ships crew, resplendent in white shorts, to the knee, white tackies, white square cut tee shirts with blue piping and Naval Caps were brought to attention by the CPO Peter Mc Naught.

Lady Hone, wife of the Governor of Northern Rhodesia had been invited to launch the training ship. This was just months short of the coming of Independence and this was to be the fore runner of a maritime or river marine/police presence on our southern border, the Zambezi River ! She was attended by many other Government and Civic dignitaries

Having piped the CO aboard, Leading Seaman Edwards and Fyall, took up their positions on the bow and stern. With a prayer to God to keep us all safe, Lady Hone pulled the lever to set the boat in motion, down the slipway. With a muted splash we hit the river and immediately started to drift down stream. On command the engine was switched on and burst into a loud gurgle ! This coincided with a steel cable which went from the ships wheel to the rudder, slipping out of its stay. Now rudderless and out of control the pride of the Zambian Navy to be, drifted down the Kafue river. " Where's the fu......ing screwdriver was the cry from the CPO, which unbeknown to him because of the acoustics over water was carried back to the ears of the dignatories on shore. I am happy to report that a screwdriver was found and emergency drill carried out in the fierce down current of the Kafue and the TS Zambezi returned to the slipway, whilst the band played on and LS Edwards was able to deposit the CO, LT. Commander Edwards better known as Ted or Dad back to shore

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