Summary

Bookmark issued by P & O Lines in 1968 for use on the ship S.S. Chusan. It is part of a collection of 175 items of post-war ship memorabilia collected by John McKay. John began collecting shipping brochures as a boy through an interest in travel and later used some of the material in his professional capacity as a Geography and Social Studies teacher. He finally made a voyage himself in 1957-1958, to England to attend a scouting jamboree, although he ended up staying for 18 months. He remembers lots of Australians going over at that time, and references to Earls Court as 'Kangaroo Alley'.

The SS Chusan was launched 28th June 1949, with accommodation for 475 first class and 551 tourist class passengers. She undertook a combination of line voyages and cruises from Britain and travelled to India and Japan. First voyage around the world made in 1960, following normal route to Japan, and then turning to cross the west coast of America and travel through the Panama Canal. Demand for the service declined, and so Chusan was sent to Australia in June 1963, from where she operated voyages to Britain and some cruises. P & O withdrew the Chusan from service in 1973 and she was sent to shipbreakers.

Physical Description

Flat double-sided bookmark. Front has gloss colour illustration of the ship, which is white with orange funnel, and green ocean. Back has information about the ship and advertisement for its cruises in blue and black text.

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