Bound for Valparaiso

Bound for ValparaisoIt has often been said that everyone has a story in them, but unfortunately many of these stories are never heard. Not everyone has the ability to tell their story, or someone willing to listen and appreciate the story. Every once in a while, however, a voice reaches out from the past and shares with us personal experiences that today are the subject of films and novels. Patrick Murray is one such and we are fortunate that he set his story down in

It has often been said that everyone has a story in them, but unfortunately many of these stories are never heard. Not everyone has the ability to tell their story, or someone willing to listen and appreciate the story. Every once in a while, however, a voice reaches out from the past and shares with us personal experiences that today are the subject of films and novels.

Patrick Murray is one such and we are fortunate that he set his story down in letters to his son Charlie, who was serving in the RAF during World War 2.

Patrick was born in County Antrim in 1872. At the age of 18 he left home, travelled to Glasgow and became a sailor, firstly on small coasters trading up the west coast of Scotland and then to deep-water full rigged ships and steamers travelling to the Americas and Australia. Along the way he took part in a mutiny, survived the dangers of a revolution in Brazil and made his way ashore after being shiprecked no less than three times.