Trident, vessel log book and associated documents

MLMSS 10497

fonds

26 December 1963-1 October 1968

9647433

0.02 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript, typescript and printed

The Committee Against Atomic Testing (CAAT) was established in 1964 to organise radical protests against French nuclear testing. The voyage of the Trident, organised by CAAT to protest against French nuclear testing at Moruroa, began on 19 March 1967, comprised of crew Peter Bryson (captain), Brian Haas, John Gregory and Jurgen (aka Darcy) Wilms. They were all members of the Communist Party of Australia’s youth organisation - the Eureka Youth League. On 7 April 1967, Trident arrived in Auckland, leaving again on 12 May for Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. John Gregory stayed in Auckland, and Dusan Mills, Rata Jack Pugh, and Grant Nunes joined the crew. They reached Rarotonga on 3 June 1967, however the French had already ended testing at Moruroa. This and the illness of Rata Jack Pugh, meant that the crew decided to return to Auckland and not proceed to Moruroa. The Trident departed to Auckland on 4 August, with ill Pugh returning on a cargo ship. Trident arrived in Auckland on 25 August 1967, then left on 16 September 1967 with crew Peter Bryson, Brian Haas, Darcy Wilms, Dusan Mills, John Gregory and Jim Thomas. Thomas, a diabetic, passed away on 19 September from a heart attack after lapsing into diabetic coma. The Trident pulled in at Opua in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands where Thomas' body was removed from the yacht. On 23 September, the Trident departed Opua for Sydney with crew Peter Bryson, Brian Haas, Darcy Wilms, Dusan Mills, John Gregory and John Shetford. They arrived in Sydney and tied up at Rushcutters Bay on 9 October 1967.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Harvey, K. (2016). Nuclear Migrants, Radical Protest, and the Transnational Movement against French Nuclear Testing in the 1960s: The 1967 Voyage of the Trident. Labour History, 111, 79-98.

Mark Gregory obtained the log book by descent from his brother, John Gregory, a Trident crew member. Previously held by author Barrie Blears and prior to that, ship owner Edward Stanton, founding member of the Committee Against Atomic Testing in 1966, and Albert Brennan Wilson, a private owner in 1963.

Log book for the Trident, a 42 foot yacht, 26 December 1963-9 October 1967, recorded in a "Weymouth" Log Book, printed by Brown, Son & Ferguson Limited. 185 pages. Whilst most of the information provided is standard nautical information, notes on the yacht, the crew and their health are also recorded.

Includes entries by previous owner and skipper Albert Brennan Wilson for the 1963 Sydney to Hobart yacht race and the return journey in early 1964; entries after ownership of Trident passed to Edward Stanton, a founding member of the Committee Against Atomic Testing, from August 1966 to March 1967; entries for journey to Rarotonga from March-October 1967.

The log book contained three inserts:
An unfinished typescript draft of a letter to ‘Chairman Bob and others’, not dated, with location of Rarotonga Cook Islands. 3 sheets. Inserted at page 101.

A scrap piece of paper with calculations and latitude and longitude. Inserted at page 137.

Photocopy of typescript document titled ‘Campaign Against Atomic Testing Final Report’. Dated 1 October 1968, 59 Eveleigh St Redfern NSW. Signed Gladney Oakley. Inserted at page 183.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder