Author Topic: Explosives Expert travels the World  (Read 114 times)

Michael Caswell

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Explosives Expert travels the World
« on: December 07, 2019, 07:08:44 am »
Frank Slade Casswell  The White Cottage, Midsomer Norton


Passenger List for Auguani. -Elders & Fyffes Ltd

Leaving Avonmouth. Dec 27 1930

Bound for Barbados, Trinidad,  Port Limon (Costa Rica)
Frank Slade Casswell and his family take a trip to Trinidad. He's listed on the passenger list as an explosives expert. If he lived in Midsomer Norton, he would have likely picked up his expertise in the coal mines there.

Final destination Port of Spain Trinidad.
RT 1265.
 Frank Slade.   Listed as an explosives Expert.  56 yrs old)
Christina Hester. (58)
Margaret Ruth.  (19)

Living at White Cottage Midsomer Norton.
Being at Midsomer Norton and and explosives expert, means he was mining.


On 8 Feb 1954 Frank boarded DALERY of the Ropner Line bound for Miami, Tampa, & US Golf Ports. He traveled first class. He was 77 years old and still living at WHite House Midsomer Norton. He was a company director.


In the 1911 census for Midsome Norton, Frank is listed as an Ironmonger (36 yrs old) wife Christina Hester,(38)  Thomas Ivor (8yrs) and Mary Christina (5). He had two servants living there. Florence Estell Simms, and Louisa Stevens.

Frank, (54) his wife Christina (56) and daughter Margaret (18) are listed as incoming first class passengers from Natal Maderia Portugal  on RMS Saxon Union Castle Line. Arriving 29 July 1929
He is listed as an explosives expert.

On Mar 10 1939 Frank (age 64) is listed as a first class passenger on  MV Cheshire, Bibby Line, arriving at Tilbury., from Rangoon. He was travelling alone, a company director.

Manchester england 1952 Frank is listed as arriving on MV Daleby of Sir R Boyner & Co line, from Gulf Ports via Mobile.
Traveling first class, and 77 years old, a company director.

On the Betancuria, Fred Olsen or Norway Line, from The Canary Islands to London arriving 25 March, 1936, traveling 1st class, alone,  aged 61, as an explosives expert.

On MV Chusan, P & O SN Co. bound to Yokohama on 16 dec 1955, Frank traveled first class, listed as a company director. Birthday listed as 17 nov 1874.

Frank owned the F S Casswell Iron mongers store in Midsomer Norton..

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« Last Edit: December 07, 2019, 11:29:13 am by Michael Caswell »

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Michael Caswell

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Re: Explosives Expert travels the World
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2019, 09:13:39 am »
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Michael Caswell

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Re: Explosives Expert travels the World
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2019, 11:22:56 am »
In case you were wondering why F S Casswell listed himself as an 'explosives expert' on his many voyages around the world, it was because he stocked them for the Midsomer Norton mines.

see http://www.mnrjournal.co.uk/article.cfm?id=104718&headline=Bring%20along%20your%20photos%20and%20memories%20this%20weekend&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017

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The shop on the left, with the dark shop front is Casswells, (many will know of the Midsomer Norton branch of Casswells, which recently closed. Casswells stocked the carbide needed for the local coal miners’ carbide lamps. It also stocked explosives for the mines to blast away rock to reach the coal, though the explosives were not kept actually in the store!