Vorpostenboot Rosemarie

What in the heck is the name on this F A Rauner harmonica that’s being offered (no box) for sale in Box Hill?

I know it’s manufactured by F A Rauner from the reverse plate, where his name and logo is prominent. Rauner was prolific in the Antipodes with several Australian monikered harmonicas – the Crackajacks his flagship. An email was sent to the Guru (Pat Missin). “It doesn’t match any of the Rauner TMs I have on file and it doesn’t look like any word in my German dictionary. I assume it’s German. It looks like a stylized Sutterlin script, which I never found very easy to read. My best guess is “Rohnmowin”, or “Rohnmarin”, neither of which make any sense.”

After a forensic inspection Pat had a new theory.

“It is supposed to say “Rosmarin”, which is German for “Rosemary” and a perfectly nice name for a harmonica.

I liked Pat’s new theory and, as I had nothing to go on before, this sent me heading in the right direction (for your love and affection). And there it is, the ‘Rosemarie’ clearly identifiable by the box art. Obviously available to the English market.

Pat on receiving this news added. “Sutterlin is an utterly horrendous script, with way too many letters made up of very similar scribbles, it actually says “Rosnmarin”. Those letters that look like n are actually e, so it says “Rosemarie”, rather than “Rosmarin” (Rosemary).”

The box’s naval graphic then assigned me to another venture – onto the high seas. What was the story behind the Rosemarie?

It was a German fishing trawler that was requisitioned in the Second World War by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) for use as a Vorpostenboot (German Patrol Boat) to serve as the V 310 Rosemarie. Vorpostenboots were small vessels used by the Germans for patrol of coastal waters during World Wars I and II.

On 11th November 1944, the Rosemarie was towing the V 1802 Orient (another patrol boat) when the ships were attacked off Memel by Allied (Soviet) aircraft. As a result of the attack, the Orient was hit by two bombs, one to the wheelhouse and the other to the engine room. The Orient sank with the loss of twenty lives. The Germans attempted to save the Orient by continuing to tow the damaged vessel before realising the inevitable. The Orient sank stern first into the Baltic Sea.

The Rosemarie was returned to her owners post-war and continued service until 1952.

During an expedition in early December 2021, researchers from Kaliningrad discovered the wreck of the V-1802 Orient. She rests at a depth of only 23 metres.

Y’all Got Your Ears On

“We got to meet Rodriguez, Bo Diddly gave us some kind words. We opened for the Oils and Joe Cocker’s road crew were turds.”

Cafe Espresso Time – One with/One Without

‘Dreams’ is a ripper album from Don Morrison’s Raging Thirst. I’ll put the blow torch over a couple of the highlights for me. One with (Harmonica) Don’t Look Back and one without I Shook Hands With Muddy Waters. Don’t Look Back is a slow shuffle that has a Steptoe & Son feel about it. A catchy chorus that’ll have you crooning along and featuring soulful harp with tone and vibrato. Don’s harp has a mellow tone, in fact it’s as mellow as a cello. Those old songs on the radio do sure take you back to a moment in time.

The single I Shook Hands With Muddy Waters is a biographical window into Don’s musical journey from his humble beginnings at the Hotel Angas in Adelaide with his brothers Geoff and Brian in The Bodgies. I’ll let the tune relate the peregrination. This is an upbeat rocker with an anthem chorus that has hit our local community charts with a bullet. This is a must listen and is a definite ear worm. Don divulged to HRR; “Hi Shep. Glad you got to hear the new record. I think it’s the best one we’ve done and am very proud of the input of my two sons (Jake on guitar, piano and Hammond organ and Eddie on bass) to it. All the best Don.”

Out now on Bandcamp.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Also check out Mississippi Boogie (one with – guest harpist Les Anwyl) by Queensland (Cairns) blues outfit Mississippi Shakedown from their latest album ‘Plant You Now, Dig You Later’. I do love to boogie (not only on a Saturday night).

And for one without Stoned in Texas, Queensland by Melbourne Six piece band Sweet Talk from their album ‘Switch On’ that drops on May 23. Feels like country, feels like home.

Auction House

A couple of Boomerang mouth organs appeared on that online auction site last month. Their finally selling price was bewildering. A Pocket Boomerang (above) with no box or tin was offered with opening bids beginning at an exorbitant $145. I thought I’d keep an eye on it as I felt sure it would go around once more for a reduced opening offer. How wrong could I be? It sold for a $165! At the same time a Boomerang Grand with box was also presented at a much lower opener. The harmonica and box was in fine nick and I would be the under bidder at $162.50!

Bilge Bound Hoodoo

Could there be a new single blowin’ in the wind? Another instrumental? Here’s an anagram for you to decipher the tune’s title of two words – Bilge Bound Hoodoo.

Hear here (purr chase) for Ol’ Shep’s Singles.

Huff’n’Puff

Peej ventured down from the mountain to the coast to record an episode of Huff’n’Puff for his 3MDR program ‘The Imaginary Friends Show’ to be aired on Tuesday 20th May (just before 8am). The segment with all your favourite segments including ‘Name That Riff Before Shep Sings’ – bring your ear muffs I had to sing!

My Other Crusade

Last month I introduced you to one of my ongoing crusades – the recognition of Little Jackie the pit pony who lost their life in the 1937 Wonthaggi mine explosion.

This isn’t my longest campaign. Seven years ago, having read a book that honoured the WWI returned servicemen of Pakenham (A century after the guns fell silent: remembering the Pakenham district’s World War one diggers, 1914-1918 by Patrick Ferry) I had expected to read my Grandfather’s name. But alas, there was no mention of Charles Henry Sheppard, who is better known to our clan as Paddy. The local RSL (very early in my crusade), acknowledged that Paddy was indeed a returned Pakenham serviceman and will add his name to the memorial. Time passed, years even with no news. There were several occasions where I had told myself to let it rest, but that’s a difficulty for me. So several more attempts via emails and phone calls were made to try and get the ball rolling.

The reason for the latest delay is the Pakenham Revitalisation Project, which includes the relocation of the cenotaph and memorial, and this is when the local RSL will add Paddy’s name. So I fired off an email to the council’s Project Management Department for an estimate of when the move would eventuate. Their reply revealed no completion date while they “continue their advocacy for the project by seeking external grant funding.”

A trek to Pakenham for an ANZAC service to honour Paddy’s name is placed on hold once again.

I hope I’m alive to witness the day.

Paddy was working as a labourer at the Men’s Salvation Army Home in Pakenham on his enlistment.

Pte. 2444 was off to the Western Front to claim the ridge at Pozieres (“A Hell On Earth”) and then wounded at the subsequent battle in holding the ridge at Mouquet Farm.

Before arriving on our sunny shores, Paddy was a merchant seaman first sailing here on the three masted windjammer the ‘Dovenby’ in 1898.

For more on Grandfather head here Pakenham to Pozieres.

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