Really you should try a career as a story writer there is a...

Really you should try a career as a story writer there is a difference between the merchant Navy and the British Navy.

Whatever Jack's love of his family and his home town South Shields, he left Britain just two days after his father's funeral. He didn't even have time to say goodbye to Annie, his closest sister – and, perhaps more than anyone, responsible for preserving his legend.
He joined the merchant navy. His letters home are instantly apologetic.
Jack was just 17 when he arrived on Australian soil, in Newcastle NSW. Clearly conditions aboard the SS Yeddo must have been pretty appalling because he was just one of 14 crew who jumped ship. It was an action that changed his life forever. From now on, Jack was a deserter.