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John Hamilton and his friend George both worked in the Greenock Dockyard Co., specifically at the Garvel Dry Dock. Mr Hamilton started in 1935 and retired in 1983. George worked in the costing side. Mr Hamilton ended up as Dock Manager at Garvel.

Mr Hamilton donated photographs of repair work carried out at the Garvel Dock during the War. The dock worked on more than 430 ships in the course of the war — working out at one very four days. The work involved repairing damage as the result of convoy damage — many ships crashed into others in the dark. It also involved the installation of strengthening for guns, increased protection, degaussing for anti-mine. This work was also carried on throughout the length of the Clyde — at various docks as well as at berth. One time they had to go and clear out a bomb damaged section which still had the bodies in it — gruesome work at the time which only hit Mr Hamilton later when he was going to the pictures with his girlfriend and was violently sick. Gallows humour — one of his red leaders picked up the foot of a galley boy and remarked ‘look — no corns’.

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