The extraordinary life of Captain Charles N. Bamforth spanned most of the twentieth century, beginning with his childhood at the turn of the century and continuing through his retirement and death during the Cold War era. During his sixty years at sea, Captain Bamforth experienced the Depression, two World Wars, and a number of troublesome labor disputes. Through it all, he also had to navigate loneliness, confusion, and marriage to both his family and the sea. His story is told in meticulous detail and with refreshing honesty.
Captain Bamforth’s handwritten diaries, logs, and personal letters all have been carefully compiled by his sons, Charles and Richard, and reveal as much about the hard-working, unassuming courage of the captain as they do about the turbulent times during which he lived.
