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Voyage of the Platypii – A Singular Adventure for Young Errol Flynn

30 May

Master Flynn Goes West – Through the East. His first international adventure! This is the trip Errol talks about in (His) Wicked, Wicked Ways. Not so great for the platypii, perhaps, but surely one of the most important and formative adventures of Errol’s life!

Flynn on the Berrima

Berrima

— Tim

 
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  1. Lollie

    May 31, 2014 at 11:58 am

    How exciting that must have been for him. :)

     
    • Gentleman Tim

      June 2, 2014 at 6:15 am

      Young Master Flynn, on a voyage like this – at only age 11 – how exciting indeed, Lollie! And formative! This high seas adventure, tied to a significant scientific endeavor no doubt served as a primary influence on Errol. A precursor to Cruise of the Zaca itself. (I was excited to find it, too – as I have never previously been able to find what ship Young Errol’s big adventure/first trip to the West took place on!!)

      books.google.com…

      BTW, Lollie, the Berrima had a very notable history in Australia, including its participation in The Great War, where and when it was involved in New Guinea operations, among other places, and was even torpedoed. Errol HAD to have heard these stories during his voyage, something any boy – especially Errol Flynn – would find absolutely fascinating:

      en.wikipedia.org…

      Here she is in the South Seas during WWI:

      [img]http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/anecdotes/images/matunga.jpg[/img]

       
      • Lollie

        June 7, 2014 at 11:38 am

        Fantastic research Tim. :)

        It is very easy to picture 11 year old Errol running up and down the boat pretending to shoot at things like he was in the war.

         
        • Gentleman Tim

          June 7, 2014 at 7:37 pm

          Good to have You Back & Thank You Very Much, Lollie!

          Yeah, definitely. And he probably climbed those one or both of those masts, too — all in between feeding the platypii, of course.