© Copyright 2011 Julianne Dodds
Rescue yacht White Swan
World War II
In April 1932 Brown applied to change the yacht’s name to White Swan. [7]
White Swan became a luxurious, floating home for Merton Brown and his wife at a peaceful mooring
only 10 minutes from Singapore’s colonial Raffles Hotel by sampan and motor car.
In August 1938 the Sunday Times described the lavish refinements aboard White Swan. There were
“13 electric fans, pneumatic mattresses, a modern cinema projector, an up-to-date shore type
bathroom, a telephone, a kerosene-operated refrigerator and an all-electric radio.” She also boasted
“a modified air-conditioning plant which completely changed the air in the main saloon every few
seconds.” Such complete indulgence was seldom found in the modern homes of the day let alone in
a sea-going ship.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown generally sailed away for the
weekends along the east and west coasts; on a long
weekend it was possible to sail to Malacca and back.
Many Malayan and overseas notables appeared in the
White Swan’s visitors book.
The author, Noel Barber, spent his honeymoon on
White Swan. In his book “Fires of Spring” he wrote –
“….had met a man called Merton Brown, a wealthy
South African. He owned a schooner with an auxiliary
engine that could be operated by a crew of two. I did
not know him well, but one evening, having seen a girl
home from the cinema, I called at Raffles for a last drink,
and was hailed by Brown who was host to a large party
there. He was a cheerful man with a pink face and
good-humoured grin, and before I left he said to me : ‘ You know my old tub, the White Swan? How
would you like a week in her – on your own?’ I could think of nothing more exciting. He signed the chit
for the drinks and leaning over added: ‘I’m off to Hong Kong on business in ten days. Be away a
fortnight. There's a small desert island eighty miles out to sea from Singapore…’
After lunch on board the White Swan, Helen and I went below for a siesta in the small mahogany cabin
with its two bunks and and swinging lantern of brass which looked as though it needed the wick
trimming each night, but had, in point of fact, a discreet electric bulb inside. There was another large
cabin which we used as a dressing-room. I must say that Merton enjoyed the best of everything. The
stores were packed with excellent food and wine, there was fresh meat in the refrigerator and the head
Malay boy, Kamis, was a cunning cook.”
During WW II Brown was put in charge of the engineering section for Thornycroft’s launches. [8]
In late December 1941 he had been accepted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in the
General Duties Branch as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in emergency. [9] Little did he know
that he would be called into duty six weeks later along with his beloved White Swan.
Celebrity White Swan
1932 to 1941
White Swan (at rear) moored in Singapore Harbour
pre 1942. Photo courtesy of Bill Wright, grandson
of the Brisbane boat builder, Norman Wright.
Rescue yacht White Swan
World War II
In April 1932 Brown applied to change the yacht’s name to White Swan. [7]
White Swan became a luxurious, floating home for Merton Brown and his wife at a peaceful mooring
only 10 minutes from Singapore’s colonial Raffles Hotel by sampan and motor car.
In August 1938 the Sunday Times described the lavish refinements aboard White Swan. There were
“13 electric fans, pneumatic mattresses, a modern cinema projector, an up-to-date shore type
bathroom, a telephone, a kerosene-operated refrigerator and an all-electric radio.” She also boasted
“a modified air-conditioning plant which completely changed the air in the main saloon every few
seconds.” Such complete indulgence was seldom found in the modern homes of the day let alone in
a sea-going ship.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown generally sailed away for the
weekends along the east and west coasts; on a long
weekend it was possible to sail to Malacca and back.
Many Malayan and overseas notables appeared in the
White Swan’s visitors book.
The author, Noel Barber, spent his honeymoon on
White Swan. In his book “Fires of Spring” he wrote –
“….had met a man called Merton Brown, a wealthy
South African. He owned a schooner with an auxiliary
engine that could be operated by a crew of two. I did
not know him well, but one evening, having seen a girl
home from the cinema, I called at Raffles for a last drink,
and was hailed by Brown who was host to a large party
there. He was a cheerful man with a pink face and
good-humoured grin, and before I left he said to me : ‘ You know my old tub, the White Swan? How
would you like a week in her – on your own?’ I could think of nothing more exciting. He signed the chit
for the drinks and leaning over added: ‘I’m off to Hong Kong on business in ten days. Be away a
fortnight. There's a small desert island eighty miles out to sea from Singapore…’
After lunch on board the White Swan, Helen and I went below for a siesta in the small mahogany cabin
with its two bunks and and swinging lantern of brass which looked as though it needed the wick
trimming each night, but had, in point of fact, a discreet electric bulb inside. There was another large
cabin which we used as a dressing-room. I must say that Merton enjoyed the best of everything. The
stores were packed with excellent food and wine, there was fresh meat in the refrigerator and the head
Malay boy, Kamis, was a cunning cook.”
During WW II Brown was put in charge of the engineering section for Thornycroft’s launches. [8]
In late December 1941 he had been accepted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in the
General Duties Branch as an Acting Pilot Officer on probation in emergency. [9] Little did he know
that he would be called into duty six weeks later along with his beloved White Swan.
Celebrity White Swan
1932 to 1941
White Swan (at rear) moored in Singapore Harbour
pre 1942. Photo courtesy of Bill Wright, grandson
of the Brisbane boat builder, Norman Wright.