Crossing the Equator by Sea in World War II - 1943

My father (George P Noble 1923) became a "Trusty Shellback" upon crossing the Equator during World War II and was issued a certificate of that honor. The front of this large certificate (16.75" w x 11" h) is printed in black, green and red. On the back are many of my father's fellow passengers' signatures. The certificate is undated and the name of the ship is omitted, all for security purposes.One of the signatories named the ship as the S S Matsonia.

Domain of Neptunus Rex - Ruler of the Raging Main

To All Sailors wherever ye may be, and to all Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Whales, Sharks, Porpoises, Dolphins, Skates, Eels, Suckers, Lobsters, Crabs, Pollywogs, and other Living Things of the Sea.

Greetings: Know ye: That on this __ day of _________, Latitude 00000 Longitude _______ there appeared within the limits of Our Royal Domain, the

*   United States Armed Merchant Vessel   *

That the said Vessel and Officers and Crew thereof, have been inspected and passed on by Ourselves and Our Royal Staff.

And Be It Known: By all ye Sailors, Marines, Land Lubbers and others who may be honored by his presence, that

--- George Patrick Noble ---

having been found worthy to be numbered as One of Our Trusty Shellbacks, has been gathered to our fold and duly initiated into the

*   Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep   *

Be It Further Understood: That by virtue of the power invested in me, I do hereby command all my subjects to show due honor and respect to him whenever he may enter Our Realm.

Disobey this Order under penalty of Our Royal Displeasure.

Davy Jones   (hand signed by David F Wilson, Ray Frustick, and Abner G Walter)

His Majesty's Seal

Neptunus Rex  (hand signed by Joseph Lettieri)

Ruler of the Raging Main

Here is a list of the signatures on the back of the certificate. (Some of the letters were illegible. I did my best and marked some with ? to denote a best guess on part of the name.)

Between the Edge and Column 1:

• James T Burns, Jr
• Frank C Reif
• Lester Dinger
• Charles J Scheid
• Leonard N Kelley
• John Joseph Morrell
• Howard L Windes
• Robert I Franklin

Column 1:

• Kylie M Crisp
• Paul Nobles
• Les Ladany
• Harold M Haugen (your singing partner)
• Kid Leonard Nussbaum
• Louis E Saddleback
• Martin O'Kohn
• John San Miguel, Jr
• Theodore R Glover
• Eli W Rafel (a little seasick)
• Louis D Reinhardt
• Jack W McKean
• Geo. M Johnson
• Lewis Vander Meer
• Ray Kupchinski
• Herbert Young
• Joseph M Daly
• Gilbert F Grezinsky
• Warren Harvey
• Ray W Brandt
• Walter Cornell
• John H Huisman
• Samuel I Sparacio
• Harwood Ayres
• Jack Abramson
• George E Davies (Indian)
• Harold E Eddings
• John W Michelman PVT
• Albion T Carter

Between Columns 1 and 2:

• John Smerik
• Norman H Simpson
• Charles S Mauldin (SC) "Second Lieutenant to a Virginian Only"
• Charles Blessing
• Bill Sullivan
• Charles L Reiner
• Herbert J Stark ?
• Everette G Begg
• Joseph J Zakarewicz
• Frank J Berndt

Column 2:

• Frank Carie
• J P Murphy
• Floyd E Bowers
• James H Miller
• Leo E O'Donnell
• Leslie E Branch
• Gerald F Quinn
• Robert Diskin
• Saleem Carter
• John Demetriades
• Joe Kearns
• Earl T Hardin
• Melvin McTiernan
• Edward Wroblewski
• George W Crews
• Vern L Mollenkopf
• John Mierzwa
• X   K R Kuchinski   X
• Samuel P DiStasi
• Ted L Indevina
• Richard J Hare
• Frank A Malle
• Donald F DuPree
• Murray Peeler
• Patrick H Fawcett
• Walter A Kochanek
• Charles Livingston
• Troy W Smith
• Charles A Dyks
• James J Chicoine
• Charles H Ayalle, Jr

Between Columns 2 and 3:

• James M McGuire
• Roy Cowen
• Henry H M E Duffie
• Delmar L Murphy
• Kimble D Nichols
• John J Hogan, M S
• Myron ??nez

Column 3:

•  Theodore M Shaffer
• Lester O Leiter
• Eugene Englehardt
• Frank J Biondo
• Jimmy Tynan
• Joseph "Yankee" Cavanagh, NY
• John Hickman
• Henry J Eyres (Mass.)
• Herbert Wyatt
• Earl B Durham
• Lester A Files
• Louis W Wesendorf
• William Hilton
• George Ampach (AWOL)
• John E Heinonen
• Fred A Gnade
• Frye V M
• Roy C Fairs
• William R Duncan
• Melvin G Blogom ?
• Harry E Oster, Jr
• Richard G Reinhart
• John J Campinelli
• Man Mountain Habak
• Jimy Boatwright S 2/C
• Edward Saigalski
• Frank J Sweet
• Valda A Nesti
• Cpl Leon Genro
• John B Burns
• Hyman Friedman
• L J Smith
• Wm Cagney
• Joseph A Rumanik

Between Columns 3 and 4:

• Joe Alfinito (Bronx)

Column 4:

•  O'Neal LaFarlett
• Elmer A Russom
• Harry F Elias
• E O Reinhardt (Baltimore, MD)
• Pester Mullineaux (Baltimore, MD)
• Louis Garcia (S S Matsonia)
• James C Arthur
• Floyd C Morgan
• Ste M Jakurski
• Calvin B McNee ?
• John Kapronica
• Virgil C Julian
• Adolph Kubicki
• Jos Wyatt Jr.
• Erwin G Laffer
• Delbert J Hook ?
• John J McKrenan ?
• Nelroy C Stiner or Stoner ?
• Walter E Dupray ?
• David Jewelson ?
• Erwin G Willis
• Paul Colacic
• Alfred N Tasca
• William N Walsh
• Richard P Booker ?
• Edward A Weaver
• Pvt Franklin E Orangko
• Manuel Valde
• Walter F Kawalka
• Roy E Medford
• Charles Kovac
• Walter Schneiderman
• Anthony J Kozak
• Martin L Capp

Between Columns 4 and 5:

• PFC Henry J Eyres

Column 5:

• Alvin Jaynes
• Henry C Kuns
• James H Males
• Jesse L Hayton
• Henry E Wix ?
• Phillip N Bonki
• Robert G Eiswerth
• Donald O Leitz
• Raymond G Eisterhold
• Arnold Warren Kentucky
• James S Curley
• W R Bondreaux S 2/C
• George Boati ?
• Harry J Bonino
• Luther D Coleman
• Odylon R Cortal
• John Dow Selby
• Thomas W Craig
• Stanley H Zubate ?
• Fred J Culberson
• Andrew W Sihuli
• Donald Kemphaus
• Jack M Demetris
• John W Wyatt
• W S Picasko ? S 2/C
• Walter A Karjalainen
• Paul A DeFrain
• John W Cook
• Walter Mack
• Ray Hilerman
• Victor Blanckfield
• Clayvern O Tennant
• Andrew J Woods
• Harold W Karisky
• Errol J Stolt
• Walter D Walker

Between Columns 5 and 6

• Jerry M Guidry, S M
• Thomas Devlin

Column 6:

• Edwin Dornseil
• Curtis A Taut
• Richard Fidler
• Sgt D Howe
• J M Barnett
• Mike Krdileski (YANK)
• Yank Jew Schaub
• Jack Guarcello
• Clayton D Whity
• Andrew J Wrobel
• S J Kuth
• Royal Mishall
• Russ Wilson
• Truman R Vene
• Cecil E Wilson
• Chester J Samanski
• Illegible
• John R Mulvaney
• Alfred A La Vainge ?
• John T Liston
• J H Trautman
• Marion D Long
• Wm Musselman
• Albert D Kibby
• J E Munn
• V E Tabor
• J Zasson ?
• H A Luler, Jr
• Hyman Jakowitz
• Joseph B Ziemski
• Marvin L Kackson
• Johnnie E Howard

Photographs: Hendersonville, North Carolina (1926)

Below are some of my photographs of the Noble children when they lived in Hendersonville, North Carolina circa 1926. Robert Noble took a job as chef at the Kentucky Home Hotel, where they met Jack Dempsey and his wife Estelle Taylor. The kids posed for pictures with sports writers, Jack Dempsey's sparring partner, et al, when Dempsey set up a training camp there. There were lots of visitors from out of town. I'll add more photos after I scan them.

Kathryn, Pat and Bob Noble (on porch of Kentucky Home)

Bob and Pat Noble with Unknown Couple (on porch of Kentucky Home)

Pat Noble sitting in lap of Mr Clark. (Hendersonville)

Bob and Pat Noble with one of Jack Dempsey's sparring partners (Hendersonville)

Pat and Kathryn (Hendersonville)

Pat and Kathryn with an Unknown Man, possibly a sports writer (Hendersonville)

Another version of the sparring partner photo, with a group of women off to the right.

Bob and Pat Noble (at Kentucky Home)

Pat and Kathryn Noble (Kentucky Home)

Pat, Bob and Kathryn Noble with toy Buick (Kentucky Home)

Photographs: Baltimore, Maryland (1918 - 1922)

Here are some photographs of my grandparents Robert and Kathryn (Carr) Noble and their first two children, Kathryn and Bob, when they lived in Baltimore (1918 - 22).

Kathryn Noble with daughter Kathryn.

Robert Noble with daughter Kathryn (at Mt Holly Inn).

Kathryn Noble with daughter Kathryn (at Mt Holly Inn)

Robert Noble with daughter Kathryn (at Mt Holly Inn)

Robert Noble with daughter Kathryn (in Baltimore)

Robert Noble with son Bob (in Baltimore)

Unknown Man with Bob and Kathryn Noble and Dorothy Dieter (in Baltimore)

Bob and Kathryn Noble and Dorothy Dieter (in Baltimore)

Bob Noble and Dorothy Dieter (at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore)

Bulk Liquor Purchases in Panama Circa 1915

My grandfather's correspondence included an undated receipt for bulk liquor purchases as follows:

• 4 lbs Extract Malaga wine
• 4 lbs Extract Vermouth   
• 2 lbs Essence Rum Punch

The bottom of the receipt had this math: 3.00 + 7.50 = 10.50 + 7.50 = 18.00 - 1.80 = 16.20. This is evidently the cost of the above three items, minus a 10% discount.
The accompanying envelope is the stationery of Peter Ho Syu, PO Box 80, Colon, Rep. De Panama, General dealer in Merchandize, also in Manufacture of Liquors, Wholesale & Retail.

The receipt was for bulk liquor purchases on behalf of Samuel Wertheim, 47 Vesey Street, New York

Steeplechase Park Combination Badge

Among my grandfather's correspondence was a souvenir of a visit to George C Tilyou's Steeplechase Park. I will post images soon.

Item is octagonal, roughly 3.5" across, with uneven sides of 1" to 1.75" each. The item looks cut out by hand. A red knotted string is attached through the "H" in STEEPLECHASE. Numbers 1-31 are surely punch card spots representing days of the month for ticket punching purposes.

Obverse-- caricature (2"h x 1.25"w, beg. 1" from top) (red, pink, navy blue) of man with toothy grin in tall white stiff dress collar with red strip tie and red/blue jacket is central figure; "50c" (0.5"h x 0.75"w) (navy blue) on the left and right of caricature; "GEO. C. TILYOU'S" (0.25"h x 1.5"w) (navy blue) (line 1) and "COMBINATION BADGE" (0.125"h x 2.125"w) (navy blue, bold) (line 2) above the caricature; and "STEEPLECHASE" (0.125"h x 1.5"w) (navy blue, bold) (line 1), "THE" (0.125"h x 0.375w) (navy blue, bold) (line 2), with the first three letters of the first word on line 3 cut off, showing "   NY PLACE" (0.125"h x approx 1.5"w) (navy blue, bold).

   GEO C. TILYOU'S

COMBINATION BADGE

     50c  (caricature)  50c

STEEPLECHASE

      THE

       NY PLACE

Reverse--  A large navy blue "96" is in center (0.5"h x 0.75"w) (navy blue on white);, numbers 1-25 in white on a navy blue strip around the edge of the card, oriented with the bottom of each number toward the outside edge of the card, with fine white lines between each number; numbers 26-28 in white on a blue semicircle situated below the "96", with the numbers oriented outward as above; numbers 29-31 above the "96" in similar manner to 26-28; "STEEPLECHASE PARK" in red on white, above 29-31; "COMBINATION BADGE" in red on white, below 26-28; "No. 293017" in red, printed across the "96", with "No." printed with the rest of the card and "293017" obviously stamped on like a ticket serial number.

Letter from Isabel Bolton's Mother Dated Spring 1916

Long Branch, NJ  Sunday 191__

My Dear Boy

          Isabell and I were sitting hear tonight and were just talking about you and wondering what you were doing tonight what is the matter that you dont come down home for a while as I know the change would do you good and rest your nerves up a little in the quite[sic] country [.] Isabell and I will be alone after tuesday as Papa is going away for about one month we have planted a lovely garden and would have plenty of work for you to do with the hoe.  Bob it is lovely hear[sic] the two trees are just fine we have little chickens and they are awfully cute

Isabell is lonesome tonight and so she sat down on the porch and had a nice little cry for herself and I hope she will feel better for a while I know Bob that she would like to see you so try and run down soon I hope you are feeling better in heath[sic] I am getting along fine since I am down hear[sic] got weighed the other day and I am 1 hundred and 37 pounds so you see I am picking up a little when I come out of the hospital I was 90 pounds but I get awfully nervous at times

Eunice has gone to Baltimore for a while and we both miss her & especially on acct of her and the kid fighting and fussing around such as ["This is mine!" "No it aint! Mamma gave it to me!"] and then the fun starts[.]

I have been to NY several times and thought of you then & would say ["W]ell if I go down there he might not be there["] so let it pass & each time without seeing you but hope to see you soon [P]ut everything aside and come down[.]

Papa has been very busy this last week putting up the screens to the windows and also fixing the screen doors[.] I tell you he is a regular farmer now you would die laughing if you could see him hoe[.H]e leaves the weeds and hoe's out the plants and when I give him the devil he says ["W]ell Mam I have to learn[. H]e is very buisy[sic] at the present moment putting a new handle in one of the hoes[.] Isabell broke it the other day and he wants to get things fixed up before he goes away[.]

The kid him and I went for a walk this afternoon in the woods and around the swamp[. W]hen we were walking Papa said[,"I]t is to[sic] bad that Bob aint hear[sic] I know he would enjoy this[."]

Well Bob I have wrote you a long letter and the next thing I want to see is you in person so be sure and come the latest next Sunday[. I]t looks as if we were going to have a storm tonight as it is lightening now and I do hate to see it[.] I get the shivers[. W]ell Bob I guess I will close with love from Papa the Kid and a good share from your Ever Loving Mother

the last call come down to L B [Long Branch]

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

X Isabell

[Stationary from Broadway Hotel, Broadway, Opp. Third Avenue, Benj. Jennings, Prop. -- Open Entire Year, Permanent and Transient Guests, First Class Cafe, Long Branch, NJ.  Stationary provides a date block revealing that it was printed in the 1910's. The letter is dated only "Sunday".]

Letter from Isabel Bolton Dated 4 January 1916

10 Ocean Port Ave

Jan 4, 1916

My dear Bob

         I have waited just as you did, till the last moment to write.

        You see we have had so much trouble and I wanted to wait til I could tell you about Eunice, Her trial came up last night, Mama and Papa both went to the trial and it was put off till Friday

Mama got McCally our lawyer for her and he is waiting till one of the judgets whom is his friend to sit, Because he can talk to him and say he knows our family and get her on probation and one day in jail. If she has any other judge she will get three years in the Megdellain home. and that will be awful, She has been laying in Jefferson market west since she was arrested.

Mama wanted to bail her out, But I said no and finally talked it into Mama, Maybe this will make a good girl of her, she didnt think of jail when she was running around, and if she gets out too easy it will not teach her a lesson, she sees now that there is bitter as well as sweet in that kind of life.   

Of course she will come home and stay if she behaves, I will have to share my pleasures and luxuries with her and Mama will either have to discharge May or we because the expense on Papa[.] Mama really needs May so the only thing left to do is go to work.  Papa says I should stay home and make her work to pay her for being naughty, But Mama says, Eunice is just as dear to her as I am and if she works I have to also, I can just see my trouble starting, my life will be miserable after she comes because we never agree in anything, But I am willing to sacrifice rather than see her go away for three years, that is a long time, But if I wanted to talk to Papa and ask him not to let her come, he would not let her come in the house, so Mama told me if he says to me "Do you think I better take her and give her another chance"

I have to say "Yes" and try to make him care for her as much as he does me, But he told me and so has May that I come first in their hearts, I'll just have to take what comes and just as I said about

her taking the bitter with the sweet I have to do the same.  She is my sister and maybe she is just as good as I am, it might have been me instead of her that went wrong and I'd look for sympathy also, I think you still have love in your heart for her, She telephoned the day before she was arrested and said how she met you on eight have and you took her to a restaurant and when you asked if she would have another cock-tail she said "no George", you seemed quite peeved and questioned her who he was etc. 

 You also said it was all your fault about Lobley and said you hadn't spoken very nice to Mama about her, I think you mean well and good Bob when you dont see her, but I am quite sure a little spark of love still burns in your heart for Miss Eunice You will forgive me I know but I must tell you You say yoiu like me but something seem's to tell me that you dont. I sent Mrs Donavan a New Years card, I sent it to Panama So she would be sure and get it this trip.  It is a week after New Years but it was the best I could do.  I would have sent your sister one had I known her address.

It was good the boat was delayed Because if it had sailed Thursday I was coming to see you off, then go and spend a couple of hours with Eunice, then come home on a later train. I was going unbeknown to Papa, and I would have been arrested  two[sic]. You know they came to her house and said that George (her friend) had sent them, She let them in and told them to sit down and after they had talked a little while the Detective said "you are under arrest."  She really hadn't done a thing out of the way. So if I had been there I would have been arrested too.  YOu see the judge looks down on anyone that admits strangers to their flats.  So she is up for tenement house. Of course the officers lied on her and said she asked them to go to bed. But they tell lies on every body.  She surely would get three years. If McCally wasn't a personal friend of a Judge and as it is she might get six months, I hope not anyway.  Because they treat you so bad and the food is abominable and she would be way up state where we couldnt visit her frequently so I hope and pray she will be let out, maybe God has picked this device to make a good girl of her.

The pictures Mama and I took are finished and the whole six are good. We cannot find the other ones that papa took of the Gordon's and yourself and I, I thought I saw you take them but I wasn't sure so I didn't say anything about it. Ethel stayed till Frank made her go home and she didn't send him a cent for spending money and when the lawyer telephoned and said his trial would come up the 3 of Jan. she didn't telephone or send a cent so Mama had to pay his carfare to New York & so he could be to trial.  She is the laziest person I ever saw and after all we done for them when Eunice got in trouble I asked if Ethel wouldnt try to get her some decent food in to her if we sent some money, she said she was sorry but she wasnt going to be in New York.  She lives in Jersey the fare is only seven cents to N.Y. And when she left here she stold [sic] a box of bath soap, all papa's and Mama's handkerchiefs and one of the little dolls I had made for your [illeg] the yellow one.  She is an awful thief.  

 Well I am talking about a lot of foolishness and something I know does not interest you. But I am home all alone - mama and papa are both in New York - and I feel ready to burst with talk to tell some one.  This letter is longer than the last but not half as interesting or half as intelect, But I cannot express the feeling in words that I have I feel as though I could tear some body to pieces, I took all the stove apart and blackened it, it never shone so before.  I put about a box of blackening on it, three coats and then shone it.  I also scrubbed the floor and the celar[sic] steps are as white as snow.  But it releaved [sic] the awful feeling that I had, I think I need a good whiping [sic] 

Mama says she can not seem to get herself togeather[sic] when it comes to whip me but she can beat Eunice three times a day.  And she will too when she comes home we will both get it for dinner supper and breakfast.

I haven't been feeling very well since you are away that confounded [illeg] seems to stick to me.  The dog ran away and stayed for three days then came back starved to death.  We washed him the other night he looks nice now, and feels so gay that he snaped[sic] at Frank and almost tore his good pants off. Frank went yesterday and the house seems deserted.  May is upstairs cleaning the windows.  She sends her love to you.

Give my love to Mrs Donavan and Mrs Smith.  I suppose you were bothered all this trip with the blooming ass.  Well Robbie dear I am going to make a new pillow for the couch so I think I'll be after closing this muddled up thing and I ask you to forgive me dear for the penmanship and spelling as I am very much out of sorts.  And I hope you have a nice trip and come back home safely to me.  Love and a billion kisses to you.  I only wish I had you all the time instead of 1/4 of the time. Little Buster sends her love to you.  wishing you a very happy New Year I remains always till niagara falls your little girleen

 Isabel

XXXXXXXX

PS.  Dont forget and telephone as soon as you dock.  Will have a little card waiting for you when you come in.

I D Bolton

 XXXX

[Envelope addressed to Mr Robert Noble, Cristoble, Panama, attention to S. S. Panama, Canal Zone, 2nd Steward, postmarked Long Branch, NJ  Jan 5, 7 AM, year unclear; return address is partial, [Isabel Bolto]n, [Oc]eanport, Long Branch, NJ; sealing wax on back of envelope]