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Post Info TOPIC: smuggled monkeys


PWSTS UK Director

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smuggled monkeys
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Smuggled Monkeys(were you guilty?)

Dear Merchant Navy,
I am researching material for a fiction book which I will write later this year, and am trying to find out some information about the merchant navy in Belfast in 1940s, in particular, I am looking at smuggled monkeys. I know this is an odd request! But I would be most appreciative if you could advise where would be the best place to start.

Kind Regards,
Maria Fusco
Director of Art Writing
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
London SE14
6NW
020 7919 7685



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Hmm! tough one that.

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Cool Colin, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.



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When I was at sea as a Deck Boy in 1956/7 my cabin mate was a Geordie from the Tyne area and the sailors were always asking him "Well. who hung the monkey then?". It later turned out that  there was a story, true or false I do not know, about a monkey who was smuggled ashore around Newcastle one winter and it had snow on its feet. There was a lot of propaganda around at the time about invasion from Russia so when the locals saw the monkey with its snow covered feet they captured it thinking it was a Russian and prompty hung it.  I can't elaborate as thats all I know, my guess would be that it might have been after the Russian Revolution, if in fact it is a true story. It sounds improbable but this was way before television and most folk did not travel far from home so thinking that Russians looked like monkeys is quite possible.   Stu

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Stu, Here's the story,
http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/thehartlepoolmonkey.asp


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"Consideration"



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Thanks for that Saxx.  That story has been in the back of my mind for over 50 years so its nice to clear it all up once and for all.   Stu

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