The above picture has been sent to me by Ronald Betty of Edmonton Alberta Canada. It shows Ronald's father, Moore, on the left on the bridge of PS Jupiter in Summer 1926. The Captain was John M MacNaughton, Ronald's Grandmother's Brother in law.
This is a fine picture of captain John M MacNaughton on the bridge of PS Jupiter.
The following text comes from "The Caledonian Steam Packet Co Ltd" and is reproduced by kind permission of the book's author Iain C MacArthur. Mr MacArthur has allowed me to use this material on the understanding that it is not further reproduced without his permission and without there being any financial gain. I am indebted to Mr MacArthur for his help.
John M MacNaughton commenced his career in the nineties (1890's Ed.) as a boy on board his fathers steamer Caledonia. In his early days he passed through most grades in the steamers, including seaman, pilot and purser. He was a favourite of James Williamson (Marine Superintendent & General Manager of CSP Co) and it was the latter who encouraged him to study for his masters certificate. This he duly achieved while making several deep-sea voyages in the City Line. In later years he liked to recall that Duchess of Fife was actually the first CSP vessel of which he had command - in a temporary capacity.
The esteem and trust which were placed in him is indicated by the fact that his first permanent command was actually the turbine Duchess of Argyll, in which he had previously sailed several seasons as mate. He took her to war in 1915 and earned the steamer and her crew full honours and great credit in the service of his country between 1915 and 1919. In all he made 655 trips between a variety of cross channel ports carrying a total of 326,606 troops and sailing 71,624 nautical miles.
Whilst commanding the new Glen Sannox in 1925 he fell from grace by having a nasty altercation from the bridge with the piermaster at Dunoon. Johhny was censured and demoted to the ferry paddlers. (it was just after this that these pictures were taken aboard PS Jupiter. Ed.) A few years later, at the end of the summer season, the captain of Duchess of Argyll was directed to take her from Gourock to the Albert Harbour, Greenock for laying up for the winter. She was not long away until she was back at Gourock with her captain reporting that there was too strong a wind and tide to risk entering the harbour. Johnny MacNaughton happened to be standing on Gourock Pier. The Superintendent (James Williamson) turned to him and asked "Johnny, will you have a try at it?" Johnny did and sailed her into the harbour without any difficulty. Next season he was again in command of Duchess of Argyll and remained so until his retirement.
Some years later, at the commencement of the Second World War, Johnny was ill in bed at Gourock, when he heard the thud, thud of paddles. He said to his wife "If the old Madge Wildfire had not been sent round to the Firth of Forth, I would say that was the beat of her paddles". And sure enough it was, as she was returning to the Clyde on Royal Navy service.