july march australian person world amphibious vehicle born western_australia attended perth later studied mining engineering qualifying engineer worked china work british coal second world war posted serving india italy middle_east discharge service emigrated united_states american wife née sparked idea whilst military proposed couple honeymoon crossing atlantic_ocean modified ford amphibious version ford named half safe beginning trip montreal canada finally completed crossing unsuccessful attempts travelled europe temporarily settling birmingham raise money resumed journey travelling overland middle_east arriving calcutta short fundraising trip australia wife left return united_states resumed journey new partners travelling far_east northern tip japan alaska extended tour united_states canada half safe finally returned montreal having travelled kilometres sea kilometres land year journey following death half safe acquired old school remains display early life military service born july western_australia small town state mother died raised father electrical engineer employed age sent board perth leaving school enrolled studied mining engineering qualified engineer worked period time surrounding region moved china work british coal mining company outbreak second world war enlisted leaving india married german citizen living china aunt uncle couple april separated end war having originally enlisted shanghai later posted august promoted position second lieutenant number emergency commissions start conflict war served india iraq persia palestine syria italy conflict end promoted rank major end war met nurse originally boston discharge service couple emigrated maryland eventually married june half safe early preparation war allies use number different varieties amphibious vehicle commonly ford modified version ford known india end war noticed army vehicle lot fellow engineers suggested vehicle world supposedly remarking bit world things idea remained marriage proposed wife couple honeymoon crossing atlantic_ocean modified considerable trouble finally managed purchase ford serial number government auction washington vehicle originally manufactured ford plant michigan built war originally tried convince ford sponsor proposed trip company refused believing craft journey vehicle required number modifications including addition boat like bow rudder larger cabin extra fuel tanks bow belly craft stern inside cabin installed dash modified include aircraft instruments way radio including set receiver total vessel length extended feet feet fuel capacity gallons original gallons construction belly fuel tank allowed reducing weight tons vessel christened half safe slogan brand don half safe use sure failure attempts couple began testing craft experienced problems carbon removal vessel enclosed structure potentially increasing risks carbon poisoning chose montreal canada official starting point attempt set city late new_york_city launch half safe time intention crossing atlantic azores trial run early january watched crowds workers couple attempt complete crossing occurred june launching amazed wharf labourers washed river strong tide way atlantic speed knots failed maintain radio contact prompting search united_states_coast_guard craft eventually landed days departure miles south new_york_city near inlet new_jersey couple experienced problems steering gear rudder vessel unable steer sea wheel constantly manned half safe sailed new_york commenced journey second time july forced shore days later time nearly cracked exhaust pipe attempt late july successful mechanical troubles heavy experienced set fourth time early august progressed sighted days launch american destroyer miles new_york couple soon lost radio contact prompting direct crews search craft half safe finally rescued approximately miles new_york oil tanker new_jersey bound halifax nova scotia seven days voyage propeller bearing fast lack leaving vessel drift days means steering navigating according message tanker friends new_york couple drifted enjoying pleasant life cheaper time couple rescue considered abandoning entire voyage convinced continue tanker norwegian captain greeted words hell going leave god damned lying crossing fourth failed attempt months led abandon project period time order raise money new_jersey arriving halifax weeks rescue took position local marine salvage firm wife returned family boston worked law office final attempt considered november postponed approaching winter weather half safe stored halifax garage mid couple began ready half safe attempt crossing testing late august revealed burnt clutch repaired recognised need larger amounts fuel achieve extra capacity fuel tanks tied half safe painted bright yellow aid visibility air alterations craft superstructure extra added launched early september vessel miles shore auxiliary fuel tanks lost necessitating return halifax decided abandon journey half safe convinced wife continue following months modifications vessel important large purpose built tank towed craft increased total fuel capacity half safe gallons vessel carrying gallons water gallons oil weeks worth provisions couple left halifax july day voyage arrived westerly island azores landing received life featuring crossing multiple page article later year featured photographs journey occurred forced remove cylinder head times order clean carbon replace head couple lost radio contact halfway voyage leading fears lost sea couple progressed island distance miles travelled having obtained surplus fuel passing portuguese cruiser midway trip originally expected head directly lisbon portugal couple instead chose head morocco coming ashore spanish territory february drove north coastal regions morocco europe hot daytime temperatures reportedly reached vehicle cabin necessitated half safe driven exclusively night vehicle reached french morocco march british territory gibraltar mid april sailed drove number european countries engaged sight seeing finally sailing english channel concluding journey birmingham arrived january europe middle_east tired weary lacking money decided remain england rest journey nova scotia azores wife suffered severe including instance awake find course important objective time britain repair half safe sustained large amounts damage crossing hurricane charlie battered vessel whilst islands repairs craft accomplished help captain served alongside india raise money continuation journey half safe exhibited department stores europe time completed half safe atlantic book half journey sold copies translated languages book generally received reviewer montreal gazette describing old school explorer instinct dry wit makes story odd mixture high adventure real set early arriving france april vehicle continued switzerland northern italy yugoslavia reported half safe flat tire whilst travelling belgrade continued greece turkey sailing asia minor progressing syria jordan iraq iran pakistan calcutta india later noted miles atlantic nova scotia azores ways worrying similar distance covered roads persia calcutta decided transport half safe australia steamer start voyage said travel australia new_zealand petrol dear lack funding meant trip necessary trip allowed meet family lived perth brother captain actively involved nuclear weapons testing operation hurricane far_east return north_america half safe australian tour began late october perth grew included tour old school went adelaide subsequently progressed melbourne sydney brisbane half safe returned calcutta steamship january wife left trip australia having finally tired long travel constant experiencing continued journey leg consisting sea voyage calcutta joined australian met burma coast late february crossed mountain ranges vehicle mud days half safe pair progressed arriving march burma half safe driven overland thailand coast set sail japan passing ports islands arrival hong_kong early seeking girls having delayed voyage engine trouble arrived taiwan early june travelled northern tip taiwan okinawa american administered drove ashore southern tip japan july drove overland tokyo returned australia stage rested japan performing needed repairs american journalist originally phoenix arizona offered accompany journey japan alaska departing early stage trip tokyo pair left tokyo great fanfare buildings craft sprung leak crossing separating southern island collided submerged rocks near port finally reached june despite later described aggression character trip aim travel directly small island group chain running southwest mainland craft carrying fuel approximately days contact time causing search rescue station notified half safe finally landed july pair having unexpected visit town time sailed distance miles miles cold bay island chain mainland town homer arriving late august drove half safe overland anchorage flew home phoenix write fool tokyo alaska detailed account experiences half safe prolific author topics relating publishing books subsequently drove solo seattle washington arriving early november whilst travelling british_columbia encountered collapsed peace river suspension bridge motorists nearby ferry simply drove half safe river continuing san_francisco california met wife time years continued onwards united_states north canada arrived toronto ontario days later arrived montreal finally completed year journey half safe travelled kilometres sea kilometres land years passing countries oceans entire trip costing later life legacy conclusion trip half safe remained united_states occasionally exhibited friend owner vehicle remained country period appearing lecture circuit returning perth took residence having divorced second wife december time june united_states marrying couple marriage short lived union produced daughter born march died perth march heart attack cremated cemetery second wife completed half journey alongside died new_york_city left share half safe old school purposes funding scholarship previously offered craft declined offer lack exhibition space subsequently purchased share vehicle transferring school campus school posthumously published half half safe detailed second portion journey craft transported truck australia new_south_wales featured annual celebration amphibious vehicles second world war half safe currently exhibited specially glass enclosure main campus money estate found named mother awarded proficiency english language avoidance clichés recognises having completed amphibious vehicle biography american writer published australia external links find grave
Ben Carlin