My late mother Stamatiki (Matalas) Alexopoulos, sister Panayiota (Popi) aged 11 )now married and living in Baltimore Maryland and brother Panayioti aged 14 living in Caledon Ontario and I aged 8 came to Canada onboard the Nea Hellas in April 1953. I think our arrival date to Pier 21 in Halifax was April 24, 1953.

From there we went by train to Montreal and then to Toronto where we first lived on Seaton street and then moved to our own home on Castleton Avenue in west end Toronto.

In Canada we joined my late father Nicolas (Nizo) Alexopoulos, my late brothers Andreas and Constantinos (Costa) and Sister Dina who now lives in Baltimore MD.

What I remember of the voyage is sea sickness, big whales, strange food and longing to get to Canada to see my father and siblings. The first meal in Halifax has stuck in my mind of sunnyside eggs with white toast with what must have been margarine. The eggs were runny, the toast soggy and I would not eat it. I wanted some real Greek bread and cheese. The same breakfast was repeated in Montreal with similar results.

As one of the first Greek families from Magoula Sparti Laconia in Toronto, our home in Toronto on Castleton Avenue was like a short stay motel for many of our relatives and neighbours who came to Canada after us. We staged many parties for engagements, weddings and eventually Christenings at that first home in Canada. The old O'Keefe brewery delivery truck would come every Friday or Saturday with the beer for the celebrations. The non Greek Neighbourhood eventually got used to the loud Greek music and having a beer on the porch.

From this first home, we moved to what is now Greek town Toronto. My oldest sister Dina married and moved to Baltimore and later joined by our other sister Popi. Brother Costa moved to Burlington Ontario. Andreas and Peter opened FM Supermarket in the Junction are of Toronto and then a 2nd location at Bloor and Ossington. I went on to high school at Runnymede Collegiate, later to Ryerson, married to a Greek lady from Mystras Sparti.

My father, Harold W. Helfrich, Jr. remembered vividly his voyage on the Nea Hellas. It was during WWII, and he was on his way to India with the U.S. Army Air Corps. I remember him telling me about a submarine attack and about the troops playing lots of table tennis and playing hand after hand of pinochle on the voyage. He told me that at one point a German submarine was spotted, and the American vessels appeared to have it pinned down. He and pretty much everyone on board the Nea Hellas ran to one side of the ship to watch what was happening as the ships buzzed back and forth dropping depth charges. As they were watched, apparently the sub was sunk, and they were safe to continue on to India . I do know that he enjoyed his time on the Nea Hellas very much. He loved ships and the sea and would have joined the Navy if he could have. Unfortunately his eyesight was not good enough. I guess it was good enough for the Army though! The ship obviously made an impression on him. I thought you might be interested to read the attached article which appeared in a 1991 issue of the CBIVA Soundoff, a publication for veterans who served in the China-Burma-India theater during WWII. The CBIVA was dissolved in 2005

I traveled with my parents Constantine & Pauline-Olga, June of 1953 Piraeus Greece to Halifax and the by train to Montreal Quebec, Canada where we settled. I remember my parents telling me how they could only afford 3rd class and apparently there were many grouped in a section of the ship. (Please let me know if you have heard of similar stories). I am not sure is I was one of the few babies on board, my parents told me how most of the young adults travelling would look after me and basically I was spoiled with lots of attention from all in the group of passengers. I remember how my mom was telling me how she felt sick most of the time but she was a frail person to begin with. There was a story where in a storm I fell under a table (I was only a year and a half). Then because I was good looking baby (so they said) people would give me the evil eye and there was an older lady that would do the prayer to lift the evil eye (if you are Greek you would know what that means). Today that I am writing to you it is December 24 2008 and for some reason at work I decided to look up Nea Hellas Ship and your site came up. I do have an original post card which I have placed with most old pictures and memories from my parents. There is also a picture of my mom & myself being held by one of the passengers. (2 photos attached the only baby in the picture)(My parents are both gone now). I also found a booklet where my dad kept details of his payments towards the tickets to sail. I think it must have taken him over a year to pay them off. My dad was the last one to leave us and as something everlasting we entered his name "CONSTANTINE THEOFANATOS & FAMILY" at the Pier 21 museum in Halifax. I guess as we get older we become sentimental that way and look for things that link us to our past and history. Thanks for your memories.

I left for Canada on April the 3rd 1945 from Perth to Glasgow . Overnight stay then by blackend out van to Clyde Bank where we boarded a Greek troop ship, the Nea Hellas, borrowed by the Canadian government to bring over returning troops ,war brides and family. I became seasick before leaving port and was seasick for the entire trip. The entire trip was very rough Soldiers lined the deck the same color as the ocean (green).The ship zigzaged the whole way because of u-boats. While on the trip they received word that Roosevelt had died. Arrived at Halifax Apr 27th and boarded a C.N.R train for Vancouver,B.C. Got into Vancouver May 4th to live with my mother who had arrived 2 years earlier .Was to start work on the monday but it turned out to be V.E. day.

In August 1958, returning from my first trip to Europe, I traveled with a group of fellow high-school students aboard the TSS New York from Le Havre, via Southampton, Cherbourg and Cobh, to New York. I shared a "cabin" with three other teenagers: It seemed to be about 15 feet forward of the starboard screw. Our quarters were below the ship's water line. The outer bulkhead was curved, and sloped inward from top to bottom. It had a "porthole," but the cover was steel rather than glass. I had an upper bunk, (fortunately) inboard from the ship's hull. On the high seas we encountered a hurricane, and we were on the ocean for 10 1/2 days before our (late) arrival in New York Harbor! While en route home, we did have our meals in the dining room, but, due to the storm, the round table at which we were seated had rails around its edge, to prevent the china and cutlery from sliding off onto the floor! (At least, we didn't have to wear seatbelts...!) I've traveled to Europe several times since then, but I'll never forget my first trip, FIFTY years ago!! By the way, our east-bound voyage was also on the Greek Line, on the QSS Arcadia. It was a bit larger than the TSS-NY, and it was only 5 - 6 days, more or less. We departed from Montreal, down the St. Lawrence River, to Cobh, Cherbourg, and finally to Southampton, where we dis-embarked. I''m not now planning any further trips to Europe, but I'll always remember my first one!!!

We finally arrived in New York and immediately made arrangements to fly on TWA to Los Angeles. We have all lived in Santa Barbara, California, ever since. When you find paradise, you don't leave it!

My father Frank Hall, traveled on the troopship Nea Hellas as part of a convoy, from Greenock, via Cape Town, to North Africa In February 1942. He was a radio operator in the RAF. The conditions of board were rough, and it was a dangerous trip. During the voyage there was a fire, and while sailing up the Suez Canal the ship was involved in a collision with another ship. This happened at night, and initially the men thought they had been torpedoed by the Germans.

"I came across your website tonight while looking for someone. I would like to add my memories of my trip on the TSS New York. When I was a young girl I was a member of a children's choir from Derry, Ireland "The Little Gaelic Singers" and in the year 1958 we toured America from the end of January until mid May. We returned home to Ireland on 10th May 1958 and I am sending a photograph, which was taken of me being presented with a tin of sweets which I won in a Fancy Dress competition while on board the New York. As you can see I was dressed as a Geisha Girl - my dressing gown back to front!!

"Hola. Envío el mensaje con copia porque ya intenté enviarlo a la dirección que me has pasado y me respondió el sistema que era desconocida

Las fotografías corresponden a un grupo integrado por varias personas de las que solamente recuerdo a mis padres y a mi mismo, que soy el pequeño. El resto del grupo no se quienes son aunque pienso que deben ser emigrantes griegos.

"Hello, my name is Antonio Saroli and at the age of 9 years old I left Rome, Italy by train for Naples, where with my family we were taking the Nea Hellas which was to take us to Halifax and eventually our destination, Montreal. My father Vincenzo Ottavio was 54 years old, my mother Anna was 50 years old and my three sisters were 21, 18, and 15. None of us spoke any English or French and we were joining our brother who had called us over. He had gone to live in Montreal in 1952 to visit family. I have a few memories of ship life.

On Tuesday April 14, 1953...We set sail from Naples directly for Halifax , Nova Scotia . The trip to Canada lasted 10 days...My eldest sister who remained in Rome came by car to see us off and in my mind's eye I can still see my sister at the wharf waving her white handkerchief as the ship was sailing away in the distance. On the ship with us were two of my female second cousins who were in their 20's and were traveling alone. They were very beautiful girls and the boys on board were paying them undue attention. There were some things of note on the trip overseas....First was a glimpse of the Rock of Gibraltar. When you saw this you knew that you were leaving the Mediterranean and were now in the Atlantic Ocean . My sister Elena didn't want to go on and she begged the ship's captain to turn the ship around. Elena was 21 years old and was very upset to leave behind Domenico who was the love of her life. My other sister Gina was 18 years old and had also left her boyfriend behind. My third sister Elvira was 15 years old and she didn't have a boyfriend. On ship we had a small room all to ourselves with bunk beds that were folded up/down as needed. My mother and my sisters were seasick and spent nearly all the trip in their room. I ventured out and brought them fruit. The first thing we had to do when we were out in the high seas was an evacuation drill. Everyone had to go on board to put on their life vests. It was a riot to see the people coming out of their cabins. Some were so sea sick that they looked like they were drunk and couldn't stand up straight. I thought that it was hilarious. The next thing I saw were those whales that they depict in the bible story of Jonah and the whale. I don't know what type of whales they were but they had big heads. They and the dolphins came close to the ship to get the refuse food that was thrown overboard. During the 10 day trip a man died on board and since they didn't have refrigeration in those days he was quickly buried at sea. There was a funeral for him and he was wrapped up in a white sheet. He basically looked like a mummy. The priest said some prayers and then he was thrown overboard. This made quite an impression on a young 9 year old boy!

Also I had brought on board a favourite soccer ball. The young men on the boat used to play soccer with me. One guy accidentally kicked it overboard so I made them all pay me for the loss of my ball (I was quite a cheeky boy). The rest of the trip was uneventful and then one day I heard people saying we had arrived in Canada"

"HI Please I found a payslip of my father-in-law who served on the SS Nea Hellas during the war. The time was from the 6/12/1943 to 22/3/1944. His name was Harold Barrett from Swansea, I believe that he was a steward on board. Sadly Harold passed away 17 years ago, I wonder if there is anyone who visits this site that sailed with Harold? If so, do they have any memories of him, as he did not speak a lot about his wartime experiences. Hope you find this interesting."

"Thank you so much for this website! Since a small boy I have treasured my father's flying logbooks from 1943/46 in the RAF. He died sadly from a brain hemorrhage when I was but 3, but not without somehow imparting his passion for flight. As was common for many in the RAF much of his training was in Africa. The back of these logbooks contain a diary of locations, and in part through my work in flight simulation and in part through the arrival of Google earth I recently realised I could now retrace what was otherwise mystery - perhaps even replicate his flight instruction in a virtual version of his Harvard aircraft! Amidst the many locations lies "H.M.T B17 Nea Hellas 3 may 1944 - 8 June 1944" The prior entry is Manchester and the following Bulawayo. Being just a short flight today it did not occur to me at all that I was looking at a voyage- I was hunting for a month's stay at some airfield somewhere called Nea Hellas! Thanks to your site - typed into Google... another piece in the jigsaw was revealed. I know it is a far stretch but small world and all that but....... If anyone reading this also made that trip or spent time at ITW Bulawayo; SFTS, Thornhill S.Rodesia; ETFS Guinea Fowl ( I don't yet know what that is); or IFTC Westlake Capetown I'd love to hear. My father's name was Derry Meredith. ian@ianmeredith.com"