Alan Villiers

Captain Alan John Villiers (September 23, 1903 to Mar. 3, 1982) was a writer, adventurer, photographer and Master Mariner. Born in Melbourne, Australia, he first went to sea at age 15 and sailed the world's oceans aboard traditionally rigged ships, including full rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He is the author of 25 books, the president of the Society for Nautical Research, a director of the National Maritime Museum, and the Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He received the Distinguished Service Cross as British commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War. Alan John Villiers was the second son of Australian poet and union leader Leon Joseph Villiers. The young Villiers grew up on the docks watching the merchant ships entering and leaving the port of Melbourne and aspired to when he, too, the veil off. Leaving home at age 15, he joined the barque Rothesay Bay, as an apprentice.Rothesay Bay exploited commercially Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Villiers was a natural sailor. He learns quickly and has earned the respect of his comrades. An accident aboard the barque stranded Lawhill Villiers in 1922 and one by