Tom Johnston, Bixter, Shetland, is one of the youngest of the ex-whalers. Heading for his first season straight after leaving the school at 15 to work as a mess boy on Southern Broom and Southern Gambler. In his second season he was part of a crew who were towed back to Norway from South Georgia on Southern Lotus. Despite being at sea for weeks through horrid storms, Johnston was not put off by working for Salvesen and continued with their fleets in the Merchant Navy for several more years.