Danny
Re your comments on servicemen infected with smallpox. I was intrigued and had a look at The Times digital archive for February and March 1946. There were mentions of smallpox infected servicemen on six incoming liners during that two-months. So not as uncommon as one would think. I was always of the impression that once vaccinated the vaccination lasted for life, but obviously not so.
Here's what was said about the arrival from India of the Duchess of Richmond and Georgic at Liverpool on 2nd March 1946.
"
the ship then lowered her Jack" in paragraph two of the cutting is I assume reference to the lowering of the "Yellow Jack" flag that a ship traditionally hoisted on entering harbour to indicate it had a contagious or infectious disease aboard.