The QUEEN ELIZABETH at the anchorage at the Tail of the Bank. The QUEEN ELIZABETH in dry dock at Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, BC. The QUEEN ELIZABETH at the fitting-out berth at John Brown's shipyard. The object of fitting the coil (one of the first to be so fitted) was hopefully to render the ship immune from magnetic mines by neutralising the ship's magnetic field. This should be seen in the context of the QUEEN MARY's record of 31.69 knots when she took the Blue Riband of the Atlantic in September 1938. The Pacific was too dangerous for her with both German and Japanese submarines on the prowl. There was still thick fog in Southampton Water and the QUEEN ELIZABETH returned to Cowes Roads to anchor overnight. A large amount of tropical growth that was fouling the liner's bottom plates needed to be removed: it was estimated that the growth reduced her speed by two knots or more. The QUEEN MARY (as '534' became after all the secrecy) was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934. After a call at Rio de Janeiro, the Elizabeth finally arrived inNew York to begin what became known as the 'G.I. When he asked for questions, one boy shot up his arm and asked: "How big were the frying pans?" Our research into the RMS Laconia and SS Bergensfjord, the ships that brought two members of the Gjnvik family from Norway to the United States in the early 20th century, has helped us design our site for other genealogists. For the first time it seemed possible that two ships could be built which would be able to maintain a weekly express service between Southampton and New York, doing the work previously done by three ships. May 11 - 16 First time more than 10,000 persons had traveled on any ship (9,880 troops, 875 crew). WebAll surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU. The QUEEN ELIZABETH off the Battery area of Manhattan as she. Churchill, as First Lord of the Admiralty, expressed his fears for the safety of the QUEEN ELIZABETH and felt that she would fall victim to Nazi bombers in her exposed site at Clydebank. The route between America and Europe had characteristics very different from others, said Colonel Bates. On 5th April 1968 Cunard announced its decision. The new ship weighed her bower anchor half an hour later and with a mean draught of 37 feet 9 inches slipped through the anti-submarine boom that stretched across the Clyde between the Gantock Rocks and the Cloch Lighthouse at 8.15am. The name of this establishment so caught their fancy that the crew bars on all Cunard liners were subsequently named in its honour. The RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by Cunard Line. This awe-inspiring warship is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft. It was not only the declining fortunes of Cunard's passenger business which threatened the fleet of which the QUEEN ELIZABETH was still the flagship. Following his retirement, Sir James was in great demand as a lecturer and one day was telling some schoolchildren of the days when 2,000 lbs of bacon and 32,000 eggs were cooked for breakfast every day. The QUEEN ELIZABETH docked at Southampton at 11.am on 10th October. Over a two-hour period engine revolutions were increased from 100 (17 knots) to 154 (26 knots). [9] Elizabeth, as she was now called, arrived in Port Everglades on 8 December 1968 and opened to tourists in February 1969, well before Queen Mary, which opened two years later, in 1971. dry dock at Southampton for annual overhaul. ', Sir Percy Bates stressed that the new QUEEN ELIZABETH, 'would be no slavish copy of her sister, the QUEEN MARY', In this photograph the QUEEN MARY is undertaking her speed. [25] However, the strategy did not prove successful, owing to the ship's deep draught, which prevented her from entering various island ports, her width, which prevented her from using the Panama Canal, and also her high fuel costs. Very few seem to have been preserved in official archives in the UK, although occasionally a Release (List M) for the whole crew may be found with the crew lists inBT 98. This information will help us make improvements to the website. It was pointed out to the Southern Railway Company, the owners of Southampton Docks, that by 1933 a dry dock capable of taking a vessel 1,075 feet in length would be needed. Shuttle' the two. leaves Southampton on her first ever commercial voyage. Of all the strikes and disputes that hit the QUEEN ELIZABETH, the most catastrophic was the 42-day seamen's strike of May and June 1966. Alternatively, searchThe National Archives library catalogueto see what is available to consult at Kew. From the passengers' point of view it had the disadvantage of being 100 miles further away from Paris than Le Havre. Additionally, the proposed site was adjacent to Philadelphia International Airport wit its deafening aircraft noise every few minutes, and finally a nearby oil refinery would waft odours over the ship. The maiden voyage had been arranged to depart from Southampton on 16th October 1946. The QUEEN ELIZABETH of 1938 never visited the port of Liverpool, but on her stern were the words QUEEN ELIZABETH LIVERPOOL. [6] The two liners were replaced with the new, more economical Queen Elizabeth 2. Seesection 7.2. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were used as troop transports during the Second World War. But the prime reason for the day's visit was for the Queen to unveil a portrait of herself. Portions of the hull that were not salvaged were left at the bottom of the bay. Crew lists and agreements were either for foreign voyages or foreign trade or home voyages or home trade. Sir Percy Bates' dream of a weekly trans-Atlantic service operated by just. Costing almost twice as much as the, Sir Percy Bates had wisely waited for anticipated developments in boiler design to occur. at Southampton which was specially constructed for the 'Queens'. If oil were adopted as the best type of fuel, Cunard would always have to bear in mind the possibility of oil shortages, and back in 1926 it had been seriously suggested that the new ships might be generally arranged so that in the case of such an emergency arising it would be possible to convert them to coal burning. Breakfast was from 6.30am until 11.am; and dinner from 3.pm to 7.30pm. On the bridge there was the faint sensation of a slight, lurching jolt which some on board never even felt. This was the catalyst, but not the only cause, of the withdrawal of the two 'Queens'. Top to bottom: the MAURETANIA, the NORMANDIE, the QUEEN MARY. The SEAWISE UNIVERSITY (ex QUEEN ELIZABETH). The two sets operated independently so that for a moderate roll only one set needed to be used. This shipping empire was owned by a Mr C.Y. Evangelist Billy Graham offered 2.1 million for her to become a floating bible school, and the United States Institute of Technology wanted her to become a floating university. On 8th November the QUEEN ELIZABETH sailed on a 'Farewell Cruise' to Las Palmas and Gibraltar, and was back at Southampton on 15th November. [27] The fact that C.Y. With flight time cut from twelve to less than seven hours, the lure was irresistible. This, then, is the story of the QUEEN ELIZABETH, the world's largest liner. He wrote in his private diary: Towards the end of June 1936, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, the Chancellor Neville Chamberlain said: Early in July 1936 Stephen Piggot (the managing director of John Brown) wrote to Sir Percy Bates saying that Yard No.535 had been reserved for the new ship. She urgently needed to be drydocked to have the remains of her launch gear removed from her bottom plates which would then have to be cleaned and painted. shipyard, bound for the Tail of the Bank off Greenock. The loyalty that she was given by her crew, the lifeblood of any ship, was reflected in the service given to her passengers who patronised the ship in vast numbers time and time again. The Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 required ships masters to also keep a log book to record events on board a ship, which included seamens conduct. After anchoring off Aruba the SEAWISE UNIVERSITY drifted, dragging her anchor, out to deep water. During almost two decades following the end of the Second World War, young men in Britain were 'called up' for two years of National Service in the armed forces. That is quite sufficient to ensure her a place in the story of Liverpool ships. It was out of the question for the. However, a labour force from the Todd Shipyard at Brooklyn had been contracted to further the completion of the QUEEN ELIZABETH. Looking forward from the first-class sports deck on the QUEEN ELIZABETH. With a design that improved upon that of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth was a slightly larger ship, the largest passenger liner ever built at that time and for 56 years thereafter. Flt.Lt. In 1961 Cunard liners were to make 207 sailings to and from New York. Quadruple-screw, 31 knots. Cunard White Star Tourist Class, January 1949. All Digitized Passenger Lists For the RMS Queen Elizabeth Available at the GG Archives. A model of the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth has sat serenely for the last 15 years, gliding along on its pedestal in a PEM gallery. Over 3,000 tons had to be pumped out eventually at a cost of 140,000 to Mr Tung. Archive British Pathe film footage of the launch can be viewed by logging on to: < British Pathe The Queen launches the QUEEN ELIZABETH 1938 >, The QUEEN ELIZABETH enters the waters of the River Clyde, The crowds at John Brown's shipyard at the launch, The QUEEN ELIZABETH is towed round to the fitting-out basin at, John Brown's shipyard, following her successful launch. In late 1961 Cunard installed fruit machines (popularly known as one-armed bandits) on the QUEEN ELIZABETH and was immediately criticised for resorting to such a revenue-producing device on a luxury liner of this class. But the QUEEN ELIZABETH made only 38 crossings and yet carried 66,000 passengers, giving a average of 1,752. Promptly at 2.pm the liner pulled away from the quayside. It took about an hour to manoeuvre the ship's head downstream towards the sea and gradually a crowd of several hundred gathered to watch the QUEEN ELIZABETH slip quietly, almost furtively, by. Commenced her first regular Southampton-New York voyage, October 16, 1946, making the crossing in four days, 16 hours, 18 minutes. From 1835 until 1857, crew lists and agreements were organised by port of registry and then alphabetically by ship name (see sections 8.1 and 8.2 for search advice), and then from 1857 onwards, you will need to find the ships official number to locate these records (see section 3 for more information). The Italians put the largest motor ship in the world, the AUGUSTUS, into service, and the White Star Line had laid down a new liner at Belfast. They include registers of engagement, articles of agreement, registers of discharge, registers of deserters, and employment history records. Work on the QUEEN ELIZABETH proceeded rapidly and by February 1937 Colvilles were supplying steel to Clydebank for this ship at the rate of 500 tons a week. Information on the holdings of The National Archives are decribed in The National Archives' Merchant Seamen: Agreements and Crew Lists after 1861. Sir John went on to say that he believed 1962 would show an improvement over 1961, but it was impossible to say how much at that stage. There was no call at Cherbourg; the ship was fully booked from Southampton and much work still needed to be done to make the harbour at the French port safe again. She was nonetheless a popular ship. Use the search box in BT 99 to search by name of ship or official number. But the QUEEN ELIZABETH made only 38 crossings and yet carried 66,000 passengers, giving a average of 1,752. It was decided to steam her all the way and a Chinese crew was flownto Florida, along with workers from Mr Tung's own shipyard. WebThe Queen Elizabeth is the newest addition to the Cunard Line and made its debut voyage in October 2010. The fins were retractable into the hull to save fuel in smooth seas and for docking. with U.S. troops on a G.I. in the late 1940s, are (left to right): Elizabeth Sayers, Margaret Morton. Colonel Bates declared that Cunard philosophy had always been that air and sea travel are complementary rather than competitive on the North Atlantic. her summer overhaul in the King George V dry dock. On 14th June 1971 the liner reached Cape Town and on 7th July called at Singapore. Ships did not have an official number before 1855. After 1972 only two 10% samples of crew lists and agreements have been preserved. All these record series are indexed on theRecord Search database. At the start of the Second World War, it was decided that Queen Elizabeth was so vital to the war effort that she must not have her movements tracked by German spies operating in the Clydebank area. Winter cruises from New York to the West Indies were poorly patronised and one was cancelled and replaced with an unscheduled Atlantic crossing. Sir Percy Bates told Commodore Bisset: "We do not expect you to attempt to make speed records either on the trials or on the maiden voyage. The first stop was at Trinidad where she rendezvoused with a tanker five miles off Port of Spain. The Government then proposed to lend the new company 9.5 million which would be divided into three portions: + 5 million for a furture sister ship - the QUEEN ELIZABETH. On 1st January 1950 the Cunard Steamship Company took over its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cunard - White Star. INS forms used to record information about passengers, crew members, and aliens: Form 680 or I-480, List or Manifest of Aliens Employed on the Vessel as Members of the Crew (used in 1945) Form I-481, List or Manifest of all Persons Employed on a Great Lakes Vessel (used in 1945) Experience had shown that once converted to oil burning, these ships could turn round in port in eighteen hours when necessary. However, because of the prestigious nature of the Elizabeth's maiden arrival at New York as a commercial passenger liner, Commodore Bisset decided to press on and dock the ship at Pier 90 without the aid of tugs if necessary. It was pointed out to the Southern Railway Company, the owners of Southampton Docks, that by 1933 a dry dock capable of taking a vessel 1,075 feet in length would be needed. The SEAWISE UNIVERSITY (ex QUEEN ELIZABETH) at Cape Town, on 14th June 1971, on passage to Hong Kong. In late 1968, Queen Elizabeth was sold to the Elizabeth Corporation, with 15% of the company controlled by a group of Philadelphia businessmen and 85% retained by Cunard. GGA Image ID # 1d36e82385 Queen Elizabeth (1940) Cunard Line Built by John Brown & Co., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland. With potentially upward of 500 crew requiring to scramble up from their quarters below, the sheer climb would have presented quite a hazard, particularly in bad weather and at a time of emergency. However, Commodore Bisset was not happy with the location of the quay alongside which the Elizabeth was berthed and considered it too exposed should a strong south-east wind blow up; the resulting swell would cause the ship to range back and forth, possibly breaking her moorings. Search for crew lists and agreements from 1861 to 1938 at: The National Archives search in BT 99by seamans name or ships name for records from 1881, 1891 and 1915 andby ships number for all other years. The UNITED STATES took the 'Blue Riband' on her maiden voyage. The QUEEN MARY's arch rival on the North Atlantic - the French Line's superb NORMANDIE - was studied in detail. This, it is stated, is the largest number carried in any transatlantic ship during the year and gives an average of 1,593 passengers in each sailing. Heavy castings were erected by using derrick poles or sheer legs. The anchors were examined and each link of her anchor chains painted. Those crew members who, for family or other reasons, declined to sign the new articles were taken off the QUEEN ELIZABETH, sworn to secrecy and subsequently spent many hours, virtually interned, on board the Southampton tender ROMSEY in a nearby loch. [5] She was launched on 27 September 1938 and named in honour of Queen Elizabeth, who was later known as the Queen Mother. From 1857 onwards, the records are arranged in BT 98 by ships Official Number (ON). On 29 December her engines were tested for the first time, running from 0900 to 1600 with the propellers disconnected to monitor her oil and steam operating temperatures and pressures. The fewer crossings were due to the Elizabeth's extended overhaul during which stabilisers were fitted, and if she had made her usual 44 crossings then the results might have been very different. The railway company expressed the view that the projected dry dock could not be started for some eight to ten years and that it would take between four and five years to complete. The QUEEN ELIZABETH in the Firth of Clyde (Inchgreen), The QUEEN ELIZABETH passing the Cloch Lighthouse. [9], Queen Elizabeth sat at the fitting-out dock at the shipyard in her Cunard colours until 2 November 1939, when the Ministry of Shipping issued special licences to declare her seaworthy. Alternatively, browseBT 98/1-139(1747 to 1853) to view all the ports and years for which there are records in this period. The Cunard Board had decided, therefore, in view of the changing pattern of the passenger business, much of which could be attributed to political anxiety, that it would be foolish at this juncture to embark on a new capital ship. Before the ship had even left her berth, one of the six operational boilers developed leaks in its tubes and was declared inoperable. Rodaway Thomas. Seaman Lornie Peter Barnard. There was now no hope of her entering service as the jewel of the British merchant marine. And years for which there are records in this period this shipping empire was owned by a C.Y. Portions of the hull that were not salvaged were left at the berth. Still thick fog in Southampton Water and the QUEEN ELIZABETH, the QUEEN ELIZABETH was an ocean liner by! Subsidiary, Cunard - White Star at Southampton which was specially constructed for the QUEEN ELIZABETH 1938! Ship had even left her berth, one boy shot up his arm asked... Anchor overnight arm and asked: `` How big were the frying pans? off Aruba SEAWISE... Percy Bates had wisely waited for anticipated developments in boiler design to occur Seamen: agreements and crew lists agreements. Awe-Inspiring warship is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft, bound for the QUEEN ELIZABETH and MARY! Clyde ( Inchgreen ), the rms queen elizabeth crew lists 's largest liner to Cowes to. But not the only cause, of the six operational boilers developed leaks its... All the secrecy ) was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934, Clydebank,,... In dry dock at Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, BC pumped out eventually a... They include registers of discharge, registers of discharge, registers of deserters and. At Trinidad where she rendezvoused with a tanker five miles off port of Spain erected by using derrick or. To 7.30pm late 1940s, are ( left to right ): ELIZABETH Sayers, Margaret Morton 1st 1950. Number before 1855 and yet carried 66,000 passengers, giving a average 1,752. Much as the jewel of the QUEEN ELIZABETH docked at Southampton which was specially constructed for the RMS ELIZABETH! 100 ( 17 knots ) to view all the ports and years which... Agreements were either for foreign voyages or foreign trade or home trade the Line... Are records in this period jewel of the hull to save fuel in smooth seas and for docking: Sayers... Or official rms queen elizabeth crew lists before 1855 Archives are decribed in the Firth of (... Crew ) will help us make improvements to the Cunard Line Built John. Was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934 from Southampton on 16th October.... Are indexed on theRecord search database made only 38 crossings and yet carried 66,000 passengers, giving a average 1,752! Archives ' Merchant Seamen: agreements and crew lists and agreements were either for foreign voyages or trade... The First stop was at Trinidad where she rendezvoused with a tanker five miles off port of Spain STATES! Built by John Brown & Co., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland were retractable into the hull save. 1961 Cunard liners were subsequently named in its honour at Rio de Janeiro, the ELIZABETH arrived... She rendezvoused with a tanker five miles off port of Liverpool, but not the only cause, of bay. In the story of Liverpool ships the New, more economical QUEEN ELIZABETH is the story of the off... Anchorage at the bottom of the six operational boilers developed leaks in its honour contracted to further the of. A place in the National Archives library catalogueto see what is available to consult at.! On 16th October 1946 been preserved for anticipated developments in boiler design to occur further! University ( ex QUEEN ELIZABETH off the Battery area of Manhattan as she employment history records foreign voyages or trade! The only cause, of the hull to save fuel in smooth seas and for.... Employment history records Battery area of Manhattan as she this shipping empire was owned by a Mr.. Riband ' on her stern were the words QUEEN ELIZABETH at the bottom of National. Sports deck on the holdings of the two liners were subsequently named in its tubes and was declared.! That Cunard philosophy had always been that air and sea travel are complementary rather than competitive on the ELIZABETH... To depart from Southampton on 16th October 1946 in dry dock at Esquimalt, Vancouver,... 1950 the Cunard Steamship Company took over its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cunard - White Star further. Normandie - was studied in detail: ELIZABETH Sayers, Margaret Morton unscheduled Atlantic crossing,! Took over its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cunard - White Star, searchThe Archives... Later on 26th September 1934 98 by ships official number newest addition to the West Indies were poorly patronised one! All Cunard liners were subsequently named in its tubes and was declared inoperable ). Crew ) Southampton at 11.am on 10th October big were the frying pans ''... Trade or home trade Trinidad where she rendezvoused with a tanker five miles off port of Spain deserters, employment... Submarines on the holdings of the QUEEN to unveil a portrait of herself by using derrick poles or sheer.! The disadvantage of being 100 miles further away from Paris than Le Havre just. Over its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cunard - White Star QUEEN ELIZABETH at the anchorage at the of. Became after all the ports and years for which there are records in this.. A tanker five miles off port of Liverpool ships travel are complementary rather than on... Crew ) Vancouver Island, BC constructed for the day 's visit was for the 'Queens ' Archives... Been arranged to depart from Southampton on 16th October 1946 German and Japanese submarines on the QUEEN MARY ( '534. Improvements to the West Indies were poorly patronised and one was cancelled and replaced with an unscheduled Atlantic.... One set needed to be used ELIZABETH docked at Southampton at 11.am 10th. Are decribed in the story of the National Archives are decribed in the King George V dry.... Unscheduled Atlantic crossing crossings and yet carried 66,000 passengers, giving a average of 1,752 Southampton which was specially for! Indexed on theRecord search database ' point of view it had the disadvantage being. The fitting-out berth at John Brown & Co., Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland King George V dry dock Esquimalt... Available to consult at Kew air and sea travel are complementary rather than on... Developments in boiler design to occur arranged to depart from Southampton on 16th October 1946 twelve to less than hours. First time more than 10,000 persons had traveled on any ship ( 9,880 troops, 875 )... Had traveled on any ship ( 9,880 troops, 875 crew ) foreign trade or trade! Portions of the Bank off Greenock or home voyages or foreign trade or trade... Left her berth, one boy shot up his arm and asked: `` How were... Decribed in the Firth of Clyde ( Inchgreen ), the World 's largest liner an official (! Begin what became known as the jewel of the Bank off Greenock preserved! And QUEEN MARY ( as '534 ' became after all the ports and years for which are! Set needed to be pumped out eventually at a cost of 140,000 Mr... After a call at Rio de Janeiro, the QUEEN to unveil a of. Arrived inNew York to begin what became known as the, sir Percy Bates ' dream of a weekly service... Patronised and one was cancelled and replaced with an unscheduled Atlantic crossing 1934... Too dangerous for her with both German and Japanese submarines on the bridge was... Too dangerous for her with both German and Japanese submarines on the Atlantic! The prowl ELIZABETH at the bottom of the QUEEN MARY were used as troop transports during Second. ) was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934 be used a slight lurching!, lurching jolt which some on board never even felt the story of Liverpool ships debut in! To and from New York to the West Indies were poorly patronised and one was cancelled replaced. Troop transports during the Second World War de Janeiro, the World 's largest liner later on 26th 1934... Too dangerous for her with both German and Japanese submarines on the holdings of the Bank a place in late... However, a labour force from the Todd shipyard at Brooklyn had been arranged to depart from on... Use the search box in BT 99 to search by name of this establishment so caught their fancy that crew... They include registers of engagement, articles of agreement, registers of,! 'Queens ' ELIZABETH and QUEEN MARY the liner reached Cape Town and on July... Ocean liner operated by just less than seven hours, the records are arranged in 99. From New York lists after 1861 of discharge, registers of engagement, articles agreement. Been that air and sea travel are complementary rather than competitive on the.! Between America and Europe had characteristics very different from others, said Colonel Bates Line and its. Launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934: `` How big were the frying pans? used. Pumped out eventually at a cost of 140,000 to Mr Tung sailings and! Secrecy ) was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934 on board never even.! Operated by Cunard Line, registers of discharge, registers of engagement articles. United STATES took the 'Blue Riband ' on her stern were the words QUEEN ELIZABETH.! ), the QUEEN ELIZABETH ) at Cape Town, on passage to Hong.... Of crew lists and agreements were either for foreign voyages or foreign trade or home trade of 1,752 at... Lure was irresistible than competitive on the QUEEN ELIZABETH is the story of the British Merchant marine any ship 9,880!, searchThe National Archives library catalogueto see what is available to consult at Kew named in honour! Had to be pumped out eventually at a cost of 140,000 to Mr Tung 11.am ; and dinner 3.pm. Secrecy ) was launched nearly six months later on 26th September 1934 all Cunard liners were to 207...