As the war clouds were gathering over Europe in the summer of ’39, the pride of the French navy, the battleships Strasbourg and Dunkerque paid a courtesy visit to Liverpool berthing in the Gladstone Dock.
At this time the battleship had not been replaced by the aircraft carrier as the supreme example of naval power, so it was not surprising to find that many people made their way to Seaforth to inspect these majestic vessels. Others were able to view them from the overhead railway.
After a few days in port they had to return to their base and I was fortunate to be able to watch them depart slowly through the Gladstone lock into the Mersey with crews lined up on deck and a band playing. A memorable sight indeed.
Sadly in early July 1940 much of the French fleet including these two magnificent ships was destroyed by the British navy whilst at its Algerian base of Mers-el-Kebir (“great harbour” in Arabic).
The British government was forced into this most distasteful action fearing the French Admiral Darlan with known collaborationist leanings might allow his navy to fall into German hands and imperil our already fragile lifeline across the Atlantic.
Stuart Black
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