On several occasions recently I have seen the remarkable photograph taken in the summer of 1937 by the renowned Liverpool photographer E Chambre Hardman. It was the perfect shot as he looked down a side street in Dingle and across the Mersey to the Birkenhead shipyard where the aircraft carrier Ark Royal resplendent in its new coat of grey paint, was being prepared for its launch.
Each time I have seen the photograph I have been reminded of the launch which I was fortunate to watch whilst standing on the dock wall near the Pier Head. This was the first time I had been able to witness such an event and was spellbound as the huge vessel slipped slowly into the water to glide gracefully downstream as all the sirens of the ships in the port gave a deafening salutation to its baptism. Before long a bevy of fussy little tugs edged it carefully into the fitting out basin.
Alas after much sterling work by its aircraft this constant torment of the enemy was ultimately torpedoed in the Mediterranean.
It was only twelve months later as the clouds of war were building up that I stood in the same position and watched spellbound again as a much larger vessel the Mauretania took to the water. It was to spend its early life carrying troops before being able to join the “Queens” on the North Atlantic run.
In common with many Merseysiders I much regret that such events will never again be seen on the Mersey, only ship repairing remaining as a reminder of the great ship building tradition of the river.
Stuart Black
Users Today : 7
Users Last 7 days : 81
Users Last 30 days : 231
Total views : 17327