The launching of the RMS Queen Mary, which took place on September 26th 1934 in John Brown & Co.
The launching of the RMS Queen Mary, which took place on September 26th 1934 in John Brown & Co., Clydebank. Photo taken by Stewart Bale.Launching such a big ship was not an easy task: the Clyde had to be dredged and widened to accomodate the largest hull ever built. Tons of grease had to be applied to the ramp to allow the hull to slide it down to the water. Much to Cunard White Star’s (the new company which emerged after the merger of Cunard and White Star a few years earlier) dismay, the launching date turned out to be rainy (as one can see by the number of umbrellas being held by the spectators). The launching of the company’s newest ship was supposed the a mediatic event, symbolizing the recuperation of Britain’s shipping industry after the dark years of the crisis. Surprisingly, and much to the company’s satisfaction, around 200.000 people turned up to see the iron giant being released by the human Queen Mary (the wife of King George V) with the words: “I name this ship Queen Mary. I wish success to her and all who sail in her".Source: The Daily Mail -- source link
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