*QUEEN MARY* Turns 90 Years Old! | HISTORY
Summary
TLDRThe RMS Queen Mary, a symbol of hope and resilience, was constructed during the Great Depression. Despite economic challenges and a temporary halt in construction, she was completed with government support after Cunard merged with White Star Line. Launched in 1934, she became an iconic ocean liner, offering luxurious transatlantic travel and later serving as a troopship in WWII. Today, she rests as a retired legend in Long Beach, CA.
Takeaways
- 🚢 The RMS Queen Mary was conceived amidst the Great Depression and symbolized hope and bravery.
- 🌊 The ship was designed to be the fastest and largest to reclaim the title of the world's fastest ocean liner.
- 🏭 Construction began at John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, and was initially halted due to the economic crisis.
- 💼 Cunard Line faced financial difficulties and had to halt construction, leading to job losses in Clydebank.
- 📨 Public support and contributions helped persuade Cunard to continue building the ship.
- 🤝 The British Parliament provided a loan under the condition that Cunard merged with the White Star Line.
- 👑 The ship was named RMS Queen Mary in honor of Queen Mary and launched with great fanfare.
- 🎨 The interior was designed by over 30 artists and featured luxurious materials and amenities across three classes.
- 🚀 During sea trials, the Queen Mary achieved her fastest speed of 32.84 knots.
- 🎵 The ship's maiden voyage was celebrated with a special musical piece composed by Henry Hall.
- 🌐 The Queen Mary became a symbol of triumph over adversity and is now retired in Long Beach, California.
Q & A
What was the RMS Queen Mary designed to represent?
-The RMS Queen Mary was designed to embody the hope, bravery, and spirit of the interwar generation.
Which company was in competition with the White Star Line to build bigger and faster ocean liners?
-The Cunard Line was in competition with the White Star Line.
Why did Cunard Line decide to halt construction on the RMS Queen Mary?
-Cunard Line halted construction due to a lack of funds caused by the Great Depression and low ticket sales.
What was the significance of the French Line's announcement in relation to Cunard Line's decision to build the RMS Queen Mary?
-The French Line's announcement to build a new ocean liner that would dominate the competition prompted Cunard Line to construct the RMS Queen Mary to regain supremacy over the Atlantic.
How did the British public respond to the halt in construction of the RMS Queen Mary?
-The British public sent letters and small contributions to Sir Percey Bates, chairman of Cunard Line, urging him to continue work on the ship and keep people employed.
What was the condition set by the British Parliament for providing a loan to Cunard Line to complete the RMS Queen Mary?
-The condition was that Cunard Line must merge with the White Star Line to consolidate their debts.
Why was the RMS Queen Mary's maiden voyage significant?
-The maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary was significant because it symbolized a triumph over the Great Depression and marked the return of optimism in the United Kingdom.
What was the fastest achievable speed of the RMS Queen Mary during her sea trials?
-The RMS Queen Mary's fastest achievable speed during her sea trials was 32.84 knots.
How did the RMS Queen Mary honor the Titanic during her maiden voyage?
-As the RMS Queen Mary passed the spot where the Titanic sank, the crew tossed a wreath of red roses into the sea in honor of those who lost their lives.
What was the name of the musical piece composed by Henry Hall specifically for the RMS Queen Mary?
-The musical piece composed by Henry Hall for the RMS Queen Mary was called 'Somewhere at Sea'.
Where is the RMS Queen Mary currently located?
-The RMS Queen Mary is currently retired and located in the City of Long Beach, CA.
Outlines
🚢 The Birth of a Legend
The RMS Queen Mary was conceived amidst the challenges of the Great Depression and the decline of luxury ocean travel. The ship was a symbol of hope and bravery, embodying the spirit of the interwar generation. The White Star Line's RMS Titanic had sparked a rivalry to build grander ships, and Cunard Line aimed to reclaim supremacy over the Atlantic with a new, faster ship. Despite the economic downturn, the British public supported the construction of the Queen Mary, which was temporarily halted due to funding issues. The ship's construction was a beacon of hope during the Great Depression, and its eventual completion was financed with a government loan on the condition that Cunard merged with the White Star Line.
🎉 Launch and Maiden Voyage
After overcoming the Great Depression's challenges, the Queen Mary was launched on September 26, 1934, with great fanfare and optimism. The ship was named in a grand ceremony attended by King George V and Queen Mary. The launch was a spectacle, with the ship's descent into the water causing a splash that reached a mile away. The ship was then fitted out with luxurious interiors, featuring rare woods and state-of-the-art amenities across three classes. Despite a grounding incident during river transit, the Queen Mary was undamaged and proceeded to Southampton for sea trials, achieving a top speed of 32.84 knots. Her maiden voyage began on May 27, 1936, with a full complement of passengers and crew, and was celebrated with a musical piece composed for the occasion.
🌊 A Transatlantic Triumph
The Queen Mary's maiden voyage to New York City was a significant event, marked by a salute from three planes and a grand welcome as she sailed up the Hudson River. The ship's arrival was a symbol of triumph over the Great Depression and was celebrated by thousands, including President Roosevelt. Despite not breaking the speed record on her maiden voyage due to technical issues, the Queen Mary was a testament to British resilience and ingenuity. Today, she is retired in Long Beach, CA, a lasting reminder of the spirit and determination that brought her to life during one of the darkest economic periods in history.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Great Depression
💡RMS Queen Mary
💡Cunard Line
💡White Star Line
💡Maureetania
💡John Brown Shipyard
💡Launch
💡Sea Trials
💡Maiden Voyage
💡Blue Riband
💡Long Beach, CA
Highlights
RMS Queen Mary witnessed major historical events including the Great Depression and World War II.
The ship was a symbol of hope and bravery during the interwar period.
The White Star Line's RMS Titanic sparked a rivalry to build bigger and faster ocean liners.
Cunard Line aimed to reclaim the title of the world's fastest ocean liner with a new ship.
The Great Depression initially halted construction due to economic decline.
Public support and small contributions helped persuade Cunard to continue the project.
A government loan was secured for the ship's completion under the condition of a Cunard-White Star Line merger.
The ship's construction provided much-needed employment during the Great Depression.
The Queen Mary was launched in 1934 with King George V and Queen Mary present.
The ship was designed with luxurious interiors and state-of-the-art facilities.
The Queen Mary achieved a top speed of 32.84 knots during sea trials.
The ship's maiden voyage in 1936 was a significant event with 2,140 passengers and 1,100 crew members.
The Queen Mary was honored with a tribute to the Titanic during her maiden voyage.
The ship's arrival in New York was celebrated with a grand welcome and a flyover.
The Queen Mary became a symbol of triumph over the Great Depression.
The ship now resides in Long Beach, CA, as a retired icon of maritime history.
Transcripts
The Great Depression, World War II, the decline of luxury ocean travel, and a global lockdown…the
RMS Queen Mary has seen it all. It was very nearly an impossible dream just to bring this ocean liner
into being, but out of the tribulation came a ship that would embody the hope, the bravery,
and the spirit of the interwar generation. The White Star Line’s RMS Titanic made
famous the competitive rivalry between ocean liner companies and their insatiable desire
to build bigger, faster, more luxurious ships. In 1929, the Cunard Line’s biggest and fastest
ship, the Mauretania had lost the title of World’s fastest ocean liner and though the
global recession had slowed down ticket sales on passenger crossings, the British people had felt
that either Cunard or White Star should construct the next champion to take back supremacy over the
Atlantic. However, neither company was ready to invest that amount of capital, considering the
economic decline. It wasn’t until the French line announced the construction of their newest ocean
liner which would dominate the competition, that Cunard finally gave in and announced that they too
would construct a new liner. The intention was to design two ships so large and fast that they could
provide weekly transatlantic service and allow the company to retire some of their older vessels.
Engineers of John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, had finished most of the designs
and they constructed several 17-foot-long models of the ship that they would test in
a water tank to simulate all manner of ocean conditions. Over 8,000 tests were performed
until Cunard was finally satisfied with the plans, signing a $30 million dollar contract
with John Brown shipyards on December 1st, 1930 to construct what they called Job #534. Ten days
later workers began to lay down the keel. For over a year, construction continued
as planned, as the steel girders and ribs of the hull were built ever upward, the economy
continued to sink under the weight of the Great Depression. But the workers at Clydebank were
still ahead of schedule and aiming for a launch date of May 1932, however, Cunard was suffering
from low ticket sales and any profits they made were quickly being absorbed by the costs of the
new liner. On December 10, 1931, Cunard halted construction on the ship due to a lack of funds.
Hull #534 was one of the last Clydebank jobs that had continued during the depression and now that
they had lost it, all work had ceased. The sudden silence that overcame the industrial town was
stark and eerie. Sir Percey Bates, chairman of the Cunard line was receiving letters every day
from citizens around Great Britain asking that he continue work on hull 534 and keep people working.
Some letters even contained small contributions of money, in hopes that any amount would help save
the liner. Sir Percey Bates assured the public he would see the ship completed.
In the grip of the Great Depression, British families suffered. In Clydebank, shipbuilding
was all the town could do, and without any work, there was virtually no way out of the nightmare.
The occasional rumor stated that work on the ship would continue soon,
but it became a vicious cycle that teased the hopes of those in need of a miracle.
Prior to the halt on construction, the chairman of White Star Line, Walter Runciman, had pleaded with
Cunard to merge with them so that both companies might survive the economic downturn. But White
Star had an aging fleet of ships, and Cunard was reluctant to dilute their assets in a merger. As
it turned out, Walter Runciman would later join Britain’s board of trade, and when Cunard went
to Parliament to request a government subsidy to finance the completion of 534, it was Mr.
Runciman that influenced Parliament to agree on a loan, under the condition that Cunard merges with
White Star Line to consolidate their debts. Not to mention, during the first World War, ocean liners
were very useful for transporting troops and supplies, parliament knew that the new ocean liner
would be a great asset if war broke out again. Cunard had been put in a tough situation because
Sir Percy Bates had the much-needed support from the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne,
and he didn’t want to disregard it. On December 14th, 1933, the merger was announced,
and henceforth the company would be known as Cunard White Star. British Parliament would loan
the company 9.5 million pounds to complete the first ship and start the second one.
Clydebank was abuzz with the roar of cheers and celebration on the morning of April 3rd, 1934,
as 400 men marched down to the shipyard, escorted by bagpipers. The men had to clear the hull of
thousands of nesting birds and proceeded to scrape off nearly 130 tons of rust that had accumulated
over the last two years. Soon the shipyard was in full swing with 3800 workers busy on construction,
they were even visited by the Prince of Wales as the riveters hammered in the 10
million rivets that would hold the ship together. Getting the people back to work had become a
symbol of optimism across the United Kingdom. It was only six months later when the ship
was ready for launch, but a name had not been announced, it was being kept secret. Though,
the press had suspected the ship would be named after Queen Victoria. The day
of the launch came on September 26th, 1934, His Majesty King George V and his consort Queen Mary
had arrived at the ceremonies. The King declared that 534 was “the stateliest ship now in being”,
Queen Mary stepped up to the podium to announce the name of the ship and christen her. The crowd
would gasp upon the grand reveal of the ship’s name and then erupt in cheers.
As the ship went down the slipway, her hull was slowed down by 18 enormous bundles of drag
chains totaling 2,530 tons of weight…creating a cacophony of noise that excited the spectators.
The hull slowed as it entered the water, dipping into it as graceful as a Queen,
though her massive hull still managed to cause the water to jump the banks, it was said that
hay farmers a half-mile away got their feet wet as the river flooded the fields. Next, the ship was
being pulled by tug to the fitting-out basin where her interiors and superstructure would take shape.
Over 30 different British and American artists had designed and decorated the luxurious interiors.
Her bulkheads and fittings were paneled in 56 different types of rare and exotic woods,
and her interiors were separated into three different classes. Admittedly, first-class had
the most impressive public rooms, but no other ocean liner could compete with the second and
third-class amenities of the Queen Mary. After 18 months of fitting-out, she was ready to leave the
shipyards on her way to Southampton. As the tugs pulled her along the Clyde, they lost control and
the ship ran aground, wedging itself across the river. This could have resulted in damage to her
hull, or propellers, delaying her departure...but after a complete inspection, she was deemed to
be in good shape and was refloated. After her arrival in Southampton,
she would embark on her four days of sea trials starting April 15th, 1936,
ensuring that she was ready for her maiden voyage. It was on these sea trials that the Queen Mary
made her fastest achievable speed of 32.84 knots. Just two days prior to the maiden voyage, the
Royal Family was invited to a ceremony honoring the ship’s namesake, Queen Mary the Queen Mother.
The Prince of Wales was now the new King Edward VIII, and he was so enthralled with the ship,
he walked nearly 7 miles around it, touring every room he could. On the Promenade Deck,
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had tried out the first-class children’s playroom,
going down the slide, which Cunard would later name the Royal Slide.
The day everyone had dreamed of for nearly six years had finally come, it was May 27th, 1936, the
day the RMS Queen Mary would embark on her maiden voyage. She was loaded up with 2,140 passengers
and 1,100 crew members. Cunard had invited Henry Hall, the director of the BBC Dance Orchestra to
be among the first to sail aboard the ship and made him the co-director of the ship’s orchestra.
The King was there to see the Queen Mary off as she departed Southampton on her way to Cherbourg,
France then on to New York City. As the ship made its way west across the Atlantic to the
United States, Cunard had already told its passengers that the Queen Mary would not be
attempting to break the speed record and capture the title of the Blue Riband. They explained that
the ship’s engines still needed to be run in, the truth of the matter was that the ship was
beset with vibration and soot was raining down from her funnels. But still, everyone had hoped
Cunard was only building up the surprise. Henry Hall was proud to introduce a musical
piece which he had written specifically for the Queen Mary which he called “Somewhere at Sea”,
as the music played, it was broadcast on-air for the Western world to hear.
He would also keep the public updated with the progression of the voyage each day.
After two days the ship slowed as it entered a fog bank, prompting the journalists on board to
report that the ship would not be breaking the speed record. And as the Queen Mary passed the
spot where the Titanic sank, the crew tossed over a wreath of red roses in honor of those
who lost their lives on the ill-fated vessel. Just 100 miles from New York, three planes flew
over the ship as a salute, dropping a shower of carnations onto the decks in celebration, this
was only a taste of the grand welcome to come. And as she sailed up the Hudson River, the Queen
Mary was flanked by an armada of small vessels. Fireboats launched a spray of water into the air,
a decorative display fitting for the arrival of a Queen. The Mary was carefully maneuvered into her
new dock at Pier 90, a dock built specifically for her. And among the thousands of spectators
who crowded the waterfront was President Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister Bennett.
Though she was a British ship, she quickly became a household name to the Americans. Everyone around
the world saw the ship as a triumph over the harsh throes of the Great Depression. It seemed
building the Queen Mary would become a matter of impossibility, yet here she was, floating in a
dock thousands of miles from her home port. Today she lives out her retirement in the City of Long
Beach, CA. A ship that almost never was. Amid the grips of the worst economic downturn in Britain’s
history, she was hammered into existence by the hard-working Scotts of the River Clyde.
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