During the roaring twenties, with prohibition in the United States, the Transatlantic trade expanded rapidly. Cunard with Mauritania and the Clyde built Aquitania, were experiencing severe competition from White-Star, the French Compagnie Générale Transatlantique and German Norddeutscher Lloyd. The advent of the Bremen in 1929 demanded a response and while the French line laid down Normandie, and White-Star planned a new vessel, to be named Oceanic, Cunard planned to have its own vessel built on the Clyde.

Yard number 534

The steamship with yard number 534 was laid down in John Brown’s yard in December 1930. Good progress was made with the construction of the hull but the project fell victim to the depression that followed the Wall Street crash. Work was suspended late in 1931 as the Cunard Company could not raise the capital to complete the ship. The partially completed hull lay rusting in the Clydebank yard for three years before the Government intervened to provide a loan to Cunard to finish the ship. Part of the loan package was that Cunard would also take over the ailing White-Star Company, forming Cunard-White Star. Financing was also included for a second, subsequent steamship of dimensions similar to 534.

The rusting hulk of 534 on the Clyde that according to local M.P. David Kirkwood shouted “failure! failure! to the whole of Britain.”

Work restarted at the end of May, 1934. The ship was over 1000 ft in length and 80,000 tons gross and was powered by four quadruple expansion, reduced geared turbines that developed 50,000 horsepower.

Getting hull 534 ready for the launch.

The ship’s name was kept a well-kept secret until her launch by Her Majesty, Queen Mary on a dreich, wet and windy Wednesday 26^th September, 1934.

“I am happy to name this ship Queen Mary. I wish success to her and all who sail in her.”

The Queen Mary was christened with a bottle of Australian wine and was pushed gently, down the ways, gathering momentum into the mouth of the River Cart and dragging her 2,350 tons of drag chains after her.

There was great national interest in the launch and the renowned Southport nautical photographer, Feilden, brought a team north to record the event. These photographs were issued in a series of postcards.

The Clyde river steamer Kylemore is captured sailing by on the day of the launch. (Feilden)

The giant superliner Queen Mary takes to the water for the first time. (Feilden)

The ways for her building berth at Clydebank pointed directly into the mouth of the River Cart to allow the massive ship to be launched across the river. Queen Mary created a wave that swamped the hundreds of onlookers who packed the low-lying riverbank on the Renfrewshire side. Once safely in the water, it was the responsibility of the tugs to bring her round to the fitting-out basin.

 (Feilden)

In addition to the Clyde Shipping Co. tugs, the maneuvering was assisted by the Anchor Line tug and tender, Paladin, and the Alexander Towing Co., Romsey, normally based at Southampton where she handled ocean liners on a daily basis.

Tugs wrestle to bring Queen Mary under control. (Feilden)

Clyde Shipping Co tug, Flying Falcon with Romsey. (Feilden)

The Alexander Towing Co. of Southampton tug-tender Romsey was brought in to assist the Clyde Shipping Co. tugs with the task of manoevering the liner into the specially lengthened fitting-out basin.

Moving to John Brown’s basin from the mouth of the Cart. (Valentine)

One of the first tasks was placing the name and port of registration on the stern of the ship.

The name, Queen Mary, goes on the superliner.

After installation of the turbines and boilers, the funnels are added.

Two funnels added.

Adding the hull color.

Once the fitting out was completed, the Clyde was deepened to allow the 80,773 ton liner to move down the river.

A dredger at work in John Brown’s basin.

Lifeboats were added and later removed to lighten the vessel for the downriver trip.

All the lifeboats in place.

On March 24, 1936, the Queen Mary was ready to leave the place of her birth and make her journey down the river.

An early morning view.

Ready to move. (Tuck)

Queen Mary on her way in the river.

Queen Mary moved slowly down the upper river. The Dalmuir bend was particularly trick and she briefly grounded but the tugs were able to free her. A prolonged grounding would have meant disaster as the needed the high tide to complete her journey.

A tricky moment at Dalmuir bend.

The tugs struggle to free Queen Mary from the mud.

The Queen Mary took 5 hours to cover the 14 miles to the deeper water at the Tail of the Bank.

Crowds look on as Queen Mary passes the Erskine shore.

Another from Erskine.

The convoy makes progress off Langbank

Off Greenock

Off Princes Pier Greenock

The prestigious shipping photographers Sankey from Barrow and Feilden from Southport joined the local photographer, Robertson to record the momentous occasion.

Small boats sail out to greet the Queen off Greenock. (Sankey)

Crowds on the shore at Greenock. (Sankey)

Coming down the river off Greenock. (Feilden)

Passing Greenock. (Feilden)

With Romsey at the Tail of the Bank. (Feilden)

With Paladin at the Tail of the Bank. (Feilden)

At Tail of the Bank. (Robertson)

Once the Queen Mary was anchored off the Tail of the Bank, her lifeboats were brought out and reinstalled in their davits. The were all motorized and built by Messrs Hugh McLean and Sons, Ltd., of Govan.

Bringing out the lifeboats.

Workforce of Hugh McLean & Sons, Govan in 1928

Popular trips were arranged by the Clyde pleasure steamers to circle the new wonder of Clydeside.

Duchess of Montrose and Duchess of Hamilton join Queen Empress circling the Queen Mary while Dalriada and Duchess of Argyll are at Gourock Pier.

Marion and Duchess of Montrose decked with flags visit the Queen Mary

A bow view

Dalriada and a paddle steamer circling the Queen Mary.

The Southport photographer, Feilden, photographed a number of Clyde steamers at this time that were issued in a series of postcards.

Atalanta at the end of he Clyde career. (Feilden)

Dalriada of the Campbeltown Company. (Feilden)

Duchess of Argyll. (Feilden)

Duchess of Hamilton. (Feilden)

Duchess of Rothesay of 1895. (Feilden)

The veteran Lucy Ashton sailing for L.N.E.R. (Feilden)

Marchioness of Lorne built the previous year. (Feilden)

Queen Mary carried out some of her trials on the Clyde then left for Southampton, her home port. She captured the Blue Riband for the fastest Transatlantic crossing with an average speed of 30.14 knots.

Queen Mary on trials

Queen Mary enjoyed a few years of success before World War II began when she was converted for trooping duties, ferrying troops from Canada, Australia and New Zealand before the United States entered the war. After 1942 she carried United States troops across the Atlantic, generally with a small cruiser escort, employing her high speed to avoid U-boats and other hazards.

During the war, she returned to her native river and the final selection shows her complete with degaussing coil equipment on visits to the Clyde with troops from the United States.

Queen Mary off Greenock at the end of World War II

At the Tail of the Bank

At the Tail of the Bank