A couple of old queens seen in Sydney

Tony Smith · #1 05-02-07, 10:45

No, no, no! It's not what you might first think:

Quote:

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
FYI to my fine Aussie friends, I do hope that if there are any Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events on while I'm there, that we'll pass on them? ... I'd rather see a miltary parade or ride in a dukw or cmp or some such, G'day

Karmen

Rather, the two Cunard cruiseliners, the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 will be in Sydney together on Feb 20th.
We have looked at the subject of Troopships before, but not any of the big "Queens". The last time the two original Queens were in Sydney was 9th April 1941 in their guise of Troopships, carrying the AIF 9th Division to North Africa. The Queen Mary was 81,237-tons, and 311 metres long while the QM2 is a massive 151,400 tons and 375 metres long. The Queen Elizabeth was 83,763-tons and 314 metres long, while the QE2 (Incidentally named as the 2nd ship called Queen Elizabeth, NOT named after the current Queen) is 70,327 tons and 321 metres long. At 151,400 tons, the QM2 is the largest ship of any kind to ever sail in Australian waters. With both ships in Harbour at the same time, Al Gore predicts that water levels could rise by up to 6m while they're here!
This reminds of a joke about someone's Grandfather being "An old Bar Steward who worked for Cunard all his life", but for the life of me I can't remember the joke.

Picture: AWM pic 044567
Caption: SYDNEY, 1941-07. HMT QUEEN ELIZABETH (RT) AND HMT QUEEN MARY (LEFT) CROSSING PATHS AT THE ENTRANCE TO SYDNEY HEADS

David_Hayward (RIP) · #2 05-02-07, 13:14

We see them here (5 miles away) all the time obviously. The QM2 is now colloquially known as "the block of flats"! However we also see the similar and perhaps bigger ships as well.

There were also other ships with the QM name:

1. PS Queen Mary
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tramways/...EarlGodwin.htm

2. TS Queen Mary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TS_Queen_Mary [in London]

I suppose the John Brown-built ship got away with it as it was the RMS Queen Mary originally?

My late father-in-law was on the HM QMT to Canada when he was sent over under the Empire scheme.

#3 05-02-07, 13:54

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
No, no, no! It's not what you might first think:

Rather, the two Cunard cruiseliners, the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2

Good Morning (from here) to you too, Master Tim Tam Tony

Back to my

until I'm more awake ...

Ma Kartmann

Tony Smith · #4 10-03-07, 15:12

(There are reasons why I regret the original title of this thread, but I won't go into that!)

A then and now pic from the same spot as the WW2 pic of HMT QM and HMT QE:

Tony Smith · #5 10-03-07, 15:18

There were harsh regulations in place during the war regarding the photographing of and Military or Naval subject, yet with typical Aussie disregard for authority, many private photographers flourished. However, judging from the site of the pic (on Defence land), the photographer was either a serviceman or an official with clearance of some kind. The arrival of any shipping convoy was strictly "Hush hush", but thousands lined the harbour to greet the ships and farewell the troops.
This is Gun Position No 1 of Hornby Battery on Sydney's South Head. It was completed in 1939 and was equipped with a 6inch Breech loading Mk 7 Gun.

Tony Smith · #6 10-03-07, 15:33

Hornby Battery was itself built on the site of an earlier (1876) battery of two 9inch Rifled Muzzle Loading Whitworth guns. While the WW2 Hornby Battery was made of austerity cast concrete, the 1876 battery is formed from stone blocks. Unfortunately, much of the stonework was "defaced" by the 1939 works, such as this Searchlight platform mounted in one of the 9inch positions:

Tony Smith · #7 10-03-07, 15:37

Old VR must have had some money to spend, as the workmanship is fantastic. Luckily, this mongraph has not been obliterated by the concrete searchlight base:

Tony Smith · #8 10-03-07, 15:43

When the 1939 emplacements were constructed, the 9inch guns were removed. There were a total of six guns here and at Middle Head. One was removed to Victoria Barracks, Paddington, and this one was relocated to face the Inner Harbour. The fate of the other four are not known, presumed scrapped.

Tony Smith · #9 10-03-07, 15:48

This would hardly have been considered a hardship posting for an Artilleryman, eh?

Richard Farrant · #10 11-03-07, 22:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
(There are reasons why I regret the original title of this thread, but I won't go into that!)

A then and now pic from the same spot as the WW2 pic of HMT QM and HMT QE:

The MLU sticker................is that the modern equivalent of "Kilroy waz 'ere"?

#11 11-03-07, 23:07

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony Smith
(There are reasons why I regret the original title of this thread, but I won't go into that!)

Ma Yappy

David_Hayward (RIP) · #12 11-03-07, 23:35

Speak for yourself Ducky!

Bruce Gilbert · #13 14-03-07, 04:06

Tony

Hmmmmmm ... Perchance were you taking these Sydney South Head piccies on the afternoon of Friday 9th March ?

If so, I may happen to have a piccie of you taking a piccie of the old gun facing the inner harbour.

BG

Tony Smith · #14 14-03-07, 11:34

Close, but no cigar. I woz there Sat 10th Mar, but I was eating Fish and Chips at Doyle's Fri evening!

Tony Smith · #15 14-03-07, 11:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard Farrant
The MLU sticker................is that the modern equivalent of "Kilroy waz 'ere"?

Maybe it ought to be. We should submit pics of the far flung places around the world that MLU exerts influence, or was even just passing thru.

Bruce Gilbert · #16 14-03-07, 23:51

Bad luck I say! ..... Why?, Tony might ask.

Because whoever was taking the piccies that I referred to, dropped a couple of $50 notes as he walked away.

Now, Tony, if that piccie-taker had been you, I could have returned that money to you. Well, bad luck !

And yes, we went to the Watson's Bay pub as well, where I could have spent the lost money, but didn't.

BG.