Saturday 13 September 2014

Classic ships

As part of the Thames Festival this month Classic boats were moored in St Katherine's Dock this weekend.










As you can see it was very colourful with all the flags  flying.


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Not quite sure where they are going but in the background you can see the Queen's Rowboat - The Gloriana.













This is the Portwey Steam Tug- the last coal fired twin screw steam tug in the UK





Some of the Dunkirk Little Ships were also there.



 This is a Motor Torpedo Boat and was involved in 'Operation Dynamo', the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force and Allies from Dunkirk in 1940. She crossed the Channel 8 times. The following year she carried Sir Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower to review the ships assembled on the South Coast for the D Day landings. It is believed that this is the only surviving warship that was present at Dunkirk and  D DAY











This is Wanda another of the Dunkirk Little Ships.She was used to ferry troops off the beaches of Dunkirk on the 1st June 1940 for 'Operation Dynamo' in WW2.





The Elvin
This very small boat also helped to evacuate troops off the Dunkirk beaches. On 31st May 1940 she  was sent back as she was too small. She returned and was advised once again not to go but she went anyway and was one of the last of the small boats to leave Dunkirk on 3rd June 1940.



The Dickens Inn overlooking St Katherine's Dock.

12 comments:

  1. Bunting often looks cheap and nasty but it is well used here and makes everything look very festive. I like the look of The Dickens Inn.

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  2. What a fun time for you with so many different and beautiful ships and boats ~ Great shots!

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  3. Fascinating bits of history that still exist. Wonderful! :-)

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  4. Love all the ships with their colorful flags.

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  5. The Dickens I remember..... Must be 25 years ago!!! Wow.
    I love the images of the boats. Really nice!

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  6. Looks like you had a great time - they're so colorful and picturesque! Thanks for sharing :)

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  7. I went to the Regatta the day before the Dunkirk boats stole the show along the Thames with the Royal Barge. Next time I'm staying for the whole duration! Thank you for sharing your photos so I could continue my trip xx

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  8. The Queen's rowboat? Hahaha. Interesting info you found out about the torpedo boat. I couldn't get over how small it was to be out there in the big old sea.

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  9. What wonderful history presented beautifully; the boats are wonderful. I was curious about the Queen's Rowboat as well (I got some rather interesting mental pictures...)?

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  10. What wonderful history presented beautifully; the boats are terrific. I was curious about the Queen's Rowboat as well (I got some rather interesting mental pictures...)?

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