Bexhill Club of Past Rotarians - May 23

In the early days of transatlantic sea crossings this could occasionally be a significant matter. From time to time a shipboard romance during a journey of three to four months has led to the lady becoming pregnant. On an American ship she and her consort could become man and wife before they got to the other side: not so for the couple aboard a British vessel.

However, this was only one of the interesting items conveyed by our speaker, Mr. Bernard Hamilton-Crisp in his talk on the history of the Cunard Line. The growth of transatlantic sea crossings and the Cunard Line seem to have run parallel with the growth as a world power of Great Britain. Cunard ships and others played a significant part in both war and peace, going back to the Crimean War. In the First World War they carried one and a half million troops and 22 ships were lost.

The two Queens carried 15 million troops during the Second World War and Churchill said that their huge capacity as troop carriers shortened the war. Cunard was still on call for its country when Argentina invaded the Falklands and Maggie arranged for the invaders to be removed. The Canberra and other ships were requisitioned.

Even the QE2 was stripped, equipped with helicopter decks and troop dormitories installed. Inevitably, the role and dominance of ocean going passenger liners changed after WW2. In 1959 the Boeing 707 began the process of erosion and flying eventually supplanted sea travel as the main way of getting between countries and continents. Luxury liners then switched to holiday cruises. After serving as a naval officer during WW2, Bernard spent 43 years with Cunard, reaching the highest management levels - truly a satisfying and influential career.