On this day in 1938

The Queen Elizabeth ocean liner was built at John Brown & Company’s Clydebank dockyard. She was launched and Christened on 27 September 1938 by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (wife of George VI and mother of Elizabeth II), and set off on her maiden voyage on 16 October 1946.

Her first sailing as an ocean liner had been delayed by several years by the outbreak of the Second World War, during which she was used as a troop ship. In early 1940, she was painted battleship grey and sent out to sea.

The government went to great lengths to cover up what her mission was, making false bookings in hotels around Southampton for her crew, and preparing a dock there to receive her. However, she sailed to New York, where she docked alongside the Queen Mary.

“Remarkable voyage”

On 9 March 1940, the Falkirk Herald revealed that “this remarkable voyage, made in secret and without passengers, became known after it had been revealed that the liner had left her fitting out basin at John Brown’s yard at Clydebank on February 26… Germany was utterly unaware that work had progressed to such a stage that she was able to make her first trip.”

The reason for her New York trip, as given to the media, wasn’t the full story. The Bradford Observer of 8 March 1940 told readers that “it was learned in London yesterday that the reason the Queen Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic was to make room for other ships. Every home birth is now needed for the ceaseless stream of shipping entering our ports despite Germany’s desperate efforts.”

After seven months in New York, she was back at sea, this time sailing to Singapore via South Africa, where she was fitted with anti-aircraft guns and, in 1942, she began the job of moving troops around the world.

Royal party

Despite having proved herself seaworthy during the war, the Queen Elizabeth still had to complete sea trials after peace had been signed before she could be certified for passenger use. These were performed off the Isle of Arran, with the Queen Mother, and princesses Margaret and Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) aboard.

The Queen Mother would return to Scotland exactly 14 years after launching the Queen Elizabeth to unveil the Commando Monument at Spean Bridge.

 

...and on this day in 1952

The Commando Monument outside Spean Bridge commemorates the elite force established during the Second World War. Depicting three soldiers looking out across what had been the troops’ training ground, from their base at Achnacarry, the memorial was designed by Scott Sutherland and constructed using bronze. The land on which it was erected was donated by a farmer.

Commandos in attendance

A hundred former Commandos travelled from Glasgow to attend the unveiling. Among them was Dundee man W Carruthers. The Dundee Courier of 26 September 1952 revealed that he had landed in North Africa as part of No 6 Commando. “Further down the coast they occupied forward German airstrips. On many occasions they had to filter back to their own positions through enemy lines. One party existed for seven days on a box of biscuits and a tin of meat.”

Beneath the motto “United We Conquer”, which is carved below the men’s feet, the memorial bears a plaque, which reads “In memory of the officers and men of the Commandos who died in the Second World War, 1939 – 1945. This was their training ground.”

 

...and on this day in 1958

Irvine Welsh was born in Edinburgh and found immediate success with the 1993 publication of his first novel, Trainspotting. Within three years it had been made into a film with Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle in lead roles.