Tag: 1909

HMS Minotaur 1909

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This card was sent by Annie Barber, who was staying in Southend-on-Sea,  to her husband George in 1909.

The message reads:

Dear George

We are now on the Pier waiting for the Lord Mayor coming along in the tram, the streets are too crowded for anything, the morning is grand. After you left we went up to the bandstand, found a nice seat, which nobody asked us to pay for, and saw the fireworks which were grand. Winnie is alright today. Annie

The Lord Mayor of London was visiting to see the fleet in July 1909.  There is a short film of the event which gives us a good idea of the event and how crowded Southend-on-Sea was, as Annie mentions. 

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/137 

An intriguing card from the “Grande Exposition”

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Barber 4 front008

This card was sent from “Aunty Mary” to Annie Barber in July 1909.  Annie was staying in Southend .

 

Barber 4 back009

The message reads

Dear Annie

So glad you are having fine weather. Kitty and I are going to see the Fleet on the Thames embankment today.

Love from Aunty Mary

Although the image on the card is interesting and needs more research, it is Aunty Mary’s comment about going to see the Fleet on the Thames which brings us to what must have been an amazing experience.

Wikimedia Commons provides the following information about this important occasion:

File:The Fleet's visit to London (21841679460).jpg
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“In the week from Saturday 17th July to Saturday 24th July 1909, ships from the Home and Atlantic Fleets were moored along the Thames from Westminster Bridge to the Nore Lightship in the estuary, some forty five miles. The larger ships, the Battleships and HMS Dreadnought were moored near Southend and the smaller ships further upstream.  It was the first time there had been a Naval Pageant of such magnitude on the Thames. The timing of the pageant was thought by some to be linked with the vote in the House of Commons due on the 22nd July about the question of whether to build further Dreadnought class Battleships, happily the vote was passed and Britain was ready for what was to come in the First World War.”

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