As Europe descended into death and
destruction once more 100 years ago this month
We take a very quick snapshot back in time when there were
three main shipyards all situated next to each other facing into what is now
known as the western harbour at Leith Docks.
From West to East we had the smallest of the three shipyards
namely the yard of
J. Cran & Co
was engaged in the building primarily of Steam Fishing Trawlers and Tugs and
they were about to launch the Steam Fishing Trawler ANWORTH while building was going on of a Tug called the VIGOREAUX
The next shipyard in line was the shipyard of Hawthorns & Co who had taken over
the old shipyard of S &H Morton
two years before.
Hawthorns had a couple of small Cargo Vessels on the stocks
at the outbreak of WWI
The shipyard had an order book of Steam Fishing Trawlers to
be built as well.
While last but by no means least the Leith Shipyard of Ramage & Ferguson Ltd Shipbuilders
had just launched three large steam passenger/cargo ships with the last one
launched in the December of 1914 was named as
CHAKDINA the second ship of
an order by the BI Line and a ship that would survive WWI only to be involved
in tragedy during the Second World War when sinking during an attack in the
Mediterranean while full of wounded New Zealand and Allied Soldiers who had
been fighting in the fearsome battle for Tobruk.
The shipyards would soon be involved in the repair of many
battle scarred vessels from fighting around the British Isles
and further a-field if the ship could be brought into Leith
at all they could repair her.
Interestingly enough no warships were built at the Leith
Shipyards during World War One although many Landing Craft were, unlike the
part played by the Leith Shipyard of Henry Robb (the shipyard that over time
took over the three shipyards mentioned)
during the Second World War.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/ww1-centenary
The 4th of August 2014 marks the
100th anniversary of the day Britain entered one of the costliest conflicts in
history – the First World War – with fighting continuing until the 11th of
November 1918, Armistice Day.
The Royal British Legion was founded
by British veterans in the aftermath of the First World War and is at the forefront
of Centenary commemorations. As we come together in Remembrance of events a
century ago, we are reminded of the important welfare work the Legion continues
to provide today and will need to provide in the future.
For more on the commemorations of this
terrible conflict please visit the British Legion website above.
The Centenary of the
First World War
The 4th of August 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the day
Britain entered one of the costliest conflicts
in its history, the First World War, which ended on Armistice Day, 11th
November 1918.
Almost everyone in the UK has an ancestor directly affected by
the First World War. The losses were felt across every UK town and village as the lives of
nearly one million lives men and women were sacrificed in service of the British Empire.
The Royal
British Legion will be joining in the commemoration of all those who served and
sacrificed from British, Dominion and Imperial forces from countries including
the UK, Republic of Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South
Africa.
