QUEEN ELIZABETH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 99, 24 October 1938, Page 10

QUEEN ELIZABETH

MOVED TOO SOON

A GENERAL SURPRISE

NAMED JUST IN TIME

I (By Air Mai), from "The Post's" London Representative.) 1 LONDON, September 29, The Queen Elizabeth did her best to launch herself before she had been named. The tens of thousands present experienced a shock of surprise when, quite without warning, the great vessel began to roar down the slips. No naming ceremony had been .-heard," nor had the bottle of benedictory champagne bel;n broken against the bows.

"Waiting for the tide to' get to the full," said an expert. Suddenly there was a noise and the lofty timbers on which the Queen Elizabeth's bows rested began to groan and shake. Someone shouted "She's off!" Hundreds of startled faces turned towards the ship.

Indeed she was "off"—fairly started on her journey now. Timbers crasriing and slipways' screaming and tens of thousands of spectators cheering in the yard and on the jetty below.

"But she hasn't been named," people said, '"and look—the bottle of champagne hasn't been broken!" "SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY." At that instant the Queen cut. n. string and the bottle of "good luck" swung clear from a mast near by and shattered against the bow'n steel plates —just in time. It was a most stirring .moment. ,

Lord Aberconway, chairman oJ: Messrs.- John Brown and Company, asked why. the ship had moved before she was expected to do, replied: "Well, it is something of a mystery. I did not hear the Qreen name the ship, and when I saw the vessel on the move I asked her Majesty whether she had done so. 'Oh, yes,' she said, 'I have already named it.' Apparently, by some mischance, the microphone went out of action at that moment, and so. the Queen's voice naming the ship remained inaudible even to those near her.

"What actually happened was that the ship began to go and the Queen touched the launching button when she saw her moving. It has been suggested that someone else touched the button by mistake prematurely, but Ido not think that is so. It is, perhaps, a little mysterious." Mr. Piggott said: "The launch took place on schedule. The ship was moving under her own weight when the Queen pressed the button, but that sometimes happens." The words which the Queen used when she cut the cord releasing ths bottle of wine and named the ship were: "I hope that good fortune may ever attend this great ship and all who sail in her. lam very happy to launcii her and to name her Queen Elizabeth.' CROWD OF 30,000. Clydeside provided a typical grey, rather raw, day for the launch. Among the 30,000 people who were in the yard were 8000 of John Brown's workmen who had been given a holiday with' pay and free tickets to the ceremony. Workmen were perched high_ up on the cranes and derricks alongside the vessel. .

The Queen and the Princesses received a tremendous ovation on their arrival. As they walked across the yard wave on. wave of cheering went up The climax came when the Royal party reached the top of the ramp leading to the launching platform. When as they paused in full view of the sea of people on the port side ot the ship, "God Save the King" was played, the vast crowd took. up tha anthem as one man and sang it wi-fl great emphasis and feeling. Then, at the end, the cheers broke out again. The Queen delighted a party of workmen who were looking down on the scene from the deck of the ship 185 ft above. She looked up and gave them a special wave. They waved their caps in reply and cheered. Then the Queen and the Princesses walked to the blue-and-gold decorated dais~orr the launching platform. The Queen looked up at the knife-edged bows within a few feet of her and said something to Princess Elizabeth. After Sir Percy Bates had given his address of welcome the Queen said: "I thank you for the kind words ot your address. "The King has asked me to assuie you of the deep regret he feels at finding himself compelled •at the last nwment to cancel his journey to ClydesYdefor the launching of the new ""This ceremony, to which many thousands have looked forward so easerly must how take place in cu>. cumstancX far different from those for which they had hoped." SCOTLAND'S DOORWAY. j The Queen then gave , the King's message to his people, and continued: "The very sight of this great ship brings home to us how essential it is for the welfare of man that the arts of peaceful industry should continue— arts in the promotion of which Scotland has long held a leading place. "The City of Glasgow has been for Scotland the principal doorway opening upon the world. The narrow waters of the Clyde have been the cradle of a large part of Britain's mercantile marine. So it is right that from here should come our foremost achievement in that connection —the greatest of the ships that ply to and from across the Atlantic, like shuttles in a mightly loom, weaving a fabric of friendship and understanding between the people of Britain and the people of the United States. "It is altogether fitting that the noblest vessel ever built in Britain, and built with the help of her Government and people, should- be dedicated to this service. lam happy to think that our two nations are today more closely linked than ever before by a common tradition of freedom and a common faith.

"While thoughts like there are passing through our minds, we do not forget the men who have brought this great ship into being. For them she must ever be a source of pride and credit—and, let me add, affection. I congratulate them warmly on the fruits of their labours.

"The launching of a ship is like the inception of all great human enterprises, an act of faith. We cannot foretell the future, but in preparing for it we show our trust in a Divine Providence and in ourselves. We proclaim our belief that by the Grace of God and by man's patience and good will, order may yet be brought out of confusion and peace out of turmoil.

"With that hope and prayer in our hearts we send forth upon her mission this noble ship."

The speech was delivered in a clear voice in which there was no suggestion of nervousness. When she gave the message from the King "that they be of good cheer," an electric'response rang through the crowd. Many women were visibly affected.

After her Majesty's speech there came the wait for the tide to reach the full for the actual launch. During this pause the Princesses inspected a 20ft model of the Queen Elizabeth and saw