HMS Queen Elizabeth 1913-1948

[Collette]

My Grandfather served on the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

I am interested about finding out more about the sinking and salvaging of the ship in 1941. Alexandra Harbour - Egypt.

I believe he was "mentioned in despatches" - London Gazette 15 Dec 1941

If anyone has information relating to the above I would much appreciate it.

Collette

[Collette]

Good afternoon,

I am trying to find more information about my Grandfather
Corpl. PL Topliss whom was involved in the salvaging of the Queen Elizabeth after she was sunk at Alexandra Harbour in 1941.

Any feedback would really be apprecaited.

[tim lewin]

Dear Collette, this is a quite well known story and I think was even depicted in a John Mills film? Italian charioteers penetrated Alexandria harbour in an extremely brave raid and applied charges to the bottoms of the QE2 and another ship of the same class whose name I forget but sure someone else will remember. the charges went off and both ships settled gently on the bottom of the harbour not many feet below. The captains ordered all life to go ahead as normal the next morning so that when the Italian recon aricraft came over, no doubt wondering why the AA was so amiss, and took pictures they beleived their daring raid to have been a failure as there were the ships, flags flying, crew running about, smoke from funnels etc. Infact both were severely damaged and took months to repair but by their ruse de guerre, no one knew. If you want more detail I can look it up for you.
Best
tim lewin

[kc]

The other ship damaged was HMS Valiant:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/valiant.htm

Also, here is the Queen Elizabeth page for reference:

http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_queen_elizabeth.htm

[dampflok48]

hi collette . my late father also served on H.M.S. QUEEN ELIZABETH but it was after she was damaged in alexandria. he served on her from 02-01-1942 till 31-01-1943 , and was with her when she went to the dockyared for permament repair in norfolk virginia usa.

please check out this website as it gives a concise history of her , this is the website www. naval-history.net . hope that you will able to find your info here .i printed out the history and its eleven pages so beware should you consider printing the history.

wish you luck with your research .

best wishes

malcolm towers ( dampflok48 )

[HMS Bergamot]

A little bit more info. They actually painted false waterlines on the bottomed battleships so that it looked like they were lying peacefully at anchor, and not sunk, as they actually were. These false waterlines were several feet above the real ones, which were, of course, entirely submerged.

Regards!

[Jan]

My father Harry Chirgwin served on the Queen Elizabeth in WW2 1942/43. He is now 87 and would love to make contact with any possible survivors.* His mates were Tom/Neil/Smithy/Mac/Aggis and Bob. Dad was a radar operator.

[JIM BAUMANN]

hello gentlemen

I am plotting to build a model of HMS Queen Elizabeth as in 1943 in 1/350 scale

I intend using the resin cast kit by ISW as a jumping off point.
The hull appears dimensionally correct- quiet of the parts are usable--the remainder will be modified, replaced with better or scratchbuilt.

I have a number of interesting images- some well known and published--others from private collections..--alas mainly '41.

I am in need images post 43 refit-- I assume the US yard- as usual- would have photographed every nook and cranny--any ideas where some of these images may be located online?

I have a set of NMM plans-as fitted '41- with '43 updates in colour on rigging plan.

I have previously built a model of this ship in 1/700 scale--as in early '20's

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/hms/queen-elizebeth/700-wem-jb/jb-review.html

I can be reached at...

jbys1@tiscali.co.uk

....thank you very much for reading--and hopefully assisting!

My models can be seen here:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/users/jim-baumann/jb-index.html

Cheers

Jim Baumann

[astraltrader]

Jim I will look and see what pictures I have. Why not post some of your better 1941 examples?

[Dick]

Jim,

Here are three...I hope others will post less well-known ones.

[JIM BAUMANN]

Thank you!

I shall resize an unpublished view I have...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile-- I have another quandry--HMS QE 42 deck colours....

some chaps reckon painted-- others disagree-- some have not ventured an opinion yet...
Have you thoughts on this...?

see thread link here:--towards bottom of page
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4719&start=150


Jim Baumann in cold and stormy Sarisbury Green UK !!

[JIM BAUMANN]

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK....

Lest see...

[Derek Dicker]

Hello Jim.

Not sure if this is of any use, dated 1945

[JIM BAUMANN]

Thank you-- all images help!

Keep 'em coming--epecially intrigued with the deck ....

- paint or bare wood post' 43...

Cheers

JIM B

[JIM BAUMANN]

Thank you to all the members who have been so kind as to send me candid on-board shots onboard the ship - some really helpful details have emerged--which will assist me greatly in making the model of the ship that bit better!

Much appreciated--I will post some images of teh completed model here also when it completes!

Jim Baumann

[TCC]

I thought I had one for you then but it's from 41, it's of NEPTUNE in the distance seen from QEs quarterdeck. All you can see of the QE is the planked deck and the stanctions and rails and some officers standing around. There's a bit of a 3"or 4" gun extreme left.

I can copy it to you if needed?

[JIM BAUMANN]

Thank you yes please--I would love to see that photo.

EVERY minute detail is of help here!

You can mail me a jbys1@tiscali.co.uk

Thanks a lot

Jim Baumann- Southampton UK

[mark@nye.ca]

My Dad, Jack Nye served on the Battleship QE from 42 to 45 as a stoker. He is alive and well at 85 in Toronto and now regularly enjoys trans-atlantic sailing in his 29ft Alburg. Looking for shipmates.

Call him during regular business hours 905 897 2311

Mark Nye - mark@nye.ca

[mark@nye.ca]

My Dad, Jack Nye has a very nice model of the QE in his office.
He served on the Battleship QE from 42 to 45 as a stoker. He is alive and well at 85 in Toronto and now regularly enjoys trans-atlantic sailing in his 29ft Alburg. Looking for shipmates.

Call him during regular business hours 905 897 2311

Mark Nye - mark@nye.ca

[JIM BAUMANN]

Thank you so much for answering!

Indeed that looks a nice model.

meantimes-- another fine 1943 HMS QE has been found

Roger Antrobus built this beauty!

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/hms/qe-128-ra/ra-index.html

Cheers

Jim Baumann

[astraltrader]

Welcome to the forum Mark.

I hope your father does manage to find what he is looking for although there is no need to post the same request four times!!

Anyway I have combined them into this one thread.

Best of luck with the search! :)

[wootton]

Any Information Of Walter {jonny} Riley, Who Served On Hms Queen Elizabeth Untill 1948 In Portsmouth. Was Good Friend Of Randolf Turpin, The Boxer. Any Information Appreciated. John.

[astraltrader]

Just to illustrate this thread a great picture of the Queen Elizabeth before and after her reconstruction.

[Dave Hutson]

Looking at the before and after Terry that must have been one hell of a refit, and I would hazard a tot it didn't take as long or cost as much as it would today - and that it is in comparable terms.

Great pictures of a great ship.

Dave H

[astraltrader]

Thanks Dave I am unsure of the costs involve but the huge refit she received spanned from 1937 to the very beginning of 1941.

[tone]

I received an inquiry from a project manager for the new aircraft carrier under construction regarding the previous namesake, QE from the WW1 period.

I believe he is trying to collect some items to be used in display areas of the new vessel to unite the past to the present. Therefore, your good answers will help people stay connected.

You can email me in, or post answers in reply. I am tone via my domain, dreadnoughtproject.org


Are there any pictures of HMS Queen Elizabeth in drydock in Rosyth?

Are there any pictures of HMS Queen Elizabeth alongside in Rosyth?

What happended to the table used by Beatty for the surrender of the High Seas Fleet?

The ship was scrapped at Dalmuir, Scotland - what is left of her around the World to see?

I was told the steam evaporators on the Royal Yacht were taken from HMS Queen Elizabeth - is this true?

The Trophy Store has only limited HMS Queen Elizabeth silverware - there must be more elsewhere?

[qprdave]

Launching of HMS Queen Elizabeth

Published in The Times on 17th October 1913

[astraltrader]

A good launching picture of Queen Elizabeth with post completion shot.

[chris westwood]

A good launching picture of Queen Elizabeth with post completion shot.
beautiful photographs of a beautiful class of ships
a classic design in every way.

[culverin]

ABSOLUTELY and UNQUESTIONABLY
The finest Battleships of any Nation Anywhere, totally unsurpassed, groundbreaking, visionary, capable, versatile and long lived.
Nothing even comes remotely close and finally illustrates the Royal Navies foresight and outstanding engineering excellence which other countries could only marvel at.
A WARSHIP DESIGN AT THE ZENITH.
It is as simple as that.

[emason]

A nice shot of HMS Queen Elizabeth, if not very good quality.

87279

[stontamar]

I received an inquiry from a project manager for the new aircraft carrier under construction regarding the previous namesake, QE from the WW1 period.

I believe he is trying to collect some items to be used in display areas of the new vessel to unite the past to the present. Therefore, your good answers will help people stay connected.

You can email me in, or post answers in reply. I am tone via my domain, dreadnoughtproject.org

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's ships bell is displayed in the Baltic Exchange, perhaps they can be persuaded to loan the bell to the new ship for a couple of years!!

Regards

stontamar

[GaryH]

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's ships bell is displayed in the Baltic Exchange, perhaps they can be persuaded to loan the bell to the new ship for a couple of years!!

No chance, knowing our government they'll take it straight off and sell it to the nearest scrapyard :D

[stontamar]

ABSOLUTELY and UNQUESTIONABLY
The finest Battleships of any Nation Anywhere, totally unsurpassed, groundbreaking, visionary, capable, versatile and long lived.
Nothing even comes remotely close and finally illustrates the Royal Navies foresight and outstanding engineering excellence which other countries could only marvel at.
A WARSHIP DESIGN AT THE ZENITH.
It is as simple as that.

The QUEEN ELIZABETH Class were certainly all that culverin says they were however my dad served in HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH as a stoker from 22 December 1943 to 7 October 1946 and he had a completely different view of her attributes, particularly regarding the unsuitability of the ship to operate for prolonged periods in the tropics.

Regards

stontamar

[astraltrader]

Yes but by then she was an old ship and warship design especially regarding overall living conditions for the crew had moved on considerably since she was conceived....

[torpedoes-running]

I received an inquiry from a project manager for the new aircraft carrier under construction regarding the previous namesake, QE from the WW1 period.

I believe he is trying to collect some items to be used in display areas of the new vessel to unite the past to the present. Therefore, your good answers will help people stay connected.

You can email me in, or post answers in reply. I am tone via my domain, dreadnoughtproject.org

I have a main armament tompion from one of her 15 inch guns (17in in diameter - fitted over the end of the muzzle), be happy to lend it for a period.

Regards

Freddy

[john R Haynes]

Jim ,
I built the model of the 1930 Q/E that sits in the Science Museum , scale 1/128.
If you need at some time any 1/192 DIDO funnels let me know.[www.johnrhaynes .com ]

[TCC]

last time I saw a tompion like that, Beatty was standing under it. (if it's not rude to ask, what's that bit of naval heritage go for? ballpark?)

On many images of the QE class during WW2, they seem to have a bow-down attitude when underway. Is this the sea pressure on the bulges?

[Alwyn]

[B][/B

My father, Harry Alwyn Wragg, served on this ship during WW2, and was a leading seaman in the stores.

He accompanied the vessel to Norfolk Va. where I believe he served for a time with the US Navy whilst it was refitted. Is this likely? He certainly had a good repertoire of US Navy songs.

He then visited Trincamalee and Columbo before the ship embarked on the bombardment of Japanese bases in Indonesia, again I think with the Americans. I believe that QE was the flagship of this fleet and was to be one of the vessels in the new UK Pacific fleet. Did this venture ever get off the ground? (Amongst his medals there is a little silver bar with the word 'Pacific' engraved on it.)

Can anyone give me any more information about the ship and it's crew at that
time?

[Dreadnought]

Hi Alwyn,

Merged your thread with existing one on this fine ship.

Just to remind members to please use the search facility before starting a new thread, and wherever possible use any existing threads found. This avoids duplication and keeps all information together; this helps future researchers.

Guidance and tips for using the search facility can be found here:

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7499

Cheers

[Alwyn]

Hi Clive

Thanks for your message. I wondered where it had gone to - was beginning to think that Dad had a mysterious secret that he was keeping, but then thought 'No - he was a storeman.' I'll get used to how the forum works, hopefully.

It's great to see that so many of the crew of that time are still alive and well and I send them all my best wishes.

[ludsie]

Great thread guys nd such a great subject these battleships did live such interesting lives. One could write a book about each one quite easily