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Cunard's greatest achievements included Lusitania and Mauretania, the largest and fastest ships the world had ever seen at the turn of the 20th century.
The White Star Line built the Olympic Class Line; the first was Olympic, the second, Titanic and the third Gigantic, (renamed Britannic so as no reference to size was made in the wake of the Titanic disaster).
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RMS Lusitania launched at the River Clyde in June 1906, the Lusitania was the largest liner afloat. As the British government financed her construction, the Admiralty could requisition her, the Mauretania or the Auqitania for war duties.
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Torpedoed off Southern Ireland on 7 May 1915, R.M.S. Lusitania sank in 350ft of water in less than 15 minutes with the loss of 1,198 civilians. Although claims were made that she was not carrying any war stores, it is alleged that she was in fact heavily armed. |
Many artefacts are on display including photographs of the Lusitania, her quarters, crockery, perfume bottles, medals, gold pocket watches and posters relating to her demise.
It is widely believed that the British forces wanted the ship sunk to ensure America joined the Allied forces against Germany and although America never actually declared war on Germany until 1917, it is highly likely that the sinking of the Lusitania was probably the root cause of the USA joining the war on the Allied side. |
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RMS Titanic - This 'floating palace' was built with the intention of being more of a hotel than an ocean liner and succeeded in becoming one of the most lavishly appointed ships ever to be built. It took over 11,000 workers at Harland and Wolff Shipyard 26 months to build, she was said to be unsinkable and had a speed of 21 knots. |
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In 1912, after colliding with a massive iceberg, R.M.S. Titanic began her final passage to the bottom of the ocean with the loss of over 1500 lives.
Our exhibition gives an insight into one of history's grandest liners. CTP Richard Hook BEM of Titanic Research, Portsmouth, has said that this is an excellent display and worth visiting. |
New display for 2005
The 'Heart of the Ocean' Necklace
as worn by Kate Winslet in the film Titanic.
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A Cornish Connection - One of the lives lost on this fateful voyage was that of a young Cornishman by the name of Frederick James Banfield. Born in Helston in 1884, he worked as a mining engineer in the Cornish tin mines. After marrying, he emigrated to the USA to work as an engineer in the gold and silver mines, leaving his wife, Cecilia, living with his mother. In 1911, he returned for a holiday and was due to join his brother in Michigan to work. His wife was to follow later. He boarded Titanic in Southampton and his body was never found. There is a memorial at the family grave in Helston. |
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© Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre 2008
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