Casting Off
/My final post in this series is a thank you, as there is so much more that I wish to cover in so little time and space on this subject.
Thank you to the workers of shipyards all over the world who laboured intensively, sacrificing everything to build the great liners of the world. Many died, many lost limbs, and many hours were worked by all of them. Thank you to the stewards and stewardesses, pursers, waiters, maids, captains and countless other members of the crew of the great liners for striving to provide exquisite service and safe passage.
Thank you to the world media for documenting the furious game of one-upmanship and fuelling the propaganda machine that kept these great ships afloat and alive for so long. Thank you to those who gave their lives to save others or committed selfless acts during the many tragic sinkings and calamities at sea. Thank you to the millions of soldiers who endured scorching heat and bitter cold as they were ferried across oceans in converted liners – often on routes not intended for their design. I still remember hearing stories of soldiers sleeping on the foredeck of the RMS Aquitania at night due to the heat.
Thank you to John Maxtone-Graham, William H. Miller, Bob Ballard, Ken Marschall, J. Kent Layton, and countless other ocean liner historians who researched, documented, and archived all sorts of detailed information on the subject, keeping the legacy of the liners alive.
Finally, thank you for following me on this retrospective journey through the annals of time. May you learn the importance and power that history holds.
I have learned so much from my time studying the great floating palaces of the North Atlantic. I learned how to respect and honour innocent, incorruptible beauty and art, and appreciate the hard work of our forefathers. I learned the hallmarks of naval architecture and history, and discovered the secrets buried beneath the oceans of the past.
If you wish to learn more about the fascinating history and legacy of the liners, then do check out the following links:
- Lovers of the Ocean Liners (Facebook Group)
- The Last Transatlantic Liners
- SS United States Conservancy
There are also a plethora of documentaries on Youtube that I heartily suggest, most notably The Liners , a 4-part TV series.
Photo Credit: Corey Reed
COREY REED
An Ottawa-based writer, born in Cobourg, Ontario. A shortlisted winner of the 2014 National Capital Writing Contest, Reed is currently studying Professional Writing at Algonquin College to further hone his skills. His passions include ocean liner history, Art Deco design, fiction writing and everything to do with Stevie Nicks.
