Blog Archives

Medway Queen on TV - Updated

19/3/2019

Update - 23 March - the programme was shown yesterday afternoon and is now available on IPlayer:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0003fvy/flog-it-series-16-34-rochester-cathedral

Some time ago now Paul Martin and his team filmed some "Flogit!” (antiques programme) episodes in Rochester Cathedral. I think they filmed 2 episodes. Each episode includes a visit to a local site of historic interest, one of which was Medway Queen at Gillingham Pier. The other one, featuring Chatham Dockyard, was shown recently.

Although we have not had any notification I think the "Medway Queen" episode is coming up shortly. According to my TV listings this coming Friday’s episode is also from Rochester Cathedral, and not billed as a repeat, so it could be the one with a half time visit to Medway Queen.

Friday 22 March, BBC1, 4.30pm

Richard Halton

Photos: courtesy of Joe Stokes and Pat Cooper

"Navy Days" poster for sale

5/3/2019

This poster is being auctioned in aid of Medway Queen's restoration.

It measures approx. 24inches x 36inches and was donated at the “Tolworth Showtrain” exhibition last November, for sale in support of Medway Queen.

It is being auctioned by Great Central Railwayana Ltd. in a postal sale - bids close on March 12th 2019. Details from Richard Halton or www.gcrauctions.com or phone: 01327 263633.

Sale web site: http://www.sheffieldrailwayana.co.uk/sale259P/index.php
Our lot: 834, listed under posters.

All proceeds will be passed to MQPS via "Medway Queen - West" (formerly Reading Support Group). Our thanks to Great Central Railwayana Ltd. for all their help in this matter.

Bid now, bid high!

Richard Halton

WWII - HMS Medway Queen

2/3/2019

Additional detail of HMS Medway Queen's activities in WWII is still coming in and being added to our archive.

A better summary of crew at Dunkirk and soldiers known to have been evacuated by our ship has been prepared and added to the website as a PDF file.

We still have many gaps in the wartime story. If you can help with detail of her career at any stage of the war (or any other time) please get in touch.

History Page

Much of the information in the new document has been gleaned from back numbers of our magazine "Full Ahead" and its predecessor "Medway Queen News". Some has come from recent visitors to the ship or correspondence received and followed up. The document contains the names of those who crewed HMS Medway Queen at the time of Dunkirk but not later in the war.

A notable recent addition to our knowledge was the content of a diary kept by Jack Skinner on board HMS Medway Queen which includes the Dunkirk operation. I am pleased to report that it confirms much of what we thought we knew and adds some detail such as Lt. Cook joining as CO on 20th May 1940. We previously did not have an exact date for that. He also mentions a visit by the King on 14th March and their passage to Portsmouth for repairs after Dunkirk.

Photo above: Dunkirk. Courtesy of PSPS Collection.