QE2 Falklands War / Falklands Conflict

[Rob Lightbody]

John Chillingworth has sent me a number of photos to post on the forum taken by/from QE2 during the Falklands War

"Canberra, South Georgia, seen from QE2"

[Rob Lightbody]

"NIGHT BEFORE SOUTH GEORGIA, ICEBERGS, NO RADAR!"

[Rob Lightbody]

"QE2 AFT HELICOPTER DECK, FALKLANDS TRIP, GOING SOUTH"

[Rob Lightbody]

"QE2 Bayleaf taking 4000 tonnes of fuel at 7 knots"

[Rob Lightbody]

"QE2 boat deck departing for Falklands"

[Rob Lightbody]

"8 to 12 watch, going back home"

[Rob Lightbody]

"QE2 sails for Falklands"

[Rob Lightbody]

"QE2 TRANSFERING SUPPLIES TO CANBERRA, SOUTH GEORGIA"

[Rob Lightbody]

"South Georgia, sunken Argentinian submarine Sante Fe, Ed Cripps and John Chillingworth on QE2 lifeboat"

[singlemalt]

Stunning images - thank you John for sharing them with us.

I don't know about anyone else but I really appreciated a gentle reminder of yet another reason why she's such a special ship with such an amazing history that needs to be celebrated and allowed to continue 

[Beardy Rich]

"8 to 12 watch, going back home"

I recognise John and the guy wearing glasses sitting on the stool next to him but cannot remember his name. I think he used to work in the Main Control Room.

Thanks John, if you're reading this thread and thanks for posting them Rob.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Very historic images. They do indeed send a chill down my spine...

Would John Chillingworth be prepared to tell us a bit more what it was like, what it felt like to be crew on board QE2 at the time? Two very different journeys -- the outward journey full of exercising soldiers, and then for the homeward journey there was that amazing dash back to Southampton, after the refuelling exercise in the pictures above -- the longest non stop run ever made by QE2 herself, and perhaps by any merchant navy ship ever?

We are very lucky that we did not already lose QE2 at that time...! Very lucky that we have been able to see her, years later, gleaming and looking her very best, despite the trauma she had been through...

I would love to hear some more from John if he is willing to tell his story...

[Twynkle]

Thank you everyone who contributed to these pictures.

 
 

[highlander0108]

Perhaps Myles can confirm this...Was John Chillingworth the former Cunard engineer who was onboard QE2 on the Farewell to the UK cruise who showed all the cabin cavalcade participants renderings on his laptop of the future conversion?  I remember thinking that it must have been hard for him, after years of working on the ship, to be working for the new owners and not voicing any displeasure about their elaborate plans.  At the time of the cruise, the removal of the funnel had been floated out in the papers to our horror.

Ken

[Louis De Sousa]

Heres a short summary from that voyage.

The QE2 left Southampton on the 12th May staying overnight of the Nab Light tower.On the 18th she arrived in Sierra Leone, Freetown to take on 1867 tonnes Fuel and Water.On the 20th she arrived in the Ascension Islands were stores were transferred from the HMS Dumbarton Castle.She stayed here until the 22nd.Finally on the 27th she arrived in South Geogria.On the way back she stopped again in Ascension before arriving in Southampton on the 11th of June.During this roundtrip she steamed 14 967 miles consuming 10 287 tonnes of fuel.

Louis