Chapter 1 RMS Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is a ship from a bygone era and a model of what a transatlantic luxury liner is, was, and ever will be – back when a ship looked like a ship. Her sleek structure and lines were made perfectly to slice through the ocean surface. I highly recommend visiting in the daytime and evening as the two carry very different vibes. In the daylight hours, explore her colossal structure, admire her original artwork and Art Deco design, and learn about her past. If you take the time to listen, she’ll gladly tell you her story. The perfect evening would include dinner at Sir Winston’s followed by a nightcap at the Observation Bar. Stroll her teak wood deck under the stars, where she takes on a quiet elegance. Lights twinkle in the sky above and along the serene coastline. Surrounding beauty both aboard and afar needs no words.

— Joe Bertoldo, Queen Mary enthusiast

The moment I set foot on the Queen Mary, I could feel its history. It is like stepping back in time, from the Art Deco wood inlay on the walls, to the etched glass windows, to the wood planking on deck. This is an amazingly beautiful ship. She absolutely vibrates with grace, splendor, and sophistication. Many people become quite fond of her upon their first boarding. It is easy to see why she truly is a “Queen of the High Seas.” Seeing people walk around in modern clothes somehow feels wrong. The Queen Mary is a ship out of time, holding strong and proud to her history. That being said, it is no wonder that many people claim she is haunted. It is difficult not to look with awe upon her, knowing that many people have entrusted their lives to her, both in peace and in war. She is a mighty ship and her history walks with you when you visit her.

— Maria Garcia, Paranormal researcher with the San Diego Paranormal Research Society

2 | Spirited Queen Mary: Her Haunted Legend
A THOUGHT ON PAPER TO A REALITY ON SEA

T he task of building the RMS Queen Mary was a brave undertaking, especially in the early 1930s. Her designers envisioned her to be the biggest, quickest, and most luxurious liner ever constructed. The early beginnings of the grand, three-funneled steel vessel started with the strong vision and belief in the future of steamships. Indeed, the Mary symbolized an unprecedented

challenge of shipbuilding and expressed due faith in British ship design and engineering expertise.
A British merchant, Samuel Cunard, developed his idea to build large steamships back in 1831, when he watched a steamboat approach a port in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He believed that properly built steamships on the North Atlantic could be used just as efficiently as railroad trains. Therefore, in 1838 Cunard convinced the British government to grant him a building contract. The new Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. (later renamed the Cunard Line) would offer two monthly voyages for mail service between

Liverpool, Halifax, and Boston.
The first liner built for this task was the Britannia, launched on February 5, 1840. In July of the

same year, she sailed from Liverpool and made it to Boston in 14 days, eight hours at a regular speed of eight knots. Samuel Cunard sailed on this first voyage and was received by people with welcoming arms. This was the inauguration of regular steamship service across the North Atlantic.

Fast forward many years. The RMS Queen Mary’s design concept began in 1926 and continued for two years. It came at a time when there was fierce competition between ship building companies in Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. The Cunard Line’s aging trio of express liners, RMS Mauretania, RMS Aquitania, and USS Imperator /RMS Berengaria, were eventually replaced by the Mary and her running mate, the RMS Queen Elizabeth. Cunard’s planning committee developed the idea to have a fleet of two modernized ships to save on fuel and lessen operating costs. These two ships had to be large, fast, strongly built with reliable boilers and machinery, and sail repair-free for eleven months. Their North Atlantic round trip destinations were Southampton to New York, with an average speed of 28.5 knots.

On May 28, 1930, Cunard declared that the John Brown and Company, Ltd. shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, would be responsible for building the 1,019.5 foot liner, initially labeled as Job 534. At the time, John Brown & Company, Ltd. was probably the most well-known shipyard on the planet. The company was founded in Glasgow in 1847 and carried a strong reputation for building reliable passenger vessels, many for the Cunard Line, as well as battleships and large liners for other companies. By the turn of the century, John Brown and Company had become the Cunard Line’s preferred shipbuilder. Naturally, Cunard entrusted construction of the RMS Queen Mary to the company.

SAMPLE—Not for distribution | © Nicole Strickland

Nicole Strickland | 3

(Courtesy of Nicole Strickland)

In November 1930, the Job 534 tiny model went through its final trial runs. Cunard Line was pleased with the model and accepted its design. Therefore, John Brown and Company, Ltd. was given a $30- million contract for the construction of Job 534. Engineers spent countless hours simulating every single aspect of North Atlantic weather, absolutely necessary to make sure that the vessel was capable of handling the ocean’s tumultuous conditions. More than 8,000 prototype experiments took place prior to the selection of the 17-foot, 800-pound, self-propelled model, eventually turning out to be the grand RMS Queen Mary. Eventually, her keel was laid on December 1, 1930.

The building of the actual Job 534 began in November 1931 and its work continued to proceed ahead of schedule. Cunard announced that the liner would be ready for launch in May 1932. However, on December 11, 1931, the work of Job 534 was halted and more than 3,000 ship workers lost their jobs. The Great Depression had hit, directly affecting Cunard’s ship building. Despite economic hardship, the company board chairman, Sir Percy Bates, insisted that construction on the Marycontinue. He actually received contributions in the mail every day from people who sincerely wanted the massive ship to finish completion. Thus, the British government intervened and subsidized the construction of Job 534. In return for such financial support, however, the Cunard Line was forced to merge with the ailing White-Star Line to form Cunard-White Star Ltd. Ultimately, the liner was completed and weighed 81,237 tons with a total of 12 decks.

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4 | Spirited Queen Mary: Her Haunted Legend

Queen Mary’s Launch (Courtesy Queen Mary Archives)

September 26, 1934, marked the official day of the RMS Queen Mary’s launching. More than 200,000 eager people came to watch her meet the waters. Children even had a day off of school to witness this majestic event. No one knew the ship’s new name. Interestingly, there were 101 suggested names for Job 534. People assumed the liner would be named Queen Victoria and maintain the tradition of names ending in “ia.” However, as Her Majesty Queen Mary cut the satin cord and crashed a bottle of Australian wine against the ship’s bow, she said, “I am happy to name this ship, Queen Mary.” She went on to say, “I wish success to her and to all who sail in her.” This was the first time that a reigning Queen of England authorized the naming of a merchant vessel. Crowds endlessly cheered as the liner made its way to the water. Fifty-five seconds later, the British masterpiece stood tall and proud in her element, signaling the beginning of her unparalleled career.

In The Mary, by Neil Potter and Jack Frost, John Brown’s managing director, Sir Thomas Bell, relayed the following words on the day of the launching: