The Unlikely Success of SS Canberra

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  • čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
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    Launched by P&O on March 16th, 1960, SS Canberra was part of the last generation of ocean liners. Designed to carry migrants to Australia and New Zealand, she was immediately popular but by the 1970s, as the world rapidly changed, she adapted to the burgeoning cruise industry. A role she was surprisingly well suited for. In April 1982 she was requisitioned to carry troops for the Falklands War, a task that would take her to the middle of a war zone. Throughout her many years of service, she defied the odds and earned the love of passengers and crew alike.
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    Sources:
    The Liner by Philip Dawson
    SS Canberra by William H Miller
    www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...
    www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/...
    Music and Select Stock Footage:
    Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
    Artlist: artlist.io/
    Image and Video Credits:
    Getty Images
    commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ca...
    commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
    Chapters:
    00:00 SS Canberra
    3:50 Chapter 1: A Vanishing Empire
    7:23 Chapter 2: A Liner for the Jet Age
    11:31 Chapter 3: Adapting to Change
    16:11 Chapter 4: The Falklands Have Been Invaded!
    20:13 Chapter 5: The Great White Whale
    Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue providing free high-quality historical content.

Komentáře • 432

  • @BigOldBoats
    @BigOldBoats  Před 9 měsíci +34

    If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click
    betterhelp.com/bigoldboats for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs.
    Thank you for watching! What do you think of the Canberra?

    • @Kadenite
      @Kadenite Před 9 měsíci +1

      Awesome video! I think the SS Canberra's design, like other P&O ships of the era, is excellent. A stylish bridge between the liners of the early 20th century and the builds of the cruise ships heading into the new millenium.
      My family came to Australia on a P&O ship called SS Himalaya in the mid 60s, so it is always extra cool when I see a new video on CZcams about one of them.

    • @IloveCruiseShips1912
      @IloveCruiseShips1912 Před 9 měsíci +1

      I think Canberra was a good ship. I like the design but i prefer the Oriana personally.
      Fun fact: The reason P&O refused to sell Canberra to premier resulted in them buying the Rotterdam. At some point, please could you make a video on the 1959 Rotterdam?
      Great video as always. Keep up the good work. :)

    • @parsleypalace3272
      @parsleypalace3272 Před 9 měsíci +4

      It's totally okay that you don't want to be on camera. You are a true scholar of maritime history, and have something to contribute to popular knowledge. What you do is fun and educational, and is appreciated. Your voice is perfect for this medium, as well. Take good care, and continue to be well.

    • @rebeccahylant7695
      @rebeccahylant7695 Před 9 měsíci +1

      Thanks for your candor about counseling. Good to SEE you too!

    • @olivejeff1995
      @olivejeff1995 Před 9 měsíci +3

      As an Australian, your saying Canberra wrong 😑

  • @robertsmith-dr5tm
    @robertsmith-dr5tm Před 9 měsíci +148

    She was the last liner built by Harland and Wolff. I always thought the Oriana was awkward looking, but the Canberra was a perfect blend of classic and modern

    • @mikemancini313
      @mikemancini313 Před 9 měsíci +4

      It's strange how successful Camberra was considering her contract lost a significant amount of money for Harland and Wolff Shipyard.

    • @garethmoorhead8237
      @garethmoorhead8237 Před 9 měsíci +3

      I sailed on the second last voyage of Oriana, a loop of the Pacific from Circular Quay. Magic. But there were such rumours. The Goan staff were very worried. The Captain had served in the Falklands, and the king of Tonga had dinner aboard. I saw her later laid up in Sydney Harbour, so sad.

    • @joecombs7468
      @joecombs7468 Před 7 měsíci

      The shipyard is still there, but Harland and Wolff was bought by a Scandinavian company.

    • @Oakleaf700
      @Oakleaf700 Před 5 měsíci

      @@garethmoorhead8237 My lovely elderly neighbours years ago LOVED 'Oriana'...they sailed on QE2 but thought of Oriana as 'their' ship.

  • @anthonywatts2033
    @anthonywatts2033 Před 9 měsíci +21

    Your pronunciation of the ships name is interesting. Here in Australia there's no emphasis on the second syllable, so the 'e' virtually disappears. So in Australian English it becomes "Canbra".

  • @alcasey6548
    @alcasey6548 Před 9 měsíci +106

    I joined Canberra the day she arrived back from the Falklands as an engineer and did the 6 week refit on her to get her back into service. I then spent the next three years as an engineer. As she went on machinery became ever more tired, resulting in the failure of her starboard main alternator through a massive short circuit, a day's cruising out of Sydney. Luckily we were able to continue cruising with both screws due her to flexible electrical configuration, while I and mechanics from the Cockatoo Shipyard in Sydney took the alternator apart. At the same time, her boiler casings were rotting and filling the boiler room with flue gases, and one of the aux alternators tripped leaving us blacked out in the south Pacific.
    But what a ship to be an intimate part of. Sad that she wasn't saved, but she was well past her best.

    • @awuma
      @awuma Před 9 měsíci +15

      What a fascinating story! Many thanks for posting it.

    • @spanishpeaches2930
      @spanishpeaches2930 Před 9 měsíci +12

      She was only 38 years old when she went to the scrapper. Worked on her too for a short while. Great looking ship.

    • @ytsm
      @ytsm Před 9 měsíci +5

      I sailed on her in 88 and 12 year old me was incredibly impressed by her. Although we slummed it in an interior cabin with no bathroom! Hard to imagine that on one of today's flagships .
      I always wondered what conversions were made to turn her into a troop ship and you seem like a good person to ask.

  • @tpez5279
    @tpez5279 Před 9 měsíci +20

    “Ken-Berra”….. girl I’m screaming haha 😂 as a Canberran (as in, I live in the city Canberra), this highly amuses me! Oh and you’re a cutie! No need to hide your face! Your videos are amazing as always.

  • @NonsensicalNauticalRambings
    @NonsensicalNauticalRambings Před 9 měsíci +99

    Canberra was a special ship, and her endurance proved that. She was a beauty, inside and out, and served her company as well as her country well. Great topic BOB!

    • @leoshiphistory
      @leoshiphistory Před 9 měsíci

      Good to see you nautical rambing!

    • @tommyd5238
      @tommyd5238 Před 9 měsíci +1

      The Canberra should have been kept as a museum or hotel, I remember it being launched. It had style and character, unlike today's floating apartment blocks !

  • @spankflaps1365
    @spankflaps1365 Před 9 měsíci +136

    After the Falklands Conflict, Argentinian pilots later said they didn’t fire on the Canberra because they thought it was a hospital ship.
    There were other white (with Red Cross logo) British hospital ships operating in the area.
    Canberra was actually full of British troops, and it had aluminium superstructure, so if it was attacked it would have been carnage.
    Canberra’s white colour saved its life.

    • @Wildcattttt
      @Wildcattttt Před 9 měsíci +1

      That is amazing.

    • @jonathanj8303
      @jonathanj8303 Před 9 měsíci +15

      All the hospital ships in the area, both British and Argentinian - if memory serves there were four in total - were clearly designated and had their positions publically declared, and kept updated, by both sides. This is required by Geneva convention, and everyone involved complied with it. It's also well documented. At no stage did the Argentine air force command have any reason to think that the Canberra could possibly be a hospital ship.
      What wasn't in the Geneva convention was the Argentinian army mounting machine guns on one of their hospital ships and using them to shoot at people. That's expressly forbidden.
      [Edit : I've since found my memory on the above ("machine gun") incident was at fault. The crew of the Argentine hospital ship in Port Stanley Harbour didn't directly shoot at combatants, instead they illuminated them with a spot light from the ship, so Argentine troops elsewhere could see and shoot at them. The detail of the action is meanjngfully different, but I'd still suggest this was not a legal use of a hospital ship. See later in the thread.]

    • @uranus.tlatoani
      @uranus.tlatoani Před 9 měsíci

      Yeah, the same people who kill thousands of their own civilians, respecting the international laws, I don't thik so

    • @RumblesBettr
      @RumblesBettr Před 9 měsíci +1

      @@jonathanj8303you owned his post haha well done

    • @mikearmstrong8483
      @mikearmstrong8483 Před 9 měsíci +1

      ​@@jonathanj8303
      Could you be so kind as to reference a source for me to look into?
      Having closely followed these events while in the service at that time, and having extensively studied the conflict since then, I have never heard of the incident you are referring to, nor was I aware of any Argentine hospital ships in the combat area. And I can't quite see how a hospital ship would be in a position to machine gun enemy troops. Defend against air attack perhaps, though that would still be illegal.

  • @100SteveB
    @100SteveB Před 9 měsíci +50

    I often watched both her and the QE2 sail through the Solent, either going to or leaving from Southampton. All through my childhood we would holiday on the Isle of Wight, and it was almost guaranteed we would see her at some point during our stay on the island. It was almost a tradition that we would go to either Ryde or Cowes on the island to watch her pass by. It was the end of an era when both she and then a decade later, the QE2 retired. Built to look stylish, and be functional, whereas today's cruise liners are simply built to be functional.

    • @aussiejohn5835
      @aussiejohn5835 Před 9 měsíci +5

      Interesting that I also watched both vessels but while they were in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
      We both had a similar experience but from the other side of the world 🌎 🙃

    • @moreheff
      @moreheff Před 9 měsíci +3

      I just got back from a short break on the IOW. Could plainly see the shipping navigating their way round the island so reading your post had me imagining what a sight it would have been to see those old beautiful liners making their way through the Solent back in the day. Must have been an amazing sight

  • @teiljorgensen4008
    @teiljorgensen4008 Před 9 měsíci +55

    You are a very telegenic, or "YouTubic" (attractive) person! You have NOTHING to hide. Your ship videos are all well researched and presented. Keep up the great work! (So sad all the old liners can't be repurposed instead of being unceremoniously scrapped! 😔😔)

  • @1eowyn1111
    @1eowyn1111 Před 9 měsíci +42

    I live aboard a converted lifeboat of the Canberra. The history of Canberra is fascinating, it's such a shame she was scrapped

    • @rebeccahylant7695
      @rebeccahylant7695 Před 9 měsíci +4

      Wow!

    • @ELCADAROSA
      @ELCADAROSA Před 9 měsíci +3

      Have you done a video series documenting the conversion/upgrades?
      That would be interesting to watch!

    • @krisdrinkwine6045
      @krisdrinkwine6045 Před 9 měsíci +6

      It is to bad it was scraped. But we can't save them all, as much as we would like to. She will be remembered through history. 👍👍👍

    • @PreservationEnthusiast
      @PreservationEnthusiast Před 9 měsíci +1

      Not really a shame it was scrapped. It was a very exciting scrapping with lots of problems. It took over a year to cut the whole thing up.

  • @gc7820
    @gc7820 Před 9 měsíci +31

    Canberra was put more in harms way than QE2 because the admiralty was worried about the detriment to moral if a ship bearing the name of the monarch was badly damaged or sunk. Both were excellent ships and I’m pleased to have been able to stay on QE2 in Dubai 2 weeks ago, I’m sad Canberra wasn’t preserved though. Canberra was the first liner to have her lifeboats mounted lower down near the water which is standard today. BTW you’ve nothing to worry about by appearing in person in your videos, I know from personal experience that self confidence cannot be manufactured with the wave of a magic wand but life has taught me I put up more walls around myself than anyone else ever did.

    • @hmybritannia
      @hmybritannia Před 9 měsíci +5

      Actually the SS Imperator was the first ahip to have its lifeboats on the lower deck half were on the top deck and half on the promonade deck

    • @stigjohnnynaustdal4844
      @stigjohnnynaustdal4844 Před 9 měsíci +1

      "Canberra was the first liner to have her lifeboats mounted lower down near the water which is standard today." No she wasnt, check out SS Imperator from 1912

    • @robertbarnier45
      @robertbarnier45 Před 9 měsíci +1

      Love this ship. We need more cruise ships this size. Aussie Bob 😊😊😊

  • @roberthicks2191
    @roberthicks2191 Před 9 měsíci +10

    I travelled on the Canberra in ‘83 and it was quite the remarkable glimpse into fading British ocean liner culture. It was a sort of time capsule of 1950s and 1960s mid-20th century modernism with traditional activities of a bygone era: horse races, deck cricket, fancy dress, black tie, etc… The dining room was particularly magnificent in its homage to Australia.

  • @flkoolguy
    @flkoolguy Před 9 měsíci +27

    I find it amazing how long she survived. Deep into the 90s. Really an amazing story and an amazing ship. Thank you for your expert telling of her story.

  • @richardneilan2392
    @richardneilan2392 Před 9 měsíci +12

    What a terrific tribute to a truly iconic ship! One of my favorites of all time. Thank you! As a kid in the 70's I was convinced that her color scheme was based on the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo. She was a classic, for sure, and well-deserving of her many devoted fans! And getting to see you on-camera was an added bonus! Nice to be able to put a face to the voice. Your work is valuable and much appreciated!

  • @spanishpeaches2930
    @spanishpeaches2930 Před 9 měsíci +11

    In the early 90s i worked on her for several months. Even though it was a fairly short employ, i felt a true sadness when it went to the scrapyard. It took an age to start to get used to its size and know your way around. It was a proper ocean ship and not just a cruise ship. Went to many places on her, but i suppose the highlight was going to Rio and getting up early that morning to see us sail past Sugar Loaf Mt.

  • @HistoryintheDark
    @HistoryintheDark Před 9 měsíci +19

    SS Canberra: "Oh, boy... I'm really exposed out here..."
    Argentinian Air Force: "Oh, that must be a hospital ship. Don't fire at that one."
    SS Canberra: "Actually, I'm not-I MEAN YES! I AM DEFINITELY A HOSPITAL! I PROMISE!"

  • @PaulB-17
    @PaulB-17 Před 9 měsíci +5

    Living in Woolston I could watch these ships come and go on Southampton Water from our garage roof.
    The day she sailed up the Western shore returning from the Falklands my whole school walked down to see her in .The Band played Rod's I am Sailing and the soldiers saluted to it. I remember it being very emotional. A memory I cherish all these years later living in Perth Australia.

  • @misterrain837
    @misterrain837 Před 9 měsíci +14

    I love the Canberra. What a nice blend of the style of old ocean liners and the mid century modern look. I also can’t help but love that it’s a Harland and Wolff ship. Love your videos. I’m super grateful for your channel.

  • @clatterowls
    @clatterowls Před 9 měsíci +6

    I sailed on the Canberra on her third to last cruise in 1997, when I was 7 years old. It was a holiday I will never forget, a real adventure as I had never been on a holiday like this before. I remember being in the aft swimming pool with my brother sailing through the rough bay of biscay and having a great time, as she ship carved its way through the waves unlike the modern ships due to her ocean liner build. Whilst granted, very old and creaky at the time, this just added to my sense of adventure that left lasting memories.

  • @Shipnerd194
    @Shipnerd194 Před 9 měsíci +8

    I loved this - it's good to see a hero ship finally get a detailed documentary. Well done lad

  • @walterbruce1444
    @walterbruce1444 Před 9 měsíci +10

    I love your channel and your videos. The personal touch of appearing on screen and your candour about therapy are real bonuses, and I'm sure your positive message reaches many people.

  • @johnmehaffey9953
    @johnmehaffey9953 Před 9 měsíci +5

    I watched the Canberra sail down Belfast lough when it went out on its sea trials bit of a misty day then it cleared enough for us to view it from Co Antrim side of the lough , it looked majestic with its innovative design, one of the last passenger liners to be built at the yard, greater Belfast people will know what the yard was

  • @markhooper1352
    @markhooper1352 Před 9 měsíci +6

    Thank you for this wonderful footage. I have loved the Canberra since I was a child seeing her in Sydney Harbour and later in Southampton whilst living in London. I have many artifacts from her service life amongst my liner memorabilia collection. With the greatest respect as an Australian, her name (and that of Australia's federal capital after which she is named) is spelled "Canberra" but pronounced "Can-buh-ruh". Many thanks!

  • @user-zh1bc3hd1y
    @user-zh1bc3hd1y Před 9 měsíci +3

    I have loved the Canberra since I first saw her docked at Circular Quay in Sydney as a small boy. I build the Airfix model and cherished it for years, now 64 years I would like another model. Great series and nice to see your face. Keep up the great work. Kind regards Mark Dawson.

  • @edpzz
    @edpzz Před 9 měsíci +8

    The Canberra cruses where the QE2 refuses (Falklands war slogan)

  • @brucemarquardt7422
    @brucemarquardt7422 Před 9 měsíci +6

    As a fan of the Great Liners since a young age I was not to enamored with her design when I first saw her. However, she defiantly had a way of growing on me. After studying her 23:20 history I’ve come to love her. My late Aunt certainly loved her as she booked passage on her to Australia in the 60’s. She gave me a model of the ship which I wish I still had today.

  • @alanhoyle8901
    @alanhoyle8901 Před 9 měsíci +8

    Great ship and I was lucky enough to do 2 cruises on her in the late 80's. Unfortunately today the cruise ships are getting larger with maybe 6000 passengers and more like floating shopping malls and amusement arcade's !!!

    • @awuma
      @awuma Před 9 měsíci +2

      Like hotels with all those balconies...

  • @spankflaps1365
    @spankflaps1365 Před 9 měsíci +18

    What an iconic beautiful ship. Shame it got scrapped, but it’s quite rare for (large) British ships to be preserved due to lack of docking space, and government bias to shrink the shipping industry generally.
    The three Cunard Queens were sold abroad when they retired.

    • @bellevueace6
      @bellevueace6 Před 9 měsíci +2

      Govt bias plays zero part. The ship was totally knackered according to the engineers I know and would have been withdrawn from service sooner had it not been so beloved.
      Besides, there a number of preserved ships in the world and just about all of them struggle to stay open as it is.
      Only about 2% of the people who want ships saved actually spend their money to go and see any of them.

  • @sadiedavenport
    @sadiedavenport Před 9 měsíci +8

    YEEEEESSS!!! Canberra is one of my favorite ships and I've been waiting for one of my ship channels to do a video. I haven't even watched it yet, but I'm stoked. Canberra has such a cool story and is one of the most beautiful ships of all time. Thank you, Big Old Boats!

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron Před 9 měsíci +11

    Sometimes I find it difficult to fathom just how far we've come in just the last two centuries, for example we now have direct flights to Australia 🇦🇺 from Great Britain and it's barely a century since flight was invented! What a massive progression and there's hardly any land on earth that hasn't been scoured. I won't broach the future politics of this but suffice to say it's been one hell of a ride and I hope our son has the full benefits of what's come before. #OurHistory 👍 ☘️

  • @americanrambler4972
    @americanrambler4972 Před 9 měsíci +4

    A very attractive ship with a number of neat features. She had troubles out of the box, but it appears she overcame them and she had a layout and function that carried her well through the years.

  • @mikemancini313
    @mikemancini313 Před 9 měsíci +3

    It was an absolute crime that this ship wasn't saved! Would've been an amazing hotel ship in Belfast!

  • @fredleong3986
    @fredleong3986 Před 9 měsíci +1

    One of the last
    liners that looked like a ship instead of a prone skyscraper. She was a beautiful boat .

  • @davidhudson3534
    @davidhudson3534 Před 9 měsíci +2

    My grandparents sailed from Vancouver to Sydney in Canberra in the early 80s. They said she was a wonderful ship.

  • @joehoulihan5305
    @joehoulihan5305 Před 9 měsíci +5

    Have you looked into the Aurora restoration project? Originally built as the Wappen Von Hamburg built in 1955, We stopped by on our way to Disneyland as it is only 12 miles off Interstate 5 being restored on a river canal. It's odd to be driving through farm fields and all of a sudden there is this large white ship! I know there was a sister ship as well. Rumor has it the original "Love Boat" inspiration was taken from the Wappen Von Hamburg. Might be a cool project to dig into.

    • @kayvonfoerster8436
      @kayvonfoerster8436 Před 9 měsíci

      The "Wappen von Hamburg" sailed formerly on the route from Hamburg to the island of Helgoland in the North Sea. So happy to hear that she still exists. Many greets from Germany.

  • @K1W1fly
    @K1W1fly Před 9 měsíci +3

    Canberra and Oriana were both absolutely beautiful boats....

  • @bernardgregory4320
    @bernardgregory4320 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Thanks for posting this memorable history of a great ship, I served on Canberra as a crew member, joining her at the shipyard n Belfast prior to her trials, I was proud to be on her for her Maiden Voyage and for the subsequent 2 years after, I was a young 20-year-old at the time and worked aboard her as a PRA (Public room attendant) in the ships Cinema as well as other duties during the many functions that were held in the First Class public rooms at each port of call, cocktail parties and the like, showing off Canberra to the world, now in my 82nd year, I still vividly recall when we showed her to the world -

  • @gilbydog7350
    @gilbydog7350 Před 9 měsíci +2

    You're so good looking man. You're actually very camera ready, even if you don't feel like it. Your voice is very soothing to listen to as well.
    I loved your video of the SS Canberra, a ship I never got to see. As far as I am aware the SS Canberra never visited Hobart, Tasmania where I grew up unlike it's sister the Oriana which used to visit once a year in November.
    I moved to Sydney in January 1998, just missing the last visit of the Canberra by 3 months. It was never meant to be.
    I love the look of the liner, such a beautiful ship without all those balconies messing around with the profile. I actually knew some people who went on the Canberra for cruises twice, and I remember them talking about the Canberra breaking down somewhere, so I was interested to hear what you had to say about that.
    The Canberra used to do twice yearly voyages between Sydney and Southampton to come out for the Australian summer and then travel back to Europe to cruise for the Mediterranean summer. I actually walked past a travel agency in Ivanhoe, Melbourne last week that had a big poster in its window advertising the Canberra's 1982 Sydney - Southampton voyage.
    Keep up the great work !

  • @thesandero2454
    @thesandero2454 Před 9 měsíci +3

    For people who think it is easy to preserve a ship like this it is not. Here in The Netherlands we have the SS Rotterdam from the Holland/Amerika line preserved in the port of Rotterdam.
    People estimated €6 million to fix her up. BUT due to the large amount of asbestos in the ship the total cost spiralled out of control. In the end it was a whopping....€256+ MILLION for a flowting hotel.
    Yes,the ship is stunning,but the cost of preserving this ship still lingers above her till this day..
    That is why so few of these ships are saved from the scrapheap.
    It is mind blowing expensive.

    • @genius1a
      @genius1a Před 9 měsíci +1

      Very true ... I was sad, when Canberras retirement was announced, but it was heartwarming to see her gracefully - as she had always been - in the media pictures, as she was taking a well received last cruise around the world. She looked perfectly maintained up to the last day in service! Even looking quite well, when she sailed on her own power to the indian scrapyard some weeks later.

  • @scottyg9167
    @scottyg9167 Před 9 měsíci +3

    I find her beautiful and classy and elegant. I find you to be the same. You’ve an inspiration to many out here who value your dedication and thoroughness. Please don’t be camera shy! It’s really nice to see the face behind all these cool videos!

  • @theurtleproject
    @theurtleproject Před 9 měsíci +1

    As a 14 yr. old I traveled on her from Vancouver to Sydney, returning home to Australia after almost 10 years away in Canada. For me it was a great adventure. The memories are much stronger than those of the voyage from Sydney to Vancouver, as a 5 yr old on the Orsova.

  • @ruthstevens8805
    @ruthstevens8805 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Thank you, as an Aussie i didn't know this; nor what P&O stood for. Love your content.

  • @thomasewing2656
    @thomasewing2656 Před 9 měsíci +2

    God bless the Canberra! Thanks for a delightful video.

  • @Drobium77
    @Drobium77 Před 9 měsíci +13

    Matey! If I were as good looking as you, I'd never want to hide my face. you have nothing to be worried about, but I'm glad you've taken the plunge.
    this ship was such an icon and it was the first time I get upset about a ship dying, I was 21 in 1998, and this ship was seriously famous.

  • @genius1a
    @genius1a Před 9 měsíci +1

    A very nice and eleborate tribute to this magnificent ship! My relation is strange: My father got Modelship plans of the SS Canberra, when I was a young boy. I started to build her, but I was not good enough back then. The plan was also a very basic one - in the end I started drawing ship plans myself, making a hobby and a small career out of that. So the Canberra is one of my sweet childhood memories, and I still dream of building a model of her one day. She was such a beautiful ship , with an exceptional long career as the flagship of a great company.

  • @aureliacornelia79adgracchu29
    @aureliacornelia79adgracchu29 Před 9 měsíci +2

    So interesting to get an American (or Canadian) perspective on the CANberra (with the odd pronunciations!) StrathEDEN (as in Garden of ...) I was an entertainer on the Canberra in 1980 and was well aware of all the things that didn't work! Apologies for being picky about the pronunciation!

  • @21jlxi
    @21jlxi Před 9 měsíci +1

    My best friend as a kid was a pom who came here to NZ on the Canberra, he never shut up about it. I never mentioned how jealous I was! I remember both the Canberra and the Oriana berthed at Auckland many times on what must have been the' milk run' for the crew. Canberra was definitely the better looking of the 2 ships, with nicer curves.

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron Před 9 měsíci +3

    Saw this great lady of the seas, Canberra, on one of its stopovers in Liverpool, docked alongside the Isle of Man Steampacket ships it was enormous and thankfully lived out its entire life at sea. #OurHistory

  • @kitpong1777
    @kitpong1777 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Years ago, I had by chance the opportunity to watch the Canberra sailing into Circular Quay in Sydney , Australia.
    She was a beautiful ship, with its iconic twin funnels.

  • @De_Tjiminator
    @De_Tjiminator Před 9 měsíci +3

    Man i have a been waiting and waiting for a video on canberra for so long.

  • @andrewgilsenan6499
    @andrewgilsenan6499 Před 9 měsíci +3

    I've been waiting for this one! Canberra was my first Cruise, aged 9 in 1996/97. Wonderful ship right to the end.

  • @waynereardon6826
    @waynereardon6826 Před 9 měsíci +1

    As a kid I sailed aboard her from Vancouver to Sydney on her second cruise back in the early sixties.

  • @chriswebb7155
    @chriswebb7155 Před 7 měsíci

    Always be a special boat to me. On 26th January 1964 she took me at the age of eight on a life changing voyage around the world to Australia. I cried when I heard the news she was to be scrapped.

  • @jonbezeau3124
    @jonbezeau3124 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Stories about boats, military history, and synthwave music? This video is me having cake + eating it.

  • @jameswg13
    @jameswg13 Před 9 měsíci +2

    As a Brit, someone that sails with P&O, knows the history of P&O and of the Canberra i do love the Great White Whale. Design wise as well she looked better after 30 years and more a cruise ship than 30+ year old ships today in the cruise industry ( looking at you Ambience).
    I think if they could have kept her they would have unfortunately it wasnt to be.
    I do hope P&O bring back the name some day though.😊

  • @maxjohn6012
    @maxjohn6012 Před 8 měsíci

    My granny had a cruise holiday on the Canberra in the early 90s. She brought back an approx. 1-foot long plastic toy model of the ship, which was a favourite bath toy when growing up!

  • @johnray7311
    @johnray7311 Před 9 měsíci +3

    Canberra is, along with SS United States, the QE2 and, not least, SS France, one of the great Post WW2 super liners.

    • @CarlySmith001
      @CarlySmith001 Před 8 měsíci

      Marco Polo(originally Alexander Pushkin) too

  • @DarrenLee73
    @DarrenLee73 Před 9 měsíci +2

    The wait is over! Seeing the Canberra used as a troop 🚢 and still retaining it's cruise colors 👍

  • @MarianneKat
    @MarianneKat Před 9 měsíci +2

    Don't give up finding a therapist who matches your needs. Took us 5x to find a marriage therapist. Here we are 30 years later, 4 grown kids and very happy. ❤

  • @tonyashlin7581
    @tonyashlin7581 Před 9 měsíci

    I was a member of the Royal Australian Navy and joined the HMAS Canberra in the USA where she was built. During our time in the States, we meet up with the SS Canberra. After the HMAS Canberra had returned home to Australia, the Falkland's war started. While I was a little concerned Australia may be asked to help out, this never happened.
    As an amusing side story, an elderly friend of my mother, would regularly here on the news about SS Canberra and ring my mother about how concerned my mum must be. My mum would reassure her (again) that it was a different Canberra to the frigate I served on.
    Thank you for producing this CZcams clip -a bit of nostalgia from my past.

  • @Gallant_Silver
    @Gallant_Silver Před 6 měsíci +1

    as sad as I get when I think about ships being scrapped, I'm glad this one didn't end with her left abandoned and decaying.

  • @jonnyrichards
    @jonnyrichards Před 6 měsíci

    My dad was one of the p&o engineers that volunteered to go to the falklands with the ship. I distinctly remember how keen he was to recall to me that the canberra was not *supposed* (according to british strategy) to survive dropping off her first load of troops and how after they would just do any job that was going since they were "free". Beautiful ship, always fascinated by any story he has to tell me from that time

  • @andrewbrendan1579
    @andrewbrendan1579 Před 9 měsíci +3

    Wonderful video! As always! I see the Canberra's design as as further development of the design for the Northern Star and the Southern Cross. I think she was an unusual, but attractive ship. The Canberra is special for me because her sea trials took place on the day I was born. I remember reading back in the 90's about how it looked like the Canberra's career would be coming to an end. I didn't think it would happen, but it did. I'm glad she didn't became one of the Premier ships because a red hull, had that paint scheme been used, would have looked awful on the Canberra.

  • @kenmahood93
    @kenmahood93 Před 2 měsíci

    To me the three most beautiful machines ever built are QE2, Canberra and Concorde. Thanks for your video full of tearful memories.

  • @Djr67
    @Djr67 Před 9 měsíci +4

    Don't be camera shy, I always look forward to seeing your handsome face

  • @stardestroyeruk7025
    @stardestroyeruk7025 Před 9 měsíci +2

    Canberra is right up there with QE2 as one of the last BEAUTIFUL ocean liners

  • @x-105strikefreedom
    @x-105strikefreedom Před 8 měsíci

    My father worked there as an engine fitter, he still kept his old coveralls and some pictures and the farewell calendar.

  • @UncleJoeLITE
    @UncleJoeLITE Před 5 měsíci

    As a kid, both Oriana & Canberra were ships I saw regularly in Sydney Harbour. Beautiful ships,thanks.

  • @NorseNerdleMeister
    @NorseNerdleMeister Před 9 měsíci +1

    I’m so glad you did a video on this amazing ship, it doesn’t get enough attention!

  • @eyeroll5060
    @eyeroll5060 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Im a model railroader. I have several p&o shipping containers. No idea they had such a storied history

  • @IndianaDel1
    @IndianaDel1 Před 5 měsíci

    My Grand parents were cruising on the Canberra when I was born. They bought a miniature life ring for their new grandchild to mark the event. 57 years later (and having emigrated to the United States) I still have it.

  • @the_major
    @the_major Před 9 měsíci

    Your videos just keep getting better and better. Keep up the great work!

  • @captainprice4
    @captainprice4 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Well nice to meet you. Yours is actually one of the few channels I actually come to CZcams for. You make great and interesting content. Always looking forward for your next vid 😉

  • @sidoniesera
    @sidoniesera Před 9 měsíci +1

    Never heard of this Lady--one of the reasons I love this channel. Thank you so much for the fabulous content, as always. So excited to see you're so close to 100k subs. Much deserved!

  • @furphyman
    @furphyman Před 9 měsíci

    I emigrated on the Canberra from Britain to Australia with my family in 1963. I returned to Britain in 1982 on holiday and watched her sail out of Southampton. Beautiful ship

  • @p.k.5455
    @p.k.5455 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Another well made and informative video!!! Thank you...and you are correct, therapy is always worth the time!!!

  • @kenelliott8944
    @kenelliott8944 Před 6 měsíci

    I always LOVE your videos because they include details that are hard to otherwise find and the images aren't the same old canned ones you see everywhere. Thanks for quality!

  • @Commander-McBragg
    @Commander-McBragg Před 9 měsíci

    Always great work from you, my friend.

  • @TheRavendearest
    @TheRavendearest Před 9 měsíci +1

    I’m so grateful for these wonderful pieces your producing! And it’s good to see you face on camera, you’re adorable!

  • @tonysabell7737
    @tonysabell7737 Před 9 měsíci

    Glad you made an appearance. I really enjoy your videos.

  • @andrewbrowning9755
    @andrewbrowning9755 Před 9 měsíci +1

    P&O should have preserved the Canberra in dry dock or something She was iconic

  • @SeaTravelr123
    @SeaTravelr123 Před 6 měsíci

    Happy New Year Brad!!! Thanks for all your hard work this year... All the best in 2024

  • @passin-thru
    @passin-thru Před 8 měsíci

    Watched all day. All caught up with your channel now. Can’t wait for the next upload 😊

  • @nmccw3245
    @nmccw3245 Před 9 měsíci

    Always good to see you Bradley! 😉 Great research and presentation. 😁👍🏻

  • @phillyguy8541
    @phillyguy8541 Před 9 měsíci

    Good to see you on camera, it adds a lot to the videos.

  • @toddcoteeagle8493
    @toddcoteeagle8493 Před 9 měsíci +1

    You told her story well. Thank you.😊

  • @scofab
    @scofab Před 9 měsíci

    Always a pleasure and thank you once again.

  • @BBerckdano
    @BBerckdano Před 9 měsíci

    It’s so nice to put a face with a voice and narration I have enjoyed so much. Hello from Michigan and the Tug Clyde Fogg!
    ⚓️

  • @robber_h
    @robber_h Před 9 měsíci

    Good to see you in front of the camera. Keep up the excellent work!

  • @johnbee7729
    @johnbee7729 Před 9 měsíci +1

    A wonderful legacy, tho a sad outcome. Scrapping something so noteworthy is such an inglorious end. Rest well dear ship, you deserved it

  • @dustyr112
    @dustyr112 Před 9 měsíci

    Another fantastic video! Thank you, Bradley!

  • @nickklein4654
    @nickklein4654 Před 9 měsíci

    Sailed on her from Sydney to Los Angeles February 1967. Fabulous trip, good memories.

  • @LAgirl4ever3
    @LAgirl4ever3 Před 2 měsíci +1

    My family and I sailed on the Oriana to Hawaii, in the 60's when I was a tot. At the time, we thought we were cruising in the lap of luxury. it was a different time for sure.

  • @rose-ey6ct
    @rose-ey6ct Před 9 měsíci +1

    I am Belfast born & bred. When this beautiful ship was launched in Harland & Wolff's shipyard, it was found that the bow was near enough out of the water because of the aft weight distribution. To get the ship level, they had to fill the bow with concrete. This doomed the ship's fuel economy because it was now too low in the water. It's final voyage to the breaker's yard in Pakistan was also affected by this anomaly. Ship was sailed at full speed towards the beach, but stranded many metres offshore because of its concrete filled bow.

  • @markt9805
    @markt9805 Před 9 měsíci

    Great video, as a young boy I saw this vessel on a few occasions but never sailed on her, yet I was always intrigued by her unique design.

  • @A2Wx8
    @A2Wx8 Před 9 měsíci +3

    What a fantastic ship. Always loved Canberra, to the point I have a model of her on my coffee table in the living room. I know the pre-war big British ships like the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth get all the fame and recognition but I think British shipbuilding was at least as good in the 50s and early 60s.

  • @robertmacdonald4243
    @robertmacdonald4243 Před 9 měsíci

    Your courage is refreshingly - great video!

  • @grrfy
    @grrfy Před 9 měsíci

    Always loved the design of The Canberra,Nice clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic.

  • @ImpmanPDX
    @ImpmanPDX Před 9 měsíci +2

    I really like the lines of that ship!

  • @gregniel
    @gregniel Před 8 měsíci

    You do such a great job! Thank you!