SPW049785 SCOTLAND (1936). Queen Mary, River Clyde, Clydebank. An oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.

Here, the brand new Cunard White Star liner Queen Mary, the largest ship built in Britain up to that time, is in serious difficulties. She was travelling down the River Clyde towards the open sea for her sea trials, when her bows ran aground and stuck in the mud on one bank of the meandering river. The wind caught her, and pushed her stern into the opposite bank. For half an hour, extra tugs frantically tried to push and pull her free. Had they not been able to successfully free her, on the falling tide she would have stuck fast, and almost certainly would have broken her back (keel). This would quite likely have meant she would have been ultimately been scrapped, despite being brand new. Also the Clyde would have been blocked to all shipping until she was moved.

Fortunately, by the time this photo was taken, the crisis appeared over, and she then left the Clyde to sail on into the history books as probably Great Britain's most successful, famous and greatly loved ocean liner.