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Great liners on hospital duty, WW1
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Great liners on hospital duty, WW1
The Cunard ocean liners, Olympic and Aquitania pictured arriving back on Britains shores during the First World War. Both vessels were converted for use as hospital ships during this time. Date: 1916
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Media ID 14140338
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Aquitania Cunard Duty Hospitals Liners Olympic Shipping Vessels Liner
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the moment of homecoming for two Cunard ocean liners, the Olympic and Aquitania, as they return to British shores in 1916 during the First World War. Both of these magnificent vessels, once renowned for their commercial success as transatlantic liners, had been converted for use as hospital ships to provide essential medical support for the war effort. The Olympic, launched in 1911, and the Aquitania, which followed in 1914, were two of the largest and most luxurious ships of their time. However, with the outbreak of war, they were commandeered by the British government and transformed into floating hospitals. The conversion process involved removing non-essential amenities and installing medical facilities, including operating theatres, wards, and X-ray rooms. The photograph shows the two liners, adorned with their distinctive red crosses, approaching the British coastline. The sight of these familiar vessels returning home, laden with the hope of healing and recovery, would have been a welcome and uplifting sight for the people of Britain during the dark days of the war. The Cunard liners continued their hospital duties until the end of the conflict, transporting wounded soldiers and civilians from the battlefields of Europe to receive medical attention in Britain. This poignant image serves as a reminder of the vital role that these ships played in the war effort and the important contribution of maritime transport to the overall success of the Allied forces.
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