The Crete Fleet

The website is sharing information about World War 1 British concrete ships but is now extending into World WarI II FCBs

Research

Manchester, but I live in Carlingford, Co. Louth

I believe that the photograph you have on you Mulberry related page possibly might depict FCBs in the photo of 5 pontoons carrying Whale bridge spans to the Spud pierced - but that the photo is of the Mulberry trials at Garlieston Scotland in 1943 and not of D-Day. I have not found a single piece of photographic evidence that any FCB fromed part of the Mulberry Harbours at D-Day. I am still checking the archives to see if Petrol Barges did go there as they are mentioned in an Overlord document. Exercise Jantzen earlier in 1943 was a disaster for the concrete PB200s which certainly leaked a lot of petrol onto the beach

The Life & Times of The Crete Fleet

British World War 1 concrete ships

Research on FCBs

Originally, Manchester, but I live in the Republic of Ireland

Thank goodness that there are other people in this world prepared to spend lots of time researching topics like this, before the vandals destroy the remnants of our history ! My interest in concrete ships was triggered by the existence of the last surviving floating example of a British WW1 concrete ship in Carlingford, Co. Louth, where I live. Two years of research and 160,000 words later, I have pretty much chronicled \'The Life & Times of The Crete Fleet\' although snippets of new info pop out all the time . . .A few weeks ago, I went to see A.C.W. 10, built Brentford and launched 1918, which lies on the Thames at Greenhithe. It\'s WW1 but generally mistaken as a WW2 FCB...So I wrote a few FB posts, gathered a few bits of new info and finish off my chapter. But, I can\'t help myself and now I am researching WW2 FCBs . . .So your site is fab and the Friends of Purton site is a treasure trove of info on FCBs as well.....So thanks a million for taking your time to build this site. Richard

Texas

I would love to learn more
Perhaps send friend request
I would perhaps be interested in visiting

Canvey Island

Born in 1993. I\'ve been reading about the islands history this morning. Kind of amazed I found myself here. I used to play on the barge with a group of other children. I had a few memories from there, but they were vague. As I returned to the island this week (having left when I was younger), I was really doubting myself, thinking I had simply forgotten the location of the old \"boat\", or if it even existed.

Thank you for documenting the history. It\'s nice to see my memories weren\'t just me going crazy.

Via Airfield Information Exchange with references to Canvey Island WW2 Plane disaster

Born In Southend on Sea, now living at Loughborough, Leicestershire

I was a serving Fireman at Canvey Island for 5 1/2yrs until injury cut my service short. I served with Ken Mcqauire many times and spent many hours in the snooker room getting thrashed by Ken or John Andrews. Ken and I were good friends and I sometimes went to Kens house after work and we would chat for hours about the Canvey Island Fire Brigade and the 1953 floods. Ken was an absolute mind of information which I and he, loved to talk about. I have some information to fill in a few names in the Fire Brigade pictures, I also am in possession of other Information relating to the Fire Brigade in the 1920's which I will contact the Group about.

Carol if you read this can you contact me through my email address please as I have some questions you can answer please about your Dad Ken.

no website

on google

cornwall

i was born and brought up on canvey island 1960-1975 moved to cornwall with my parents used to live in hawkesbury road seeing this pics brings back good memories

Southend Sites

Southend Sites Web Design from Southend on Sea Design Web Sites and Photography for Organisations and Bands.

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Southend on Sea

Gig Ticket Of Elvis Costello in Your Collection was From 1980.
I was there ... Thanks Giaco

It was at the Paddocks

essex

Great site. I was brought up on Canvey as my grandparents had a bunglaow at Newlands - second in line from sea wall - this was during the 50s. Spent all my school holidays there. My uncle had a place there too right under the sea wall. They were all at relatives in Barking when the sea wall broke and the floods happened so were lucky.
I remember going back when the new wall was being built - we kids used to play on the pontoons in the creek. Nearly everyone seemed to have purloined a pontoon!
Later both grandparents and uncle moved to the Point - my uncle lived in the very last house before the wall there and I remember the concrete barge very well - my initials are chalked somewhere in it.

Great days - other memories are:
The Haystack pub - sitting outside with lemonade and crisps.
The cinema and seeing Hall of Montezuma there.
The antiquated slot machines in the Casino.
Swimming in the creeks and jumping across the saltings.

I;m 67 years old now and lived all over the world but still fond memories of Canvey

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Newquay, Cornwall

I just love the Casino photos. I worked on the dodgems in the late 60s and have such fond memories of the people there. As I say on my Facebook profile - the only job I ever loved! Thank you Clary and Liz for bringing it all back

I am (was) a member

Kingston, On Canada

It's a while since I visited. Big surprise on returning. Site is very professional. Good Job. Thanks.

google

canvey

great site, born in canvey 1965 lived here all my life, went to william reed and furtherwick park. Does anyone remember 'mutt and jeff' ? round houses down waalwyk drive? i can find no mention of them anywhere?

friend

canvey

great site

Thanks for a great site which bought back many happy memories of playing on the barge in the mid 60's.
We used to walk out to the point for the day at at low tide then on way back play on barge before the high tide surrounded it with water.
Then we would collect a carload of driftwood for our coal and wood burning central heating boiler and head off home.
We were full of ideas of why it was there - maybe a barge to hold a submarine net across the Thames. Or was it bombed and run aground to stop it sinking?

through relatives we are all from canvey island

born in canvey island now living in ireland

really great to see the old canvey my grandparents my dad as a child fond memories of living there

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Hertfordshire

My family had a caravan on Thorney bay along with my Nan &Grandad and Uncle . some of the happiest days of my life was there in carefree summers.
I remember the old fortifications before thay built the 'NEW' sea wall the look out towers and the gun posns has anyone got any photo's of these ?? would love to see them

luck

thurock,/leigh on sea/.tiptree./chester

i was a life saver in the midd sixties with jim carey (who lived on the island) and others. we had a float in the carnival as well i can rember that it was when nansy sinatra had a hit (these boots are made for walking) about 65 or so. i also have quit a lot of photos of the island . i have looked at the web sit i found it very interesting.

goole

UK

I was nine years old and living at the extrem point on Canvey Island...also last to be rescued with my mum during the flood....I'm planning to visit Canvey Island in the future....I'm now living in Pickering Ontario....Thanks Peter

searching

Deep River, ON, Canada

I am very happy to have found this website. My mother's family and her cousins went to Canvey Island for holidays before WW1 and walked across on the stepping stones. Too bad there are no dates on most of the pictures or postcards. Thanks for the website so I can see into the past.

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Sydney

I am researching my father's service on Motor Torpedo Boats, in particular when his foltilla was stationed in the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches, from which they patrolled and saw action off Le Havre.
I am very grateful for your website and the information detailed.
All the best

A friend sent a link - a fellow amateur historian of the Thames Estuary

Greenhithe

Many thanks for showing us via your wonderful website a part of our history that has had little exposure.

I live adjacent to a FCB in Greenhithe, built during world war one to ship armaments and other army supplies to ports in northern france. It was later used to build the docks at Ford's dagenham works and I having been in correspondence with its last owner have its full history, even its ship number. I also have an article that states that FCB's were a major reason for the allies winning the war!