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The New Medway SP Co
General Steam Navigation - Page 4
 
 
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of The New Medway SP Co, which became part of the General Steam Navigation Company (GSN) in 1936. A list of ships on this page is shown below. The New Medway Fleet List is shown beneath. The GSN Header Page gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships in the GSN fleet.
 
The origins of The New Medway Steam Packet Company date back to the formation of the Medway Steam Packet Company in 1837, which was formed to link Chatham with Sheerness before the arrival of the railways. Few details survive of the early steamers of this company, but around 1871 they acquired the first City of Rochester, which extended the Medway route to Southend. She was joined by the Lady of Lorne in the same year. The second Medway Steam Packet Company was formed in 1881 as a successor to the original company, and they added the Lady Margaret in 1888. Subsequent deliveries, the Princess of Wales and the City of Rochester (2), were new ships built in 1896 and 1904. Older ships were disposed of, leaving these two vessels to run the Strood-Southend service until the First War.
 
The New Medway SP Co formed in 1919 to take over the assets of the 1871 company, along with the Princess of Wales and the City of Rochester (2). Additional tonnage was acquired, starting with the Audrey in 1922. The fine new steamer Medway Queen joined the fleet in 1924. She is still in existence and is under restoration on the Medway. Around this time the company began to market themselves as the Queen Line in publicity. Three vessels from the Belle Steamers fleet were acquired between 1924 and 1928, originally the Woolwich Belle, Walton Belle and Yarmouth Belle, which became Queen of the South, Essex Queen and Queen of Southend (later Thames Queen). Two ex-minesweepers were bought for cross-channel excursions in 1927, the Queen of Kent and Queen of Thanet. In 1935, the magnificent diesel vessel Queen of the Channel (1) joined the fleet for longer services, and a second larger vessel was ordered, reportedly to be named Continental Queen. The New Medway Steam Packet Company was taken over by the General Steam Navigation in 1936 giving them a monopoly of the Thames excursion business. The new diesel vessel on order was delivered as the Royal Sovereign (3), and served Oostende. Unfortunately, both the Queen of the Channel (1) and Royal Sovereign (3) were lost in 1940. The new owners retained the original identities of both companies, although in post-war years the cross-channel services were all marketed by the General Steam Navigation, even though some of the vessels were nominally owned by The New Medway company. The last New Medway steamer was the Medway Queen, whose last season was in 1963. Cross-channel services by the large General Steam Navigation motorships ended in 1966.
 
 
Ships on this Page:-
Audrey (1922-1929)
City of Rochester (1) (1871-1897)
City of Rochester (2) (1904-1938)
Clacton Queen (1933-1935)
Essex Queen (1925-1946) - ex-Walton Belle - later Pride of Devon
Lady of Lorne (1871-1899)
Lady Margaret (1888-1903)
Medway Queen (1924- )
Princess of Wales (1896-1925)
Queen of Kent (1927-1949)
Queen of Southend (1928-1938) - ex-Yarmouth Belle - later Thames Queen
Queen of Thanet (1927-1949)
Queen of the Channel (1) (1935-1940)
Queen of the South (1924-1932) - ex-Woolwich Belle
Rochester Queen (1) (1932-1933)
Rochester Queen (2) (1947-1960)
Royal Sovereign (3) (1937-1940)
Royal Daffodil (1) (1934-1938)
Thames Queen (1928-1938) - ex-Queen of Southend
 
Other GSN Pages:-
GSN Header Page
GSN Paddle Steamers
GSN Freighters
GSN Passenger Motorships
The New Medway SP Co - this page!
Normandy Ferries
 
Associated Pages:-
P&O Ferries Header Page
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page
 
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The New Medway SP Co
Medway SP Co (1881-1919)
 
 
 
City of Rochester (1)
(Medway SP Co: 1871-1897)
 
The origins of The New Medway Steam Packet Company date back to the formation of the Medway Steam Packet Company in 1837, which was formed to link Chatham with Sheerness before the arrival of the railways. Few details survive of the early steamers of this company, but around 1871 they acquired the first City of Rochester, which extended the Medway route to Southend. She was joined by the Lady of Lorne in the same year.
 
 
Photograph of the first City of Rochester
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Lady of Lorne
(Medway SP Co: 1871-1899)
 
The origins of The New Medway Steam Packet Company date back to the formation of the Medway Steam Packet Company in 1837, which was formed to link Chatham with Sheerness before the arrival of the railways. Few details survive of the early steamers of this company, but around 1871 they acquired the first City of Rochester, which extended the Medway route to Southend. She was joined by the Lady of Lorne in the same year.
 
 
Photograph of Lady of Lorne
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Lady Margaret
(Medway SP Co: 1888-1903)
 
The second Medway Steam Packet Company was formed in 1881 as a successor to the original company, and they added the Lady Margaret in 1888.
 
 
Photograph of Lady Margaret
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Princess of Wales
(Medway SP Co: 1896-1919)
(The New Medway SP Co: 1919-1928)
 
The Princess of Wales was built in 1896 by R.Craggs & Sons of Middlesbrough for the Medway Steam Packet Company. She was initially used to operate the Strood-Southend service. Between 1917 to 1920 she ran on the naval ferry service between Chatham and Sheerness as the Padua. Princess of Wales returned to The New Medway SP Co and ran with them until 1925, replaced by the Queen of the South. She was chartered for use on the Forth, but returned in 1927 and was sold for scrap the following year. Princess of Wales was 139 feet long and had a gross tonnage of 163.
 
 
W.H.Herbert postcard of the Princess of Wales
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Fantastic Thornton Bros postcard of Princess of Wales of the New Medway SP Co leaving Upnor Pier
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Postcard of the Princess of Wales at Strood Pier
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Medway Studios postcard of the Princess of Wales
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City of Rochester (2)
(The New Medway SP Co: 1904-1938)
 
City of Rochester was the last and largest paddle steamer bought by the Medway Steam Packet Company. She was built by J.Scott & Co of Kinghorn, and was 160 feet long and 235 gross tons. She spent most of her career on the Strood-Southend run, apart from acting as a tender a Chatham during the First War. She passed to The New Medway SP Co in 1919, and returned to her Strood-Southend run. In 1931 she was moved to an Ipswich, Felixstowe, Harwich and Clacton run, as The New Medway Company expanded into the old Belle Steamers territory. She was superseded on this in 1934 by the Clacton Queen, and returned to the Medway. She passed to the General Steam Navigation in 1936 and was sold for scrap in 1938.
 
 
Postcard of City of Rochester
With original black funnel top
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Postcard of City of Rochester
Without black funnel top
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Postcard of City of Rochester
Same image to the card above, but the unfortunately placed factory chimney has been removed
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Advertising postcard showing City of Rochester
 
 
Modern Pamlin postcard of City of Rochester
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Audrey
(The New Medway SP Co: 1922-1929)
 
Audrey was the first addition to the New Medway fleet in 1922. She was built by Armstrong Whitworth & Company in 1897 for the Tyne General Ferry Company, with whom she served until 1909 when she was sold to the famous City of Cork Steam Packet Company for local services around Cork. She was considered to be an ugly steamer, but certainly had character. In 1913 Audrey passed to the Cork Blackrock & Passage Railway which ran a 3 ft gauge system from Cork. She ran as a cargo and passenger steamer from Monkstown, Queenstown (Cobh) and Aghada during the week, plus excursions from Cork on Sundays. In early 1914 Audrey was bought by Captain Shippick who used her on excursions from Bournemouth to Swanage, Studland and Poole until taken over by the Admiralty. When returned to her owner he sold her to The New Medway Steam Packet Company who used her on Medway services and to and from Southend, Herne Bay, Margate and Ramsgate. Audrey was sold for scrap in 1929.
 
 
F.Scrivens (Herne Bay) postcard of Audrey
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Photographic postcard of Audrey
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Medway Queen
(The New Medway SP Co: 1924-1963)
 
Medway Queen was the only new paddle steamer acquired by The New Medway Steam Packet Company, being delivered by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company in 1924. She was the last steamer in the New Medway fleet when withdrawn in 1963. She was subsequently restored and used as a clubhouse on the Isle of Wight, but allowed to fall into disrepair. She was moved to the Medway, where restoration has made slow but steady progress ever since, with some National Lottery money made available on 2006.
 
 
Postcard of Medway Queen
 
 
Postcard of Queen of the South (ex-Woolwich Belle), Medway Queen and a third steamer at Chatham
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Postcard of Medway Queen
 
 
Postcard of Medway Queen
 
 
Photographic postcard of Medway Queen
 
 
Postcard of Medway Queen
 
 
J.Arthur Dixon postcard of Medway Queen in the Isle of Wight
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Photograph of Medway Queen in the Isle of Wight
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
Photograph of Medway Queen in the Isle of Wight
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
Photograph of Medway Queen in the Isle of Wight
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
Photograph of Medway Queen in the Isle of Wight
Photo: © Ian Boyle
 
 
Photograph of Medway Queen after being moved to Chatham
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 1986
 
 
 
 
 
Queen of the South
(The New Medway SP Co: 1924-1932)
 
Queen of the South was built as Woolwich Belle for Belle Steamers by William Denny & Bros in 1891. Actual ownership of Woolwich Belle was London, Woolwich & Clacton-on-Sea Steamboat Co (1891), Belle Steamers (1897), Coast Development Company (1898) and Coast Development Corporation (1905). Woolwich Belle was the smallest of the Belle Steamers, and was used mainly on feeder services from Ipswich and Harwich to Clacton, connecting with the London boats. The Coast Development Corporation failed in 1915, and after her war service, Woolwich Belle was acquired by her builders Dennys for refurbishment at their works to provide employment. She was not ready until the spring of 1922, and she was used by Channel Excursion Steamers as Queen of the South for excursions from Brighton, a year in which P.& A.Campbell could not spare vessels for south coast services. P.& A.Campbell were back the following year, and Queen of the South was withdrawn and laid up in September 1923. She was bought by The New Medway SP Co in November 1924, entering service the following summer, mainly on Strood-Southend services, but also general excursion work. She was laid up at the end of the 1931 season and sold for scrap the following July. She was replaced for the 1932/33 seasons with Rochester Queen (1), and from 1934 by the .
 
 
D.M&W postcard of Queen of the South (ex-Woolwich Belle) at Brighton
Note the stump mainmast fitted for Brighton service
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Postcard of Queen of the South (ex-Woolwich Belle)
Note the stump mainmast has been removed
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Postcard of Queen of the South (ex-Woolwich Belle)
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Postcard of Queen of the South (ex-Woolwich Belle), Medway Queen and a third steamer at Chatham
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Essex Queen
(The New Medway SP Co: 1925-1946)
 
Essex Queen was built as the Walton Belle in 1897 for Belle Steamers in the one year that was their official title, and she was unique in this respect. She could be recognised by one large and two small ventilators immediately forward of the funnel. Walton Belle sailed from Great Yarmouth via Lowestoft and intermediate piers to Clacton, connecting with London Belle the for London. After war service, Walton Belle was chartered then sold to Messrs. Kingsman who had interests in Clacton Pier. She passed to the P.S.M.Syndicate, transferring to their East Anglia Steamship Company in 1925 with whom she ran that season only before being sold to The New Medway Steam Packet Company in time for the 1926 season. Walton Belle was renamed Essex Queen, initially retaining her original appearance. In 1930 Essex Queen, was converted to oil firing. Her fore saloon was extended to the width of the hull, and she also received a new funnel. She was laid up after the 1938 season, but surprisingly re-entered service briefly after the war for the South Western Steam Navigation Company from Torquay as Pride of Devon.
 
 
Duncan photographic postcard of Essex Queen (ex-Walton Belle)
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Photographic postcard of Essex Queen (ex-Walton Belle)
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New Medway official postcard of Essex Queen (ex-Walton Belle) with enclosed fore saloon
Caption reads: Employed on the coastal passenger service of The New Medway
Steam Packet Co. Ltd. between Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Walton and Clacton.
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Photo-Precision postcard of Pride of Devon at Torquay (ex-Essex Queen, ex-Walton Belle)
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Official postcard of Pride of Devon at Torquay (ex-Essex Queen, ex-Walton Belle)
 
 
Postcard of Pride of Devon at Torquay (ex-Essex Queen, ex-Walton Belle)
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Postcard of Pride of Devon at Torquay (ex-Essex Queen, ex-Walton Belle)
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Queen of Southend
Thames Queen
(The New Medway SP Co: 1928-1939)
 
Queen of Southend was built as the Yarmouth Belle in 1898 for the Coast Development Company, designed for use on through London-Yarmouth sailings (previously a change at Clacton or Walton was necessary). She was similar to the Walton Belle of the previous year, but 10 feet longer at 240 ft, and 522 gross tons. Triple expansion engines gave a speed of 17 knots. After war service she was sold to the P.S.M. Syndicate, passing to the R.S.Steamship Company in 1925 and East Anglia Steamship Company in 1926 (all basically the same company). Yarmouth Belle was sold to The New Medway SP Co in 1928 and renamed Queen of Southend. In 193 1 she had new oil burning boilers fitted, and over the winter of 1935/36 she received a radical rebuild with an extemded promenade deck to the bow. In 1937 she received a new funnel. She was used on a wide variety of New Medway service. In 1938 she took over he Port of London Authority dock cruises and was renamed Thames Queen, succeeding Royal Daffodil (1). After WW2 war service, she was scrapped at Dover in 1948.
 
 
Medway Studios postcard of Queen of Southend (actually shows her as Yarmouth Belle)
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Postcard of Queen of Southend (ex-Yarmouth Belle)
With extended upper deck
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Photographic postcard of Queen of Southend (ex-Yarmouth Belle)
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of Southend (ex-Yarmouth Belle)
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Official postcard of Thames Queen (ex-Queen of Southend, ex-Yarmouth Belle)
This is the official postcard of Queen of Southend with the new name applied on a sticker
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Photographic postcard of Thames Queen (ex-Queen of Southend, ex-Yarmouth Belle)
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Queen of Kent
(The New Medway SP Co: 1927-1949)
 
Queen of Kent was built as the Ascot Class paddle minesweeper HMS Atherstone, by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co, in 1916. After the war, she was bought by The New Medway SP Co and rebuilt as the passenger steamer Queen of Kent. In 1949 she was sold to the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. (Red Funnel Steamers) and renamed Lorna Doone (2). She was sold for scrap in 1952.
 
 
Medway Studios photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
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Medway Studios photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
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Photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
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Photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
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Postcard of Queen of Kent at Calais.
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Photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
 
 
Pamlin photographic postcard of Queen of Kent.
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Queen of Thanet
(The New Medway SP Co: 1927-1949)
 
Queen of Thanet was built as the Ascot Class paddle minesweeper HMS Melton, by W.Hamilton & Co, Glasgow, in 1916. After the war, she was bought by The New Medway SP Co and rebuilt as the passenger steamer Queen of Thanet. In 1949 she was sold to the Southampton, Isle of Wight & South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd. (Red Funnel Steamers) and renamed Solent Queen (2). She was sold for scrap in 1951.
 
 
Photographic postcard of Queen of Thanet.
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Postcard of Queen of Thanet at Calais.
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Pamlin postcard of Queen of Thanet at Margate.
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Photographic postcard of Queen of Thanet.
 
 
 
 
 
Rochester Queen (1)
(The New Medway SP Co: 1932-1933)
 
The London, Tilbury & Southend Railway built a series of four twin screw sister ships between 1893 and 1906 for the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, the Carlotta, Rose (1), Catherine (1) and Gertrude. Gertrude passed to the Midland Railway in 1912, and the LMS in 1923, and was sold in 1932 to The New Medway SP Co. They used her during the 1932 and 1933 seasons for Strood-Southend services, where she was renamed Rochester Queen (1). Rochester Queen (1) differed from her sisters in having an open fore deck for the carriage of vehicles. A fore saloon was added here before the 1933 season. Rochester Queen (1) was sold at the end of the latter season for service with M.H.Bland of Gibraltar as the Caid. Rochester Queen (1) was replaced by the Royal Daffodil (1).
 
 
Medway Studios postcard of the Rochester Queen (1) in 1933 with fore saloon
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Royal Daffodil (1)
(The New Medway SP Co: 1934-1938)
 
Royal Daffodil was built as the Mersey ferry Daffodil in 1906, serving with Wallasey Corporation until the First World War. She took part in the raid on Zeebrugge in April 1918 as HMS Vindictive. Returning to the Mersey, she was renamed Royal Daffodil on command of the King George V. She was bought by The New Medway SP Co in 1934 and ran between Strood and Sheerness. Shortly before withdrawal, she was chartered to the PLA for London Dock cruises (previously operated by GSN vessels). She was sold for scrap in 1938. Her name was passed on to a large GSN motorship, somewhat to the annoyance of Wallasey Corporation, who had to name their new ferry the Royal Daffodil II.
 
 
Official New Medway postcard of Royal Daffodil
The caption reads:- This steamer is known the world over as a result of the important part she played in the famous raid on the Mole at Zeebrugge in 1918.
She is now engaged in afternoon cruises to the London Docks, or down River trips to Gravesend every afternoon in summer except Fridays.
Luncheons can be obtained on board from about 1pm at Tower Pier. Teas and Light Refreshments at popular prices. Fully Licensed.
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Clacton Queen
(The New Medway SP Co: 1933-1935)
 
 
Photographic postcard of Clacton Queen at Rochester
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Photo postcard of Clacton Queen
 
 
Modern artistic postcard of Clacton Queen
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Queen of the Channel (1)
(The New Medway SP Co: 1935-1940)
 
In 1935, the magnificent diesel vessel Queen of the Channel (1) joined the fleet for longer services, and a second larger vessel was ordered, reportedly to be named Continental Queen. The New Medway Steam Packet Company was taken over by the General Steam Navigation in 1936 giving them a monopoly of the Thames excursion business. The new diesel vessel on order was delivered as the Royal Sovereign (3), and served Oostende. Unfortunately, both the Queen of the Channel (1) and Royal Sovereign (3) were lost in 1940.
 
 
Official postcard of Queen of the Channel
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Official postcard of Queen of the Channel
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Postcard of Queen of the Channel
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Postcard of Queen of the Channel at Ostend
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Photo postcard of Queen of the Channel
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Postcard of Queen of the Channel at Clacton
Card wrongly titled Maid of the Channel
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Photo postcard of Queen of the Channel
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Royal Sovereign (3)
(1937-1940)
 
Royal Sovereign (3) was built in 1936. She had been ordered by The New Medway SP Co and was reputedly to be named Continental Queen. Despite the GSN name, she was registered as a New Medway vessel. She was mined and sunk near Barry in 1940. She pioneered the use of wide sponsons, repeated on subsequent GSN deliveries.
 
 
Postcard of Royal Sovereign (3) leaving Oostende
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Official postcard of Royal Sovereign (3)
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Official postcard of Royal Sovereign (3)
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Official postcard of Royal Sovereign (3)
Sponsons clearly visible
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Rochester Queen (2)
(1947-1960)
 
The Rochester Queen (2) was one of four LCG(M)(1) Class (Landing Craft gun, Medium Mark 1) conversions undertaken by the Jake Bolson Shipyard in Poole after the Second World War. Three vessels were used by the associated Bolson excursion boat company as the Bournemouth Skylark 4, 5 & 6, whilst the fourth became the Rochester Queen (2). She operated on the Medway and Thames on New Medway SP Co routes until 1956 when she was sold for coastal use in Germany as the Hein Mück. In 1961 she passed to Commodore Shipping as the Commodore Queen, and used for services in the Channel Islands. She spent a further 3 years in the Channels Islands as Jersey Queen with Jersey Car Ferries before leaving to work in Nigeria.
 
 
Postcard of Rochester Queen (2) at Clacton.
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Postcard of Rochester Queen (2) at Southend.
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Modern art postcard of Rochester Queen (2)
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