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| The QE2 passes Bembridge ledge with the wreck of The Empress Queen in the foreground, and the West Princessa buoy to the right of the picture |
The Empress Queen
The Empress Queen was launched in 1897 for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited and was at 372ft long, with a gross tonnage of 2140 the biggest cross-channel paddle steamer in British waters. Her mighty triple-expansion engine could carry her 2000 passengers at over 21 knots. She was a record breaker, crossing from Liverpool Rock to Douglas Head (on the Isle of Man) in 2 hours 57 minutes.
The Empress Queen was taken into Government service in 1915 as a troop ship, but ran aground, in fog, on Bembridge Ledge at the beginning of February 1916. The Bembridge Lifeboat Queen Victoria made a series of dangerous and difficult rescue attempts. On the third trip the lifeboat collided with the ledge and was damaged, however she made a fourth trip and in all rescued all 110 men on board along with the ship's cat and dog. The lifeboat Coxswain John Holbrook was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
Part of the Empress Queen's superstructure can be seen clearly at low tide.
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| The QE2 passes Bembridge ledge with the wreck of The Empress Queen in the foreground, and the West Princessa buoy to the right of the picture |
