Final berth
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Final berth

I took this pic. Summer 1947 with an old Brownie Box Camera. HMS Warspite; went aground at Prussia Cove in April 1947 having parted her tow to the breakers. She was there partly stripped of valuables etc and towed to the lee-side of St.Michael's Mount and then dismantled over several years. In the foreground is a young Newlyn maid!
Was she towed to her final resting place next to the mount or did she break her tow a sceond time and run aground there?
 
Warspite was towed from Prussia Cove to her St.Michael's Mount destination - she did not break loose a second time. There she was cut into manageable sections most of which were brought to Penzance Albert Pier by a vessel called,if I remember, Chew Magna .The pier was cluttered with scrap for years.
Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of her abeam the Mount. Anyone out there got one?
 
My write up here ....
http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~treevecwll/visitorshw.htm
 
Many thanks for your write-up which I have studied with great interest - a truly amazing record of the last voyage of Warspite . It brings back memories of my constant visits to Albert Pier when I lived in Penzance.
 
Only too glad to have been of interest, it enlivens the report to know that there is someone out there that has personal memories. :)
 
@peswar
You're right about the name of the little steam-powered tug that took workers from Albert Quay to the Warspite in Prussia Cove and towed back barge-loads of scrap metal - Chew Magna. No photos of her seem to exist. I used to go across and back on her and as a 11-year-old was allowed to take the wheel once outside the harbour (probably so that the crew could have a smoko).
 

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