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Paddle steamer under arms CC80_00195
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Paddle steamer under arms CC80_00195
DEPTFORD CREEK, LONDON. The paddle steamer Plinlimmon (formerly Cambrai) was hired by the Ministry of War transport in 1939. She is shown here in war-time livery (J66) with a full complement of anti-aircraft guns. The General Steam Navigation Co was a steamship company founded in 1820. This shipyard was established in 1825 to build and maintain the companys paddle steamers. Deptford Power Station can be seen beyond. Photographed in 1940 by Larkin Bros
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 1956447
© Historic England
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative black-and-white photograph captures the Paddle Steamer Plinlimmon, a historic vessel with an extraordinary wartime past. Once known as the Cambrai, this steamship was originally operated by the General Steam Navigation Company (GSNC), a renowned steamship firm founded in 1820. The Deptford Creek scene in this image dates back to 1940, a time when the world was engulfed in the tumultuous events of World War II. The Plinlimmon, now donning the war-time livery J66, was hired by the Ministry of War Transport to serve a new purpose. Armed with a full complement of anti-aircraft guns, this once commercial vessel was transformed into a formidable naval asset. The shipyard in Deptford, established in 1825 to build and maintain the GSNC's paddle steamers, stands proudly in the background. The looming presence of Deptford Power Station beyond the shipyard adds to the sense of industry and determination that permeated the era. This photograph, taken by the Larkin Bros, offers a poignant glimpse into the past, showcasing the adaptability and resilience of Britain's maritime heritage during wartime.
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