Timeline 1929 - 1936

April 3, 1929:

At Cunard Line´s annual meeting, Chairman Sir Thomas Royden makes the first official announcement that "the question of new tonnage is one constantly in our minds."

May 28, 1930:

Cunard Line announces that John Brown & Company, LTD., of Clydebank, Scotland, had been selected as builder of the new liner.

December 1, 1930:

First keel plate is laid for job #534 at John Brown Shipyard.

June 30, 1931:

Work is begun on the new Southampton dry dock, to be known as the King George V Graving Dock.

December 11, 1931:

Work is halted on Job #534 due to the Depression and an inability to secure further bank loans. The hull plating is 80 percent completed, and the ship stands nine stories high.

July 26, 1933:

The King George V Graving Dock is officially opened with King George V and Queen Mary steaming into the dry dock aboard the Royal Yacht, VICTORIA AND ALBERT. The dock is the largest in the world at the time. It is 1,200 feet long, 135 feet wide at its entrance, 59 feet deep, holds 58 million gallons of water, and can hold any ship up to 100,000 tons.

January 1, 1934:

The effective date for transferring the assets of the Cunard Steamship Company and the White Star Line, to the newly formed Cunard White Star, LTD. Cunard was credited with 62 percent of the share capital, and White Star with 38 percent

March 27, 1934:

The North Atlantic Shipping (Advances) bill is passed. The British Treasury makes advances of L (use British Pound symbol) 4,500,000 toward the completion of #534, and authority was to be sought to make an advance not to exceed L (use British Pound symbol) 5,000,000 for a second liner.

April 3, 1934:

After 28 months, construction is resumed on Job #534

May 11, 1934:

Merger takes place between Cunard Lineard White Star Line.

September 26, 1934:

Job #534 is launched, and named THE QUEEN MARY by Her Majesty Queen Mary, accompanied by His Majesty King George V. The ship is moved to the nearby fitting out basin.

September 28, 1934:

Installation of boilers begins around this date.

November 6, 1935:

Installation of engines and almost all of the heavy machinery is completed. Funnels and both masts are in position.

March 5, 1936:

King Edward VIII makes inspection tour of the ship.

March 24, 1936:

THE QUEEN MARY departs John Brown Shipyard, steaming down the Clyde River to Gourock, Scotland. The ship goes aground twice despite prior dredging of the river and her shallow draft. Anchor trials and adjustment of the magnetic compasses are made off Gourock. Twenty of THE QUEEN MARY´s lifeboats were left off the ship to save weight. Since they were manufactured in Gourock, the lifeboats were lifted into their davits upon THE QUEEN MARY´s arrival.

March 24 - 26, 1936:

Preliminary speed trials are made on the way to Southampton

March 27 - April 8, 1936:

Dry docked in King George V Graving Dock.

April 15 - 19, 1936:

Official speed trials are held in the Irish Sea off the Isle of Arran. British Olympic runner Lord Burghley runs one lap (400 yards) in evening dress around the Promenade Deck in under 60 seconds.

May 12, 1936:

Noon: The ship is officially handed over from John Brown Shipyard to Cunard White Star Line.

May 25, 1936:

King Edward VIII, Her Majesty Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth (now the Queen), the Duke and Duchess of York (soon to be King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester visit the ship. Queen Mary presents her personal standard to the ship. It was displayed at the head of the main staircase on Promenade Deck and is now located on board the Queen Elizabeth 2.

May 27, 1936:

THE QUEEN MARY departs Southampton at 4:33 p.m. on her maiden voyage, arriving in Cherbourg, France at 8:47 p.m. and departing at 12:39 a.m. the following morning.

June 1, 1936:

Arrival at Pier 90 in New York at 4:20 p.m. Crossing time (Bishop Rock to Ambrose Light Vessel): 5 days, 5 hours and 13 minutes.

August 19 - 31, 1936:

On her sixth round-trip voyage, THE QUEEN MARY wins the Blue Riband for the fastest North Atlantic crossings from the French Line´s Normandie. The Normandie won the honor back in 1937.