Throughout history the River Thames has played an important part in the capital and the country, both commercial and commemorative events, state funerals, pageants, firework displays and, of course, coronations.

I found an interesting article in the Daily Mail, dated Wednesday, April 21, 1937, entitled The King's Ships on the Thames.

I shall copy the piece from the paper as it reflects the feelings of the time towards the Royal Navy, and the King's forthcoming coronation: "The Thames is coming into its own during Coronation Week. It will also recapture some of its old time importance as a processional route and venue for pageantry and merry making.

"From Chelsea to the Nore it will be ablaze by night and full of activity by day. Units of the Fleet are to be stationed along its length.

"Off Gravesend floating hotels will be the liners, California (16,792tons), Yorkshire (10,183tons), Orion (23,371tons), Kungsholm (20,067tons) full of Swedish visitors, Voltaire (13,245tons) and Queen of the Channel (1,162tons) and the Polish liner Pilsudski to be anchored off Greenwich.

"Between May 7 and 13 the greater part of the home fleet will be in the Thames estuary and along the river up to Tower Bridge. The giant battleship Nelson, flagship of the fleet Rodney, Resolution, Royal Sovereign, Royal Oak, Ramillies and Revenge. And the aircraft carrier Courageous anchored between the Nore and Southend, destroyers Boadicea and Bulldog off Southend Pier. At Tilbury dock the submarines Narwhal and Electra and the submarine depot ship Lucia anchored off Tilbury cargo jetty.

"The cruisers Southampton and Newcastle with the destroyer Crusader and the Netlayer Guardian all anchored in Gravesend reach.

"At Greenhithe will be the destroyers Express and Esk with the Echo and Eclipse berthed at Erith tier, and the Escapade at East Woolwich.

"Another vessel of historic interest which will be on view on Coronation day is the Royal Daffodil, the little vessel which took part in the attack on Zeebrugge. She has been fitted out as a grandstand and chartered by the P.L.A. for the convenience of guests who will be able to watch the Royal Procession along the Victoria Embankment, after the Daffodil will be employed taking overseas visitors on tours of the port and docks which is the greatest port in the Empire."

Just two years after this grand pageant the country was at war and all of those warships would see action, many brave sailors would lose their lives and many warships would be lost.

At the time one could see the Royal Navy in all its glory along the Thames for King George VI's coronation. I wonder how many Gravesend people who are alive today remember those happy days before the war?