BZ to Captain Haddock for a tip that the Imperial War Museum North (Manchester) is putting on, from today until the 5th August 2011, an exhibition called “All Aboard: Stories of War at Sea”.

“Jump aboard and test your sea legs at this major new exhibition for all the family. Be inspired by incredible stories of bravery, survival and adventure. Get hands on and explore how people live and serve at sea in wartime. Discover how your life is shaped by living on an island and our dependence on the sea.


This major new interactive exhibition for all the family is Imperial War Museum’s first large-scale exhibition to reveal the unique experiences of life at sea in wartime. Through eye witness accounts and stories of adventure, bravery, loyalty and teamwork – vividly brought to life through artefacts and audio-visual material – visitors of all ages will discover the qualities required to survive the hardships and danger of life at sea. The exhibition will look at what was it like to be in the Navy during wartime and how has this experience changed – or remained the same – over the last 100 years. A great free day out for families, the exhibition also examines the diversity of roles at sea and reveals how conflict both on the surface and underwater has shaped the story of the British Isles from the First World War to the present day.”

There’s also a collection of medals of an amazing man on diplay…. Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC who was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War. Leonard Cheshire also founded the Cheshire Homes (now the Leonard Cheshire Disability) charity while his wife, Margaret Susan Cheshire, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw and Baroness Cheshire, CMG, OBE, who worked with the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War, founded the Sue Ryder Foundation (later the Sue Ryder Care charity). Definitely two of life’s great achievers.


The ship used as an illustration for this post is HMS Glasgow; and those who know TheEye personally will know exactly why…

Images from the Imperial War Museum and commentary by Amanda Mason. Go and see the real thing! (the pictures, not necessarily Amanda Mason)