The Kennedy Assassination
Until the time of writing (25 Aug 2020) I believed that the shooting of John F. Kennedy would have had no impact on Caronia's history. When this page was originally drafted, according to the brochure information, the ship would have docked in Southampton and by 6.30pm on 22 November 1963 (the time of the event GMT) all the passengers dispersed, with many transferred to the Queen Elizabeth for their trip back to the USA.
Having recently added images of the daily programme cards it transpires that in reality, Caronia was only about 30 minutes out of Cherbourg and about to start an overnight traverse of the English Channel. Quite a number of passengers disembarked in Cherbourg. However, what a memory of that cruise did those remaining on board the Caronia have?
So, there are many questions that arise. The time on board ship would be half an hour into the one hour clock stoppage to accord with GMT. Passengers would be coming down to the restaurants to have their dinner an hour after the event. The “Strolling Minstrels” would have finished their perambulation.
So, this is now pure guesswork on my part, but my knowledge of the ship gives me several clues. In the the drawer of the Maître'D's desk was a very rarely blown “emergency whistle”, used to draw attention at key moments. It's probable that the Captains would address their respective restaurants and outline their intentions.
There is no doubt that instead of heading to the dry-dock as I'd originally thought, this evening's meal on board would have proved to be the most evocative in Caronia's entire career, even rivalling that of the Yokohama accident! Everyone of a certain age will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that fateful day.
However, it must be remembered that communications in those days were archaic when compared to the devices we now wear! In those days, a “computer” was a device which occupied a large room and its operation was controlled by folded cards with punched holes…
Obviously, with the loss of a widely respected World leader in such circumstances, the shock was profound! This as much upon the Brits in the crew as the mostly American passengers, though with different perspectives. Probably the first casualty was cancellation of that evening's movie and making the ship's theatre the place of remembrance. I wonder if a Book of Condolences was offered, I imagine it would be.
Personally, I was a boy rating on a different ship, but I remember the crew bars being shut for 2 days and the atmosphere change on board being palpable for several days more. It's research that I'm very late in trying to secure having been misled by brochure timings for such a long while.
If you can contribute any information, do please get in touch…
