TSS 'Mona's Queen (III)' off Dunkirk after striking a mine
Date(s): 29 May 1940
Scope & Content: TSS 'Mona's Queen (III)' was a ship built for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company in 1934. Just six years after being launched, she was sunk by a sea mine during the Dunkirk evacuation on 29 May 1940.
In the early hours of 29 May, the 'Mona's Queen' set sail for Dunkirk from Dover loaded with water canisters because troops on the Dunkirk beaches were short of drinking water. However, the ship struck a magnetic sea mine outside Dunkirk harbour at 5:30am. The 'Mona's Queen' sank in two minutes.
Twenty-four of the crew were lost. Of the crew who died, 14 worked in the engine room. They included the Chief and Second Engineer. Seventeen of the dead were from the Isle of Man.
#imuseumdunkirk
#imuseumdunkirkmona
Language: eng
Extent: overall: 8 cm x 13.5 cm
Physical description: black & white print
Item name: photograph
Collection: Photographic Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: PG/6651/6
Subject tags : boat, ship, sea, mine, wreck, war, dunkirk.