HMS Dasher
By Amber-Louise Thornborrow On the 27th of March 1943, escort carrier HMS Dasher was lost in the Firth of Clyde following a sudden internal explosion. The ship sank within minutes. Of the 528 men on board, 379 were killed.…
The 1990 FV ‘Antares’ Disaster
By Amber-Louise Thornborrow The sinking of the FV Antares in November 1990 remains one of the most significant maritime tragedies in modern Scottish history. Four men died when their trawler was pulled under during a Royal Navy submarine exercise.…
Judging a (Toxic) Book by its Cover
By Kirsty Gilchrist The Scottish Maritime Museum’s current exhibition in Irvine is ‘Beneath the Waves’, which features recovered artefacts from shipwrecks, underwater photography, and artwork inspired by marine life on display until the 13th of September. An item in…
Isabella Elder – Govan Philanthropist
By Kirsty Gilchrist Isabella Elder (nee. Ure), born 15th of March 1828 in Glasgow’s Gorbals district, was a philanthropist well known for her advocation of women’s education and the welfare of the people of Govan.[1] After the death of…
Fifty Years of Jaws: Its significance in maritime history
By Amber-Louise Thornborrow It has been fifty years since Steven Spielberg’s Jaws made history as the first summer blockbuster. Based on the novel by Peter Benchley, Jaws remains creature feature royalty decades later. Iconic imagery from the film includes the…
From Ayrshire to the Arctic – The Story of Bayeskimo & Baychimo
by Kirsty Gilchrist At the beginning of 2025, the Scottish Maritime Museum received a large donation of items related to the Ardrossan based ships Bayeskimo and Baychimo. Found in the loft of a family home, the collection was donated by…
The 1969 Longhope Lifeboat Disaster
By Amber-Louise Thornborrow Fifty-six years ago, on the evening of the 17th of March 1969, the volunteer crew of the TGB lifeboat assembled, venturing out into a south-easterly force nine gale that had been battering the coast, leading to…
Women at the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank
By Martha Stockley Martha is a high school student who has a great interest in history. Martha has been volunteering at the Denny Experimental Tank in Dumbarton, and she was inspired to write her first blog about what she had…
Honouring the K13 Submarine Disaster
by Stuart Rich (Visitor Services Manager) For the Royal Navy and the still relativity young Submarine Service, the 29th of January 1917, was a dark day in its history and for the following reasons it is still remembered and honoured…
Remembering the WRNS – Student Project (Part Two)
By Sara Higson, Sara has been working with the Scottish Maritime Museum on the collection associated with Helena Adams Henry and has been investigating the important, and often overlooked, involvement of women as part of the Royal Navy. Helena…