// javascript file for Queensferry History Group
// version 1.0 5th July 2004
// FSH
news = new Array ("Visit our Gallery to find out more about South Queensferry",
"Meetings - Thursdays - 7.30 p.m. - Queensferry Museum basement",
"Help us track down the men who died building the Forth Bridge",
"See our Publications section to learn about Queensferry's past");
newsCnt = news.length;
thisNews = 0;
jump="contacts.html";
function messages()
{
setTimeout("messages();",3500);
thisNews++;
if (thisNews == newsCnt)
thisNews = 0;
var timeText = (news[thisNews]);
document.getElementById('printMessage').firstChild.nodeValue=timeText;
}
var message="Please Respect Our Copyright";
function clickIE4()
{
if (event.button==2)
{
alert(message);
return false;
}
}
function clickNS4(e)
{
if (document.layers||document.getElementById&&!document.all)
{
if (e.which==2||e.which==3)
{
alert(message);
return false;
}
}
}
if (document.layers)
{
document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
document.onmousedown=clickNS4;
}
else if (document.all&&!document.getElementById){
document.onmousedown=clickIE4;
}
document.oncontextmenu=new Function("alert(message); return false")
count = 0; //click counter
sizes=60;
function setWidth() {
var x=document.images
x[0].width=sizes;
sizes+=8;
count+=1;
if(count<16)
setTimeout("setWidth()", 16);
}
function textPrint(item) {
if(item == 1)
{
textStuff.innerHTML="1850's - Royal Naval guardships are regularly stationed off" +
" Queensferry. Port Edgar pier in use as a Fleet landing place."+
"
1878- The North British Railway open a rail ferry link between the west breakwater "+
"at Port Edgar and the Town Pier at North Queensferry. Completing the Edinburgh to "+
"Dunfermline line. The Royal Navy are later to make full use of the rail head."+
" It's existence is vital in shaping Port Edgar's future."+
"
1891-1906 - HMS CALEDONIA, a boy cadet training ship is moored off Port Edgar. "+
"A total of 600 boys could be accommodated."+
"
1905 - The Royal Naval Hospital South Queensferry is commissioned at Butlaw."+
"
1909 - Work commences on the construction of Rosyth Naval Base.";
image="HMS Caledonia1.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
HMS CALEDONIA";
}
if(item == 2)
{
textStuff.innerHTML="1916 - The Admiralty acquire Port Edgar and"+
" adjacent land. Site is developed as a Torpedo Boat Destoyer Depot. Complete with it's own oil fuelling "+
" and repair facility. After the Battle of Jutland, the dead and wounded personnel are landed at the base."+
" To see graves and Memorial visit local cemetery in Kirkliston Road. "+
"
1917 - Port Edgar is commissioned as HMS COLUMBINE , under the command of Captain Cherry R. N. A total of 66"+
" destroyers can be accommodated in the pens
. Grand Fleet destroyers include 'M', 'R' and 'V' and 'W' classes."+
" November - Royal Navy's Grand Fleet engage warships of the German High Seas Fleet , Port Edgar based destroyers"+
" in action."+
"
1918 - The surrendered German High Seas Fleet is escorted into the Firth of Forth in preparation for internment"+
" at Scapa Flow. Port Edgar destroyers provide escort for 50 German destroyers."+
"
1919 - A mutiny takes place aboard destroyers of the First Flotilla. Crews object to conditions of service in"+
" the North Russia campaign, and refuse to set sail. Port Edgar crews assemble at Edinburgh Waverley in an attempt"+
" to travel to London and see the Prime Minister. A number are arrested and later court martialled.";
image="port edgar1 copy.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
DESTROYER PENS - PORT EDGAR";
}
if(item == 3)
{
textStuff.innerHTML="1924-1926 - Captain Andrew Browne Cunningham as Commanding Officer at Port Edgar. Later to take his place"+
" in history as Commander in Chief Naval Forces Mediterranean during World War Two, and later Admiral of the Fleet."+
"
1928-1938 - HMS COLUMBINE, destroyer base and the naval hospital at Butlaw are closed. Port Edgar is "+
" placed under care and maintenance. Closure of base is unpopular as a number of local people make their "+
" living at the base. In 1938 a hospital is established in the ex destroyer base barracks."+
"
1939 - Following the outbreak of war, Port Edgar base is brought alive again as HMS LOCHINVAR, a training "+
" establishment for officers and men of the R.N. Patrol Service. "+
"
October - German air force attacks shipping in the Firth Of Forth.The first air raid on British mainland "+
" of the war. Near miss on the Forth Bridge, three warships are damaged and sustain casualties.The naval "+
" hospital at Port Edgar treats wounded personnel.";
image="minesweeper2.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
MINESWEEPING IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH";
}
if(item == 4)
{
textStuff.innerHTML="1943 - The base commissions as HMS HOPETOUN, a Combined Operations" +
" Training Centre. HMS LOCHINVAR minesweeping training transfers to Granton Harbour, Edinburgh. Port Edgar " +
" is packed with landing craft their crews training with Force 'S' in preparation for the Normandy landings " +
" of June 1944. " +
"
1946 - HMS LOCHINVAR returns to Port Edgar. Mine clearance of the Firth of Forth and the east coast is " +
" coordinated and carried out from the base. " +
"
1948 - The base becomes a minesweeping Trials and Experimentation Establishment." +
"
1958 - The Fishery Protection Squadron is moved from the River Humber to Port Edgar." +
"
1960 - As HMS LOCHINVAR, the base becomes responsible for all minesweeping training. During the 1960's a " +
" number of live minesweeping operations are carried out by Port Edgar based vessels, off mainland Europe " +
" clearing up the legacy of WWII minelaying. " +
"
1962 - His Majesty King Olav of Norway visits Queensferry and Port Edgar he reviews ships of the Scottish " +
" Command . During World War Two King Olav whilst in exile, led his navy from Queensferry, their HQ being " +
" the current Council Offices in the High Street.";
image="ton class2.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
TON CLASS MINESWEEPERS BERTHED ON MAIN JETTY";
}
if(item == 5)
{
textStuff.innerHTML="1974 - Port Edgar based vessels engaged in mine clearance of " +
" the Suez Canal following the Arab Israeli War." +
"
1975 - The new Fleet base opens at Rosyth Naval Base. After almost 75 years service Port Edgar base is closed " +
" down. HMS LOCHINVAR, Port Edgar vessels and personnel transfer across to Rosyth. " +
"
1978 - Lothian Regional Council purchase site from the Ministry of Defence, site is developed as a Marina. " +
" Today Port Edgar continues as a large watersports centre . It is managed by Edinburgh Leisure on behalf of " +
" Edinburgh City Council. There have been plans to further develop Port Edgar these have been met with some " +
" controversy. The debate continues. Meanwhile enjoy it's history.";
image="PE jetty2.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
THE MAIN JETTY PORT EDGAR";
}
if(item == 6)
{
textStuff.innerHTML=" 'Let there be a way through the water' " +
"
The cairn situated at the foot of the main jetty was erected by the Algerines Association in 1988. " +
" Algerines were a class of fleet minesweeper, many sailed from Port Edgar during and after World War Two. " +
" The cairn is dedicated to the men and ships of the Royal and Allied Navies who learned their trade at HMS " +
" LOCHINVAR. Port Edgar and Granton. Also to those who served 1945 To 1975, in the Minewarfare and Fishery " +
" Protection Services.";
image="algerine1.jpg";
picture1.innerHTML="
" +
"
ALGERINE MEMORIAL CAIRN";
}
}
function showImage(photo)
{
imageWindow2 = window.open("", "newWin2", "resizable=yes, scrollbars=yes, width=800, height=600");
imageWindow2.document.write("Image Window<\/title><\/head><body background='back5.jpg'><\/body><\/html>");
imageWindow2.document.write("<a href='javascript:window.close();'><img src='" + photo + "' alt='enlarged photo' title='click to return' width='100%' \/><\/a><br \/><br \/>");
imageWindow2.document.write("<div align='center'><input type='button' value='Close' onclick='javascript:window.close();'><\/input><\/div>");
imageWindow2.document.close();
}
function showImage2(photo)
{
imageWindow2 = window.open("", "newWin2", "resizable=yes, scrollbars=yes, width=800, height=600");
imageWindow2.document.write("<html><head><title>Image Window 2<\/title><\/head><body background='back5.jpg'><\/body><\/html>");
imageWindow2.document.write("<div align='center'><a href='javascript:window.close();'><img src='" + photo + "' alt='enlarged photo' title='click to return' height='500px' \/><\/a><\/div><br \/><br \/>");
imageWindow2.document.write("<div align='center'><input type='button' value='Close' onclick='javascript:window.close();'><\/input><\/div>");
imageWindow2.document.close();
}
horizont=140;
vert=300;
function textPrint2(item) {
if(item == 1) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="Height above high-water is 361 feet."
}
if(item == 2) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="Length, including approach viaducts, is just over one and a half miles."
}
if(item == 3) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The main spans are 1710 feet, below which the shipping channels have" +
"clearance of 150 feet, and are over 200 feet deep."
}
if(item == 4) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The rail viaduct is 157 feet high and was assembled at sea level and " +
"jacked up three inches at a time."
}
if(item == 5) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The deepest underwater foundation is 91 feet."
}
if(item == 6) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="Six and a half million rivets were used."
}
if(item == 7) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The cost of construction was three and a quarter million pounds."
}
if(item == 8) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="57 lives were lost during construction. To date no memorial has been erected to honour those killed."
}
if(item == 10) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="Two lives were lost in the pressurised underwater caissons and one foreign worker was sent home insane."
}
if(item == 12) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="Occasional visitors to the caissons included, crabs, lobster, salmon and on one occasion an octopus." +
"<br />Amethysts and pearls were found in the boulder clay when digging the foundations for the South" +
" Queensferry Cantilever."
}
if(item == 13) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The painting of the Bridge's 145 acre surface has become an analogy for never- ending tasks."
}
if(item == 14) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="William Arrol, as well as supervising his Glasgow works which covered 20 acres and employed 5000 " +
"workers, also worked on the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge, the second Tay Bridge, Tower Bridge " +
"London, all at the same time. His company was also part of the consortium which built the Forth Road Bridge " +
"74 years later." +
"<br />Arrol also served as M.P. for South Ayrshire." +
" Notable achievements for someone who left school at the age of nine."
}
if(item == 15) {
bridgeText.innerHTML="The final "Golden Rivet" was inserted at the opening ceremony by "The" +
" "Prince of Wales" on the 4th of March 1890."
}
}
ferry_count = 0; //click counter
ferry_horizont=150;
ferry_vert=320;
ferry_sizes=100;
function moveFerry() {
var x=document.images
x[1].style.left=ferry_horizont;
x[1].width=ferry_sizes;
x[1].style.top=ferry_vert;
ferry_sizes+=.24;
ferry_horizont+=.3;
ferry_vert+=.3;
ferry_count+=1;
if(ferry_count<192)
setTimeout("moveFerry()", 20);
}