Images Dated 6th March 2014

A Sea Hurricane being loaded onto an armed merchant ship at Cardiff docks, c.1941

As well as assisting in the transportation of military goods by rail the GWR also facilitated the war effort at their docks. This fascinating image from c.1941 shows a Sea Hurricane being loaded onto an armed merchant ship at the GWR docks in Cardiff. Once on board, the Sea Hurricane would eventually be attached to a catapult, seen here on the deck of the ship. In the absence of a runway the catapult fired the Sea Hurricane at high speed into the air, but unless a nearby aircraft carrier or airstrip was on hand to receive a return landing, the Hurricanes (their pilots having already ejected) would often ditch in the sea

Welding Containers for Bombs, K Shop, 1940

Some rather intricate hot work is taking place in this photograph taken in K Shop, the Coppersmiths, in November 1940. The men are welding exploder containers for 250lb bombs that were ordered by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Airborne attacks during the war were extensive and hugely damaging, and Swindon Works helped to fulfil the requirements for a number of size bombs used by the Royal Air Force and the Allied forces. The 250lb bombs were typically used by the British Spitfire

© STEAM Museum of the GWR

Britain-Animal-Crufts

A Dogue De Bordeaux dog waits its turn to be shown during the first day of Crufts on March 6, 2014 in Birmingham central England. The annual event sees dog breeders from around the world compete in a number of competitions with one dog going on to win the "Best in Show" category. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATES

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