Victoria Embankment (16173219432)

In the week from Saturday 17th July to Saturday 24th July 1909, ships from the Home and Atlantic Fleets were moored along the Thames from Westminster Bridge to the Nore Lightship in the estuary, some forty miles. The larger ships, the Battleships and HMS Dreadnought were moored near Southend and the smaller ships further upstream. This photograph shows Torpedo Boats moored at Westminster Pier, but there were also four submarines, two moored opposite the Houses of Parliament and two along Victoria Embankment. It was the first time there had been a Naval Pageant of such magnitude on the Thames. The timing of the pageant was thought by some to be linked with the vote in the House of Commons due on the 22nd July about the question of whether to build further Dreadnought class Battleships, happily the vote was passed and Britain was ready for what was to come in the First World War.