About Us
Saving The Crete Fleet
My aim is to create awareness of the Life and Times of a unique fleet of 64 concrete ships that were commissioned by the British Government during World War I and launched between 1918 and 1920 after the Armistice was signed and the war was over. A number of these vessels still exist but most are lost forever. This website is to highlight the plight of the few remaining Crete vessels in the hope that greater awareness will stimulate greater interest and ideally, commitment to restore what remains today of this fleet.
The subject matter is the topic of a forthcoming book by Richard G Lewis entitled 'The Life and Times of The Crete Fleet'
Our History
I was intrigued by the presence of a remarkable concrete boat - Cretegaff - moored in Carlingford Marina near where I live. This stimulated a research project which in turn led to a mission to find out what happened to the others. Cretegaff was known as 'Lady Boyne' when she resided in Drogheda for over half a century and I think the story of her 'Life and Times' needs to be told.
Get Involved
I am appealing for recollections, stories and photographs that can be used on this website and in my forthcoming book. If you have a photo, painting, drawing, poem - you name it - that you are happy to be presented here, you can join up or just mail lewisrichardg@gmail.com. Your photos and anything else you contribute will be credited to the owner / author / artist whenever possible. Some photos are just 'on the net' !
The Crete Fleet
A unique fleet of 64concrete ships launched and completed between 1918 and 1920