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Germans Fleeing London 1914 |
| As the summer reached its height in 1914, the talk of war
with Germany grew louder. On 2nd August 1914 the German supply
vessel 'Titania' set off from St Katharine’s Dock
overcrowded with German nationals attempting to flee London before Britain declared war.
The people of Wapping crowded St Katharines Way to watch the ship leave. They gave the
passengers and crew a "warm send off". The German vessel was to sail to Germany by the North Sea but the Royal Navy had already been mobilised and when the ship reached the North Sea it found its route cut. Plans were changed. The ship would now sail to Germany via the English Channel and around the north of Scotland. When on August 4th Britain declared war on Germany, the merchant ship was still in the English Channel. She was boarded by the Royal Navy and taken to Falmouth were the passengers and crew were duly arrested and interned. |
