Sailor Gallery

The Fat Boy of Peckham and his father

John Trundley, or sometimes, Trunley (1898 - 1944), known as the Fat Boy of Peckham appearing with his father on the front cover of The Tatler magazine in 1903 when he was aged five and already weighed 10 stone, 4lb. Unable to walk to school, London County Council proposed to run a tramway an additional 400 yards to Reddin's School so that John could receive an education, a decision criticised by Lord Northcliffe. Trundley lived to adulthood, married and had children, but died in an air raid in 1944. Date: 1903

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Ships trapped in Suez Canal, Six-Day War

Fifteen ships trapped in the Suez Canal as a result of the Six-Day War (5-10 June 1967) between Israel and Egypt. Although the war was short, the Canal was blocked at both ends and the ships were trapped in the Great Bitter Lake section between 1967 and 1975. The ships were nicknamed the Yellow Fleet because of the desert sand which covered them as time went on. Crew members of different nationalities got together to provide mutual support, organising social events, sporting competitions, film screenings, church services, etc. Seen here is a merchant ship, the Scottish Star (Blue Star Line). Date: 1970s

© Mary Evans Picture Library/DAVID LEWIS HODGSON

Tatler cover - Gabrielle Chanel & Alain Gerbault

Front cover of The Tatler featuring a snapshot taken at Eaton Hall, Cheshire seat of the Duke of Westminster, where Alain Gerbault, captain of the Firecrest and French lawn tennis star, was staying. Picture taken shortly after his attempt to sail around the world in 1929. Pictured with him is French fashion designer Gabrielle Coco Chanel, with whom the Duke enjoyed a romantic liaison during this period. Date: 1929

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans