The story by C.S. Forester is loosely based on actual events which involved the twin screw steamer Cecil Rhodes pictured above , built by Forrestt &sons ltd At Wivenhoe..
The vessel now rests at the bottom of lake Tanganyika and is the only divable war wreck in Zambia.
The German ship involved in her sinking(named Louisa) in the film.was still afloat in 2008.
Originally the steamer was built for the Tanganyika Concessions Ltd of London to build the Cape to Cairo Telegraph line.
After being built the ship was dismantled and the parts were shipped to Africa. The sections were no more than 32kgs. as they had to be ported over the non navigable sections of the of the Zambesi and shire rivers.
Wivenhoe Memories collection.
Information the late Bill Ellis.
Picture by the Nottage Institute
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