' RMS Queen Mary ' sails from Southampton on maiden voyage . Cheered by a quarter of a million people filling every available inch of the dockes . ' Queen Mary ' , 80 , 000 ton pride of the British Merchant Navy , sailed from Southampton on her maiden voyage to America . She was ' dressed over all ' with flags and hundreds of boats scurried around her as she moved away . Photo shows , ' RMS Queen Mary ' , leaving her berth watched by the great crowds at Southampton . 27 May 1936 27 May 1936 *** Local Caption ***