Duke And Duchess Of Gloucester Tour Flooded Areas: Inspect Earith Gap In Banks Of The River Ouse In Fenland -- The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (fireground) leaving after inspecting the Earith Gap, in the banks of the River Ouse, at Bluntisham, (Cambridgeshire). The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester inspected the flooded areas bear Ely, Cambridgeshire, and inspected the Earith Gap,in the banks of the River Ouse, at Bluntisham, where flood water poured through and inundated many square miles of the Fenland. district,causing millions of pounds worth of damage to the surrounding countryside. Troops have fought for weeks stem the breach in the banks, and eventually the Gap was closed by placing Neptune tanks in position against the floodwater. March 30, 1947.