Canvey Island lies in the Thames River estuary in Essex. In the 1930s, it became the site of a popular seaside resort, with a casino, an amusement arcade, and a park.
Frank Robbins refers to his father having be lost when his ship was sunk on 17 September 1939. This likely refers to HMS Courageous, the only major Royal Navy vessel lost on that date. She was sunk by German submarine U-29 off the cost of Ireland with the loss of 519 of her crew.