Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

HM TROOPSHIP EMPIRE ORWELL

Researched & Copyright © Martin Edwards 2008

HM Troopship Empire Orwell was built in 1936 and launched as the "Pretoria". During World War 2 she operated as a hospital ship and was used for the evacuation of the Eastern territories in early 1945. Taken as a war prize in Copenhagen in May 1945 she served as the Empire Doon under Orient Line management. In 1950 she had a major refit when she was renamed the Empire Orwell and was used as a troopship to and from Korea and Malaya. She was later sold to the Blue Funnel line. Renamed yet again she became the Gunung Diati and sailed between Indonesia and Djedda as a pilgrim carrier. Sold to the Indonesian Navy she became the Tanjung Pandan troopship before finally being scrapped in 1987 in Taiwan.

Last updated 17 December, 2008