Material
on RMS Medina from P&O Company files:
Passenger
liner, P&O Service 1911-1917, built by Caird & Co.,
at Greenock, registry number 131849, tonnage 12,350, length
167.58m, Brreadth 19.13m, depth 10.5m, two quadruple expansion
steam engines, power 14,000 ihp, 2 screws, speed 16.5 knots,
passenger capacity - 450 first class, 220 second class. Employed
on London Australia mail service.”
Career:
-
launched
14.3.1911 as member of 10 strong M class at a cost of £332,377.
-
26.4.1911
announcement that she would be used as the Royal Yacht to
transport King George V and Queen Mary to India for the Imperial
Delhi Durbar.
-
10.10.1911
Commissioned as RMS Medina.
-
11.11.1911.
Sailed for Bombay escorted by Cruisers Argyll, Natal, Cochrane
and Defence. Had white livery with a blue band - and an extra
third mast borrowed from P&O steamer Nankin to act as
a flagmast.
-
2.12.1911
arrived at Bombay.
-
10.1.1912
left Bombay on return voyage.
-
5.2.1912
arrived back at Plymouth.
-
28.6.1912
begins normal commercial service to Australia.
-
28.4.1917
Torpedoed by submarine UB.31 25 km ENE of Start Point at Plymouth.
Fourth Engineer and four fireman killed at 5.50pm but remaining
crew and all passengers all towed on lifeboats into Dartmouth
and Brixham. Destroyers Spitfire and Laurel attended and Laurel
attempted a tow, but Medina sank at 7.15pm.
