Built
by Fairfield Govan for Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company in 1911
she was launched 13th May 1911 as a passenger vessel and completed
August 1911. Her gross tonnage was 8,006 tons. She served in the Royal
Navy from 24th September 1914 to 9th September 1919 and was used as
a hospital ship at Gallipoli 1915. She was torpedoed on 31st March
1917, while carrying 399 casualties, 300 of these were cot cases.
All but one were saved but three died during the transfer. She was
eventually towed back to Southampton a fortnight later and repaired.
During World War 2, in July 1942, she was posted missing and it was
not until the end of the war that it was known that she had been sunk
on 16th July at approx. 08.00S 01.00E by the German surface raider
"Michel". A total of 92 passengers and crew were killed.
Two lifeboats containing 61 people were picked up by the raider and
taken to Japan as prisoners of which two died in captivity.
Source:
Clyde
Built Database
