SS Zealandic

SS Zealandic

October 1941 Imperial War Museum photo A 5915
History
Name	SS Zealandic
Owner	Oceanic Steam Navigation Co.
Builder	Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	421
Launched	29 Jun 1911
Completed	12 Oct 1911
In service	30 Oct 1911
Out of service	9 Apr 1941
Fate	Struck a sunken wreck off Cromer on 3 June 1941 and then torpedoed by E-boat
General characteristics
Type	passenger liner / cargo
Tonnage	10,897tons
Length	477 ft (145.39m)
Beam	62 ft 9 in
Depth	31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion	twin screw
Speed	13 knots
Capacity	100 x 1st; 45 x 2nd; 800 Steerage class

Remarks

Built for the White Star Line to be used on the Liverpool to New Zealand route. She also was chartered to carry immigrants to Australia.

On 2 July 1915 she had a close encounter with German submarine U-39 which pursued her; the ship's speed enabling her to escape. She remained in White Star Line service on the route until 27 Jul 1917 when she was commandeered by the Royal Navy under the liner reqisition Scheme for the transportation of troops.

On 15 June 1919, she was released from military service and returned to the White Star Line. The SS Zealandic was awarded a £6,350 sum following the successful rescue of disabled sailing vessel Garthsnaid in 1923, towing it to safety between Cape Howe and Melbourne. Sold to the Aberdeen Line in 1926 who named her Mamilius, and then back to the Shaw Savill & Albion Line in 1932 to be renamed again, this time to Mamari.

Sold in September 1939 to the British Admiralty for military service, she was refitted to look like the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. Attacked by German aircraft off the English coast near Cromer, Norfolk, she struck a submerged wreck and went aground on 8 April 1941. Before she could be rescued she was attacked and destroyed by German E-boats. The ruse had obviously worked.

Soldiers carried

England to Fremantle 27 March - 5 May 1920

• Gordon Devereux MM with wife and daughter