A1    HYMETTUS
1906-37
4,606 gross tons. Lb: 122 x 15.9 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship built 1906 by Palmers at Jarrow for Archibald Currie & Co, Melbourne (Currie Line). Single screw, triple expansion engine making 12 knots.
1913 sold with fleet to the British India SN Co Ltd, London.

1914 leased by the Commonwealth until 15 May 1917. Under command of Major A A Holdsworth, embarked 5 Officers, 106 troops of the 1st AIF at Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Simultaneously carried over 686 horses of the 1st Australian Division from Australia to Egypt

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

FURTHER TRANSPORT VOYAGES

From 5th February 1915 up to and including 3rd February 1917 transported four Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements, nine Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements & Medical Officers


Handed back to owners 15 May 1917. 1925 sold to Harada Kisen, Japan & renamed Seiun Maru. 28 July 1937 involved in a collision with the Benmohr off Choshi and, sank next day at 36.16N/141.17E

image personal collection

A2    GEELONG
1904-16
7,954 gross tons, 5030 net. Lb: 450'3" x 54'6" (137.2 x 16.6 metres). Two x three cylinder triple expansion steam engines, 4150ihp, twin screws, 14 knots. Passenger Liner, laid down on the stocks and launched as 'Australia'. Name changed upon completion in 1904 to 'Geelong' as built by Barclay Curle, Whiteinch Glasgow for W Lund's Blue Anchor Line. Accomodation for 90 saloon and 450 third class passengers. Company and fleet taken over by the P&O SN Co, London 2nd May 1910 and retained on the Britain - Australian emigrant service via Cape of Good Hope

August 1914 leased by the Commonwealth for Troop Transport Duties

Underwent conversion at Melbourne to carry 62 officers and 1539 other ranks

20 October 1914 embarked the 3rd Light Horse Regiment (Tasmanian contingent) being "C" Squadron, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery, 3rd Brigade Ammunition Column (1) 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, 12th Infantry Battalion (Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia) 3rd Infantry Brigade & 9th Field Artillery Battery (Tasmania) 3rd Field Artillery (Army) Brigade at Hobart

22 September 1914 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery & 3rd Field Company (Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania) First Division at Melbourne

embarked at Hobart or Melbourne - 2 nurses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Further Troop embarkations from 29 May 1915 - 18 November 1915 included Signal Company (2) Second Division, five Infantry Battalions five Light Horse Regiments, three Infantry Battalions including 32nd Battalion (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) & Medical Officers

1st January 1916 collided with ss Bonvilston in the Mediterranean and sunk (32.46N/30.05E ) approx 100 miles North of Alexandria, en-route from Sydney via Port Said to Gibraltar and London with general cargo including tea and lead. Her crew was rescued

A3    ORVIETO
1909-31
12,130 gross tons. Lb: 163.2 x 19.5 metres. Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 18 knots. Passenger steamship built 1909 by Workman & Clark, Glasgow for the Orient S N Co Ltd, London. Serviced the Australia run. Her maiden voyage began from London on November 26th, the beginning of four years of service on the mail run to Brisbane, and service as a passenger liner. In 1913 she became the first Orient Line vessel to berth at the newly opened New Farm Wharf in Brisbane

Leased by the Commonwealth until 29 December 1914

After two months in Sydney dock being fitted out as a troop transport, she sailed for Egypt with 91 officers and 1,347 men of the AIF (Australian Imperial Force), as part of a convoy of 36 ships escorted by Royal Navy and Japanese cruisers, including HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney. On board the Orvieto were Major General W T Bridges and his staff of the 1st Division. This included his chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel (later General) C B B White, Major (later Major General) J. Gellibrand, Lieutenant (later Lord) R G Casey and official correspondent C E W Bean. The ship also carried the 5th Infantry Battalion and 2nd Field Company. Orvieto was the first ship of the convoy to leave Sydney and the first to set sail from Western Australia for Europe and led the transports all the way to Egypt

21 October 1914 embarked 5th Infantry Battalion (Victoria) 2nd Infantry Brigade & 2nd Field Company Engineers (Victoria) First Division at Melbourne.

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces to Egypt.

While calling at Colombo on November 15th, the Orvieto took on board a number of prisoners from the German cruiser Emden which had been disabled and grounded by HMAS Sydney after 70 days marauding in the Indian Ocean. The prisoners included the ship's captain (von Müller) and torpedo officer (Prince Franz Josef von Hohenzollern). The Australian troops and German POWs were disembarked on arrival at Suez and the Orvieto proceeded to London, arriving in January 1915

BATTLE HONOURS -

5th Infantry Battalion (Victoria) 2nd Infantry Brigade - Landing at Anzac, Anzac, Helles, Krithia, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915-16, Somme 1916-18, Pozieres, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Broodeseinde, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Lys, Hazebrouck, Amiens, Albert 1918, Hindenburg Line, Epehy, France and Flanders 1916-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front)

2nd Field Company Engineers (Victoria) First Division - at Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

8th March 1915 she was commissioned as HMS Orvieto under British Admiralty control. 15 March 1915 drydocked at Tilbury for two days before leaving for Scapa Flow where she arrived on March 21st, remaining there for two months, mostly dockside/at anchor. June 8th she departed for Immingham which was to be her base for the next ten months.

Performed duties as a minelayer during the next ten months along the east coast between Sheerness and Rosyth, often accompanied by HMS Princess Margaret, a 6,000 ton vessel built as a coastal ship for the Canadian Pacific. On February 18th 1916 Orvieto suffered slight damage when she collided with the Swedish Abiska at Immingham. On March 20th she went aground for a time off Sheerness. Her guns were fired in anger for the first time when she engaged enemy aircraft on April 24th, but no hits were scored. Her first commission came to an end on 25 May 1916 and the ship's company was paid off at the Royal Albert Docks in London.

She was, however, quickly recommissioned and at the end of July 1916 left London for the Northern Patrol, and over the next six months intercepted over 30 foreign merchantmen, sending them into northern ports to be searched. In September she spent a week in dock in Glasgow, and saw in the the New Year undergoing gunnery trials with Vice Admiral Tupper on board.

28th February 1917 she was at Busta Voe when she collided with a fishing vessel, which lost it's masts and funnel, but suffered no casualties.

During July and August of 1917 Orvieto was refitted on the Tyne, and left Hebburn on September 21st, again for the Northern Patrol, being based at Liverpool, where she put in for another refit in the Queen's Graving Dock on January 9th 1918. There was a series of mysterious small fires on board during the refit, the first being on January 16th, when a blaze was discovered in number three lower hold, which took three hours to extinguish, and the last being ten days later, which also took three hours to put out.

On March 23rd 1918 she left Liverpool and spent the rest of the war engaged on trans-atlantic convoy duties. Her first two such voyages were to Rio de Janeiro, and on her return she berthed at Cardiff on August 13th. The next two passages were to Canada, sailing to Quebec and Halifax. She arrived in Devonport at the end of her second journey on October 28th, and was visited by HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught, a son of Queen Victoria, accompanied by the Japanese ambassador. It had been her final voyage as a Royal Naval Auxiliary and at the end of the year she was paid off and returned to the Orient Line

She sailed for Brisbane on November 1st 1919 and remained on the mail run for eleven years without serious mishap, apart from running aground in the Brisbane River, and made her last return voyage to Australia in August 1930. Not having been converted to burn oil, she was by then outdated and surplus to requirements, and remained at Southampton for five months before being sold to Scottish shipbreakers. She arrived at Bothness at the end of her final voyage on April 3rd 1931.

image personal collection

A4    PERA
1903-17
7635 gross tons. Passenger/cargo (refrigerated) steamship launched 10 June 1903 & completed 23 July 1903 by Workman Clark, Belfast for Peninsular & Oriental S N Co (P&O), Belfast. Lb: 146.3 x 17.4 metres. Twin screw propellors, triple expansion engine capable of 14 knots. Average cruise speed of 11.5 knots or 21.3 kmph

Leased by the Commonwealth until 6 January 1917

No record of Troops as designated on board during her being part of First Convoy. Likely carried horses and/or other cargoes of unknown description

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

From 12 October 1915 up to and including 23 September 1916 over several transport voyages carried four Light Horse Regiments, two Mobile Veterinary Sections & Medical Officers

(As A4 visited Tasmania, Hobart, 1915-16 - details of embarkation or purpose of visit - unknown)

Torpedoed by Submarine and sunk in Mediterranean (37.16N/24.00E) 19 October 1917

image (A03211) courtesy Australian War Memorial

A5    OMRAH
1899-1918
8,291 gross tons. Lb: 139.6 x 17.3 metres. Twin screw, triple expansion engine 9,000 ihp. 18 knots. on: 108782. Passenger steamship built by Fairfield, Govan 1899 for the Orient SN Co Ltd, London. 350 passengers total in first & second class and 500 in 3rd class. Maiden voyage from London via Suez to Melbourne and Sydney 3rd February 1899

1908 carried the Australian Rugby Team, the first Wallabies, to England for their tour of England and Wales.

Arrived Fremantle 6th January 1914, 28 April 1914, 2nd June 1914 and 18 August 1914.

Leased by the Commonwealth until 10 February 1915

24 September 1914 at Pinkenba Wharf, Brisbane embarked 9th Battalion 3rd Infantry Brigade A Company, 32 officers & 977 other ranks including 5th Army Service Corps Company & Medical staff (6 persons- 4 being nurses)

28th September 1914- Arrived at Port Melbourne

17th October 1914- Departed Port Melbourne preceded by 'Hororata' and 'Benalla'.

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces for the Suez via Colombo & Aden

16 November 1914 Received prisoners of war ex "Emden" at Colombo with the the 9th Battalion providing a 'guard' over the 44 prisoners

Re-designated as a Royal Mail Ship (RMS) he was not utilised again as an Australian troopship until Convoy 29, which departed Fremantle on 23 January 1917. She did however continue voyages in 'RMS' status From Britain - Australia. Those voyages being -
13 April 1915 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail, and Sydney 22 April 1915
5th August 1915 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail. 14 August 1915 arrived Sydney then Brisbane 19 August 1915
27 November 1915 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail, Sydney 6th December 1915 and Brisbane 10 December 1915
1st April 1916 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail, and Sydney 10 April 1916
6th August 1916 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail, and Sydney 14 August 1916


3rd November 1916 she commenced her last London - Australia sailing 17 December 1916 arrived Fremantle with passengers and mail and Sydney 5th January 1917

17 January 1917 departed Melbourne with 1st Machine Gun Company 1st Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 2nd Machine Gun Company 1st Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 3rd Machine Gun Company 1st Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 5th Machine Gun Company 2nd Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 6th Machine Gun Company 2nd Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 7th Machine Gun Company 2nd Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 8th Machine Gun Company 5th Machine Gun Battalion 10th Reinforcements, 4th Light horse Regiment 4th Light Horse Brigade 25th Reinforcements, 13th Light Horse Regiment 16th Reinforcements, 2nd Cyclist Battalion 9th Reinforcements, 4th Mobile Veterinary Section 4th Division 25th Reinforcements, 5th Mobile Veterinary Section 5th Division 25th Reinforcements, 4th Flying Squadron and their 2nd Reinforcements & Medical Officers (Nurses)

March 1917 arrived at Plymouth

Resumed RMS passenger Mail status Britain - Australia, arriving at Fremantle 25 June 1917, recorded as visiting the ports of Sydney on 4th July 1917, Brisbane 9 July 1917, returning Sydney 13 July 1917 and Fremantle 1st August 1917

1st May 1918, left Alexandria for Marseilles in company with six other transports carrying units of the 52nd and 74th Divisions. 12 May 1918 torpedoed and sunk by UB52 in Mediterranean (40nm SW-S Cape Spartivento), whilst on her return voyage from Marseilles, with small loss of life

colour image personal collection

A6    CLAN MACCORQUODALE
1913-17
5121 gross tons. Lb: 430.2 x 53.4 x 26.7 feet. (131.1 x 16.3 metres). Single screw, triple expansion 3 Cylinder engine. 679 Nautical horsepower. Engines by Dunsmuir & Jackson, Glasgow. 14 knots. Steamship built by Charles Connell & Company at Scotstoun for Cayser, Irvin and Co., Glasgow (Clan Line)

Leased by the Commonwealth until 14 April 1915.

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces.

From 6 February 1915 up to and including 13th February 1917 transported 14 separate Light Horse Regiment Reinforcements, three Veterinary Section Reinforcements, & Medical Officers

Torpedoed and sunk by UB51 in Mediterranean (33.26N/27.57E ), 17 November 1917 165 miles NNW of Alexandria whilst en route from Madras to London

image P01122 courtesy Australian War Memorial

A8    ARGYLLSHIRE
1911-36
10,236 gross tons, 6054 net. Lb: 526'2" x 61'4" x 33'3" (160.4 x 18.7 metres). Twin screw, twin quadruple expansion engine 644nhp 5500ihp. Service speed 13.5 knots. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) built 1911 by John Brown, Clydebank for the Scottish Shire Line Ltd, Glasgow and managed by Turnbull, Martin & Co Ltd

Leased by the Commonwealth until 24 January 1918

22 August - 9th September 1914 converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 845 troops and 392 horses

18 October 1914 departed Sydney with 1st Field Artillery Brigade (New South Wales) 1st Division Artillery (assigned to the 1st Division) and their 4th Reinforcements, 1st Brigade Ammunition Column 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery & two nurses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed seven transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Fremantle 9th November 1916
During that time carried multiple Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, multiple Division Ammunition Column Reinforcements, multiple Light Horse Regiment Reinforcements, Mobile Veterinary Sections and their Reinforcements, multiple Field Artillery Battery Brigade Reinforcements, Brigade Ammunition Column Field Artillery Brigades, Field Ambulance Divisions & Medical Officers

27th May 1915 targetted by submarine where two torpedoes missed her

2nd February 1917 three miles off Start Point she was hit by torpedo fired from UC-46 but reached Falmouth safely on the 5th February 1917

POST HOSTILITIES

1st August 1919 departed England with able and invalided troops, arriving at Brisbane September 24

1929 owned by the Federal Steam navigation Co Ltd, London

1927 laid up at Southampton, then at the Gareloch in 1932

When being moved from the Gareloch on 11th February 1932 she grounded off Roseneath, suffering little damage 1932 Purchased by Clan Line Steamers Ltd (managers Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd), Glasgow and renamed Clan Urquhart
1936 - Sold for scrapping purposes to T W Ward Ltd at Briton Ferry. Arrived for scrapping 30 October 1936
14 March 1937 whilst being demolished she caught fire and her hull was scuttled

A9    SHROPSHIRE
1911-40
11,911 gross tons, 8,130 net. Lb: 160.4 x 18.7 metres. Twin screw, quadruple expansion engine making 14 knots. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) built by John Brown, Clydebank for the Federal S N Co Ltd, London. Employed on the passenger and meat cargo trade between New Zealand and Britain

Leased by the Commonwealth until 5 August 1917

20 October 1914 departed Melbourne with 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (Victoria) 1st Division Artillery, 4th Field Artillery Battery (Victoria) 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, 5th Field Artillery Battery (New South Wales) 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, 6th Field Artillery Battery (New South Wales) 2nd Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery and their 4th Reinforcements, 2nd Brigade Ammunition Column 2nd Field Artillery Brigade & three nurses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed seven transport voyages from Australia commencing 20 October 1914 until final voyage from Melbourne 11 May 1917

During that time carried multiple Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, Field Artillery Brigade Divisional Artillery Reinforcements, Veterinary Section Reinforcements, Light & Medium Trench Mortar Battery Reinforcements, Flying Corps Reinforcements 1st Special Draft, Four Machine Gun Company Battalion Reinforcements, Two Cyclist Battalion Reinforcements, Two Mobile Veterinary Section Reinforcements, & Medical Officers

Post Hostilities

1923 renamed 'Rotorua' for New Zealand Shipping Co

Became World War 11 casualty being torpedoed by submarine 58.56N/11.20W 11.12.40

Right image postcard as Rotorua

A10    KARROO
1913-36
6,127 gross tons. Lb: 131.3 x 16.5 metres. Steamship cargo only. Triple expansion engine average cruise speed of 11.5 knots. Built 1913
by Palmers, Hebburn-on-tyne for Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd, London

Leased by the Commonwealth until 3 January 1917

20 October 1914 departed Melbourne with 1st Signal Company (New South Wales) First Division

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Sailed from Australia in the 3rd & the 24th convoys which unlike the first convoy, consisted in variables of a few ships together whilst other sailings consisted of solo vessel in transport

11 February 1915 at Melbourne embarked the 9th Light Horse Regiment Headquarters (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade, Machine Gun Section, "B" and "C" Squadrons

5 May 1916 at Sydney embarked 2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 1st Light Horse Brigade 17th Reinforcements, 5th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 17th Reinforcements, 11th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland and South Australia) 4th Light Horse Brigade 8th Reinforcements, 12th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 4th Light Horse Brigade 8th Reinforcements, 3rd Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 3rd Division & Medical Officers

18 September 1916 embarked Medical Officers at Port Melbourne.

BATTLE HONOURS

1st Signal Company (New South Wales) First Division - Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

1st Signal Troop (1st Light Horse Brigade) Attached to 1st Light Horse Brigade, assigned to MEF HQ, British 29th Division and New Zealand and Australian Division before rejoining 1st Light Horse Brigade at Gallipoli - Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine

2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 1st Light Horse Brigade 17th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Jericho, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Desert, Sinai, Palestine)

5th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 17th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

11th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland and South Australia) 4th Light Horse Brigade 8th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai,Palestine)

12th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 4th Light Horse Brigade 8th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

3rd Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 3rd Division - Western Front


1927 renamed City Of Khartoum. Scrapped at Genoa 1936

Right image Port Melbourne, Victoria, 18 September 1916

A12    SALDANHA
1912-18
4,594 gross tons. Lb: 117.6 x 14.9 metres. Single screw, triple expansion engine making 12 knots. Cargo steamship built by Swan Hunter - Wigham Richardson at Wallsend for Ellerman & Bucknall SS Co Ltd, London

Leased by the Commonwealth until 14 June 1917

At initial requisition this vessel is not recorded as transporting any Troops from Australia and New Zealand. As she was part of the first convoy it can only be assumed she carried horses and or cargoes of unknown description
During 1914-18 she underwent three separate refittings at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney - exact details unknown



1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

20 February 1915 departed Sydney with 7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 2nd Reinforcements


BATTLE HONOURS

7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 2nd Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

Torpedoed and sunk by Submarine in Mediterranean 95nm N Algiers, 18 March 1918

image a639516r courtesy State Library New South Wales

A13    KATUNA
1907-40

4,641 gross tons. Lb: 121.9 x 15.9 metres. Single screw, triple expansion engine making 10 knots. Cargo steamship built 1907 by Armstrong Whitworth, Low Walker on Tyne for Bucknall Steamship Lines Ltd, London. After being acquired by Ellerman Lines in 1908 it changed its name in 1914 to Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Co Ltd

Leased by the Commonwealth until 10 February 1917

19th September 1914 departed Sydney with 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

3rd February 1915 departed Melbourne with 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 4th Light Horse Brigade 2nd & 3rd Reinforcements & Medical Officers

24 November 1915 at Adelaide embarked 32nd Infantry Battalion (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) (formed in South Australia and Western Australia) 8th Infantry Brigade

9 March 1916 departed Melbourne with 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 4th Light Horse Brigade 15th Reinforcements, 1st Armoured Car Section & Medical Officers

23 June 1916 at Adelaide embarked 3rd Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania) 1st Light Horse Brigade 18th Reinforcements, 9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade 18th Reinforcements & Medical Officers

23 November 1916 at Sydney embarked 1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade 22nd Reinforcements, 6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 21st and 22nd Reinforcements, 7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 21st and 22nd Reinforcements & Medical Officers


BATTLE HONOURS

1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery - Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Western Front

32nd Infantry Battalion (South Australia and Western Australia) 8th Infantry Brigade - Egypt 1915-16, Somme 1916-18, Bapaume 1917, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Ancre 1918, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St Quentin, Hindenburg Line, St Quentin Canal, France and Flanders 1916-18 (Egypt, Western Front)

1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade 22nd Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Jericho, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Desert, Sinai, Palestine)

3rd Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Tasmania) 1st Light Horse Brigade 18th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Jericho, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Desert, Sinai, Palestine)

4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 4th Light Horse Brigade 2nd & 3rd Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Nablus, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Broodeseinde, Passchendale, Lys, Kemmel, Marne 1918, Tardenois, France and Flanders 1916-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine, Western Front)

4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 4th Light Horse Brigade 15th Reinforcements - Egypt 1916-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Nablus, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Broodeseinde, Passchendale, Lys, Kemmel, Marne 1918, Tardenois, France and Flanders 1916-18 (Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Western Front)

6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 21st and 22nd Reinforcements - Romani, Egypt 1916-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Sinai, Palestine)

7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 21st and 22nd Reinforcements - Romani, Egypt 1916-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Sinai, Palestine)

9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade 18th Reinforcements - Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Sinai, Palestine)

1st Armoured Car Section (Also known as 1st Armoured Car Battery. Became 1st Light Car Patrol 3 December 1916) - Sudan, Egypt, Western Desert, Palestine


POST HOSTILITIES

Since 1929 under ownership as Ellerman Lines and renamed City Of Swansea. 1937 owned by Barry Shipping Co Cardiff and renamed St Glen.

Became casualty World War 11 being bombed and sunk by aircraft at 57.25N/1.38W 6th September 1940

image a637961r at Gallipoli unloading troops, 1915 courtesy State Library New South Wales

A14    EURIPIDES
1914-54
14,947 gross tons. Lb: 550.7 x 67.4 feet (167.9 x 20.5 metres). Triple screw, triple expansion exhaust turbine engine making 13 knots. Passenger/cargo steamship completed 1914 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for G Thompson & Co Ltd, Glasgow (Aberdeen Line). Fitted with accommodation for 140-1st, 334-2nd and 750-3rd class passengers. Launched on 29th Jan.1914, she was the company's largest ship. Maiden voyage from London to Brisbane commenced on 1st July and she arrived on 24th August

26th August 1914 requisitioned at Brisbane for Australian trooping duties, being leased by the Commonwealth until 2 June 1917
Reverted to British government control in 1915 and continued London - Australia voyages, her third class accommodation being used mainly for troops under Commonwealth control.

24 September 1914 at Brisbane embarked B Squadron, D Troop, 2nd Light Horse

Between 18 & 29 October 1914 embarked 3rd Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Field Ambulance (New South Wales - Formed Sydney August 1914 ) First Division & six nurses at Sydney

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed seven transport voyages from Australia commencing 24 September 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 31 October 1917

During that time carried forty-four Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, the 6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 11th Reinforcements, the 7th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 12th Reinforcements, Light Trench Mortar Battery 1st Reinforcements (Artillery) & Medical Officers

Subsequent History

From February 1919 repatriated Australian troops, and during this and her war service steamed 208,307 miles and carried 38,439 troops

Overhauled at Belfast, she resumed the Aberdeen Line's London - Australia service from November 1920. March 1923 she made the company's last inbound call at Plymouth and subsequently sailed direct to Southampton. Laid up in the Clyde for five months in 1927 and then went into the Liverpool - Australia joint service of the Blue Funnel and White Star-Aberdeen Line. 1929 she was transferred to White Star's Oceanic Steam Navigation Co managemant and in July 1932 sold to Shaw Savill & Albion Line Rebuilt to 15,128 gross tons by Hawthorn Leslie & Co, and with accommodation for 200-cabin class passengers she was fitted with a swimming pool, her 3rd class accommodation converted to cargo space, her engines converted from coal to oil burning and she was renamed Akaroa. entered Shaw Savill & Albion's Southampton - Panama - Wellington service on 28th February 1933 and in November made her fastest passage to New Zealand in 37 days. Between 1939-45 she remained in commercial service under the Ministry of War Transport and was reconditioned on the Tyne in 1945 to 15,320 gross tons and with accommodation for 190-cabin class passengers. Final voyage to Wellington commenced 2nd January 1954 and in May of that year she went to shipbreakers at Antwerp. [Subsequent History Source - Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.17, Aberdeen and Aberdeen & Commonwealth Lines]

image personal collection

A15    STAR OF ENGLAND
1914-48
9,136 gross tons. Length 503ft 4in Beam of 63ft 4in (152.7 x 19.3 metres). Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 13 knots. Passenger/cargo (refrigerated) steamship built, completed 1914 by Workman Clark, Belfast for the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd, London (Port Line)

Requisitioned by the Australian Commonwealth 1914

29 August - 12th September 1914 converted at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney to transport 524 troops and 511 horses

24 September 1914 at Pinkenbar, Brisbane Queensland, embarked 2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 1st Light Horse Brigade

21 October 1914 embarked at Port Melbourne. 1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces.

Completed eight transport voyages from Australia commencing 24 September 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 17 August 1918 as both 'Star Of England' and 'Port Sydney' as renamed 1916

as

A15

STAR OF ENGLAND
carried fourteen Infantry Battalion Brigade Reinforcements, five Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, the 3rd Field Artillery (Army) Brigade (Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania) 4th Reinforcements, the 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 4th Reinforcements, & Medical Officers

Renamed 'PORT SYDNEY' 1916 remaining under lease to the Commonwealth until 22 September 1917.

as

A15

PORT SYDNEY
carried nine Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, twenty Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements, fourteen Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, the 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 19th Reinforcements, the 3rd Division Ammunition Column (Victoria) 3rd Division Artillery 3rd Reinforcements, the 1st Siege Artillery Brigade 12th Reinforcements, the 3rd Cable Section (Desert Mounted Corps Signals), Camel Reinforcements, Veterinary Reinforcements, Flying Corps Reinforcements 1st Special Draft & Medical Officers
During 1914-18 period, underwent six refittings at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney

POST HOSTILITIES

Decommissioned in the November and reverted to commercial use. In 1929 she was fitted with Bauer-Wach exhaust turbines. During the Second World War she continued to operate commercially but under government control and made some meat runs to the River Plate for the Royal Mail Line. 19th December 1948 she arrived at Preston and consequentially scrapped by Thomas W Ward. Saloon woodwork and fittings were of such high quality that such were removed and stored for eventual use in the crew lounge of the Port Sydney (2)

image C02483 (at Pinkenbar wharf, September 1914) courtesy Australian War Memorial

A16    STAR OF VICTORIA
1914-48
9,152 gross tons. Length: 503ft 4in, Beam of 63ft 4in (152.7 x 19.3 metres). Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 13 knots. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) launched November 1913 completed 10 January 1914 by Workman Clark, Belfast for the Star Line Ltd (J P Corry), Belfast

Placed upon the Australia service

Requisitioned by the Australian Commonwealth 1914

August 1914 - September 1914 converted to carry 1000 troops

19-20 October 1914 at Sydney embarked the 1st Light Horse Regiment as Headquarters (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed eight transport voyages from Australia commencing 24 September 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 17 August 1918 as both 'Star Of Victoria' and 'Port Melbourne' as renamed 1916
as

A16

STAR OF VICTORIA
carried the 1st Light Horse Regiment as Headquarters (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade, the 8th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade, the 2nd Light Horse Regiment (Queensland) 1st Light Horse Brigade 16th Reinforcements, the 2nd Veterinary Section (Victoria) 9th Reinforcements, eight Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, & Medical Officers

1916 paper ownership taken over by Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd London (Port Line), & vessel renamed 'Port Melbourne'

Vessel remained under lease with the Commonwealth until 2 October 1917.

as

A16

PORT MELBOURNE
carried eighteen Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, the 4th Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 4th Division 21st Reinforcements, the 5th Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 5th Division 21st Reinforcements & Medical Officers
During 1914-18 period, underwent six refittings at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney

POST HOSTILITIES

1919 she reverted to normal commercial trade and the passenger accommodation was reduced to twelve. She had a reputation, as did her sister, for wandering off course and in 1925 was fitted with a gyro compass controlled steering gear which was a new innovation at the time and supposedly cut the passage time from Melbourne to London by two days. In 1929 the management decided that as she was only fifteen years old it was worth the expenditure to re-engine her with Bauer-Wach exhaust turbines which increased fuel efficiency by some 15%-25% and to recover the cost over the following six years. Unfortunately the sudden slump in shipping trade began later that year and by 1931 she was laid up in the River Blackwater. Whilst laid up a fire broke out and the hot plating was doused by crew members and volunteers from other ships until the fire fighting equipment arrived. She was repaired on the Tyne and immediately laid up there. During 1936/7 she was again laid up in the River Blackwater until she returned to the meat run where she remained unscathed for the duration of the Second World War. On 18th May 1948 she arrived at Blyth, Northumberland and was broken up by Hughes, Bolckow (Summary from 1919 source - from red-duster website)

A17    PORT LINCOLN
1912-42
7,243 gross tons. Lb: 426 x 54 feet (129.8 x 16.5 metres). Single screw, quadruple expansion engine making 13 knots. Cargo steamship built 1912 by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn Newcastle for W Milburn & Co, London. Had accomodation for 600-steerage class passengers in 'tween deck' dormitories. From 1912 W Milburn & Co entered into a contract with the Government of Victoria for the carriage of emigrants. 1914 ship and fleet sisters transferred to the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd, London (Port Line)

Leased by the Commonwealth until 26 September 1917

18 October 1914 departed Melbourne with 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) 4th Light Horse Brigade

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed eight transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Fremantle 30 June 1917

During that time carried seventeen Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, twelve Field Artillery (Army) Brigade Reinforcements, fourteen Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, one contingent of Camel Reinforcements, the 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 4th & 16th Reinforcements, twenty-three Machine Gun Battalion Reinforcements & Medical Officers

POST HOSTILITIES

Three name changes since, being sold 1927 to William Thomas Shipping Co, London (R J Thomas & Co) and renamed Cambrian Baroness. 1930 sold to the Clan Line and renamed Clan Graham. 1938 sold to Neill & Pandelis, London and renamed Maritima

Became casualty World War 11 being torpedoed & sunk by Submarine (U.522) at 52.20N/45.40W - 500 miles NE St Johns Newfoundland 2nd November 1942

A18    WILTSHIRE
1912-22
10,390 gross tons. Lb: 526.5 x 61.4 feet (160.5 x 18.7 metres). Twin screw, quadruple expansion engine 2 x 4 cylinders each 6500 hp. 14 knots. Passenger/cargo (refrigerated) steamship built 1912 by John Brown, Clydebank for the Federal S N Co Ltd, London. Serviced Britain - Australia - New Zealand trade

Leased by the Commonwealth until 2 October 1917

18 October 1914 at Melbourne embarked the 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) A, B & C squadron & their Machine Gun Section, the 2nd Field Ambulance (Victoria) First Division
Disembarked the 4th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt on 10 December 1914

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the first detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed nine transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 9th November 1918

During that time carried the 4th Field Artillery Brigade (Victoria) 2nd Division Artillery and their 1st Reinforcements, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 4th Reinforcements, thirty-four Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, the 10th, 11th & 12th Field Artillery Battery (Victoria) 4th Field Artillery Brigades, the 4th Brigade Ammunition Column 4th Field Artillery Brigade, the 1st Siege Artillery Brigade 15th Reinforcements, the 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) A, B & C squadron & their Machine Gun Section, six Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, the 1st Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 11th Reinforcements, the 1st Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 1st Division 11th Reinforcements, the 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section (Victoria, New South Wales) 2nd Division 11th Reinforcements, the1st Cyclist Battalion (New South Wales and Queensland) 3rd Reinforcements, the 2nd Field Ambulance (Victoria) First Division & Medical Officers

Post Hostilities

Wrecked Rosalie Bay, Great Barrier Island New Zealand 31 May 1922 on passage London for Dunedin. Crew of 103 plus 1 stowaway. Carrying 10,000 ton general cargo. No lives lost . Is now a frequented 'Dive' wrecksite

image personal collection

A19    AFRIC
1899-1917
11,948 gross tons. 167.6 x 19.3 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship built by Harland & Wolff Belfast for Ismay Imrie & Co (White Star Line). Completed 2nd February 1899. Twin screw, quadruple expansion engines making 14 knots, cruising speed of 13 knots. Employed on the Australia - England service

18 October 1914 Departed Sydney with 1st Field Artillery Battery (New South Wales) 1st Field Artillery Brigade (Formed New South Wales August 1914 from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Royal Australian Field Artillery Batteries of the regular army and assigned to 1st Field Artillery Brigade), 2nd Field Artillery Battery (New South Wales) 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Field Artillery Battery (New South Wales) 1st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Field Company (New South Wales and Queensland) First Division, 1st Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade, 2nd Army Service Corps Company 1st Division Train

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

21st April - 13th May 1915 converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 549 troops and 500 horses

Completed six transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Adelaide 7th November 1916

During that time carried six Field Artillery Battery Brigades, the 1st Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade, 43rd Infantry Battalion (South Australia) 11th Infantry Brigade and their 1st Reinforcements, a further fourteen Infantry Brigade Reinforcements, five Division Trains of the Army Service Corps, two Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, two Mobile Veterinary Section Reinforcements, 2nd Veterinary Section (Victoria) 6th Reinforcements, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 13th Reinforcements & Medical Officers

12 February 1917 torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel, 50.00N/4.25W with a loss of 22 lives

Left image bcp_02142r courtesy State Library New South Wales, colour image postcard in issue

A20    HORORATA
1914-43
9461 gross tons, 5613 net, 10687 dwt. Lb: 511'2" x 64'3" x 28'7" (155.8 x 19.6 metres). Two quadruple expansion four cylinder steam engines, 26", 37", 53" and 76" x 48", 8493ihp @ 88.5rpm, twin screw, 15.7 knots. Six single ended Scotch boilers, 222psi. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) completed 23 May 1914 by W Denny & Sons, Glasgow for the New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London, registered Plymouth. Designed to carry 5 First Class and 1066 Steerage Class passengers in 'portable accommodation' specificially for the New Zealand emigrant trade

Leased by the Commonwealth until 11 September 1917

18 October 1914 departed Melbourne with 6th Infantry Battalion (Victoria) HQ (attached to 2nd Infantry Brigade), 7th Infantry Battalion (Victoria) HQ (attached to 2nd Infantry Brigade)

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed six transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Adelaide 7th November 1916

During that time carried the 6th & 7th Infantry Battalions (Victoria) HQ's (attached to 2nd Infantry Brigade), a further forty-five Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, nineteen Field Artillery Brigade Reinforcements, eight Division Ammunition Column Artillery Reinforcements, nine Machine Gun Company Reinforcements, ten Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, 1st Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 5th Reinforcements, 2nd Veterinary Section (Victoria) 5th Reinforcements, 1st Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 5th Reinforcements, 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section (Victoria, New South Wales) 5th Reinforcements, the 3rd Flying Squadron 2nd Reinforcements, the 1st Cyclist Battalion (New South Wales and Queensland) 12th Reinforcements, & Medical Officers

SINCE

12 September 1917 to 12 April 1919 Taken up under the Liner Requisition Scheme

August 1930 to January 1931 Laid up at London

July 1932 to February 1933 Laid up in the Falmouth

1934 to 1939: Served as a Cadet Training ship for 20 cadets

6th June 1939 Sold to British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London for £10,000 and renamed Waroonga. Cadet accommodation increased to 43 berths

7th March 1940 Requisitioned to serve in the Liner Division Became casualty World War 11, being torpedoed by submarine (57.10N/35.30W) 5th April 1943 and sank next day. Bound from Sydney and New York to London in Convoy HX231 with 1500 tons of lead, 1000 tons canned meat, 1000 tons beef, 5000 tons of butter, general cargo and 218 bags of mail. 12 crew, 1 gunner, and 6 passengers were lost from an onboard compliment of 110 crew, 8 gunners, and 14 passengers

image personal collection

A21    MARERE
1902-16
6443 gross tons. Lb: 137.2 x 16.8 metres. Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 12 knots. Refrigerated cargo steamship built by Workman Clark, Belfast 1902 for Tyser Line Ltd, London. 1914 Company and fleet merged into the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd, London (Port Line)

22 August - 12th September 1914 converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 85 troops and 475 horses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

20 February 1915 departed Sydney with 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 3rd Reinforcements (part), 6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 2nd Reinforcements

16 August 1915 departed Sydney with 1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade 7th Reinforcements, 9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade 7th Reinforcements (part), 1st Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 1st Division 7th Reinforcements, 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section (Victoria, New South Wales) 2nd Division 7th Reinforcements,

BATTLE HONOURS

1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 3rd Reinforcements - Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Western Front

1st Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 1st Light Horse Brigade 7th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Jericho, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Desert, Sinai, Palestine)

6th Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales) 2nd Light Horse Brigade 2nd Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Jordan (Amman), Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

9th Light Horse Regiment (South Australia and Victoria) 3rd Light Horse Brigade 7th Reinforcements - Anzac, Defence of Anzac, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Romani, Maghdaba-Rafah, Egypt 1915-17, Gaza-Beersheba, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jordan (Es Salt), Megiddo, Sharon, Damascus, Palestine 1917-18 (Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine)

1st Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 1st Division 7th Reinforcements - Egypt, Western Front

2nd Mobile Veterinary Section (Victoria, New South Wales) 2nd Division 7th Reinforcements - Egypt, Western Front Sunk by a submarine (U-35) gunfire in the Mediterranean (35.51N/19.07E ), 18 January 1916 when on service Fremantle - Gibraltar

image a638400r courtesy State Library New South Wales

A22    RANGATIRA
1902-16
10,118 gross tons. Lb: 145.7 x 18.6 metres. Twin screw triple expansion engine making 13 knots. Passenger/cargo (refrigerated) as built, completed February 1902 by Workman Clark, Belfast for Shaw, Savill and Albion Co Ltd, London

Leased by the Commonwealth until 15 February 1915

INFORMATION to be ADDED

24 September 1914 embarked 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Military District at Pinkenba Wharf Brisbane

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces



INFORMATION to be ADDED

Stranded, wrecked upon Robben Island off Cape of Good Hope, 30 March 1916

image (A22-P01235_007) at Pinkenba Wharf Brisbane, Qld, 24 September 1914 courtesy Australian War Memorial

A23    SUFFOLK
1902-27
7,083 gross tons. Lb: 460' x 58'2" (140.2 x 17.7 metres). Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 13 knots. Passenger/cargo (refrigerated) steamship built 1902 by John Brown, Clydebank for Birt, Trinder & Bethell, London. 1911 owned by Potter, Trinder and Gwyn (Birt & Bethell in multi partnership), London. Was actually owned by the Federal Steam Navigation Co., London with abovementioned persons as 'paper' owners. Officially registered under Federal S N Co, London ownership in 1920. Placed upon the Great Britain - Australia - New Zealand service

Leased by the Commonwealth until 14 June 1917

18 October 1914 departed Sydney with 2nd Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Completed five transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 24 April 1917

During that time carried the 2nd Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade, a further thirteen Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, four Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, 4th Field Company (2) Engineers - (formed New South Wales) Second Division, 7th Field Company Engineers - (formed New South Wales) Second Division (Both renumbered 7th Field Company, Egypt, February 1916), 21st Army Service Corps Company 4th Depot Unit of Supply, 2nd Field Bakery, 2nd Field Butchery,the 1st Sanitary Section Second Division & Medical Officers

Post Hostilities

Completed service, resumed peacetime duties & eventually scrapped by P & W MacLellan at Bothness January 1927

image steaming through the Suez Canal, 1916

BENALLA
1913-30
A24 11,118 gross tons. Lb: 152.4 x 19 metres. Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 14 knots. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) built by Caird at Greenock 1913 for the P & O SN Co, London

Leased by the Commonwealth until 6 August 1917

1st - 14th October 1915 refitted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 1395 troops

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces.

embarked at .............. 4 nurses

INFORMATION to be ADDED



27 October 1915 Medical Officers at Adelaide

1st November 1915 Medical Officers at Fremantle

9 November 1916 at Sydney embarked 1st Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 23rd Reinforcements, 2nd Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade 23rd Reinforcements, 3rd Infantry Battalion (New South Wales) 1st Infantry Brigade 23rd Reinforcements & Medical Officers

10 May 1917 Medical Officers at Sydney

12 May 1917 Medical Officers at Melbourne

22 May 1917 Medical Officers at Fremantle



INFORMATION to be ADDED

Left image embarking at Port Melbourne, 19 October 1914

A25    ANGLO-EGYPTIAN
1912-55
7,379 gross tons. Lb: 129.5 x 17.2 metres. Single screw, quadruple expansion engine making 12 knots. Cargo steamship built 1912 by Short Bros, Pallion for the Nitrate Producers SS Co Ltd, (Lawther, Latta), London

Serviced Newcastle New South Wales with machinery and construction materials for BHP's Steelworks December 1913

Leased by the Commonwealth until 16 April 1917

10 - 19th September 1914 converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 127 troops and 552 horses



INFORMATION to be ADDED



September 1914 embarked Divisional Ammunition Column and the 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Brisbane. 19 October 1914 embarked the 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery (part) & the 4th Light Horse Regiment A, B & C squadron at Melbourne

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

Disembarked the 4th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt on 10 December 1914

12 February 1915 embarked 8th Light Horse Regiment advanced party & Medical Officers at Melbourne

Steamed to Egypt and disembarked on 14 March 1915

12 May 1916 embarked 1st Light Horse Regiment, 16th Reinforcement & Medical Officers at Sydney

Embarked troops at Port Melbourne, 1916



INFORMATION to be ADDED

Survived the hostilities, continued to trade with two name and ownership changes, finally scrapped 1955

image (a636153r) at Williamstown Victoria courtesy State Library New South Wales, Right side image (PB0112c1) at Port Melbourne 1916 courtesy Australian War memorial

A26    ARMADALE
1909-17
6,153 gross tons. Lb: 120.5 x 15.8 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship (refrigerated) built 1909 by Connell at Scotstoun for Australind SS Co, London. Employed upon the Western Australia service

Leased by the Commonwealth until 7 June 1917

11 - 22nd September 1914 converted at Cockatoo Island Drydock, Sydney to transport 284 troops and 388 horses

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

INFORMATION to be ADDED



12 February 1915 embarked 9th Light Horse Regiment "A" Squadron at Port Melbourne.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment sailed to Egypt and disembarked on 14 March 1915.

20 September 1915 Medical Officers - From Brisbane.

21 March 1916 embarked 1st Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcement & Medical Officers at Sydney.

19 July 1916 embarked Medical Officers at Melbourne.

3 March 1917 embarked Medical Officers at Melbourne.



INFORMATION to be ADDED

Torpedoed and sunk by submarine off coast of Ireland, (56.17N/12.42W) 27 June 1917

Left image at Port Melbourne, February 1915

A27    SOUTHERN
1912-40
4,769 gross tons. Lb: 118.5 x 16.5 metres. Single screw, triple expansion engine making 12 knots. Cargo steamship built 1912 by J L Thompson, North Sands for the Central Shipping Co, London aka Lunsford S S Co Ltd, London (Harris & Dixon)


Leased by the Commonwealth until 3 February 1915



INFORMATION to be ADDED

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces

INFORMATION to be ADDED

1915 Sold to NASM, Nederlands and renamed 'Maasdyk'. 1922 sold to Morel renamed 'Rhymney' 1936 sold to C A Roberts renamed 'MacDonald' -1937 sold to Chang Shu Chang renamed 'Pei Foo' - 1938 sold to Kitagawa Sangyo renamed 'Kitifuku Maru'. Wrecked 26.20N/126.56E 17 March 1940

Left image part of the 1st Convoy, 1914, Right image as the Maasdyk

A28    MILTIADES
1903-23
6,793 gross tons. Lb: 138.7 x 16.8 metres. Passenger/cargo steamship built 1903 by Stephen, Linthouse for G Thompson & Co Ltd, London (Aberdeen Line). Designed with clipper bow, dual sail/steam capacity. 1913 Lengthened to be 153.7 metres, re-measured as 7814 gross tons



INFORMATION to be ADDED



Leased by the Commonwealth until 15 September 1917

1st November 1914 assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the First Detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces.

7 February 1916 Medical Officers - From Adelaide. 1 August 1916 Medical Officers - From Melbourne. 9

August 1916 Medical Officers - From Fremantle. 24 January 1917 Medical Officers - From Adelaide. 2

August 1917 Medical Officers - From Sydney.



INFORMATION to be ADDED

Since renamed 'Orcana' 1921 and eventually scrapped 1923

image personal collection