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Official Number: 123988
Laid down:
Builder: Russell & Co, Port Glasgow
Launched: 19 June 1906
Into Service: 16 April 1915
Out of service: 29 June 1917
Fate: Sunk June 1917
Background Data:
One of a group of additional ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
19 June 1906 launched by Russell & Co, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr 560 named KING for State Steamship Co (W.M. Thomas & Sons, Managers) Liverpool
August 1906 completed
16 April 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Expeditionary Force Transport, name unchanged until 12 July 1916
13 July 1916 redeployed as an ammunition carrier – name unchanged – until 20 September 1916
1916 purchased by Manchester Liners Ltd, Manchester and renamed MANCHESTER COMMERCE – Captain Robert Smith appointed as Master
29 March 1917 redeployed as a collier – name unchanged – until 16 May 1917
17 May 1917 redeployed as a wheat carrier from the United States – name unchanged – until 10 July 1917
11 July 1917 redeployed as a collier – name unchanged
29 July 1917 torpedoed, shelled and sunk by German submarine U-39 in the Straits of Gibraltar 15 miles W of Cape Spartel while on passage from Cardiff to Gibraltar carrying Government Stores and 6,000 tons of Welsh coal with the loss of one life – the Wireless Operator 18 years old Harold Sudell from Liverpool was swept overboard by the upward column of water and drowned. The crew took to the ships boats and were rescued some short while later by the British Patrol boat ’90’ and taken to Gibraltar