Official Number: 108811
Laid down:
Builder: Wm Denny & Bros, Dumbarton
Launched: 4 August 1897
Pennant No: P 76 / E 1062
Into Service: 8 August 1914
Out of service: 1919
Fate: 11 August 1925 scrapped
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
20 November 1896 ordered
4 August 1897 launched by Wm Denny & Bros, Dumbarton as Yard Nr: 574 named CAMBRIA for London & North Western Railway Co, London
13 October 1897 trials
23 November 1897 completed at a cost of £84,445. 223 x 1st Class berths and 770 x 3rd Class passengers
30 November 1897 sailed Dumbarton for Holyhead
15 December 1897 sailed on her maiden voyage to Dublin
8 August 1914 requisitioned for service as an Armed Boarding Steamer and commissioned as HMS CAMBRIA
27 October 1914 joined the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow
10 February 1915 at Scapa Flow received seven ratings from HMS FALMOUTH for passage
15 July 1915 paid off as an Armed Boarding Steamer
8 August 1915 commissioned as a Military Hospital Ship with 189 beds – name unchanged
May 1917 served as a Hospital Ship on the Holyhead to Dublin route
December 1917 became an Ambulance Transport from Dover to French ports name unchanged
1918 reverted to Hospital Ship duties
1919 renamed ARVONIA by her Owners and served as a Hospital Ship
26 March 1920 Captain Edward Butler Tanner appointed an Officer of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1920 owners became London, Midland & Scottish Railway Co – name unchanged
11 August 1925 arrived Barrow for demolition by T.W. Ward