Official Number:                       118387

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Govan

Launched:                              17 December 1903

Pennant No:                            

Into Service:                           2 October 1939

Out of service:                        26 January 1940

Fate:                                     Mined or topedoed and sunk

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 for a projected use as a block ship at Scapa Flow

Career Data:

17 December 1903 launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Govan as Yard Nr: 433 named Durham Castle for Union Castle Mail Steamship Co Ltd., London

21 December 1903 the Lloyds List newspaper reported …

February 1904 completed as an intermediate steamer

26 May 1904 berthed at Southampton from Natal

25 June 1904 sailed Southampton for Cape Town

26 June 1904 passed Ushant while on passage to Cape Town

4 December 1904 at 29.21N 15.49W 3rd Class Passenger Isaac Chester discharged dead from natural causes

25 November 1905 sailed Southampton for Cape Town. Captain F J Moseley was the Master

13 September 1906 sailed London for Cape Town

9 November 1906 at 33.38N 14.04W 3rd Class Passenger Alexander Boyd discharged dead from malaria

5 February 1907 berthed at Southampton from Durban

25 April 1908 in the English Channel 3rd Class Passenger James Joseph Connelly discharged dead – fell overboard

18 July 1908 sailed Southampton for South African ports

29 August 1908 at 14.56S 1.18E 3rd Class Passenger Robert Millar Brockley discharged dead – disappeared at sea

27 March 1909 sailed Southampton for South African ports

18 June 1909 sailed London for South African ports

31 December 1910 sailed Southampton for Natal. Captain G Chope was Master

24 March 1911 sailed London for South African ports

9 September 1911 sailed Southampton for South African ports

2 December 1911 sailed Southampton for South African ports

12 March 1913 at 01.09S 8.33W infant passenger Charles Douglas Saunders discharged dead from natural causes

4 October 1913 sailed Southampton to Natal. Captain W W Verrall was Master

21 March 1914 sailed Southampton to Natal. Captain W W Verrall was Master

11 August 1914 berthed at London from Durban

27 March 1915 sailed London to Natal. Captain W W Verrall was Master

1 January 1916 berthed at London from Durban

8 April 1916 sailed London for Natal. Captain T C Clinock was Master

30 August 1916 at Beira Quartermaster Harry Campbell Browne discharged dead from heart failure

31 December 1916 at Sierra Leone Chief Malumbie discharged dead from heat apoplexy

5 January 1917 at 38.51N 17 58W Private 7640 Josiah a native member of the South African Labour contingent discharged dead from pneumonia

15 January 1917 berthed at London from Durban

16 October 1917 in the North Atlantic Private Charlie No 2 Boy discharged dead from pneumonia

19 January 1918 in the North Atlantic Gunner Arthur John Batchelor, 11 Full Heavy Battery, RGA discharged dead from Black Water Fever

2 Ferbruary 1918 at Tilbury Dock Assistant Steward J Benvin discharged dead – drowned

11 February 1920 sailed London for Cape Town. Captain W B Dyer was Master

30 December 1920 unknown location 3rd Class Passenger Kathleen Lydia Bray discharged dead from natural causes

1 January 1921 at Cape Town 3rd Class Passenger Madge Gwendoline Weeks discharged dead from natural causes

3 January 1924 sailed London to Cape Town. Captain T M Lang was Master

13 October 1924 at the Government Hospital, Durban 1st Class Cook W R Collard discharged dead from TB

1 March 1925 berthed at Plymouth and London from Beria and Durban

21 June 1925 berthed at London from sydney, New South Wales

3 December 1925 sailed London for Cape Town. Captain F J Moseley was Master

18 May 1928 sailed Plymouth to Cape Town. Captain G J Whitehead was Master

10 December 1930 at 0.25S 15.43W Barman George Frederick Collins discharged dead from cancer of the liver

31 March 1932 sailed London for Cape Town. Captain C Lebroeg was the Master

2 October 1935 at 32.40N 13.48W Butcher Ernest Leonard Begernie discharged dead from myocarditis

3 May 1936 at Mossel Bay 2nd Officer David Campbell discharged dead from self inflicted wounds

23 October 1936 sailed London for Cape Town. Captain F A Smyth was the Master

13 August 1937 sailed London for Natal Captain F S Newdigate was the Master

5 February 1938 berthed at Southampton from Mombasa, Keyna

22 April 1938 berthed at Southampton from Durban

13 May 1938 berthed at London from Cape Town

21 October 1938 berthed at Southampton from Durban

27 September 1939 arrived Rosyth for demolition by Metal Industries Ltd. but …

2 October 1939 demolition work ceased as ship had been acquired by the Admiralty for use as a blockship at Scapa Flow

26 January 1940 hit a mine laid by the German Submarine U57 and sank off the Cromarty Firth while in tow for Scapa Flow