Official Number:                  118608

Laid down:                          

Builder:                              Cammell, Laird & Co. Ltd., Birkenhead

Pennant No:                       M18 / M1.12 / M1.05

Launched:                          11 March 1913

Into Service:                        29 October 1914 and 25 August 1939

Out of service:                     5 June 1919 and 30 May 1940

Fate:                                  Sunk 1940

Background Data:

One of a group of additional ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 & WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

11 March 1913 launched by Cammell, Laird & Co Ltd., Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 789 named King ORRY for Isle of Man Steam Packet Co Ltd., Douglas

July 1913 completed. Carried 884 x 1st Class & 716 x 3rd class passengers

17 July 1914 at Cornah, Isle of Man in fog ran aground. She refloated on the rising tide suffering minor damage to her hull

18 July 1914 sailed  Douglas for  Birkenhead for dry docking

29 October 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Armed Boarding Steamer and commissioned as HMS KING ORRY. Was based at Scapa Flow

17 November 1914 Engineer Lieutenant John Keig RNR appointed Chief Engineer Officer

30 November 1914 arrived at Long Hope, Scapa Flow

27 December 1914 arrived at Long Hope, Scapa Flow together with HMS ESKIMO

8 February 1915 sailed Long Hope, Scapa Flow

June 1915 ran aground in the Sound of Islay – refloated but with some damage

23 July 1915 Fireman William Haldon MMR discharged dead. He is buried in Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery in Grave 11 C of E 294

15 August 1915 Trimmer T Flemming MMR discharged dead. He is buried in Haslar Naval Cemetery in Grave E 23 12

23 September 1915 in fog in the North Sea in collision with the destroyer HMS CHRISTOPHER which sustained some damage

3 December 1916 Trimmer William Charles Gray MMR discharged dead following an accident. He is buried in Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill) Cemetery in Grave 3 RC 399

21 November 1918 was awarded the singular honour by Admiral Beatty, in recognition of the part played in WW1 by British Merchant Ships, of leading the capitulating German Grand Fleet into Scapa Flow. Engineer Lieutenant William McIntyre RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

5 June 1919 decommissioned, refitted and returned to her owners as KING ORRY and resumed her regular passenger service

19 August 1921 was stranded near the Rock Lighthouse, New Brighton while entering the River Mersey

King Orry aground at New Brighton

25 August 1939 again requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Armed Boarding Vessel and acted as a Troop Transport when she was used to rescue 1,131 soldiers from Dunkirk, successfully surviving air attacks and coastal bombardment

30 May 1940 her luck finally ran out and she was sunk by aircraft bombs off Dunkirk