Requisitioned Auxiliary – Queen Empress

 Queen Empress

Queen Empress 

 

Official Number:                       133048

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Murdock & Murray Ltd., Port Glasgow

Pennant Nr:                            

Launched:                               20 April 1912

Into Service:                            25 October 1915

Out of service:                         30 June 1920

Fate:                                      August 1946  broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 and WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

20 April 1912 launched by Murdock & Murray, Port Glasgow as Yard Nr: 249 named Queen Empress for John Williamson, Glasgow

24 April 1912 the Port Glasgow Express newspaper reported …

 

24 4 1912 Port Glasgow Express Queen Empress

 

June 1912 completed as a paddle steamer. Carried 1,321 passengers

25 October 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service initially as a Troop Transport, name unchanged then commissioned as an Auxiliary Minesweeper as HMS QUEEN EMPRESS

15 March 1916 Trimmer Frederick J Booth discharged dead from illness

7 to 8 October 1917 involved in the salvage of the Ketch Arkley – salvage money awarded vide London Gazette 30803

15 to 20 February 1918 involved in the salvage of the ss Glasgow – salvage money awarded vide London Gazette 31506

6 May 1919 served as a Hospital Carrier HC4 in the White Sea

30 June 1920 decommissioned, refitted and returned to her owners as Queen Empress. Owners now Williamson-Buchanan Steamers Ltd., Glasgow

1 October 1935 owners became Caledonian Steam Packet Co Ltd., Glasgow – name unchanged

1936 owners became London, Midland & Scottish Railway Co – name unchanged

31 March 1936 owners now Williamson-Buchanan Steamers (1936) Ltd., Glasgow – name unchanged

1939 requisitioned for Admiralty service, initially as an Auxiliary Minesweeper then as an Auxiliary Patrol Vessel

June 1940 based at Sheerness as the Senior Officer of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla with Acting Commander K F Boxall Royal Navy as Commanding Officer

January 1942 based at Harwich as the Senior Officer of the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla together with HMS’s DUCHESS OF ROTHESAY and LORNA DOONE

 

HMS QUEEN EMPRESS IWM

HMS QUEEN EMPRESS

 

27 February 1943 returned to Caledonian Steam Packet Co Ltd., – name unchanged

1945 laid up at Northam

August 1946 arrived Nieuw Lekkerland for demolition by Scheepsloterij De Koophandel