Official Number:                       111248  

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Alex. Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse

Launched:                               17 January 1900

Into Service:                            16 September 1914

Out of service:                         14 April 1917

Fate:                                       Broken up 1928

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:

17 January 1900 launched by Alex. Stephen & Sons Ltd., Linthouse as Yard Nr: 384 named TUNISIAN for Allen Line Steampship Co Ltd., Glasgow

18 January 1900 the Lloyds List newspaper reported –

March 1900 completed with accommodation for 240 x 1st class, 220 x 2nd Class and 1,000 x 3rd class passengers

5 April 1900 maiden voyage Liverpool – Halifax – Portland via Londonderry

10 May 1900 sailed Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

14 June 1900 sailed Liverpool for Quebec

3 January 1901 sailed Liverpool for Halifax and Portland

15 January 1901 berthed at Portland

15 August 1901 sailed Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

24 April 1902 sailed Liverpool for Quebec

26 February 1903 sailed Liverpool for Halifax

20 August 1903 sailed from Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

10 March 1904 sailed Liverpool for Halifax

10 August 1905 sailed Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

5 October 1905 sailed Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

3 May 1906 sailed Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal

23 August 1906 sailed Liverpool for Quebec and Montreal

January 1907 first voyage on charter to Canadian Pacific Liverpool to St Johns NB

2 May 1907 sailed Liverpool for Quebec

30 May 1907 sailed Liverpool for Montreal

13 May 1909 put into St. Johns, Newfoundland having suffered damage when she ran into a heavy field of ice off Cape Race. The ship was carrying 1,081 passengers mainly immigrants for Canada. Divers reported that the damage was slight and the ship continued on her voyage to Montreal with all her passengers

16 April 1912 sailed to provide assistance to RMS Titanic when she sank but did not pick up any survivors

January 1913 final vaoyage on charter to Canadian Pacific

4 September 1914 final voyage Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal then eastbound ascting as a transport for the Canadian Expeditionary Force

16 September 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for Canadian Expeditionary Force Transport – name unchanged – until 30 October 1914

31 October 1914 to 17 February 1915 redeployed as an accommodation ship for 795 German civilian prisoners anchored off Ryde, Isle of Wight

18 February 1915 redeployed as an Expeditionary Force Tranport on trooping voyages to Gallipoli and Mesopotamia

9 March 1915 at 46°28N 10°18W the Armed Merchant cruiser HMS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN while on passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool passed the RMS Tunisian steaming south 

13 April 1915 at 14°59N 53°58E child passenger Donal Pitts discharged dead from natural causes

14 April 1917 returned to her owners

16 July 1917 became a unit in Canadian Pacific Ocean Services Ltd – name unchanged 

12 November 1918 first voyage from the Armistice – London to St John, NB 

23 December 1918 sailed Liverpool to St. John NB for new owners

23 September 1919 sailed London to Quebec and Montreal

4 November 1919 sailed Liverpool to Montreal with 57 passengers. Captain M Chambers was Master 

May 1920 – March 1921 converted to oil fuel burning and accommodation altered for 310 x Cabin Class and 736 x 3rd Class passengers 

6 April 1921 sailed Glasgow to St John NB 

27 April 1922 at Ruchill Hospital Steward Robert Crawford discharged with natural causes

16 November 1922 renamed MARBURN by her new owners 

17 November 1922 sailed Liverpool to St Johns NB 

2 March 1923 sailed Glasgow to St John NB

26 October 1923 sailed Belfast to Quebec 

28 October 1923 at 56°31N 22°30W Bosun Gustave Adolf Peterson discharged dead from pneumonia

28 December 1923 sailed Glasgow to St. Johns, Newfoundland

31 March 1924  at Greenock while at anchor Housekeep Sarh Beacon discharged dead from meningitus 

23 May 1924 at 48°02N 69°33W 1st Assistant 3rd Class Cook ALexander Paterson Sievewright discharged dead from natural causes

13 December 1924 sailed Antwerp to St John NB 

3 May 1925 at 45°31N 53°24W child passenger George Mennier discharged dead from diptheria 

2 October 1925 on the River Clyde passenger Housewife Jessie Gallacher discharged dead from TB

15 June 1927 sailed Southampton for Quebec 

6 April 1928 sailed Antwerp to Southampton and St John NB – her final commercial voyage

9 May 1928 laid up at Southampton 

17 September 1928 sailed Southampton for demolition by SA Co-Op Ligure Demolition Navi at Genoa