Official Number: 140395
Laid down:
Builder: Cammell Laird & Co Ltd., Birkenhead
Pennant No: Y3.1883 / Y8.131
Launched: 29 September 1917
Into Service: November 1917
Out of service: 3 November 1919
Fate: 21 May 1943 torpedoed and sunk
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:
29 September 1917 launched by Cammel Laird & Co Ltd., Birkenhead as Yard Nr: 840 named War Cypress for the Shipping Controller, London (R Nicholson & Sons, Liverpool) Managers
November 1917 completed. Requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier – name unchanged
20 January 1918 arrived at Chalmette, New Orleans
23 January 1918 to 28 January 1918 loaded a cargo of maize in every hold together with flour in sacks. Also loaded 776 tons of FFO in water ballast tanks. Total cargo 6,729 tons
29 January 1918 sailed New Orleans bound for Dublin via Pensacola and New York. Captain Edward J Cawsey was the ship’s Master
30 January 1918 berthed at Pensacola to load bunker coal
17 February 1918 while crossing the Atlantic in heavy weather a defect occurred in the steering – repaired
24 February 1918 arrived at Dublin – No 1 hold was opened and four steveadores entered all of whom were killed by Carbon Monoxide poisoning. The Chief Officer and an AB were also effected by the same gas and were hospitalised
5 March 1918 sailed Dublin for Liverpool arriving the next day
20, 21, 22 and 24 June, 1918 a Formal Investigation was held at the Magistrates’ Room, Dale Street, Liverpool before Stuart DEACON, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate, assisted by Capt. J. SPEDDING, Capt. J. GARRIOCK, and Capt. J. D. MOULTON, R.N., into the circumstances attending the casualty which occurred on 25th February, 1918, on board the British Steamship ” WAR CYPRESS,” of London, in Dock at Dublin, whereby loss of life ensued. The result of the Investigation that this case appeared to be almost unique, in the circumstances the Court did not attribute any blame to the Master for the casualty, in as much as he had no reason at all to suspect the presence in his ship of the Carbon Monoxide gas
8 June 1919 berthed at Leith from Montreal
22 June 1919 became a Store Carrier – name unchanged
2 September 1919 arrived at Gravesend from Archangel
3 November 1919 returned to her owners – name unchanged
1 December 1919 purchased by Louis Dreyfus & Cie, Dunkirk and renamed Leopold L.D.
1 January 1920 sailed from Newport from Buenos Aires
27 January 1920 berthed at Buenos Aires from Newport
20 February 1920 sailed Buenos Aires for Dunkirk
18 March 1920 sailed Maderia for Dunkirk
8 August 1920 arrived at New Orleans from St Nazire
16 November 1920 berthed at Liverpool
16 October 1924 grounded in the river to Rotterdam – managed to get off at high water without any assistance
21 October 1928 grounded at Bermuda – had to jettison part of her cargo and get off with the assistance of two tugs
9 October 1931 while inward bound to the Port of Antwerp was in collision and suffered minor damage with British Steamer Port Caroline which apparently suffered no damage
1932 purchased by Livanos Maritime Co Ltd., (N G Livanos, Manager) Piraeus and renamed Aliki
June 1940 seized at Dakar by Vichy French Government and renamed Monaco under management of Soc. Anon de Gerance et d’Armanent
1942 transferred to the Italian Government and renamed Bologna
21 May 1943 torpedoed and sunk off Cape Vaticano by HMS/m UNBROKEN in position 38.30N 16.00E while on passage from Naples to Messina