HMAT A74 Marathon

HMAT A74 Marathon

Postcard image
History
Name	HMAT A74 Marathon
Builder	Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd., Govan, Modified - lengthened 1912
Yard number	402
Launched	18 Nov 1903
Completed	5 Jan 1904
Out of service	1924
Fate	1924 sold to a German company and broken up in Netherlands
General characteristics
Type	Passenger / Cargo Refrigerated
Tonnage	7,848 tons
Length	540.1 ft (164 .62m)
Beam	55 ft (16.76m)
Speed	15 knots (27.8 kph)
Capacity	1904 150 x 1st and 170 x 3rd class passengers. 1913 239 x 1st and 328 x 3rd

Remarks

Owned by the G Thompson & Co Ltd, of London, operating as the Aberdeen Line between 1903 and 1921. Originally she had a single funnel, but in 1912 there was a commercial case for her to be lengthened, and as part of the modification she was rebuilt with two funnels.

Leased by the Commonwealth from 27 Oct 1915 until 28 Jul 1917. She made three journeys carrying troops from mid 1916 until early 1917 before she was handed over to the British Admiralty on 28 Jul 1917, and two further voyages under their control. She was later to play a part in the return of troops to Australia after the war concluded.

She was renamed Oruba in 1921 when sold to Royal Mail Steam Packet Co, Aberdeen. Sold again in 1824, this time to Schweitzer & Oppler, Berlin before being scrapped in Hamburg during 1925.

Soldiers carried

Sydney to Devonport 4 May - 9 July 1916

• James Henry Davidson

England to Fremantle 17 June - 8 August 1918

• James Anthony Parker

Melbourne to London 23 July - 27 September 1918

Embarked in Albany on 29 July

• Frank Thomas Firns
• Walter Alfred King
• Sidney John Richards

England to Fremantle 6 November - 30 December 1918

• George Emanuel Nettleton

England to Fremantle 19 April - 31 May 1919

• Ernest Albert Batt
• John Edmond Rhodes
• Eric Oswald Strang

England to Fremantle 7 November - 19 December 1919

• Douglas Campbell Wills Winning and wife

Other Voyages

• 27 October 1916 from Brisbane
• 10 May 1917 from Sydney