HMAT A27 Southern
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A27 Southern |
| Owner | Central Shipping Company, London |
| Builder | JL Thomson, North Sands |
| Launched | 1912 |
| Completed | 1912 |
| In service | 1912 |
| Fate | Wrecked March 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | cargo steamship |
| Tonnage | 4,769 tons |
| Length | 118.5 m |
| Beam | 16.5 m |
| Propulsion | single screw, triple expansion engine |
| Speed | 12 Knots (22.2 kph) |
Remarks
Leased by the Commonwealth until 3 Feb 1915 when it was returned to its owners. Its only trip was with the first convoy (slowest ship of 28) to Egypt. Members of the Light Horse Field Ambulance, many from 2 Field Artillery Brigade and a few from the 12th Battalion boarded the ship on 18 Oct 1914. t departed Sydney on 23 Sep 1914 and from Melbourne on 18 October. On 1 November it joined the first convoy which was forming up in King George Sound (Albany)
In 1915 she was sold to NASM, Nederlands and renamed Maasdyk. In 1922 she was again sold, this time to Morel and renamed Rhymney. Sold a third time in 1936 to C.A. Roberts , she was renamed MacDonald. Sold again in 1937 to Chang Shu Chang and renamed Pei Foo. Sold a final time in 1938 to Kitagawa Sangyo she was renamed Kitifuku Maru. Wrecked in March 1940.
Soldiers carried
Sydney to Alexandria 23 September 1914 - 1 Feb 1915
Also embarked remaining elements of 1st Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance in melbourne on 20 Octoner 1914