HMT Georgian
From Our Contribution
 courtesy Harland & Wolff | |
| File:.jpg | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMT Georgian |
| Owner | F. Leyland & Co. |
| Builder | Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
| Launched | 16 Aug 1890 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 5,088 tons |
| Length | 441 ft 10 in |
| Beam | 45 ft |
| Speed | 12 knots (22.24 km/h) |
Remarks
Built for F. Leyland & Co, she was transferred in 1896 to the Wilson's & Furness-Leyland Line, before being chartered back to the Leyland Line during the period 1900 - 1902. In 1914 ownership reverted tot eh Leyland Line.
During the war, she was used as a troopship, horse transport and cargo carrier. During the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 she took wounded ANZAC troops from the beachhead under fire, for which the captain was mentioned in despatches and subsequently awarded the OBE. In 1916 she carried the 14th Field Artillery Brigade from Alexandria to Marseliies.
She came under torpedo attack off the south coast of Ireland, but an alert lookout spotted the track and the ship turned just in time for the torpedo to pass parallel to her, 10 yards away, and she escaped under smoke. She was not so lucky in March 1917 when she was torpedoed 50 miles north of Cape Sidero, Crete by U-Boat UB-47 while carrying 300 troops. She was hit amidships and went down level in 15 minutes. Five crew and 32 passengers were lost.