HMAT A9 Shropshire
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | HMAT A9 Shropshire |
| Owner | Federal Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., London |
| Builder | John Brown, Clydebank |
| Yard number | 400 |
| Launched | 27 Apr 1911 |
| Completed | 19 Sep 1911 |
| In service | 28 Oct 1911 |
| Out of service | 1940 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk 11 Dec 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger / cargo steamship |
| Tonnage | 11,911 tons |
| Length | 526.4 ft (160.45m) |
| Beam | 61.4 ft (18.71m) |
| Depth | 33.3 ft (10.15m) |
| Propulsion | twin screw |
| Speed | 14 knots (25.93 kmph) |
Contents
Remarks
Built for the Federal Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London, and employed on passenger and meat trade between New Zealand and Britain. Leased by the Commonwealth until 5 Aug 1917 when control passed to the British Admiralty. Was a member of the first convoy from Albany to Alexandria. Completed seven voyages from Australia.
In 1923 was renamed Rotorua for the New Zealand Shipping Co. Became a casualty of WW2, being torpedoed by U Boat U-96 off St. Kilda, with the loss of 21 lives, 104 were rescued. Inward from Lyttelton via Halifax for Avonmouth.
Soldiers carried
Sydney to Alexandria 17 March - ? April 1915
Embarked in Melbourne on 20 March
Fremantle to Port Suez 31 March - 24 Apr 1916
- Charles Bird
- John Arthur Butcher
- Arthur Candish
- Frank Ernest Cousens
- † Herbert William Coxhead
- † William Moore Crellin
- Alexander Dowle
- William Arthur Green
- Robert Sang Herd
- † Frederick William Vernon King
- John William King
- William Isaac Little
- † George Badham Milton
- William Augustus Povah
- † Maurice Clarence Robinson
- Edward Walter Tatam
- † Hobart Turner
Other Voyages
- 20 October 1914 from Melbourne
- 20 August 1915 from Sydney
- 25 September 1916 from Melbourne
- 11 May 1917 from Melbourne