(AC) AUSTRALIAN
COMMONWEALTH
LINE, 1921-1928
ABERDEEN & COMMONWEALTH
LINE, 1928-1957
From a postcard in
the author's collection
Moreton Bay – twscs 13,855gt
slv
3 photos uw Image:
1921 Barrow
No. b37538
1921 began service from London
No.
b37543
via Suez to Fremantle, Adelaide,
No. gr001160
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
sln 3 photos uw
and return. With 12 first class
Digital Order:
(Government berths) and 712
No.
a638636
third class berths. (This passenger
No.
a638638
accommodation arrangement was
No. a638639
replicated initially in all five ’Bays’)
1923 involved in two
collisions –
the first in the Thames for which
she was found responsible and on
her next voyage with a vessel off
Southend
1928 sold to White Star Line put
with George Thompson Ltd .as
managers. The same service
was maintained.
1931 converted to one class ship
-542 tourist, new tonnage 14,145gt
1933 the purchase arrangements
with White Star collapsed and
the Aberdeen & Commonwealth
Line was formed under Shaw Savill
with George Thompson Ltd
continuing as managers. The
Moreton Bay and her four sisters
were transferred to the new Line.
1939 commissioned as an Armed
Merchant Cruiser
1941 converted into a troopship.
Participated in the Madagascar,
North African and European
campaigns. .
1946 returned to commercial
service on the London,
Southampton, Suez,
Sydney, route.
1956 (Nov.) final sailing.
1957 scrapped
From a postcard in the author's collection
Largs Bay – twscs 13,853gt 1921
sln 4
photos Digital Order:
Glasgow
No.
a638109 uw
1922 maiden voyage in the
No.
a638111 uw
London via Suez, Fremantle,
No. a638112 uw
Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney,
No. a638113 uw
1928
sold to White Star Line
slv photo uw
Image:
with
George Thompson Ltd.
No. b39510
as
managers.
1931
converted to one class
ship -
550 tourist berths, new
tonnage
14,184gt
1933 in
Aberdeen &
Commonwealth Lines with
George
Thompson Ltd. as
managers.
1939
in commercial service
1941
converted to troopship -
participated in Far vEast, North
African and Italian ccampaigns
1944 damaged by a mine in
the
approaches to Naples
1948-49 overhauled, converted
to
carry 290 tourist class
passengers – new tonnage
14,362gt
1949 resumed commercial
service on the London,
Southampton, Suez,
Sydney route
1957 final sailing, scrapped.
The Aberdeen &
Commonwealth Line came
to an end and along with
it the Aberdeen Line
From a postcard in the author's collection
Hobson Bay – twscs 13,840gt 1922
sln 4 photos
Digital Order:
Barrow
No. a637697
1922 maiden voyage London
(leaving
wharf)
via Suez to Fremantle, Adelaide,
No. a637698 uw
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane
No. a637699 uw
1928 sold to White Star Line
No. a637700 uw
and with George Thompson
slv photo Image:
Ltd as managers
No. b37550
1931 converted to one
(Stopped for pick up)
class ship – 512 tourist berths,
slq
photo Image:
new
tonnage, 14,198gt
No. 67495
1933 in Aberdeen &
(Moving to or from
Commonwealth Lines with
a
wharf)
George
Thompson Ltd as
managers
1936
r/n Esperance Bay
after her sister shipof that name
was transferred to Shaw, Savill
& Albion and rename Arawa.
1939 fitted-out as an
Armed Merchant Cruiser
1941 became a troopship.
Trooping duties took her
to South Africa, the
Middle East, India, and
the South and North Atlantic
1948 returned to commercial
service with tourist class
accommodation for 290
1955 scrapped
Arawa, ex Esperance Bay
From a postcard in the
author's collection
Esperance Bay – twscs 13,837gt
sln 6 photos Digital
Order:
1922 Glasgow
No. a637405 uw
1922 maiden voyage in the
No. a637406 uw (dark)
London via Suez, Fremantle,
No. a637407 uw
Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney,
(in
harbour)
Brisbane service.
No. a637408 am
1928 sold to White Star Line No.
a637409 uw
with George Thompson Ltd
No. a637410 uw (at sea)
as managers.
slv 2 photos Image:
1933 in Aberdeen &
No. mp010720 uw
(at sea)
Commonwealth Lines with
No. gr000035 uw
George Thompson Ltd
as managers.
1934 went aground in the
Bitter Lake, Suez Canal
1936 transferred to Shaw,
Savill & Albion r/n Arawa
Refitted to carry 292 tourist
class passengers
1937 entered Southampton,
Panama, Wellington service
1939 at Wellington in Sept,
went to Sydney for conversion
to an Armed Merchant Cruiser
placed on China station.
1940
employed in convoy
protection between Sierra
Leone and the United
Kingdom
1941 converted into a
troopship.
1945 used for POW
repatriation in Eastern
Mediterranean,.
the
repatriation of British
civilians from Japanese
internment in China,
and then French
civilians from Saigon
1946 returned to commercial
service - UK to New Zealand
via Panama
1947 reopened route via
Cape of Good Hope to
New Zealand
1954 collided with another ship
1955 made
her final sailing,.
scrapped
From a postcard in the author's
collection
Jervis Bay – twscs 13,839gt 1922
sln 3 photos Digital
Order:
Barrow ship
No. a637859 uw
1922, maiden voyage in the
No. a637861 uw
London via Suez service to
No.
a637862 uw
Fremantle, Adelaide,
slsa photo uw
Melbourne, Sydney and
No.B58957 (1929)
Brisbane. With five ships
slv photo uw Image:
the service became monthly..
No.
gr001154 uw
1928 sold to White Star
awm photo of painting
Line with George Thompson
by Montague Dawson
Ltd as managers
of HMS Jervis Bay
1931 converted to one
engaging the Admiral
(tourist) class ship – 542 berths
Scheer
1933 in Aberdeen &
ID No.ART26706
Commonwealth Lines with
George Thompson Ltd as
managers.
1939 fitted out as an
Armed Merchant Cruiser.
1940 sunk in the Atlantic
escorting an eastbound
convoy of 37 ships by the
German pocket battleship
Admiral Scheer. The
HMS Jervis Bay commanded
by
Captain E.S. Fogarty
Fegen RN faced the enemy
to
divert attention from the
convoy which scattered –
31
of the 37 ships got away.
There were 68 survivors of
the crew of 259 of the Jervis
Bay who were picked up by
a
Swedish ship. Captain Fegen
was among those who were
killed and was awarded a
posthumous Victoria Cross.
Sources:
1.
David Savill and Duncan Haws' "Merchant Fleets
17:
Aberdeen
and Aberdeen & Commonwealth Lines", TCL Publications,
Herford
1989
2. John M Maber's "North Star to Southern Cross"
(Stephenson & Sons Ltd,
Prescot, Lancashire 1967)
3, Frank Brennan's
"The Australian Commonwealth Shipping Line" (Roebuck
Society
Publication, Canberra 1978)