SS Duchess of York
Encyclopedia
SS Duchess of York was a 20,021 ton ocean liner
operated by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. Built in 1928 in Clydebank
by the shipbuilders John Brown & Company
, she was originally intended to be named SS Duchess of Cornwall. However agreement was reached with Red Funnel
company to swap names with the latter's paddle steamer
Duchess of York, launched in 1896.
She was sunk in 1943 off Spain after being damaged by long range German bombers.
to Saint John, New Brunswick
route, calling at Belfast
and Greenock
en route; she carried many passengers over her twelve years in mercantile service.
Her first captain between 1929 and 1934 was Ronald Niel Stuart
, VC
whose impressive First World War service record entitled him to fly the Blue Ensign
whilst he was aboard. Following his departure, the liner was employed briefly on the New York CIty
to Bermuda
route before returning to her original passage.
as a troopship and used early in the war to transport Canadian soldiers to Britain, returning to Canada carrying RAF aircrew and German prisoners of war (among them legendary escapee Franz von Werra
in early January 1941). On 9 July 1943, she sailed Greenock as part of the small, fast Convoy Faith
, for Freetown, Sierra Leone
, in company with the SS California
and the merchant ship Port Fairy
.
Two days later, the convoy was about 300 miles west of Vigo when it was attacked by three Focke-Wulf Fw 200
aircraft of Kampfgeschwader 40 based at Merignac near Bordeaux
. The accurate high-altitude bombing left both Duchess of York and California blazing. Her escorts HMCS Iroquois
, HMS Douglas and HMS Moyola, together with Port Fairy, rescued all but twenty seven from the ship. Fearing the flames from the ships would attract U boats, the Duchess of York and California were sunk by Royal Navy torpedoes in position 41°15′N 15°24′W in the early hours of 12 July.
Ocean liner
An ocean liner is a ship designed to transport people from one seaport to another along regular long-distance maritime routes according to a schedule. Liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes .Cargo vessels running to a schedule are sometimes referred to as...
operated by the Canadian Pacific Steamship Company. Built in 1928 in Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
by the shipbuilders John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
, she was originally intended to be named SS Duchess of Cornwall. However agreement was reached with Red Funnel
Red Funnel
The Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, which trades as Red Funnel, is a ferry company that carries passengers and vehicles on routes between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight...
company to swap names with the latter's paddle steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
Duchess of York, launched in 1896.
She was sunk in 1943 off Spain after being damaged by long range German bombers.
Pre-war service
The Duchess of York was one of the several sturdy Canadian Pacific liners which were known as "Drunken Duchesses" for their lively performance in heavy seas. She was built as a sister ship to the SS Duchess of Bedford, the SS Duchess of Atholl, and the SS Duchess of Richmond. The vessel was created for transatlantic service; and she was employed on the LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
route, calling at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
en route; she carried many passengers over her twelve years in mercantile service.
Her first captain between 1929 and 1934 was Ronald Niel Stuart
Ronald Niel Stuart
Ronald Niel Stuart VC DSO RD RNR was a British Merchant Navy commodore and Royal Navy captain who was highly commended following extensive and distinguished service at sea over a period of more than thirty-five years...
, VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
whose impressive First World War service record entitled him to fly the Blue Ensign
Blue Ensign
The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem....
whilst he was aboard. Following his departure, the liner was employed briefly on the New York CIty
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
route before returning to her original passage.
War service and loss
In 1940, she was recommissioned by the British AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
as a troopship and used early in the war to transport Canadian soldiers to Britain, returning to Canada carrying RAF aircrew and German prisoners of war (among them legendary escapee Franz von Werra
Franz von Werra
Franz Xaver Baron von Werra was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over England and captured...
in early January 1941). On 9 July 1943, she sailed Greenock as part of the small, fast Convoy Faith
Convoy Faith
Convoy Faith was an Allied convoy of World War II that suffered heavy casualties after being attacked by German Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor long-range bomber aircraft on the night of 11/12 July 1943. The convoy departed Greenock, Scotland on 8 July bound for Freetown in Sierra Leone and...
, for Freetown, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, in company with the SS California
SS California (1923)
SS California was a British steam-powered passenger ship of 16,792 tons built in 1923 for the Henderson Brothers Ltd, Glasgow.-Construction:...
and the merchant ship Port Fairy
MV Port Fairy
MV Port Fairy was a UK merchant vessel built in 1928 for the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd shipping company and sold in 1965 to Embajada Compania Naviera SA of Piraeus...
.
Focke-Wulf Fw 200
The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies was a German all-metal four-engine monoplane originally developed by Focke-Wulf as a long-range airliner...
aircraft of Kampfgeschwader 40 based at Merignac near Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. The accurate high-altitude bombing left both Duchess of York and California blazing. Her escorts HMCS Iroquois
HMCS Iroquois (G89)
-External links:** at Haze Gray and Underway*...
, HMS Douglas and HMS Moyola, together with Port Fairy, rescued all but twenty seven from the ship. Fearing the flames from the ships would attract U boats, the Duchess of York and California were sunk by Royal Navy torpedoes in position 41°15′N 15°24′W in the early hours of 12 July.