TSS Hibernia (1899)
Encyclopedia
TSS Hibernia was a twin screw steamer passenger vessel operated by the London and North Western Railway
from 1900 to 1914. She was renamed HMS Tara on requisition by the Admiralty in 1914, and sunk in action in November 1915.
of Dumbarton for the London and North Western Railway
in 1899 and introduced into service in 1900.
In 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Armed boarding steamer
and renamed HMS Tara.
She was torpedoed by U-35 in Sollum Bay, Mediterranean Sea
on 5 November 1915. The crew were saved by the U Boat and handed over to Senussi
tribesmen as prisoners. On 14 March 1916 they were being held at Bir Hakkim along with the crew of the HMT Moorina, a horse transport. They were rescued by the Duke of Westminster's
armoured car brigade, part of the Western Frontier Force
. The captain of the Tara at this time was Capt. R. Gwatkin-Williams, R.N.
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
from 1900 to 1914. She was renamed HMS Tara on requisition by the Admiralty in 1914, and sunk in action in November 1915.
History
She was built by William Denny and BrothersWilliam Denny and Brothers
William Denny and Brothers Limited, and often referred to simply as Denny, were a Scottish shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was founded by Peter Denny in 1840 and based in Dumbarton, on the River Clyde. Although the Denny yard was situated near the junction of the River Clyde and the River...
of Dumbarton for the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
in 1899 and introduced into service in 1900.
In 1914 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Armed boarding steamer
Armed boarding steamer
An armed boarding steamer was a type of warship used by the United Kingdom during World War I. Usually converted merchantmen, AB steamers or AB vessels were specifically designed for boarding an enemy vessel.-Vessels:*HMS Perth*HMS Suva...
and renamed HMS Tara.
She was torpedoed by U-35 in Sollum Bay, Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
on 5 November 1915. The crew were saved by the U Boat and handed over to Senussi
Senussi
The Senussi or Sanussi refers to a Muslim political-religious order in Libya and the Sudan region founded in Mecca in 1837 by the Grand Senussi, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi. Senussi was concerned with both the decline of Islamic thought and spirituality and the weakening of Muslim political...
tribesmen as prisoners. On 14 March 1916 they were being held at Bir Hakkim along with the crew of the HMT Moorina, a horse transport. They were rescued by the Duke of Westminster's
Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster
Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster GCVO DSO was the son of Victor Alexander Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Sibell Mary Lumley, the daughter of the 9th Earl of Scarborough...
armoured car brigade, part of the Western Frontier Force
Western Frontier Force
The Western Frontier Force was a force of British Empire troops formed in response to the Senussi Uprising and coming under the command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force....
. The captain of the Tara at this time was Capt. R. Gwatkin-Williams, R.N.