RMS Empress of Canada (1922)

RMS "Empress of Canada" was an ocean liner built in 1920 for the Canadian Pacific Steamships (CP) by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland. This ship -- the first of two CP vessels to be named "Empress of Canada" [The second SS "Empress of Canada" (1961) was built for CP.] -- regularly traversed the trans-Pacific route between the west coast of Canada and the Far East until 1939. This "Empress" was distinguished by the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) prefix in front of her name while in commercial service with Canadian Pacific. When not carrying mail, the ship would have been identified as SS "Empress of Canada."Ship List: [http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsE.html Description of "Empress of Canada"] ]

History

In 1920, Canadian Pacific Steamships ordered a new ship to be built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Govan near Glasgow in Scotland. [Johnston, Ian. "Govan Shipyard" in [http://www.shipsmonthly.com/ships/home.htm "Ships Monthly."] June 1985.] This "Empress" was a 21,517 ton, 653 foot ocean liner. She undertook her maiden voyage on May 5, 1922. Based at the port of Vancouver, British Columbia, the first "Empress of Canada" was intended to provided service to Japan, Hong Kong, and China. Her sister ships included "Empress of France" and "Empress of Britain".

Great Kantō earthquake

On September 34, 1923, the "Empress of Canada" arrived at Tokyo harbor -- just three days after the devastating Great Kantō Earthquake struck the city. She found that the "Empress of Australia" had been converted to a command post from which the British consul was directing relief work; and the "Empress of Canada" transported refugees to Kobe -- 587 Europeans, 31 Japanese, and 362 Chinese. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50E1FF8385D11738DDDA00894D1405B838EF1D3&scp=1&sq=ss+Empress+of+Australia&st=p "All Ships Aiding Relief,"] "New York Times." September 9, 1923.]

World War II

Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939, she was converted for use as a troopship. She carried ANZAC troops from New Zealand and from Australia to the war zones in Europe.

The return voyage from Europe was not less dangerous than the trip north had been. On March 13, 1943, while en route from Durban, South Africa to Takoradi carrying Italian prisoners of war, the SS "Empress of Canada" was torpedoed and sunk by an Italian submarine (01-13S 09-57W) approximately 400 miles (640 km) south of Cape Palmas off the coast of Africa. Of the approximate 1800 people on board, 392 died.

Notes

ee also

* CP Ships
* List of ocean liners
* List of ships in British Columbia

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~merchantships/cprships1.html The Role of the CP Ships in World War II]
* New York Public Library Digital Gallery:
** NYPL ID 97714, unknown photographer: [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?97714 "Empress", starboard view]
** NYPL ID 97713, unknown photographer: [http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?97713 "Empress", portside view]