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S.S. "GALICIAN"

renamed

"GLENART CASTLE"

Builder:   Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

Yard No.:  348

Official No.:  113334

Launched:  20th September 1900

Completed:  December 1900

Tonnage:  6,757 gross, 4,297 net.

Dimensions:  length 440.3 ft x Beam 52.2 ft

Engines:  Triple expansion, 508 h.p., 2,900 i.h.p., twin screw, 12 kts

Passengers:  70 1st. class, 105 2nd., 91 3rd.

Reefer space:  7,164 cu.ft.

Renamed:  September 1914 to "GLENART CASTLE"

Built for the intermediate service from London, one of the last vessels to be ordered by the Union Line, the last of Union Line's famous 'G' class ships; name retained.

1914, 15th August stopped by German armed merchant cruiser "Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse" south of Tenerife in position Lat.27 30'N Long 018 00'W north bound.  The "Galician" had been following a course ordered by the Admiralty but had deviated when coal ran short.   The German had intercepted the radio meassages from the "Galician" enabling her to ambush her.   A boarding party dismantled the radio equipment and removed two military passengers, otherwise proceedings were quite cordial and Captain Day presented the German's with cigarettes and tobacco in appreciation.   Orders for the "Galician" to steam ahead of the German ship were given and all aboard had a nerve racking night but in the morning because of her civilian passengers allowed to continue her voyage.  upon reaching England she was renamed.

1917, 1st March, whilst on passage from Le Havre to Southampton as a hospital ship she struck a mine, towed to Portsmouth for repairs.

1918, 26th February.  Sunk by U56 in the Bristol Channel.

Information from Ships & South Africa, Union-Castle Chronicle both by Marischal Murray & Union-Castle A Fleet History by Peter Newall.