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R.M.S. "SAXON" (4)

1900-1935

The SAXON was a 12,385 gross ton ship, length 570.5ft x beam 64.4ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 17.5 knots. There was accommodation for 310-1st, 203-2nd, 132-3rd and 154-steerage class passengers.  Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast for the Union Line, she was launched on 2st Dec.1899, a few weeks before the merger between the Union and Castle Lines to form the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. After running her trials, she proceeded to Holyhead where she picked up a large number of guests for her sailing to Southampton. She left Southampton in June 1900 on her maiden voyage, so heavily booked that extra 3rd class accommodation had to be temporarily installed. On July 3rd she reached Cape Town. She then ran regularly on the mail service between Southampton, Cape Town and Durban with a call at Madeira. In 1902 she carried the three Boer War generals, Botha, de la Rey and de Witt to Southampton. On the outbreak of the Great War, she continued service to South Africa, changing her departure port to London on the closure of Southampton to commercial shipping. Requisitioned in Jan.1917 for use as a transport in the Mediterranean, she spent most of that year operating between Marseilles and Alexandria. Later she made a voyage to East Africa and then transferred to the Atlantic bringing US troops to Europe. After the Armistice, she made a voyage to Australia, probably with returning troops and was then handed back to her owners.

In September 1920 she collided with a barge in Cape Town docks and lost her rudder.  In August 1921 with General Smuts on board , she had a serious fire after leaving Madeira, so serious that distress signals were made and the cargo liner 'Waipara' stood by and escorted her to Freetown where the 'Kenilworth Castle' was diverted to pick up her passengers and mails.  She was then escourted to the Cape by the 'Armadale castle' Withdrawn from service in 1931 after the completion of the 'Warwick castle', she was laid up in reserve at Netley (Southampton Water) until sold to Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co., Ltd., Blyth Northumberland where she arrived on the 8th of February 1932.

[Steamers of the Past by J.H.Isherwood,Sea Breezes Magazine, Oct.1959]