Builders: Ailsa Shipping Co Ltd Troon 1916
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owner: New Medway Steam Packet Co (Royal Navy, Southampton & Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co Ltd)
Service dates: 1916 - 1952
Tonnage: Net 379 Gross 798
Comments:
Built as the minesweeper HMS Atherstone for the Royal Navy in the Great War, she was purchased by the New Medway Steam Packet Co Ltd in 1928 and converted to a pleasure steamer. She sailed to the French coastal ports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk, as well as service on the Thames, Medway and up to Yarmouth. She was requitioned in 1939 and again became a minesweeper. After war service she again sailed the Thames and Medway until her sale in 1949 to the "Red Funnel" fleet. She was refurbished by Thorneycrofts and renamed Lorna Doone (II). She was a reliable and well liked ship and was distinctive in that her two funnels were very widely spaced. She had a full length promenade deck and operated out of Bournemouth for the company. She was scrapped in March 1952 at Dover. For a closer up picture of her at a quay on the Continent, please click here.
This picture is shown by kind permission of Steve Hales and comes from the collection of his late grandfather, Arthur George Hales. Arthur had a long RAF career, mainly between the wars, and this comes from the time when he was based at Felixstowe, probably flying on Short Singapore IIIs or possibly Supermarine Southamptons, flying boats. As well as the time shown in the corner of the photo ( 3.32pm), Steve's grandfather thought to record the date (23 June 1936) and pilots' name ( P/O Laws ), plus the squadron number ( 209 ) on the back. I am grateful to Steve for allowing me to share the picture on my site. It is believed the coastline is around the Clacton area but if any visitor can confirm this Steve would be pleased to know.