Post by Administrator on Apr 15, 2020 12:26:25 GMT
The S.S. "Arcadian", a British passenger-liner requisitioned by the British Admiralty in WW1 on February 1915 for use as an armed merchant cruiser, was sunk by a German U-Boat on 15th April 1917 with the loss of 279 lives.
The ship was built at Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, UK by Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. for the PSNC (Pacific Steam Navigation Company) for use on their London to Australia route. She was registered in Liverpool and launched as the Steam Ship "Ortona" on 10th July 1899. On 8th May 1906, she was sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and re-named "Arcadian" as their ship' names began with the letter "A".
After being requisitioned and converted in 1915, the S.S. "Arcadian" served during the Gallipoli Campaign, first as the headquarters of General Sir Ian Hamilton, then as a troop ship.
On 15th April 1917, she was sailing from Salonkia (now called Thessaloniki) in Greece to Alexandria in Egypt with 1,535 troops and crew on board, when she was attacked and sunk by a German U-Boat. "Arcadian" sank within six minutes with the loss of 279 lives.
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The ship was built at Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, UK by Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. for the PSNC (Pacific Steam Navigation Company) for use on their London to Australia route. She was registered in Liverpool and launched as the Steam Ship "Ortona" on 10th July 1899. On 8th May 1906, she was sold to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and re-named "Arcadian" as their ship' names began with the letter "A".
After being requisitioned and converted in 1915, the S.S. "Arcadian" served during the Gallipoli Campaign, first as the headquarters of General Sir Ian Hamilton, then as a troop ship.
On 15th April 1917, she was sailing from Salonkia (now called Thessaloniki) in Greece to Alexandria in Egypt with 1,535 troops and crew on board, when she was attacked and sunk by a German U-Boat. "Arcadian" sank within six minutes with the loss of 279 lives.
LINK