BAVARIAN was built in 1869 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast
with a tonnage of 3111grt, a length of 400ft, a beam of 37ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. The first of three sister
which were and improved version of the 'Istrian' she was launched
on 7th October 1869 and delivered for the Levant and Black Sea
routes on 5th November. She was acquired by Frederick Leyland
& Co. on 1st January 1873 and in 1877 was equipped with
a compound engine by J. Jack & Co. of Liverpool prior to
joining the Liverpool to Boston cargo service on 17th November
of that year. In 1899 she was sold to J. Glynn & Sons of
Liverpool and in 1894 was acquired by Furness, Withy & Co.
for their charter operation. However, she was scarcely used
and subsequently broken up at Preston in 1895.
BULGARIAN was built in 1870 by Harland &
Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 3112grt, a length of 390ft,
a beam of 37ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of
the Bavarian she was launched on 17th February 1870 and completed
on 20th May for the Mediterranean and Black Sea services. She
was sold, with the rest of the fleet, to Frederick Leyland &
Co. on 1st January 1873. In 1877 she was converted to a more
powerful 2 x 2 cylinder compound engine by J. Jack & Co.
In 1894 she was acquired by Furness, Withy for their charter
operation but, as she was hardly used, was broken up at New
Ferry, Mersey in 1895.
BOHEMIAN was built in 1870 by Harland &
Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 3113grt, a length of 390ft,
a beam of 37ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of
the Bavarian she was launched on 16th April 1870 and delivered
for the Mediterranean and Black Sea services on 29th May. She
was acquired by Frederick Leyland & Co. on 1st January 1873
and in 1877 had a 2 x 2 cylinder compound engine installed by
J. Jack & Co. On 2nd February 1881 she was wrecked near
Crookhaven in Ireland with the loss of 33 lives.
OPORTO was built in 1870 by J. Reid &
Co. at Port Glasgow with a tonnage of 565grt, a length of 201ft,
a beam of 26ft 2in and a service speed of 9 knots. She was built
for the Iberian peninsular trade to Lisbon and taken over by
Frederick Leyland & Co. on 1st January 1873. In 1880 she
was sold to Coverley & Westray of London for operation out
of London on similar services to Spain and Portugal. Reboilered
in 1882 she sank after a collision in 1892 and, although salvaged,
was beyond economical repair.
ALBANIAN (2) was built in 1870 by Thos. B
Royden & Sons at Liverpool with a tonnage of 1417grt, a
length of 291ft 11in, a beam of 31ft 2in and a service speed
of 10 knots. She was built for service to the Italian ports
and taken over by Frederick Leyland & Co. on 1st January
1873. In 1877 she sank after being in collision off Great Orme
Head in North wales.
LANCASHIRE
(1) was built in 1889 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 3870grt, a length of 400ft 8in, a beam of 45ft
2in and a service speed of 14 knots. The first vessel built
for Bibby Bros & Co. following the company's return to ship
ownership she was launched on 27th April 1889. Completed as
a cargo ship with accommodation for twelve passengers she undertook
her maiden voyage to Rangoon with one passenger in 23 days and
20 hours, a record which stood for many years. Bibby's initially
intended to include Burma only as an intermediate port on a
service to further destinations but the profit earned on the
maiden voyage indicated that the ship could be permanently deployed
on the Burma trade. In 1891 she made Bibby's first inbound call
to the Victoria Dock in London where she unloaded part of her
cargo. During the following year she was converted to carry
70 passengers and in 1897 she loaded cargo at London's Victoria
Dock for the first time. She was replaced by the Herefordshire
(1) in 1905 and sold to the Danish East Asiatic Co. who renamed
her Kina. In 1907 she was transferred to the Russian East Asiatic
Co., a subsidiary, and made her first sailing from Libau to
New York via Rotterdam as the Lituania on 4th July. She commenced
her last sailing to New York on 1st April 1912 and, in the following
year, was sold to Shosho Kisen K. K. of Dairen who changed her
name to Daiten Maru. On 6th March 1918 she was torpedoed in
the Mediterranean. (From a painting by Joseph Witham)
YORKSHIRE
(1) was built in 1889 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 3870grt, a length of 400ft 8in, a beam of 45ft
2in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Lancashire
she was launched on 27th July 1889, delivered on 10th October
and undertook her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York for
Anchor Line. As a short term measure it was the company's intention
to use the ships wherever they were required. In 1890 she was
placed full time on the Burma trade and in 1891 she was converted
to carry 70 passengers. Seven years later, in 1897, she was
replaced by the Derbyshire (1), became a reserve steamer and
made available for short term charters. On 8th September 1898
she was chartered to the Dominion Line for five round voyages
from Liverpool to New York. In October 1899 she became Boer
War Transport No.14 and was the first ship of over a dozen ships
to sail for Cape Town carrying the Lancashire Fusiliers. She
was sold to the East Asiatic Co. of Copenhagen in 1905 and renamed
Indien. Two years later she was transferred to the Russian East
Asiatic Co. and made her first voyage from Libau to New York
via Rotterdam on 16th June 1905 as the Estonia. In 1912 she
was transferred by her owners to the Far East and on 16th January
1913 caught fire and was abandoned off Port Sudan. The drifting
hulk was condemned and sunk with explosives on 23rd January.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group)
CHESHIRE
(1) was built in 1891 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 5708grt, a length of 445ft 6in, a beam of 49ft
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. She was launched on 6th June
1891 and when delivered on 3rd September the service to Burma
became monthly. In 1900 she was requisitioned as a troopship
for use during the Boer War. She was replaced by the Gloucestershire
(1) in 1911 and sold to Lim Chin Tsong of Rangoon who renamed
her Seang Choon. In 1915 she was requisitioned, once again,
as a troopship and initially operated to the Dardenelles and
then between India and the United Kingdom. She was taken over
under the Liner Requisition Scheme in March 1910 and on 10th
July of that year, during a voyage from Sydney, NSW to Liverpool
via Dakar with a general cargo, she was torpedoed by U-87 ten
miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 19 lives. (Photo:
Bibby Line Group)
SHROPSHIRE
(1) was built in 1891 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 5721grt, a length of 445ft 6in, a beam of 49ft
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Sister of the Cheshire she
was launched on 27th July 1891, delivered on 3rd October and
was the first to be built with passenger berths. She was replaced
by the Leicestershire (1) in 1909 and sold to Lim Chin Tsong
of Rangoon who renamed her Seang Bee. Operated by the China
& Southern Trading Co. with British officers and flag she
had locals as her deck crew. In 1915 she was chartered for use
as a troopship and operated between Indian and Burmese waters
to the Persian Gulf and later in the Dardenelles campaign. There
were reports of her being painted 'chocolate brown.' She returned
to her owners in 1919 and was broken up in 1931. (Photo: Bibby
Line Group)
STAFFORDSHIRE
(1) was built in 1894 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 6055grt, a length of 455ft 5in, a beam of 49ft
1in and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Financed by James Bibby
she was launched on 7th December 1894 and had a funnel which
was 52ft above the boat deck and, for the first time, was equipped
with foredeck cranes. She entered service from Liverpool to
Rangoon on 18th April 1894. In October 1899 she became the Boar
War Transport No. 10 and was supplied with extra lifeboats abreast
of her foredeck crane. She was replaced by the Oxfordshire (1)
in 1912 and sold to Cie Sud Atlantique which had been founded
on 8th February 1912. Renamed Samara she commenced her first
sailing from Bordeaux to South America on 9th November 1912.
In 1914 she was torpedoed and while she was being repaired was
converted into an ambulance transport. She was chartered to
Cie Generale Transatlantique for one voyage from St Nazaire
to Panama before returning to the South America run in June
1915. The Sud Atlantique fleet was transferred to Chargeurs
Reunis in 1916 and in April 1923 she loaded coal at Cardiff
and proceeded to Genoa where she was broken up. (Photo: Bibby
Line Group)
DERBYSHIRE
(1) was built in 1897 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 6635grt, a length of 452ft, a beam of 52ft 1in
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Sister of the Staffordshire
she was launched on 21st July 1897 and completed in the following
October. The last of the shorter bridge deck type, her arrival
enable the service to Burma to have a sailing every three weeks
in line with Henderson's. In 1899 she undertook four round voyages
from Liverpool to Boston for the Dominion Line commencing on
6th June. When the Oxfordshire (1) joined the fleet in 1912
she was reduced to being the reserve steamer. In January 1915
she was deployed as a troop transport operating to India and
Malaya and in 1917 carried American troops to Europe. She became
a full time troopship in 1921 when Bibby's were given a Government
trooping contract and began carrying military personnel to India
and the Levant. In 1927 she was replaced as a troopship by the
Dorsetshire (1) and was reduced to carrying cargo only. Still
a coal burner, she was broken up in Japan during April 1931.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group)
JAMES J. BIBBY was built in 1902 by Grayson
& Co at Garston with a tonnage of 176grt, a length of 120ft
2in, and a beam of 22ft. Brigantine rigged, she was built with
Bibby funds as a sail training ship for the cadets on HMS Indefatigable
which was anchored off Rock Ferry in the River Mersey. In 1917
she was equipped with twin screw auxiliary engines and, on 23rd
February of that year, became 'Q' ship, Q 29, patrolling Shetland
and Orkney waters. Armed with 1 x 4", 2 x 12 and 1 x 3
pounder guns she was given the disguise names of Dargle, Grabbit
and Peggy. When she was stopped by a U-boat in 1918 she inflicted
so much damage to the submarine that it surrendered to an armed
trawler off the Tyne. On 9th March 1920 she was decommissioned
and returned to Birkenhead where she was laid up at Morpeth
Dock. In 1921 she was owned by A. M. Anderson and in 1922 was
sold to Lt.Cdr Sir Warden Chilcott who renamed her Reverie.
In the following year her mooring was in the Hamble River, Southampton
and she became the yacht Dolphin for the same owner. She was
lengthened by 6ft in 1925 so as to accommodate new 2 x 4cylinder
Bolinder diesels which were installed by White & Co. of
Cowes. In 1945 ownership was recorded as being with E Casarano
and after 1948 all trace of her was lost.
WARWICKSHIRE
(1) was built in 1902 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 7975grt, a length of 470ft 4in, a beam of 58ft
2in and a service speed of 15 knots. Launched on 28th November
1901 and completed in the following March she was the first
Bibby ship to have tandem cabins whereby the inner cabin had
access to a port hole via a narrow corridor. She was also the
first ship to be propelled with 4 cylinder quadruple expansion
engines and equipped with electric fans. During World War 1
she was only ship to remain on the Rangoon service although
she was joined by the Lancashire (2) in 1917. On 10th April
1918 she was hit by a torpedo which blew a hole right through
her bow but she managed to reach Bizerta safely. In April 1919
she resumed the Burma service but made two extended voyages
to Australia with troops before returning to Burma to load for
the inbound voyage. She was refitted by her builder in 1920
during which time she was converted to oil burning. In 1927
she was replaced by the Cheshire (2) and rebuilt for cargo work
only with telescopic masts and a removable funnel top for passage
in the Manchester Ship Canal. After a further five years service
she was broken up in Japan during May 1932. (Photo: Bibby Line
Group)
WORCESTERSHIRE
was built in 1904 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage
of 7170grt, a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in and a
service speed of 15 knots. Slightly smaller than her sister,
the Warwickshire, she was delivered in September 1904 and, with
her arrival, released the Yorkshire (1) and the Lancashire (1)
for disposal. During 1914 - 16 she was used for trooping duties.
On 17th February 1917 she ran into a minefield which had been
laid by the German Armed Merchant Cruiser Wolf ten miles southwest
of Colombo, struck a mine and sank. Two lives were lost and
she was Bibby's only WW1 loss. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
HEREFORDSHIRE
was built in 1905 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage
of 7182grt, a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in and a
service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the Worcestershire she
was launched on 31st August 1905 and completed on 29th November.
When the First World War was declared she remained on the Burma
run until 25th July 1916 when she was requisitioned as a hospital
ship for 380 patients serving Salonika, Mesopotamia and East
Africa. On 1st January 1918 she was decommissioned and on 4th
February was narrowly missed by two torpedoes during her first
Mediterranean convoy. When the torpedo tracks were spotted her
Master, Capt.G. E. Millson, ordered the helm hard over and one
engine to full astern which slewed the ship around. One torpedo
passed under the counter stern missing by a foot or so and one
of the torpedoes went on to hit P&O's Sardinia. In 1920
she was refitted by her builder and converted to oil burning.
She was rebuilt for cargo services only in 1929 and equipped
with, in addition to modifications for transiting the Manchester
Ship Canal, a heavy lift derrick on the foremast. In April 1933
she was laid up at Dartmouth and on 9th March 1934 left in tow
bound for Clyde shipbreakers. On 15th March she grounded on
Cardigan Island and was a total loss. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
(2).jpg)
LANCASHIRE
(1) was built in 1889 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 3870grt, a length of 400ft 8in, a beam of 45ft
2in and a service speed of 14 knots. The first vessel built
for Bibby Bros & Co. following the company's return to ship
ownership she was launched on 27th April 1889. Completed as
a cargo ship with accommodation for twelve passengers she undertook
her maiden voyage to Rangoon with one passenger in 23 days and
20 hours, a record which stood for many years. Bibby's initially
intended to include Burma only as an intermediate port on a
service to further destinations but the profit earned on the
maiden voyage indicated that the ship could be permanently deployed
on the Burma trade. In 1891 she made Bibby's first inbound call
to the Victoria Dock in London where she unloaded part of her
cargo. During the following year she was converted to carry
70 passengers and in 1897 she loaded cargo at London's Victoria
Dock for the first time. She was replaced by the Herefordshire
(1) in 1905 and sold to the Danish East Asiatic Co. who renamed
her Kina. In 1907 she was transferred to the Russian East Asiatic
Co., a subsidiary, and made her first sailing from Libau to
New York via Rotterdam as the Lituania on 4th July. She commenced
her last sailing to New York on 1st April 1912 and, in the following
year, was sold to Shosho Kisen K. K. of Dairen who changed her
name to Daiten Maru. On 6th March 1918 she was torpedoed in
the Mediterranean. (From a painting by Joseph Witham) 
YORKSHIRE
(1) was built in 1889 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 3870grt, a length of 400ft 8in, a beam of 45ft
2in and a service speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Lancashire
she was launched on 27th July 1889, delivered on 10th October
and undertook her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York for
Anchor Line. As a short term measure it was the company's intention
to use the ships wherever they were required. In 1890 she was
placed full time on the Burma trade and in 1891 she was converted
to carry 70 passengers. Seven years later, in 1897, she was
replaced by the Derbyshire (1), became a reserve steamer and
made available for short term charters. On 8th September 1898
she was chartered to the Dominion Line for five round voyages
from Liverpool to New York. In October 1899 she became Boer
War Transport No.14 and was the first ship of over a dozen ships
to sail for Cape Town carrying the Lancashire Fusiliers. She
was sold to the East Asiatic Co. of Copenhagen in 1905 and renamed
Indien. Two years later she was transferred to the Russian East
Asiatic Co. and made her first voyage from Libau to New York
via Rotterdam on 16th June 1905 as the Estonia. In 1912 she
was transferred by her owners to the Far East and on 16th January
1913 caught fire and was abandoned off Port Sudan. The drifting
hulk was condemned and sunk with explosives on 23rd January.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
CHESHIRE
(1) was built in 1891 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 5708grt, a length of 445ft 6in, a beam of 49ft
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. She was launched on 6th June
1891 and when delivered on 3rd September the service to Burma
became monthly. In 1900 she was requisitioned as a troopship
for use during the Boer War. She was replaced by the Gloucestershire
(1) in 1911 and sold to Lim Chin Tsong of Rangoon who renamed
her Seang Choon. In 1915 she was requisitioned, once again,
as a troopship and initially operated to the Dardenelles and
then between India and the United Kingdom. She was taken over
under the Liner Requisition Scheme in March 1910 and on 10th
July of that year, during a voyage from Sydney, NSW to Liverpool
via Dakar with a general cargo, she was torpedoed by U-87 ten
miles southwest of Fastnet with the loss of 19 lives. (Photo:
Bibby Line Group) 
SHROPSHIRE
(1) was built in 1891 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 5721grt, a length of 445ft 6in, a beam of 49ft
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Sister of the Cheshire she
was launched on 27th July 1891, delivered on 3rd October and
was the first to be built with passenger berths. She was replaced
by the Leicestershire (1) in 1909 and sold to Lim Chin Tsong
of Rangoon who renamed her Seang Bee. Operated by the China
& Southern Trading Co. with British officers and flag she
had locals as her deck crew. In 1915 she was chartered for use
as a troopship and operated between Indian and Burmese waters
to the Persian Gulf and later in the Dardenelles campaign. There
were reports of her being painted 'chocolate brown.' She returned
to her owners in 1919 and was broken up in 1931. (Photo: Bibby
Line Group) 
STAFFORDSHIRE
(1) was built in 1894 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 6055grt, a length of 455ft 5in, a beam of 49ft
1in and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Financed by James Bibby
she was launched on 7th December 1894 and had a funnel which
was 52ft above the boat deck and, for the first time, was equipped
with foredeck cranes. She entered service from Liverpool to
Rangoon on 18th April 1894. In October 1899 she became the Boar
War Transport No. 10 and was supplied with extra lifeboats abreast
of her foredeck crane. She was replaced by the Oxfordshire (1)
in 1912 and sold to Cie Sud Atlantique which had been founded
on 8th February 1912. Renamed Samara she commenced her first
sailing from Bordeaux to South America on 9th November 1912.
In 1914 she was torpedoed and while she was being repaired was
converted into an ambulance transport. She was chartered to
Cie Generale Transatlantique for one voyage from St Nazaire
to Panama before returning to the South America run in June
1915. The Sud Atlantique fleet was transferred to Chargeurs
Reunis in 1916 and in April 1923 she loaded coal at Cardiff
and proceeded to Genoa where she was broken up. (Photo: Bibby
Line Group) 
DERBYSHIRE
(1) was built in 1897 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 6635grt, a length of 452ft, a beam of 52ft 1in
and a service speed of 14.5 knots. Sister of the Staffordshire
she was launched on 21st July 1897 and completed in the following
October. The last of the shorter bridge deck type, her arrival
enable the service to Burma to have a sailing every three weeks
in line with Henderson's. In 1899 she undertook four round voyages
from Liverpool to Boston for the Dominion Line commencing on
6th June. When the Oxfordshire (1) joined the fleet in 1912
she was reduced to being the reserve steamer. In January 1915
she was deployed as a troop transport operating to India and
Malaya and in 1917 carried American troops to Europe. She became
a full time troopship in 1921 when Bibby's were given a Government
trooping contract and began carrying military personnel to India
and the Levant. In 1927 she was replaced as a troopship by the
Dorsetshire (1) and was reduced to carrying cargo only. Still
a coal burner, she was broken up in Japan during April 1931.
(Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
WARWICKSHIRE
(1) was built in 1902 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with
a tonnage of 7975grt, a length of 470ft 4in, a beam of 58ft
2in and a service speed of 15 knots. Launched on 28th November
1901 and completed in the following March she was the first
Bibby ship to have tandem cabins whereby the inner cabin had
access to a port hole via a narrow corridor. She was also the
first ship to be propelled with 4 cylinder quadruple expansion
engines and equipped with electric fans. During World War 1
she was only ship to remain on the Rangoon service although
she was joined by the Lancashire (2) in 1917. On 10th April
1918 she was hit by a torpedo which blew a hole right through
her bow but she managed to reach Bizerta safely. In April 1919
she resumed the Burma service but made two extended voyages
to Australia with troops before returning to Burma to load for
the inbound voyage. She was refitted by her builder in 1920
during which time she was converted to oil burning. In 1927
she was replaced by the Cheshire (2) and rebuilt for cargo work
only with telescopic masts and a removable funnel top for passage
in the Manchester Ship Canal. After a further five years service
she was broken up in Japan during May 1932. (Photo: Bibby Line
Group) 
WORCESTERSHIRE
was built in 1904 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage
of 7170grt, a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in and a
service speed of 15 knots. Slightly smaller than her sister,
the Warwickshire, she was delivered in September 1904 and, with
her arrival, released the Yorkshire (1) and the Lancashire (1)
for disposal. During 1914 - 16 she was used for trooping duties.
On 17th February 1917 she ran into a minefield which had been
laid by the German Armed Merchant Cruiser Wolf ten miles southwest
of Colombo, struck a mine and sank. Two lives were lost and
she was Bibby's only WW1 loss. (Photo: Bibby Line Group) 
HEREFORDSHIRE
was built in 1905 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage
of 7182grt, a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in and a
service speed of 15 knots. Sister of the Worcestershire she
was launched on 31st August 1905 and completed on 29th November.
When the First World War was declared she remained on the Burma
run until 25th July 1916 when she was requisitioned as a hospital
ship for 380 patients serving Salonika, Mesopotamia and East
Africa. On 1st January 1918 she was decommissioned and on 4th
February was narrowly missed by two torpedoes during her first
Mediterranean convoy. When the torpedo tracks were spotted her
Master, Capt.G. E. Millson, ordered the helm hard over and one
engine to full astern which slewed the ship around. One torpedo
passed under the counter stern missing by a foot or so and one
of the torpedoes went on to hit P&O's Sardinia. In 1920
she was refitted by her builder and converted to oil burning.
She was rebuilt for cargo services only in 1929 and equipped
with, in addition to modifications for transiting the Manchester
Ship Canal, a heavy lift derrick on the foremast. In April 1933
she was laid up at Dartmouth and on 9th March 1934 left in tow
bound for Clyde shipbreakers. On 15th March she grounded on
Cardigan Island and was a total loss. (Photo: Bibby Line Group)
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