TEIRESIAS
was built in 1914 by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 7606grt, a length of 455ft 4in, a beam of
56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Lycaon
she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. On 30th June 1915
she was damaged by a mine when in the Small Bitter Lake in the
Suez Canal. During a voyage from Avonmouth to Quiberon Bay where
she was to help in the evacuation of the remnants of the British
Expeditionary Force in France she was, on 17th June 1940, bombed
by German aircraft when off St Nazaire. The first bomb flooded
the engine room and stokehold also causing a crack across the
main deck and down the port side to the waterline. Her master,
Captain J. R. Davies, ordered the crew to standby in the lifeboats.
By the next day the Teiresias had a 25 degree list and rivets
were heard to be popping as the ship groaned under the increasing
strain. During a second air attack she was hit again and capsized
and sank in a single movement. The majority of the crew who
had abandon ship earlier made their way to St. Nazaire where
they were taken back to Britain by HMS Oracle and the skeleton
crew which remained on board to try to save the ship were taken
off by the Holmside. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
TROILUS (2) was built in 1917
by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Dundee with
a tonnage of 7625grt, a length of 455ft 6in, a beam of 56ft
4in and a service speed of 11 knots. The second ship of the
Lycaon Class to be named Troilus she was built for the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. During her maiden voyage she was first chased
by a submarine in the North Sea on 11th April 1917 and then
on 2nd May 1917 she was torpedoed and sunk 140 miles off Malin
Head.
DIOMED
(3) was built in 1917 by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 7523grt, a length of 455ft,
a beam of 56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of
the Lycaon she spent an additional three months during completion
having modifications made before being delivered to the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. On 21st August 1918 she was shelled and sunk
off the Nantucket Lightship by U-140. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
ELPENOR
(1) was built in 1917 by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 7601grt, a length of 455ft 4in, a beam of
56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Following completion
she commenced her first voyage under the Liner Requisition Scheme
from Tyneside to Baltimore via the Mediterranean and in 1918
was used as a troop ship between Liverpool and Dublin. She was
handed over to her owners, China Mutual Steam Navigation Co.,
in January 1919. In 1922 she collided with Nippon Yusen Kaisha's
Inaba Maru at Kobe. She was transferred to Glen Line in April
1935 and renamed Glenfinlas. On 6th April 1941 she survived
an air attack when she was off Harwich and in November 1942,
whilst taking part in Operation Torch, the North African landings,
she was damaged by bombs in Bougie harbour. Set ablaze she settled
on the bottom where she remained until early 1943 when she was
raised and towed to shallower water and allowed to settle on
the bottom again. Later she was refloated and towed to Oran
where she was temporarily patched up before proceeding to Gibraltar
and, eventually, Sunderland where she was permanently repaired.
In April 1947 she was returned to the Ocean Steam Ship Co. and
given her original name but only until 1950 when she went back
to Glen Line as the Glenfinlas. On 10th June 1952 she arrived
at Blyth where she was broken up by Hughes Bolckow. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
AUTOLYCUS
was built in 1917 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co. at
Hong Kong with a tonnage of 5806grt, a length of 424ft 10in,
a beam of 52ft 4in and a service speed of 10 knots. The first
of a pair she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was
completed in December 1917. On 12th April 1918, during her first
voyage from Hong Kong to Liverpool, she was torpedoed and sunk
by U-34 off Cape Palos, Sardinia. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
LAERTES
(3) was built in 1919 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co.
at Hong Kong with a tonnage of 5868grt, a length of 424ft 10in,
a beam of 52ft 4in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of
the Autolycus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. but
transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1922. On 3rd May 1942 during
a voyage from New York to Bombay via Cape Town she was torpedoed
by either U-98, U-109 or U-564, such was the intensity of U-boat
activity off the Florida coast, off Cape Canaveral. The loss
was attributed to the fact that the coastal resorts insisted
on maintaining their illuminations and cost the lives of 18
crew members. 48 survivors reached the coast of Florida. (Photo:
FW Hawkes)
AENEAS
(1) was built in 1910 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10049grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was
one of three 'A' Class passenger ships built during 1910-11
for the South Africa-Australia service. Her maiden voyage commenced
on 18th November 1910 from Glasgow - Liverpool - Fishguard -
Las Palmas - Cape Town - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney. The
service was operated on a six-weekly basis and took 39 days.
When the First World War was declared in 1914 she was requisitioned
by the Australian Government for use as a troopship. In May
1918 she ran aground at Torcor Head on Rathlin Island. She returned
to the Australian service on 29th May 1920 with capacity for
180 First Class passengers. In 1924 the service became a joint
Blue Funnel - White Star operation and in the following year
she was transferred to Far East route, joining the 'Sarpedon'
Class vessels to bring the number of ships operating the service
to 5. On 2nd July 1940, during a voyage as part of convoy OA
1776 from London to Glasgow where she was to finish unloading,
she was sunk following an air attack off Start Point, Devon.
Being the largest vessel and second ship in a line ahead convoy
she was singled out for a machine gun and bomb attack. The main
steam supply was disabled by a bomb which also blew out her
starboard side. Her master, Captain D. L. C. Evans , ordered
the boats to be lowered as the ships heeled over and sank. Nineteen
lives were lost and the survivors were picked up by HMS Worthington.
(Photo: L.Dunn Collection)
ASCANIUS
(2) was built in 1910 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10048grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Aeneas she was launched on
29th October 1910 and commenced her maiden voyage on 30th December
from Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane. In 1914 she served as a
troopship with the Australian Expeditionary Force and in 1917
she was taken over under the Liner Requisition Scheme and continues
trooping but sailing as ordered. She resumed her commercial
activities on the Australian service on 21st August 1920 and
in 1922 was refitted at Palmers Yard, Jarrow. In 1940 she was
again requisitioned for use as a troopship. On 30th July 1944
she was torpedoed but managed to limp into Liverpool where she
was repaired by Cammell Laird. After the war she was used to
transport Jewish emigrants from Marseilles to Haifa. In 1949
she was sold to Cia. de Nav. 'Florencia' of Genoa and renamed
San Giovannino. It was the company's intention to carry emigrants
from Italy to Australia but she was laid up before the service
commenced and was eventually broken up at La Spezia in March
1952.
ANCHISES
(3) was built in 1911 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10046grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Aeneas she was built for the
Ocean Steam Ship Co's Australian service and was completed on
10th March 1911. She was requisitioned as a troopship in 1914.
On 23rd September 1918 she was chased by a submarine in the
Atlantic and attacked with gunfire. Retaliating with extreme
accuracy the Anchises drove off her attacker. She resumed commercial
service on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane service during
September 1922. On 27th February 1941 she was damaged and lost
power following an air attack by a Focke-Wolf FW200 Condor off
Bloody Foreland, Ireland. A total of 134 passengers and crew
abandoned ship in six life boats whilst 33 crew members remained
on board to try to sail her to Liverpool. Whilst waiting for
a salvage tug she was attacked again on 28th February and sank
with the loss of 12 lives. The remaining survivors were rescued
by HMS Kingcup and HMCS Assiniboine. She was only 70 miles short
of the Mersey Estuary. (Photo: Ian J Farquhar Collection)
TALTHYBIUS
(1) was built in 1912 by Scotts Ship Building & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 10224grt, a length of 506ft,
a beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 11 knots. Launched
on 7th November 1911 she was the first of 4 ships designed to
carry large bulk cargoes with the capability of being unloaded
in the roadsteads of ports where the depth was too shallow for
larger ships to go alongside. She was built for Ocean Steam
Ship Co's Liverpool - Far East route. On 4th and 8th May 1941
she was bombed while at her berth in Liverpool Docks. In the
following year, on 3rd February 1942, and after arriving at
Singapore from Bombay on the previous 25th January, she was
bombed by the Japanese and set on fire. By 7th February she
had been moved to the Empire Dock and the fire was under control
by she was considered to be unseaworthy. On 12th February she
was sunk and abandoned but later salvaged by the invading Japanese
and renamed Taruyasu Maru. On 30th June 1945 she was mined off
Sado Island in Maizuro Bay, salvaged after the end of hostilities,
repaired in Hong Kong and renamed Empire Evenlode for the Ministry
of War Transport. She was eventually broken up at Briton Ferry
where she arrived on 7th September 1949. (Photo: John Clarkson
Collection)
IXION
(2) was built in 1912 by Scotts Ship Building & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 10229grt, a length of 506ft,
a beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of
the Talthybius she was completed for the China Mutual Steam
Navigation Co's Far East service. During 1918 she was used to
move Serbian troops from Dalni to Egypt and then from Egypt
to Basra. On 7th May 1941, during a voyage in convoy OB 318
from Glasgow to New York, she was torpedoed by U-94 (KapitanLeutnant
Herbert Kuppisch) in the North Atlantic some 200 miles south
west of Reykjavik (61 29N 22 40W) and sank the next day without
any loss of life. The 105 survivors were rescued by the Nailsea
Manor and an escort vessel. Her cargo mainly consisted of dollar
earning whisky.
CIRCE
was built in 1912 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co. at
Hong Kong with a tonnage of 778grt, a length of 195ft 8in, a
beam of 31ft 7in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was built
for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. for use on feeder services around
Singapore. In 1925 she was transferred to the Straits Steam
Ship Co. a company in which Holt's had held shares since 1914.
She was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in 1939 for conversion
into an auxiliary minesweeper and commissioned as HMS Circe.
In 1942 she was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and
renamed HMAS Medea. During 1946 she was returned to her owners
who immediately sold her for breaking up at Sydney. (Photo:
JF van Puyvelde Collection)
MEDUSA was built in 1913 by Taikoo
Dockyard & Engineering Co. at Hong Kong with a tonnage of
793grt, a length of 195ft 8in, a beam of 31ft 7in and a service
speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Circe she was built for the
Ocean Steam Ship Co. for use on the feeder services around Singapore.
In 1925 she was sold to the Straits Steam Ship Co., retaining
her name, and in 1939 was commissioned by the British Admiralty
as HMS Medusa. In 1942 she was transferred to the Australian
Navy, renamed HMAS Mercedes, and broken up at Sydney in 1945.
Throughout their entire careers the Circe and the Medusa always
worked together and were referred to as 'the Heavenly Twins'.
Even during their final days when no longer required for naval
service they were laid up side by side awaiting their final
voyage to the breakers yard.
NESTOR
(3) was built in 1913 by Workman Clark & Co. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 14501grt, a length of 563ft 2in, a beam of
68ft 4in and a service speed of 13.5 knots. Costing £248,250
and designed by Henry B Wortley she was launched on 7th December
1912 and commenced her maiden voyage for the Ocean Steam Ship
Co. on 19th May 1913. With a general cargo she sailed from Liverpool
to Brisbane with calls at Cape Town, Adelaide, Melbourne and
Sydney. She arrived back on 19th September after a round trip
which lasted four months. In 1949 the same voyage took 5 months
20 days due to inferior coal and labour disputes mainly in Australia.
From September 1915 until 1918 she operated as an Australian
Expedition Force Transport ferrying troops and resumed commercial
service on 22nd April 1920. In 1936 she managed to get a tow
line aboard the Australian United's Mungana, which was drifting
towards the rocks off Cape Jaffa, with her last rocket. She
them towed the disabled ship 170 miles to Adelaide. Her passenger
accommodation was reduced from 350 to 250 in 1940 and in the
same year she was requisitioned for government service. She
continued to operate on the Liverpool - Brisbane route and on
the first sailings carried children who being evacuated to Australia.
She commenced her final voyage to Australia on 23rd December
1949 and on 8th August 1950 arrived at Faslane where she was
broken up by Metal Industries Ltd. During her career she competed
68 round voyages, steamed 2,111,607 miles and was commanded
by T. Bartlett, R. D. (Daddy) Owen, G. K. Houghton, W. Christie,
F. Adcock, J. J. Power, J. H. Blythe and E. W. Powell. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
ULYSSES
(4) was built in 1913 by Workman Clark & Co. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 14499grt, a length of 563ft 2in, a beam of
68ft 4in and a service speed of 13.5 knots. Sister of the Nestor
she was completed for the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co.
and deployed on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane service.
She became a troopship in 1915 and carried troops from Australia
to Suez. In 1917 she trooped in the North Atlantic carrying
American soldiers. She resumed commercial activities in September
1920 and operated on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Cape Town - Australian
ports - Brisbane service. In 1928 her Master was Capt. R. D.
Owen O.B.E. who flew the swallow tailed house flag of Commodore
of Blue Funnel Line. The Ulysses was one of the last ships to
sail from Hong Kong before the Japanese invaded and sailed to
Singapore prior to continuing to Australia where she loaded
a cargo for Liverpool. She had crossed the Pacific and traversed
the Panama Canal when, on 8th April 1942 she collided with a
tanker in the darkness. The bow was extensively damaged below
the waterline and speed was reduced to 7 knots. Her Master,
Capt. J. A. Russell, altered course for the nearest port, Newport
News, aware that German submarines were operating in the area.
On 11th April 1942 at 15.30hrs she was torpedoed by U-160 (KapitanLeutnant
Georg Lassen - Knights Cross with Oakleaves) off Palm Beach,
Florida (34 23N 75 35W). The torpedo struck the No. 6 hold and
all passengers and crew, with the exception of essential personnel
including the gunners, abandoned ship. A second torpedo hit
the Ulysses abreast of the funnel and sank immediately. The
men who had remained on board managed to escape using the life
rafts without any loss of life. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
EURYDAMUS
was built in 1901 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow with
a tonnage of 5197grt, a length of 410ft 1in, a beam of 49ft
3in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was completed in October
1901 as the Indrasamha for Thomas B. Royden & Co. and acquired
by Holt's in 1915 as it was not possible to place orders for
new ships during the war. Out of their profits Holt's purchased
the seven ship fleet of Royden's and with it a seat on the China
to New York freight conference. In 1924 she was sold to Jugoslavensko
Amerikanska Plovidba of Split and renamed Jugoslavia. After
a further ten years service she was broken up at Genoa. (Photo:
Gareth Mills Collection)
EURYMEDON
(1) was built in 1902 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5194grt, a length of 410ft 1in, a beam of
49ft 3in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Eurydamus
she was built for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line as the Indrawadi
and renamed Eurymedon when Royden's fleet was purchased in 1915.In
1918 she was requisitioned by the government and spent a year
on voyages to Canada and Karachi. She was sold to the Southern
Sealing & Whaling Co. of Norway, converted into a tanker
and renamed Southern Queen. On 24th February 1928 she became
lost in pack ice east of South Orkney, was holed and sank. She
was taking on whale oil from the catchers and although the crew
safely abandoned ship 22,000 barrels of oil were lost. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
EURYMACHUS
was built in 1906 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow with
a tonnage of 4995grt, a length of 400ft 7in, a beam of 52ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Eurydamus
she was built as the Inverclyde for Thos. B. Royden's Indra
Line. She was renamed Eurymachus when acquired by Holt's in
1915. On 11th June 1917 she was chased by a U-boat in the Atlantic
but managed to escape. In 1926 she was sold to Jugoslavensko
Amerikanska Plovidba of Split and renamed Nikola Mihanovic.
Three years later she returned to the United Kingdom where she
was broken up by Thos. Ward Ltd at Inverkeithing. (Photo: John
Clarkson Collection)
EURYBATES
(1) was built in 1910 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5529grt, a length of 430ft 2in, a beam of
50ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was built as the
Indradeo for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line and became the Eurybates
when acquired by Holt's for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1915.
In December 1926 she was sold to R & J Thomas of Holyhead
for £30,000 and renamed Cambrian Peeress. Two years later
she was transferred to William Thomas Shipping with R &
J Thomas as managers and in 193 was sold to Wm. Thomson's Ben
Line and renamed Bendoran. In June 1944 she was sold to the
Ministry of War Transport and sunk at Arromanches as a blockship
in the Mulberry Harbour installation there. She was raised in
1947, towed to England and broken up at Blythe by Hughes Bolckow.
(Photo: George Scott Collection)
EURYPYLUS
(1) was built in 1912 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5691grt, a length of 430ft, a beam of 54ft
and a service speed of 10 knots. She was completed in July 1912
as the Indrakuala for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line and acquired
by Holt's for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1915 and renamed Eurypylus.
In 1938 she was sold to the Continental Transit Company who
renamed her Trade and in August 1939 was acquired by the Board
of Trade and renamed Botavon. On 2nd May 1942, during a voyage
from Middlesbrough to Reykjavik in convoy PQ15, she was sunk
by an air launched torpedo off North Cape in Norway. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection)
TEIRESIAS
was built in 1914 by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 7606grt, a length of 455ft 4in, a beam of
56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of the Lycaon
she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. On 30th June 1915
she was damaged by a mine when in the Small Bitter Lake in the
Suez Canal. During a voyage from Avonmouth to Quiberon Bay where
she was to help in the evacuation of the remnants of the British
Expeditionary Force in France she was, on 17th June 1940, bombed
by German aircraft when off St Nazaire. The first bomb flooded
the engine room and stokehold also causing a crack across the
main deck and down the port side to the waterline. Her master,
Captain J. R. Davies, ordered the crew to standby in the lifeboats.
By the next day the Teiresias had a 25 degree list and rivets
were heard to be popping as the ship groaned under the increasing
strain. During a second air attack she was hit again and capsized
and sank in a single movement. The majority of the crew who
had abandon ship earlier made their way to St. Nazaire where
they were taken back to Britain by HMS Oracle and the skeleton
crew which remained on board to try to save the ship were taken
off by the Holmside. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection) 
DIOMED
(3) was built in 1917 by Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 7523grt, a length of 455ft,
a beam of 56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of
the Lycaon she spent an additional three months during completion
having modifications made before being delivered to the Ocean
Steam Ship Co. On 21st August 1918 she was shelled and sunk
off the Nantucket Lightship by U-140. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
ELPENOR
(1) was built in 1917 by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. at Newcastle
with a tonnage of 7601grt, a length of 455ft 4in, a beam of
56ft 4in and a service speed of 11 knots. Following completion
she commenced her first voyage under the Liner Requisition Scheme
from Tyneside to Baltimore via the Mediterranean and in 1918
was used as a troop ship between Liverpool and Dublin. She was
handed over to her owners, China Mutual Steam Navigation Co.,
in January 1919. In 1922 she collided with Nippon Yusen Kaisha's
Inaba Maru at Kobe. She was transferred to Glen Line in April
1935 and renamed Glenfinlas. On 6th April 1941 she survived
an air attack when she was off Harwich and in November 1942,
whilst taking part in Operation Torch, the North African landings,
she was damaged by bombs in Bougie harbour. Set ablaze she settled
on the bottom where she remained until early 1943 when she was
raised and towed to shallower water and allowed to settle on
the bottom again. Later she was refloated and towed to Oran
where she was temporarily patched up before proceeding to Gibraltar
and, eventually, Sunderland where she was permanently repaired.
In April 1947 she was returned to the Ocean Steam Ship Co. and
given her original name but only until 1950 when she went back
to Glen Line as the Glenfinlas. On 10th June 1952 she arrived
at Blyth where she was broken up by Hughes Bolckow. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection) 
AUTOLYCUS
was built in 1917 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co. at
Hong Kong with a tonnage of 5806grt, a length of 424ft 10in,
a beam of 52ft 4in and a service speed of 10 knots. The first
of a pair she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was
completed in December 1917. On 12th April 1918, during her first
voyage from Hong Kong to Liverpool, she was torpedoed and sunk
by U-34 off Cape Palos, Sardinia. (Photo: Peter Newall Collection)
LAERTES
(3) was built in 1919 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co.
at Hong Kong with a tonnage of 5868grt, a length of 424ft 10in,
a beam of 52ft 4in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of
the Autolycus she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. but
transferred to N. S. M. 'Oceaan' in 1922. On 3rd May 1942 during
a voyage from New York to Bombay via Cape Town she was torpedoed
by either U-98, U-109 or U-564, such was the intensity of U-boat
activity off the Florida coast, off Cape Canaveral. The loss
was attributed to the fact that the coastal resorts insisted
on maintaining their illuminations and cost the lives of 18
crew members. 48 survivors reached the coast of Florida. (Photo:
FW Hawkes) 
AENEAS
(1) was built in 1910 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10049grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. she was
one of three 'A' Class passenger ships built during 1910-11
for the South Africa-Australia service. Her maiden voyage commenced
on 18th November 1910 from Glasgow - Liverpool - Fishguard -
Las Palmas - Cape Town - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney. The
service was operated on a six-weekly basis and took 39 days.
When the First World War was declared in 1914 she was requisitioned
by the Australian Government for use as a troopship. In May
1918 she ran aground at Torcor Head on Rathlin Island. She returned
to the Australian service on 29th May 1920 with capacity for
180 First Class passengers. In 1924 the service became a joint
Blue Funnel - White Star operation and in the following year
she was transferred to Far East route, joining the 'Sarpedon'
Class vessels to bring the number of ships operating the service
to 5. On 2nd July 1940, during a voyage as part of convoy OA
1776 from London to Glasgow where she was to finish unloading,
she was sunk following an air attack off Start Point, Devon.
Being the largest vessel and second ship in a line ahead convoy
she was singled out for a machine gun and bomb attack. The main
steam supply was disabled by a bomb which also blew out her
starboard side. Her master, Captain D. L. C. Evans , ordered
the boats to be lowered as the ships heeled over and sank. Nineteen
lives were lost and the survivors were picked up by HMS Worthington.
(Photo: L.Dunn Collection) 
ASCANIUS
(2) was built in 1910 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10048grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Aeneas she was launched on
29th October 1910 and commenced her maiden voyage on 30th December
from Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane. In 1914 she served as a
troopship with the Australian Expeditionary Force and in 1917
she was taken over under the Liner Requisition Scheme and continues
trooping but sailing as ordered. She resumed her commercial
activities on the Australian service on 21st August 1920 and
in 1922 was refitted at Palmers Yard, Jarrow. In 1940 she was
again requisitioned for use as a troopship. On 30th July 1944
she was torpedoed but managed to limp into Liverpool where she
was repaired by Cammell Laird. After the war she was used to
transport Jewish emigrants from Marseilles to Haifa. In 1949
she was sold to Cia. de Nav. 'Florencia' of Genoa and renamed
San Giovannino. It was the company's intention to carry emigrants
from Italy to Australia but she was laid up before the service
commenced and was eventually broken up at La Spezia in March
1952. 
ANCHISES
(3) was built in 1911 by Workman Clarke at Belfast with a tonnage
of 10046grt, a length of 509ft, a beam of 60ft and a service
speed of 14 knots. Sister of the Aeneas she was built for the
Ocean Steam Ship Co's Australian service and was completed on
10th March 1911. She was requisitioned as a troopship in 1914.
On 23rd September 1918 she was chased by a submarine in the
Atlantic and attacked with gunfire. Retaliating with extreme
accuracy the Anchises drove off her attacker. She resumed commercial
service on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane service during
September 1922. On 27th February 1941 she was damaged and lost
power following an air attack by a Focke-Wolf FW200 Condor off
Bloody Foreland, Ireland. A total of 134 passengers and crew
abandoned ship in six life boats whilst 33 crew members remained
on board to try to sail her to Liverpool. Whilst waiting for
a salvage tug she was attacked again on 28th February and sank
with the loss of 12 lives. The remaining survivors were rescued
by HMS Kingcup and HMCS Assiniboine. She was only 70 miles short
of the Mersey Estuary. (Photo: Ian J Farquhar Collection) 
TALTHYBIUS
(1) was built in 1912 by Scotts Ship Building & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 10224grt, a length of 506ft,
a beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 11 knots. Launched
on 7th November 1911 she was the first of 4 ships designed to
carry large bulk cargoes with the capability of being unloaded
in the roadsteads of ports where the depth was too shallow for
larger ships to go alongside. She was built for Ocean Steam
Ship Co's Liverpool - Far East route. On 4th and 8th May 1941
she was bombed while at her berth in Liverpool Docks. In the
following year, on 3rd February 1942, and after arriving at
Singapore from Bombay on the previous 25th January, she was
bombed by the Japanese and set on fire. By 7th February she
had been moved to the Empire Dock and the fire was under control
by she was considered to be unseaworthy. On 12th February she
was sunk and abandoned but later salvaged by the invading Japanese
and renamed Taruyasu Maru. On 30th June 1945 she was mined off
Sado Island in Maizuro Bay, salvaged after the end of hostilities,
repaired in Hong Kong and renamed Empire Evenlode for the Ministry
of War Transport. She was eventually broken up at Briton Ferry
where she arrived on 7th September 1949. (Photo: John Clarkson
Collection) 
IXION
(2) was built in 1912 by Scotts Ship Building & Engineering
Co. at Greenock with a tonnage of 10229grt, a length of 506ft,
a beam of 60ft 3in and a service speed of 11 knots. Sister of
the Talthybius she was completed for the China Mutual Steam
Navigation Co's Far East service. During 1918 she was used to
move Serbian troops from Dalni to Egypt and then from Egypt
to Basra. On 7th May 1941, during a voyage in convoy OB 318
from Glasgow to New York, she was torpedoed by U-94 (KapitanLeutnant
Herbert Kuppisch) in the North Atlantic some 200 miles south
west of Reykjavik (61 29N 22 40W) and sank the next day without
any loss of life. The 105 survivors were rescued by the Nailsea
Manor and an escort vessel. Her cargo mainly consisted of dollar
earning whisky. 
CIRCE
was built in 1912 by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co. at
Hong Kong with a tonnage of 778grt, a length of 195ft 8in, a
beam of 31ft 7in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was built
for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. for use on feeder services around
Singapore. In 1925 she was transferred to the Straits Steam
Ship Co. a company in which Holt's had held shares since 1914.
She was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in 1939 for conversion
into an auxiliary minesweeper and commissioned as HMS Circe.
In 1942 she was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and
renamed HMAS Medea. During 1946 she was returned to her owners
who immediately sold her for breaking up at Sydney. (Photo:
JF van Puyvelde Collection) 
NESTOR
(3) was built in 1913 by Workman Clark & Co. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 14501grt, a length of 563ft 2in, a beam of
68ft 4in and a service speed of 13.5 knots. Costing £248,250
and designed by Henry B Wortley she was launched on 7th December
1912 and commenced her maiden voyage for the Ocean Steam Ship
Co. on 19th May 1913. With a general cargo she sailed from Liverpool
to Brisbane with calls at Cape Town, Adelaide, Melbourne and
Sydney. She arrived back on 19th September after a round trip
which lasted four months. In 1949 the same voyage took 5 months
20 days due to inferior coal and labour disputes mainly in Australia.
From September 1915 until 1918 she operated as an Australian
Expedition Force Transport ferrying troops and resumed commercial
service on 22nd April 1920. In 1936 she managed to get a tow
line aboard the Australian United's Mungana, which was drifting
towards the rocks off Cape Jaffa, with her last rocket. She
them towed the disabled ship 170 miles to Adelaide. Her passenger
accommodation was reduced from 350 to 250 in 1940 and in the
same year she was requisitioned for government service. She
continued to operate on the Liverpool - Brisbane route and on
the first sailings carried children who being evacuated to Australia.
She commenced her final voyage to Australia on 23rd December
1949 and on 8th August 1950 arrived at Faslane where she was
broken up by Metal Industries Ltd. During her career she competed
68 round voyages, steamed 2,111,607 miles and was commanded
by T. Bartlett, R. D. (Daddy) Owen, G. K. Houghton, W. Christie,
F. Adcock, J. J. Power, J. H. Blythe and E. W. Powell. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection) 
ULYSSES
(4) was built in 1913 by Workman Clark & Co. at Belfast
with a tonnage of 14499grt, a length of 563ft 2in, a beam of
68ft 4in and a service speed of 13.5 knots. Sister of the Nestor
she was completed for the China Mutual Steam Navigation Co.
and deployed on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Brisbane service.
She became a troopship in 1915 and carried troops from Australia
to Suez. In 1917 she trooped in the North Atlantic carrying
American soldiers. She resumed commercial activities in September
1920 and operated on the Glasgow - Liverpool - Cape Town - Australian
ports - Brisbane service. In 1928 her Master was Capt. R. D.
Owen O.B.E. who flew the swallow tailed house flag of Commodore
of Blue Funnel Line. The Ulysses was one of the last ships to
sail from Hong Kong before the Japanese invaded and sailed to
Singapore prior to continuing to Australia where she loaded
a cargo for Liverpool. She had crossed the Pacific and traversed
the Panama Canal when, on 8th April 1942 she collided with a
tanker in the darkness. The bow was extensively damaged below
the waterline and speed was reduced to 7 knots. Her Master,
Capt. J. A. Russell, altered course for the nearest port, Newport
News, aware that German submarines were operating in the area.
On 11th April 1942 at 15.30hrs she was torpedoed by U-160 (KapitanLeutnant
Georg Lassen - Knights Cross with Oakleaves) off Palm Beach,
Florida (34 23N 75 35W). The torpedo struck the No. 6 hold and
all passengers and crew, with the exception of essential personnel
including the gunners, abandoned ship. A second torpedo hit
the Ulysses abreast of the funnel and sank immediately. The
men who had remained on board managed to escape using the life
rafts without any loss of life. (Photo: John Clarkson Collection)
EURYDAMUS
was built in 1901 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow with
a tonnage of 5197grt, a length of 410ft 1in, a beam of 49ft
3in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was completed in October
1901 as the Indrasamha for Thomas B. Royden & Co. and acquired
by Holt's in 1915 as it was not possible to place orders for
new ships during the war. Out of their profits Holt's purchased
the seven ship fleet of Royden's and with it a seat on the China
to New York freight conference. In 1924 she was sold to Jugoslavensko
Amerikanska Plovidba of Split and renamed Jugoslavia. After
a further ten years service she was broken up at Genoa. (Photo:
Gareth Mills Collection) 
EURYMEDON
(1) was built in 1902 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5194grt, a length of 410ft 1in, a beam of
49ft 3in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Eurydamus
she was built for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line as the Indrawadi
and renamed Eurymedon when Royden's fleet was purchased in 1915.In
1918 she was requisitioned by the government and spent a year
on voyages to Canada and Karachi. She was sold to the Southern
Sealing & Whaling Co. of Norway, converted into a tanker
and renamed Southern Queen. On 24th February 1928 she became
lost in pack ice east of South Orkney, was holed and sank. She
was taking on whale oil from the catchers and although the crew
safely abandoned ship 22,000 barrels of oil were lost. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection) 
EURYMACHUS
was built in 1906 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow with
a tonnage of 4995grt, a length of 400ft 7in, a beam of 52ft
2in and a service speed of 10 knots. Sister of the Eurydamus
she was built as the Inverclyde for Thos. B. Royden's Indra
Line. She was renamed Eurymachus when acquired by Holt's in
1915. On 11th June 1917 she was chased by a U-boat in the Atlantic
but managed to escape. In 1926 she was sold to Jugoslavensko
Amerikanska Plovidba of Split and renamed Nikola Mihanovic.
Three years later she returned to the United Kingdom where she
was broken up by Thos. Ward Ltd at Inverkeithing. (Photo: John
Clarkson Collection) 
EURYBATES
(1) was built in 1910 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5529grt, a length of 430ft 2in, a beam of
50ft 2in and a service speed of 10 knots. She was built as the
Indradeo for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line and became the Eurybates
when acquired by Holt's for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1915.
In December 1926 she was sold to R & J Thomas of Holyhead
for £30,000 and renamed Cambrian Peeress. Two years later
she was transferred to William Thomas Shipping with R &
J Thomas as managers and in 193 was sold to Wm. Thomson's Ben
Line and renamed Bendoran. In June 1944 she was sold to the
Ministry of War Transport and sunk at Arromanches as a blockship
in the Mulberry Harbour installation there. She was raised in
1947, towed to England and broken up at Blythe by Hughes Bolckow.
(Photo: George Scott Collection) 
EURYPYLUS
(1) was built in 1912 by Chas. Connell & Co. at Glasgow
with a tonnage of 5691grt, a length of 430ft, a beam of 54ft
and a service speed of 10 knots. She was completed in July 1912
as the Indrakuala for Thos. B. Royden's Indra Line and acquired
by Holt's for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. in 1915 and renamed Eurypylus.
In 1938 she was sold to the Continental Transit Company who
renamed her Trade and in August 1939 was acquired by the Board
of Trade and renamed Botavon. On 2nd May 1942, during a voyage
from Middlesbrough to Reykjavik in convoy PQ15, she was sunk
by an air launched torpedo off North Cape in Norway. (Photo:
John Clarkson Collection) 
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