Historic Ships
Shipping editor Keith Hamilton takes a voyage back in time and recalls a liner from Southampton's past.
Read about the ships that have contributed to Southampton's rich shipping heritage and the stories behind them.
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Scythia
Although one of the smaller Cunarders, the 19,700- ton Scythia had a successful career and a particularly long life span of nearly four decades.
Like her sisters she operated chiefly on the New York and Canadian services, carrying among the passengers many thousands of immigrants.
Cunard ordered Scythia from Vickers in Barrow but finishing-off work was delayed by a dispute at the yard and the liner was towed to France for completion.
Her four sister ships were Carinthia, Samaria, Laconia and Franconia and all the vessels formed a big attempt by Cunard to build up their fleet following war-time losses. The company wanted to keep the upper hand on the North Atlantic, rather than rivals, White Star Line.
Scythia made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York in August, 1921. Fares were cheaper than on the big express liners, and Scythia attracted plenty of passengers.
When war came in 1939 Scythia was turned into a troopship and made voyages to many parts of the world. In 1942 she was torpedoed while anchored off Algiers and was temporarily patched up in Gibraltar before crossing to New York for permanent repairs.
During a major refit after the Second World War, much of the ship's accommodation was altered to provide for a total of 248 first-class passengers and 630 in tourist class.
Returning to service in 1950 the liner operated services from London and Southampton to Quebec.
One of two minor mishaps delayed the liner during her long career. In August, 1953 she helped in the rescue of five people whose hired dinghy had capsized near one of the Solent forts.
A seaboat was lowered and the five, who had been clinging to the overturned craft, were brought safely aboard.
About this time the liner was 37 years old, and her days were numbered. On her last voyage she carried Canadian servicemen and families between North America and Rotterdam, and she went to Inverkeithing to be broken up.
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