Cunard's 19,700 ton Samaria was well known between the two world wars on the New York route taking in Boston as well, and then later in the Canadian trade.

She was in a group of liners ordered by Cunard when it was trying to gain an edge over rival, the White Star Line, as North Atlantic services began to develop after the First World War.

Builders of Samaria were Cammell Laird of Birkenhead and the maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York took place in November, 1922. The new liner could accommodate 347 first-class passengers, 350 second-class and 1,600 in third.

Generally Samaria and her sister ships, Scythia, Laconia, Franconia and Carinthia, were slower than ships of the era before the First World War.

After the conflict there was a feeling within the shipping industry that North Atlantic travel would be made at more economical speeds than in 1914.

As a troopship during the Second World War, Samaria carried more than 20,000 servicemen and steamed 250,000 miles.

After the post-war refit Samaria was switched to Southampton for the first time following Cunard's decision to provide a fortnightly service to Canada, with Scythia as her operating partner.

Samaria spent only five years on this route. By 1956 she was 35 years old and Cunard had her broken up at Inverkeithing, Firth of Forth.

Her bell went to the army musem in Halifax, Nova Scotia and mahogany panelling was brought for an RAF officers' mess.