Launched on 27 May 1911, the Cameronia embarked on its maiden voyage for the Anchor Line on 13 September of that year. Her assigned route was Glasgow – Mowville – New York. In 1915, the Cameronia was employed in a joint Anchor-Cunard service on the Glasgow – Liverpool – New York route which she began that February. That June the ship managed to outpace a submarine west of the Skerries, Anglesey.
Both the Cunard Line official site and Arnold Kludas state that the Cameronia was not requisitioned for troop transport until January 1917. If that is the case, then what was being done to the Cameronia on 1 May 1915 that led to the deaths of thirty-some people on board the Lusitania? Contemporary accounts suggested that the Cameronia was on her way to Halifax, Canada to carry supplies and Canadian troops.
The Cameronia‘s first trooping voyages were from Davenport to the Mediterranean. Her base was subsequently relocated to Marseilles, France. On 15 April 1917 the Cameronia was torpedoed by the German submarine U-33 enroute from Marseilles to Alexandria, Egypt while carrying 2650 troops and 150 nautical miles from Malta. The Cameronia sank in 40 minutes, resulting in 210 deaths. Some of the survivors were picked up by the escorting destroyer, HMS Rifleman. As the U-boat was in the area, the remaining survivors had to be picked up the next morning by a sloop from Malta.
Cameronia specifications
| Flag | United Kingdom | |
| Shipping company | Anchor Line | |
| Port of registry | Glasgow | |
| Gross tonnage | 10,963 | |
| Length overall | 515 feet / 157.0 meters | |
| Beam | 62 feet 4 inches / 18.99 meters | |
| Number of funnels | 2 | |
| Number of masts | 2 | |
| Machinery | Six-cylindered triple expansion engines geared to twin screws, 10 000 horsepower. | |
| Service speed | 16 knots | |
| Builder | D & W Henderson Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Yard number | 472 | |
| Launch date | 27 May 1911 | |
| Passenger accommodation | As of 1911: 250 first class 450 second class 1000 third class |
As of 1915: 362 first class 304 second class 802 third class |
Contributors:
Paul Latimer
Senan Molony
Eric Sauder
Judith Tavares
Hildo Thiel
References:
Bailey, Thomas A. and Paul B. Ryan. The Lusitania Disaster: An Episode in Modern Warfare and Diplomacy. The Free Press, 1975.
Ballard, Robert D. and Spencer Dunmore. Exploring the Lusitania. Warner Books, 1995.
Cunard Line Heritage. Online. <http://www.cunard.com/aboutcunard/TheFleet.asp?Active=Heritage&Sub=fleet>
Hickey, Des and Gus Smith. Seven Days to Disaster. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1981.
Hoehling, A. A. and Mary Hoehling. The Last Voyage of the Lusitania. Madison Books, 1956.
Kludas, Arnold. Great Passenger Ships of the World, Volume I: 1858-1912. Patrick Stephens, Ltd., 1972.
Molony, Senan. Lusitania: An Irish Tragedy. Mercier Press, 2004.
Simpson, Colin. The Lusitania. Little, Brown, and Company, 1972.
My great-great grandfather was a Canadian sapper during the First World War. He arrived in England on August 18th, 1916 on the S.S. Cameronia.
Hi Joe. I am not sure what a sapper is? Anyways, my grandfather was in the military when the Cameronia picked them up in Halifax on Sept 9th, 1916 to arrive in England on Sept 22nd. So definitely the Cameronia was transporting troops, it sounds like your great grandfather might have been one ship of my grandpa.
my great uncle was also it appears to have been on this ship arriving in to the uk on the 22nd sept 1916. were are planning a trip when my father who lives in Canada will come over and we will follow his steps from the boat to his death. finishing at the grave.
My Great Uncle must have been on the next run. He arrived in England on this ship on Sept. 22, 1916.
Arrived in England on military duty onboard the SS Cameronia 18 Aug 1916 – my 2nd Great Uncle George Henry Hall Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force 9th Mississauga Horse
My grandfather was also Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force that arrived in England on the SS Cameronia 18 Aug 1916.
My great-uncle, Sidney Edward Dudley, was a Canadian infantryman who also travelled from Halifax on the SS Cameronia on the 7th August, and arrived in England August 18th, 1916. So Joe Bleau, they must have travelled together, although chances are they did not know eachother. Did your great-great grandfather leave any letters or notes about the trip? My great-uncle was killed in action near Avion, France July 5, 1917. I am trying to find out more about his life and his service.
cindy, see my comments below re: SS Cameronia
My grandfather, Edward Heward was on the Cameronia when she was torpedoed. I believe he was rescued by one of the escorting destroyers.
My grandfather, 49469 Pvt. Fred J Milthorp, was transported aboard the SS Cameronia to England 11 May, 1915. http://data2.archives.ca/e/e444/e011087911.pdf
Brian, please see the info below, re: images of soldiers aboard SS Cameronia
see images of WW1 Canadian soldiers aboard the SS Cameronia, at Witley Camp in Surrey,England & at Camp Petawawa on the University of Victoria archives website. See also Citizen Soldier, an account of the soldiers who gave their lives, listed on the Port Dalhousie, Ontario CANADA cenotaph.
could you please guide me to a link to find this? It seems my great uncle began at Witley camp. thank you in anticipation
My Grandfather Harold Parker of the Lincolnshire Yeomanry was on the Cameronia when it was sunk. He was on an overloaded lifeboat overnight, but the sea was calm until the next day when they were rescued, just before the sea turned rough. He had a postcard entitled’ Sinking of the Cameronia April 15th 1917′ which I donated to Grantham Museum.
Is there a list of employees on board Cameronia on this journey? I am trying to find records of 4 ships of Anchor Line between 1904 and 1943 that were torpedoed which he was awarded BEM in 1944.He was an assistant cook .James Dunlop born 1887 in Glasgow .Thanks