Cluny Castle (2)

CLUNY CASTLE (3) was built in 1903 by Barclay, Curle & Co. at Glasgow with a tonnage of 5147grt, a length of 419ft 1in, a beam of 50ft 2in and a service speed of 12 knots.

One of Donald Currie’s “Emigrant” steamersordered at the close of the Boer War, Cluny Castle was launched on 10 August 1903, the day before Armadale Castle was launched at the nearby Fairfield Yard.

Cluny Castle was a sister to Comrie Castle and both vessels acommodated about a dozen saloon passengers, a few more in second class (located in the poop) while provision was made for a much larger number in third class.

Unil the commencement of war in 1914 Cluny Castle was employed on the west-coast run and an “extra steamer” and also performed a regular service to Mauritius together with the other “extra” steamers.

At the outbreak of war her itinerary varied considerably and for some time in 1915 she was on the east-coast service.

In June 1917 she was taken over by the Shipping Controller under the Liner Requisition Scheme and she was sent as far away as New Zealand.

In 1924 she was transferred to the fleet of Natal Line and renamed Umkuzi.

Elephant and Castle - 1911

Illustrated London News - 18 March 1911

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

Cluny Castle (2)

1903

1903 Deployed a new series of ships for anticipated post Boer War emmigration

1903 Actually used on West Coast and Mauritius Service

1915 Transferred to East African Coastal service

1917 Requisitioned for Transport duties

1924 Sold to Bullard King renamed Umkuzi (2)

5147

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

118323

Barclay Curle

Glasgow

Barclay Curle

Glasgow

2 x Steam 3 Cyl

2900 IHP

2

Master

From

To

L A Millard

10/1903

3/1904

W McWhinnie

4/1904

6/1904

H M Cruise

9/1904

12/1904

T Chope

2/1905

5/1906

W McWhinnie

8/1906

7/1907

D Samuel

11/1907

1/1909

Laid up

J George

6/1910

9/1910

M D Butterwick

10/1910

6/1911

J B Whitton

7/1911

1/1912

N R Neilson

3/1912

8/1912

W Godfrey

2/1913

9/1913

H B Piers

7/1913

11/1913

J B Whitton

11/1913

4/1914

B A Bryan

9/1914

6/1915

C R Purse

4/1915

7/1916

C B Imlah

8/1916

6/1918

D Samuel

7/1918

10/1919

J Sinclair

6/1920


E F Gilbert

11/1920

7/1921

G J Whitfield

2/1922


Laid up

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