Monday, April 20, 2020

Empress of Britain on June 15 1939

The Empress of Britain leaves Halifax Harbour on June 15 1939, escorted by three Stranraer flying boats. 
Onboard is the ship's smallest complement of passengers, just forty people, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and their entourage of thirty six plus a photographer and two reporters. After a stop in St Johns, Newfoundland, the ship carried the Royal party on to Southampton. 
A few months later the ship returned to Canada with its largest passenger list, filled beyond capacity, arriving five days after the start of WW2. It was then converted to a troop carrier and for nearly a year, carried military personnel all over the world. 
On October 26th 1940, off the coast of Ireland, the ship was hit by bombs in an attack by a German Condor. The resulting fires caused the crew and passengers to abandon ship. While the hulk was being towed, it was torpedoed by U boat U32 on Oct 28 and the Empress of Britain sank.

The Stranraers, part of a fleet of 8 remaining of 40 built by Canadian Vickers, served on anti-submarine patrol with the Canadian air force till February of 1945, never having seen any actual combat.


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