CUNARD LINER ‘SCYTHIA’ OF 1920

Built by Vickers, Ltd., at Barrow in 1920, Yard No. 493

Official No: 143730, Signal Letters: G D Y P

Gross Tonnage: 19,930, Nett: 10,992.  Length: 600·7ft, Breadth: 73·8ft.

Owned by the Cunard Steamship Co.Ltd.,  registered at Liverpool.

6 steam turbines, double-reduction geared to 2 screw shafts. Service speed: 16½ knots.

            The Scythia was the first of the five 20,000 tons Cunard liners built after the First World War. She was built at Barrow-in-Furness by Vickers Limited, having been designed by Mr L. Peskett, Cunard’s naval architect, and launched on 23^rd March 1920 by Mrs Maxwell, the wife of one of the Cunard directors. The Scythia was something of a pioneer ship, intended to burn oil fuel and at the time of her launch the largest liner to be so designed. She was also of interest because of her double-reduction geared turbines. In her deck machinery, too, the Scythia departed from usual practice. Instead of being driven by steam, her winches and steering gear were electro-hydraulic.

            Owing to a strike of joiners, the Scythia had to be transferred to Lorient in March 1921 for the completion of her accommodation. She eventually sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to New York on 20^th August 1921. Her original passenger accommodation was for 350 first-class, 350 second-class and 1,500 in third-class. The large amount of emigrant accommodation was quickly rendered uneconomic on account of the severe restrictions imposed on U.S. immigration from 1922 onwards.

            In March 1922 the Scythia reached Halifax, NS, at a greatly reduced speed having received damage to her turbine gearing, and later in the same year she was chartered to the Frank Tourist Company to make a ‘yachting cruise’ from New York to the Mediterranean early in 1923. During October 1923 the Scythia was in collision with the White Star liner Cedric in dense fog off the Irish coast. Repairs proved to be extensive and took some three weeks, being carried out by David Rollo and Sons of Liverpool.

            When King Amanulla of Afghanistan visited Liverpool in 1928 it was arranged that he would stay overnight on board the Scythia which was moved from her dock berth to Princes Landing Stage for the purpose. Also in 1928 the Scythia flew a special Welsh flag while acting as ‘Eisteddfod ship’ bringing American passengers on a pilgrimage to Treorchy for the event. The Scythia, commanded by Captain William Prothero, disembarked her passengers at Cardiff. On 7^th July 1934 the liner was in collision with the Isle of Man steamer Viking off Princes Landing Stage. The Manx steamer was outward bound to Douglas and the Scythia was approaching the stage prior to sailing to New York. There was slight damage to both ships.

            In August 1939 the Scythia was taken over by the Government as a troopship and

in August 1940 arrived at New York with over 700 passengers including some British child evacuees. She was converted to a troopship and on 23^rd November 1942 the Scythia was torpedoed by aircraft whilst at anchor off Algiers with a full complement of troops on board. Her master, Captain John Bertenshaw, secured a tow and the liner was taken across the Strait to Gibraltar for repairs, and was then sent to New York for overhaul.

            On 21^st February 1946 the Scythia had to put back to Bangor Bay, Northern Ireland, with turbo-feed pump trouble; the bedplate was cracked and a new rotor needed. She was bound for Halifax, NS, with 500 wives and 200 children of Canadian servicemen. Repairs were carried out by Harland & Wolff as she lay at anchor off White Head.

            A few months later the Scythia arrived at Liverpool on 7^th April 1946 with 2,500 returning German prisoners, including 26 stretcher cases. Also on board were 353 Royal Naval personnel. There was talk about the waste of shipping space when the Scythia sailed from Liverpool on 19^th July 1946 bound for Bombay with only her crew on board. It was said that the ship was needed at Bombay for repatriation purposes, and that she could not be held to await outward bound passengers or service personnel.

            In October 1948, under charter to the International Refugee Organisation and the Canadian Government, the Scythia commenced a series of voyages with ‘displaced persons’ from Cuxhaven and Le Havre to Quebec or Halifax.

            The Scythia was de-requisitioned in November 1949 and following a refit by John Brown & Co. at Clydebank, she went back on North Atlantic service. On 17^th August 1950 the Scythia left Liverpool on her first post-war commercial voyage for Quebec, returning to London. In 1951 she re-opened the Southampton – Quebec passenger service, suspended since 1939. The Scythia had been designed for the New York service and was too deep drafted to proceed from Quebec to Montreal.

            On 5^th June 1952 the Scythia collided with the Canadian steamer Wabana in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Both ships were held to blame at the inquiry which followed for excessive speed in fog and the improper use of radar. The Scythia was holed on her starboard side and had temporary repairs carried out at Lauzon, Quebec.

            In 1957 the Scythia returned to the Liverpool – Cobh – New York service and left Liverpool on 5^th October on her last Cunard voyage. On her last two voyages across the Atlantic under charter she carried Canadian servicemen and their families between Halifax, NS, and Rotterdam. The Scythia completed her last voyage at Southampton on 22^nd December 1957 and afterwards lay idle awaiting a decision as to her disposal. The old ship was sold to the British Iron & Steel Corporation (Salvage) Ltd., of London. The Scythia, the first and last of her class, left Southampton on New Year’s Day 1958, and followed the Samaria and the Franconia to the Inverkeithing shipbeaking yard of Thos. W. Ward Ltd.

            The old Scythia was 36 years old and she certainly left behind her a proud record and was, perhaps, especially remembered by Canadians. Her name was revived in 1965, the new Scythia being a very different ship indeed from her famous predecessor, a cargo liner with engines aft. The new ship served Cunard for just four years before being sold to the Harrison Line in 1969 and renamed Merchant.