SS Leicestershire

[jay dubaya]

An ASC man that I'm researching embarked at Davenport on 27th November 1917 and disembarked at Bombay on 16th January 1918. The ship listed in his service papers is the SS Leicestershire, I've had a search but can find nothing of this ship so any help would be greatly appreciated,

cheers, Jon

[spithead]

Jon

S.S. LEICESTERSHIRE

The LEICESTERSHIRE was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1909 for the Bibby Line and was a sister ship to the GLOUCESTERSHIRE. Her details were - 8,059 gross tons, length 467.2ft x beam 54.3ft x depth 31.7ft, one funnel, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 230 single class passengers. She sailed from Birkenhead in September 1909 on her maiden voyage to India. In August 1914 she was taken over as an Indian Expeditionary Force transport until November when she was returned to her owners. In 1917 she was again taken over under the liners requisition scheme, and in 1918 spent some time carrying troops to North Russia to fight the Bolsheviks. She then made a voyage to Melbourne repatriating Australian troops. After this service she was returned to Bibby Line, rebuilt from coal to oil burning and modernised. Resumed service on the Rangoon route until 1930.

Regards John

[jay dubaya]

That's fantastic John, t'is just what I needed, many thanks

cheers, Jon

[Guest Peter Martin]

Hello Jon, just wondering who your ASC Man is - I'm researching another ASC man (284516 Leslie AB Smith) who was deployed to Mesopotamia via Bombay on exactly the same ship and voyage. The service record of his friend William Zeitlin gives a good amount of detail about the voyage. Leslie was with 1018 MT Company RASC and ended up with 40th Bde, 13th Div in Mesopotamia and Northern Persia. Any link?

Peter