[4] J. Samuel White built her in 1925 for the General Steam Navigation Company,[5] and was requisitioned by the Admiralty during the World War II for anti-aircraft duties as part of the Thames Special Service Flotilla.

[1] She was designed with a three-part telescopic funnel, hinged mast and low superstructure to enable her to pass underneath London Bridge,[1] to allow her to compete with ships such as PS Royal Sovereign.

[1] With the outbreak of World War II, in September 1939, Crested Eagle was one of the ships tasked with evacuating children out of London, carrying them to Felixstowe.

[1] On 29 May 1940, captained by Lieutenant Commander (Temporary) Bernard Booth RNR, Crested Eagle sailed from Sheerness to the east mole at Dunkirk.

[5] On the west side of the mole were some trawlers and HMS Grenade, with Fenella and Crested Eagle docked on the east wide.