Originally built in 1904 as a luxury steam yacht, she served in both the First and Second World Wars and destroyed a German U-boat in 1918.

The vessel was completed in October 1904 at Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock on the River Clyde in Scotland and was named Beryl.

Returning to recross the area, it was realised that some items in the water were actually four survivors from the U-boat, their calls for help being heard too late to prevent a third charge from being dropped.

Three of the men in the water were killed instantly, the fourth was still alive when recovered but died within three hours,[5] although not before revealing that the destroyed submarine had been the SM UB-74.

[1] In 1947, Lorna was sold to Kavounides Brothers of Piraeus in Greece and converted to carry passengers; she was renamed Thessalia.