She was used on the Southampton - Channel Islands - St Malo service until she sank in 1905 with the loss of at least 125 lives.

[1] Hilda was powered by two 220 horsepower (160 kW) compound steam engines which were made by John and James Thompson and Company, Glasgow.

The 1894-fitted boilers were made by Day, Summers and Company, of the Northam Iron Works, Southampton.

Thick fog forced her to anchor off Yarmouth, Isle of Wight to await better weather conditions.

Hilda passed through the Race of Alderney at 12:30, and after leaving Jersey behind, the weather conditions worsened.

A few minutes later,[5] Hilda struck the Pierre de Portes rocks,[1] which lie to the west of the entrance channel to St Malo harbour.

About 20 or 30 people on the stern part of the wreck managed to climb the rigging to await rescue.

[7] Captain William Gregory had been employed by London and South Western Railway for 36 years.

[7] Another London and South Western Railway steamer, SS Stella, was wrecked on The Casquets, Channel Islands, on 30 March 1899 with 112 fatalities.

[9] On 21 February 1907 the Great Eastern Railway suffered the loss of SS Berlin, wrecked off the Hook of Holland with 141 fatalities.

The inquiry found that the ship was seaworthy, with lifesaving equipment provision meeting the legislated standard of the time.