[1] The ship was built by Armstrong, Whitworth & Company Ltd, Low Walker and launched in 1917.

3, they were the first vessels to offer regular transport between Britain and continental Europe for rail freight vehicles.

They were ordered by the British Army to provide rail freight transport from Richborough harbour to the continent to sustain the war effort.

[5] In November 1928 the journey from Zeebrugge to Harwich was delayed by a gale and took 23 hours rather than the usual 7 and a half.

During evacuation of British troops from France she was hit by artillery from the shore and sank on 13 June 1940 off Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Seine Maritime,[7] at 49°56′N 00°56′E / 49.933°N 0.933°E / 49.933; 0.933.