HMS Scotia

SS Scotia (1,872 gross tons) was built in 1902 by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton, Scotland for the London and North Western Railway for their Holyhead to Dublin service. Along with her sister ships, Hibernia (later HMS Tara), Anglia and Cambria, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty as an Armed Boarding Steamer in August 1914 and renamed HMS Scotia. 

She patrolled the south Irish Sea until July 1915 when she was fitted out and despatched to the eastern Mediterranean, under the command of Temporary Lieutenant J F Pinchin. She did good work there and took part in the bombardment of a Turkish Fort whilst on duty in the Red Sea. There is also on record a troopship with the name of Scotia being employed carrying troops to Gallipoli from the UK in April 1915. 

After completion of her service in the Mediterranean the Scotia moved back to home waters and in May 1917 was returned to the LNWR. She was then reconditioned as a cross-channel steamer on her former service.

However, in December 1917 she was again requisitioned and placed under Admiralty control as a troop transport operating between Dover and France. Whilst at Calais on 18 July 1918 she was damaged by a bomb during an enemy air raid. She was quickly repaired and returned to service.

Her Master during the later period of the war was L J Manning. He had been captain of HMHS Anglia when it was sunk by mine in November 1915. SS Scotia survived the war and resumed her former service. in 1920 she was renamed SS Minervia. She was eventually scrapped in 1928.Photograph from http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewgal.asp?id=10814

William Jones, Boilermaker

Alfred Edward Marsh, Chief Steward