History |
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RETURN TO THE HOMEPAGE
RMMV HIGHLAND MONARCH 1928 |
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Nelson
Line era (1928 - 1932): Nelson
Line
since 1913 had become part of the Royal Mail Lines Group. By the 1920s Blue Star
Line was becoming a major competitor for the service to South America
and were planning five large new passenger liners for their service
from London. As a result Nelson Line had to respond. They started
negotiations
with Harland & Wolff Ltd in Belfast for the construction of five
new fast motorships for their South American service. Construction
started in Belfast as soon as the labour troubles of 1926 were settled
and the first of the Highland sisters, Highland Monarch, was introduced
in October 1928. While not particularly
attractive ships, the Highland ships became popular with passengers
with their solid comfort and Tudor style oak panelled public rooms.
Their external characteristics included a long forecastle, island
navigation bridge, two very squat low funnels placed close together,
two pole masts and a cruiser stern. The Highland Monarch was
launched in Belfast on the 3rd May 1928 and sailed on her maiden voyage
from London to Buenos Aires on the 18th October 1928. The quintet of
sister ships soon became successful on their regular service to South
America. Royal Mail Lines era (1932 - 1960):
In 1932 Nelson
Line lost its separate identity following the collapse of the Royal
Mail Lines Group and and was merged with the new Royal Mail Lines.
Thus the Highland ships were transferred to Royal Mail but continued on
their well established service. The Highland Monarch sailed on her last
voyage under Nelson Line on the 30th August 1932 before being
transferred to Royal Mail Lines. The Highland ships gave sterling
service in the Second World War. The Highland Monarch was requisitioned
for troopship duties in 1939 and was returned to her owners to resume
commercial service in 1946. She returned to service on the South
America service in 1948. But by 1960 the Highland Monarch was
the last survivor of the sisters that was still in service. She was
retired and sold for scrap and scrapped at W.H. Arnott Young at Dalmuir
in Scotland. |
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(c) The AJN Transport Britain Collection 2010 A Edward Elliott