P&O Lines RMS Kaiser-I-Hind II

Click the logo above to reach the ssMaritime FrontPage for News Updates & “Ship of the Month”

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

P&O / Peninsular and Oriental Lines

RMS Kaisar I Hind II

“Kaisar-I-Hind” is a Hindi name meaning “Empress of India.”

RMS Kaisar I Hind

Photograph from the author’s private collection

Introduction:

P&O ordered for a new 11,430 GRT (Gross registered Ton) liner to be built by Caird & Co Ltd, Greenock Scotland. She was built and designed to operate on the profitable London to India service for P&O and she also served well in transporting WWII troops, especially towards the end of the war.

She was launched on June 28, 1914 and delivered to P&O in October and having been full fitted out; she departed on her maiden voyage on October 24 from London bound for Bombay India. Apparently due to her remarkable speed of 19 knots she arrived in Bombay in the record time of just under 18 days.

An early colour artist impression of the new liner

Postcard from the author’s private collection

Specifications:

Built: Caird & Co Ltd, Greenock Scotland

Yard Number: 327

Launched: June 28, 1914

Maiden voyage: October 24, 1914

Tonnage: 11,430 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)

Length: 164.6m - 540ft

Width: 18.6m - 61ft

Engine: 4 X Exp type Steam Engines by the builder

Screw: Twin

Speed: 17 knots (max 19 knots)

Passengers: 315 First Class and 233 Second Class passengers

Crew: 367

Postcard of the RMS Kaisar I Hind

Postcard from the author’s private collection

The first actual photographic postcard of the RMS Kaiser I Hind

Postcard from the author’s private collection

From 1916 to 1921 the Kaisar I Hind made a number of voyages from London to Sydney, although these were interrupted as she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy to be used as a transport ship during in World War I. During this time she carried British, French & Indian troops operating services to and from the Middle East, India and other areas.

Thomas Edward Lawrence of Arabia in his famed Arab gear

Photograph from an unknown source - *See note at the bottom of page

One of her most notable passengers was Col. T. E. Lawrence (more famously known as: “Lawrence of Arabia”) who after his lengthy “Revolt in the Dessert” left Egypt to go home to England on 15 October 15, 1918 as he boarded the Kaisar I Hind in Port Said and sailing to Taranto (a major naval base in Southern Italy. From there he travelled by train Via Naples, Rome, Genoa and through France to the Port of Le Havre a journey that took a good three days and then took a ship across the channel. He arrived home in England in 24 October 24, having been absent since around October 1914. He goes directly to his family home in Oxford.

After the war she received a comprehensive refit in order for her to return to commercial duties for P&O.

RMS Kaisar I Hind seen after her war duties

Photograph sourced from State Library of Victoria

In June 1921 she was chartered by Cunard Line and renamed Emperor of India for several voyages from Southampton to New York, by the end of the year she resumed her London to Bombay service under her original name SS Kaisar I Hind. In 1926 she had a refit and was upgraded and she was registered as being 11,518 GRT.

She is seen in dry-dock for her refit

Image from the author’s private collection

Hazel Rowe, nee Ditcham:

Here is another story from a passenger who sailed on the RMS Kaiser I Hind in 1931. Hazel Rowe, nee Ditcham, together with her Mother Irene (also known as Rene) embarked the Kaiser I Hind towards the end of January 1931 to sail to Egypt to join her Father Vivian Ashley who worked there with Air Ministry. She is quite sure of the time as she celebrated her 5th birthday on board early on in the voyage as she was born on February 1, 1926. Hazel wrote;

“My Mother was rather sea-sick most of the time and she barely moved from her cabin, and I was taken under the wing of another kindly passenger, a “very old” man (about 35 years old – Ha!), who was named if I remember right Mr. Cropley or something very similar. He was presumably also a civil servant, as my parents knew him and had met him several times subsequently on voyages to & fro. I remember that I had been given as an advance birthday present a rather splendid doll with a porcelain head, and as many were in those days, it was a black doll. Unfortunately I managed to drop it and the head smashed, whereupon the kind Mr. Cropley took me to the ship’s shop and bought me another one, which was also black, but it was a soft one this time. “Mrs. Sambo” as she was called was my most treasured possession for many years, and later in life my daughters were allowed to play with her, but then only on very special occasions. As far as I know, Mrs. Sambo is still up in our attic and has been for some years, but as we are planning to move house in the near future she will have to come down, unless moth, dust or mice have corrupted her past salvation. Thus she may be one of the only remaining relics for me of that splendid old ship that took me to Egypt. If you wish, and if she is in any sort of shape my husband will photograph her and email a copy to you. Egypt was still a Protectorate and my Father worked in Cairo and we lived in a southern suburb called Maadi being the British sector at that time. There was another ex-pat’s wife there who had been a teacher and she took just a few small children, like me as a kindergarten class. When my Father was given his first leave we returned to the UK and when they returned to Egypt I was left with there and remained with my Grandmother.”

I wish to thank Hazel Rowe for her interesting story of her voyage on this amazing ship when so young, and considering that she is now a spritely 85 years young, she is a wonder on the computer!

Fourth Officer Alfred Lee Harper:

In October 2010 I was delighted to receive an email from a Mr. Harry B. Harper, and he advised me that his “Father, Mr. Alfred Lee Harper, was 4th officer from March 1936 to March 1937 and I still have his P&O sight book for that year.” Harry also sent a photograph his father had taken which he had “entitled on the back “my Boats.” I am happy to present 4th.Officer’s Harper’s sight book and his photo with thanks to Harry B. Harper!

Forth Officers Alfred Lee Harper’s Sight Book

Provided by Harry B. Harper

March 22, 1936 – report by Fourth Officer Harper

Provided by Harry B. Harper

Photo by Mt Harper, looking down to Boat Deck from the Bridge

Provided by Harry B. Harper

After her 1926 refit she continued sailing for another twelve years. Then in 1938 this remarkable 24 year old liner was retired and sold to be broken up at Blyth in the UK.

RMS Kaisar I Hind departs Tilbury Dock (London) for the very last time and

she is flying a 72 foot long pennant denoting her years of service

Photograph from the author’s private collection

In this final photo we see her being prepared to depart for the Hughes Bolckow Ship breakers at Blyth, England

Photograph sent by a supporter, but taken by a “T Lister”

Also visit the: RMS Kaisar I Hind Crew Page

The William Thomas Foreman story, a crew member from 1926 to 1937

Use the Back button on your browser or Close the Page to return to the previous page
or go to our INDEX

***********************************

Who is the Author of ssMaritime?

Commenced in the passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Where the ships of the past make history & the 1914 built MV Doulos Story

Also visit my …

“Save The Classic Liners Campaign” & “Classic Ocean Voyages” pages”

Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are by the author or from the author’s private collection. In addition there are some images that have been provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are some photographs provided to me without details regarding the photographer/owner concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me (my email address may be found on www.ssmaritime.com only), in order that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet these individuals either refuse to provide credit or remove them when asked, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show these charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due!

This notice covers all pages, although, and I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

Free Counter