ssmaritime.com & ssmaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian

 

Shaw Savill Line

QSMV Dominion Monarch

The largest Liner of its kind ever to be built

Dominion Monarch seen at Cape Town

Provided by Ian Shiffman of …

http://home.worldonline.co.za/~snai/launch - Email Ian at ShiffmanI@sundaytimes.co.za

At the time of her building, the QSMV (Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel) Dominion Monarch was the most powerful motor liner in the world and the largest ship operating full time on the Australasian trade. Shaw Savill already had a great deal of experience in operating all first class only passenger services and was able to assure their guests a unique luxury voyage. Dominion Monarch with 525 passengers, combined with her crew passenger ratio, offered a service that is unequalled to this day.

She was an unusual ship as her design was that of a large passenger-cargo liner, with a relatively small passenger complement considering her size. To this day, Dominion Monarch remains the largest (all first class) cargo passenger liner ever to be built. Many larger, faster passenger liners would later serve on the Australasian service, however, with the eventual demise of the Dominion Monarch, the era of deluxe traditional sea travel ended. She departed from Australasian and New Zealand waters in 1962 a victim of larger passenger liners carrying greater passenger numbers in multiple or one class, thus they were more economical to operate.

A popular postcard of the “Dom”

Author’s private collection

Specifications

Builder                                       Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne, England

 

Built for                                      Shaw Savill Albion

Launched                                   27 July 1938 (by Lady Essendon)

Completed                                  January 1939

GRT                                                     27,155 tons

Length                                       207.8 m / 682 ft

Width                                        25.9 m / 84 ft, 6 inches

Draught                                     34 feet

Propulsion                                   4 Doxford 5 cylinder opposed-piston Diesel engines

Screws                                      Quadruple

Service speed                             21.5 knots

Passengers                                 525 passengers (508 in 1947), all first class

Passenger decks                          6

Crew                                         385

Port of registry                            Southampton

Livery                                        Black hull, white superstructure, buff and black funnels

                                                red boot topping

Holds                                         6, carrying around 3,600 tons of general cargo, and 12,800 tons

                                                of frozen meat or dairy produce

  

The “Dom” finally hits the water!

Author’s private collection

Dominion Monarch was launched at 3.30 p.m. on July 27, 1938, by Lady Essendon, the wife of the Chairman of Furness Withy and Company Ltd. mv Dominion Monarch was the largest ship built on the Tyne since the Mauretania.

After launching, Dominion is moved to her “Fit Out berth”

 Author’s private collection

Maiden voyage 

Completed late in January 1939, she completed her sea trials off St Abbs Head, after which she was delivered to Shaw Savill.

Then on February 17, in the command of Captain W. G. Summers (however, another source states that it was Captain W. H. Hartman who was in command??), she commenced her seven week maiden voyage from the King George V Dock, London. She made her first port of call at Southampton, where her Australian and New Zealand bound passengers boarded. Her next port of call was Tenerife, where she arrived on the 21st of February 1939.

Dominion Monarch seen off Tenerife on February 21 during her maiden voyage New Zealand bound

Photograph by the Tenerife Port authority – used with thanks!

Her voyage continued via Cape Town, Durban, and Fremantle where she arrived on March 11, 1939. she then set a new record for the ‘Cape’ route, to Melbourne and Sydney. The service was promoted as “The Clipper Route,” with fares commencing with £58. On April 25, she departed from Wellington for Sydney and her return voyage to the UK. A service that would continue until 1962, but would soon be interrupted by World War II!

 

The grand lady is seen here at sea

From the author’s private collection

Public facilities and accommodations

Accommodation was provided on a lavish scale for 525 first class passengers (after her refit in 1947 – 508 passengers). 160 single berth cabins, as well as 182 multiple berth cabins, including two deluxe suites, having a double bedroom, sitting room, bathroom, and a lobby. A good number of cabins had private facilities. Passengers had the use of six decks - Games deck – Lounge deck – Promenade deck & A - B & C decks.

PS: All images are from the author’s private collection.

The spacious Main Lounge --

The public rooms consisted of a Lounge, Drawing Room, Writing Room, Smoke Room, Palm Court, Verandah, Cinema, and the Restaurant. Majority of the public rooms were located on the Lounge Deck with the Entrance Foyer forward. Aft of the Foyer was the spacious Lounge.

Aft again was the Writing Room on the starboard side, whilst the Drawing Room was on the port side. Aft again was the classic Smoke Room, which had a dramatic period design, with a large fireplace. Aft on Lounge deck was the delightful Verandah, which doubled as the cinema.

 

The classic Smoke Room

Forward on Promenade deck was the popular Palm Court overlooking the bow. Aft of the room was the bar, which had a mural depicting the English countryside. Aft of the Promenade deck was the 24 ft x 16 ft swimming pool as well as the gymnasium.

The Restaurant on C deck was fully air-conditioned, with seating for 300 passengers.

 Writing Room

 

 Dine in style in the fully air-conditioned Restaurant

 

Ships Pool

 

This is what makes the ship tick!

World War II

A sad looking ship, during even sadder days

During her second voyage, Great Britain and France declared war with Germany. John Carver who was a Bellboy on this voyage told ssMaritime, “Dominion Monarch was outward bound going through the Australian bight when war broke out. An announcement was made over the tanoy just as dinner was being served.”

Dominion Monarch bellboy, John Carver is seen on the right

Provided by John Calver

She was despatched to Sydney were she was fitted with light armament and returned to the UK via the hazardous Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Upon arrival, Dominion Monarch was she was laid up, as it was considered that she was far too luxurious to be used as a trooper. She returned to her Australasian service until August 1940, when the British Government requisitioned her. She was stripped of her fine fittings and was fitted out with 3,556 berths. She was painted grey and commenced her service as a trooper. In all she carried over 29,000 American and British military personal and brought thousands of wounded soldiers home.

Seen toward the end of her war service

Author’s private collection

Back in Service


Dominion Monarch looking her grand self, departing Cape Town
Provided by Ian Shiffman of …

http://home.worldonline.co.za/~snai/launch - Email Ian at ShiffmanI@sundaytimes.co.za

 

A superb study of a great liner

Photographer unknown

Dominion Monarch was returned to Shaw Savill in 1948, after a refit she recommenced her regular duties. On many occasions, whilst Dominion Monarch was in Wellington New Zealand during the early sixties, the youthful author, employed in the shipping industry as an office boy, spent a great deal of time on this fine liner, enjoying the beauty of her classic appointments. I recall the joyful departures with the brass band playing and colourful streamers thrown by passengers leaning over the rails saying goodbye to their loved ones on the quay.

 

A rare encounter, Dominion Monarch and the Southern Cross

berthed side by side in Wellington New Zealand

Author’s private collection

John Kelk remembers his time as a Bell Boy on the Dominion Monarch with great fondness. He boarded her on 26 February 26, 1958 and completed his duties on June 21 1958. The master of the ship was Captain K .D. G. Fisher. As John says “ It’s a time I will never forget”

Sadly, during the mid sixties the Australasian luxury passenger market was rapidly declining. All too often, she would depart with just a small complement of passengers, therefore the time came when Shaw Savill had to decide that this grand liner had simply become uneconomic and was to be sold.

Arriving at Circular Quay Sydney

 Author’s private collection

Dominion Monarch Memorabilia

The following four images hereunder are of a double pack of cards. These were kindly provided by Mr Ken Goles. Playing cards were given to all passengers and were these were beautifully presented in a brass like tin containing the two decks of cards.

 

 

Lid of the card container

 

 

Outer pack is blue on white and are still sealed

The cards show the Dominion Monarch at Cape Town

 

 

Bottom view of both packs show Shaw Savill’s world map

 

Second set of playing cards shows the Shaw Savill flag travelling around the globe

We thank Mr. Coles for allowing us to use the 4 images above!

On September 12, 2008, I received an email from Lynne Hector in New Zealand, who advised me the following: “We have recently removed a mantelpiece in our lounge and found behind it a menu to a Children's Tea Party on the Dominion Monarch on Thursday, 9th February 1950. It is quite damaged i.e. half the back page is missing.” Lynne wondered if I would be interested I having it, and of course I was, and I am please to present it hereunder. Remember this was obviously a lost item from a previous owner of the house and stuck behind this mantelpiece possibly for 50 years or so. Thus what a wonderful find, that here we have at least 80% of this menu 58 year after it was printed on this great liner!

 The front cover!

 

 Can I have an Éclair please?

Thank Lynne Hector for so kindly sending the actual menu!

 

A popular illustration

Author’s private collection

 

Here we se the black and white version of an artist impression of what was a colour version

I took this from a Shaw Savill postcard that had the ships derails at the bottom

Author’s private collection

Goodbye

On December 30, 1961, the Dominion Monarch departed London for her last voyage down under. Her farewell departures from New Zealand and Australasian ports were sad occasions for past passengers and ship lovers.

Dominion Monarch is seen here in Lyttleton (Christchurch) New Zealand during her farewell visit in February 1962

Photographer unknown

I was dockside as she departed Wellington for the last time. Lasting memories for me were her three long blasts on her horn and her sailing majestically out of Wellington Harbour. The largest Liner of its kind had left; few other ships had the impact on ship enthusiasts. Dominion Monarch had a graceful beauty, a beauty not seen since. I took many photographs of her departure, but, one box was lost when I moved to Australia in 1965 and all my shipping photographs and memorabilia just happened to be in that box. It was never recovered!

The final departure of the Dominion Monarch from Wellington
was a sad moment for so many!

Photographer unknown

The End of a great liner

She was leased from June to November 1962 as a hotel ship for the Seattle World Fair. She was moored at Pier 51, Elliot Bay. Towards the end of her Seattle stay, her funnels were painted by her new owners painted, featuring a diamond shaped insignia of and was renamed Dominion Monarch Maru. The Dominion Monarch Maru departed Seattle with her dignity intact and sailed for Osaka where she arrived on November 25, 1962, where she was broken up.

With her name changed to Dominion Monarch Maru
see is seen here in Seattle prior her departure

Author’s private collection

 

Heading for the breakers

Author’s private collection

A Lasting Memory

Dominion Monarch had a dignified 24-year career, even though it being a short life compared to most other liners, she remains one of the most impressive and luxurious of all first class passenger cargo liner ever to be built! She was a one of a kind, the kind of grand and graceful liner that will never grace our seas again!

Reuben Goossens

The magnificent Dominion Monarch preparing for departure – Australia bound!

Author’s private collection

 

“The Big Blue Water Liners sailing to the distant shores.
I watched then come, I watched them go, and I watched them die.”

If you have enjoyed this feature and you feel you might have something of interest to add, be it a story or some photographs, I would appreciate hearing from you!

Remembering the SS France / Norway Campaign

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 By Kosta Specis & Hun-Eng Tan

Reuben Goossens commenced in Passenger Shipping industry in May 1960

  

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PLEASE NOTE: I receive hundreds of requests for Passenger/Crew Lists and Sailing Schedules. I hereby wish to advise that I am unable to assist due to time restrains and as most shipping companies have long gone these lists/schedules are no longer available. I regret to advise that any request for these will no longer be answered regardless of the circumstances presented!

 

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Please Note:

Photographs on ssMaritime and ssmaritime.net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, 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 they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, 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!

 

 

 

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