SS Ivernia
SS Ivernia was a British ocean liner owned by the Cunard Line, built by the company Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson in England. She was launched in 1899. The Ivernia was one of Cunard's intermediate ships, that catered to the vast immigrant trade. With her sister ship RMS Saxonia, the Ivernia worked on Cunard's service from Liverpool, United Kingdom to Boston, Massachusetts and then later on the immigrant run the Cunard Line established from Fiume, Croatia to Trieste, Italy and then to NYC, New York.
Service[]
Following the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 the Ivernia was hired by the British government as a troop transport. In autumn of 1916, William Turner (who was famous for being the captain of RMS Lusitania at the time of her sinking) was given command.
Sinking[]
On January 1, 1917, the Ivernia was carrying 2,400 people from Marseille to Alexandria, when at 10:12 AM she was torpedoed by an enemy submarine SM UB47, just 58 miles southeast from Cape Matapan, Greece. The ship sank quickly with a loss of 120 people. Captain William Turner, who had served as a captain on the RMS Lusitania when she sank, remained on the bridge until all aboard had departed in lifeboats.
Survivors of the Ivernia were rescued by the ship HMS Rifleman. Some armed trawlers picked up the rest of survivors.
Facts[]
Today Ivernia Road in Walton in Liverpool still bears the name of the doomed vessel.