RMS ARUNDEL CASTLE

Originally laid down as Amroth Castle, the Arundel Castle was built at the Harland and Wolff yards in Belfast, she was launched on 11 September 1919, the first of a pair of 4 funnel sisters to enter service for the Union-Castle Line. She set sail on her maiden voyage on 22 April 1921, but was barely competing with the newer motor ships which entered service. The advent of faster liners on the Cape run necessitated modernisation of the pair and in 1937 the Arundel was sent back to her builders where she was re-engined and modernised, loosing 2 of her funnels and getting a new bow which gave her a much sleeker and balanced look. She re-entered service in late 1937. World War 2 saw the 2 sisters ships being sent trooping, the Windsor being lost in 1943 after an air attack. The Arundel survived the war and was taken back into the mail service on the Cape run and while immensely popular was very dated. She continued in service until withdrawn in 1958. She sailed on her last voyage to the breakers on 30 December 1958, the last of the four funnel liners in service.