RMS GALWAY CASTLE.

The Galway Castle was one of the lesser known ships of the Union-Castle Line fleet that has faded into obscurity. Built by Harland and Wolf in 1911 she was 452ft long with a tonnage of 7988. In August 1914 she was taken up as a troopship and used in the South West campaign. She reverted to commercial service in 1915 and on 12 October 1917, while serving as a substitue mailship, ran aground off Orient Beach, East London. Fortunately she was not seriously damaged and was refloated some 5 days later. Her end came on 12 September 1918 when she was torpedoed by U82 while 2 days out from Plymouth bound for South Africa with 400 South African wounded, 346 passengers and 204 crew. 143 lives were lost, and the ship, which was sailing under the name Rhodesia, eventually sank 3 days later. Galway Castle aground off East London Photo courtesy of Mark Bentley