Runic's WW1 service

[Jo Rodriguez]

Just a quick note. I've found some interesting information about Runic's WW1 service (finally).
She was requisitioned by the Australian Government in 1914 (I think) for trooping service and was known as HMAT 54.
Will post more later.

 

[Mark Baber]

Great work, Jo. I don't think I've come across any mention of Runic as a troop ship; as far as I recall, Anderson and Haws refer only mention wartime commercial service under the liner requisition scheme, and not any trooping service. I'll be very interested in further details.

 

[Jo Rodriguez]

Oops I missed a letter out. Runic was HMAT A54
Here is a link to the Australian Light Horse association's forums. If you scroll down the first page or use Edit- Find (on this page)- Runic you will come to several posts that mention Runic. One of them gives a particularly good account of one of the trooping voyages where there was almost a "mutiny" amongst the soldiers on board. On the second page of this thread there are some replies to my query.
http://www.lighthorse.org.au/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=&whichpage=2&TOPIC_ID=1921

 

[Jo Rodriguez]

There is also a really interesting reply to a query I posted on the Great War Forum.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57279&st=0&gopid=498199&

 

[Jo Rodriguez]

Afric,Persic and Medic all also served as troop carriers.
Afric was HMAT A19
Ceramic was HMAT A40
Medic HMAT A7
Persic HMAT A34

 

[Jo Rodriguez]

Well can you tell I've done nothing other than read about this today?
Here is a link to the Australian War Memorial's website - Official history of the Australian Navy 1914-18. Lots and lots of info there. Haven't read much of it but Chapter XIII and Appendix 6 are of particular interest.
http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=10

 

[Mark Baber]

That's a great find, Jo; quite a few things in there that I can use in my White Star History messages. Thanks.

 

[Jo Rodriguez]

Athenic was requistioned by the New Zealand Government and was HMNZT11. Suevic was HMAT A29.