Derbyshire
Ship Number
314
Vessel Type
Passenger Ship
Built
Belfast
Slip Number
4
Launch Date
21 July 1897
Delivered
8 October 1897
Owner
Bibby Steamship Co.
Weight
6635 grt
BP Length
452 feet
Breadth
52 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
14.5 knots
Propulsion
Triple expansion constructed in Belfast
Official No.
106876
Registered
Liverpool
Fate
Scrapped
Derbyshire

Sister of the Staffordshire she was launched on 21st July 1897 and completed in the following October. The last of the shorter bridge deck type, her arrival enabled the service to Burma to have a sailing every three weeks in line with Henderson's. In 1899 she undertook four round voyages from Liverpool to Boston for the Dominion Line commencing on 6th June.
 
When the Oxfordshire joined the fleet in 1912 she was reduced to being the reserve steamer.
 
In January 1915 she was deployed as a troop transport operating to India and Malaya and in 1917 carried American troops to Europe. She became a full time troopship in 1921 when Bibby's were given a Government trooping contract and began carrying military personnel to India and the Levant. In 1927 she was replaced as a troopship by the Dorsetshire  and was reduced to carrying cargo only.  
 
Still a coal burner, she was broken up in Japan during April 1931.