Harland and Wolff - Shipbuilding and Engineering Works

One of a relatively small number of merchant ships to see military action in both World Wars, Ceramic . She was White Star's first "all cabin class" ship and also had two permanent 4.7 inch guns mounted aft.

One funnel, four masts, accommodation for 600-3rd class passengers, Ceramic made her maiden voyage in White Star's Liverpool-Australia service on 24 July 1913, after representing White Star at the Mersey Pageant earlier that month. Ceramic was, at the time, the largest ship to serve Australia, as well as the largest to call regularly at Capetown.

Ceramic was taken over for trooping from August 1914 until May 1917. After that she was operated (mainly as a freighter) by the Shipping Controller under the Liner Requisition Scheme. At war's end she was refurbished by Harland & Wolff and resumed service to Australia from Liverpool (with an occasional call at Glasgow) in November 1920.

When White Star was absorbed into Cunard White Star in 1934, Ceramic and the Australia service were transferred to Shaw, Savill & Albion, a former White Star subsidiary.

The ship was again modernized and given a speed of 16 knots at Harland & Wolff in 1936, and remained in Shaw, Savill service until she was requisitioned as a trooper in 1940.

During the night of 6th - 7th December 1942, Ceramic was torpedoed by German submarine U515 off the Azores. She sank so quickly that no distress call could be sent. Only one of the 656 on board survived. He was captured and taken to a POW camp in Germany.

[Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.10, Shaw, Savill & Albion]