RMS Cedric

RMS Cedric was laid down in 1902 at the shipyard of Harland and Wolff, Belfast. RMS Cedric was the second of White Star's series known as the "Big Four", the other three being RMS Celtic, Baltic and Adriatic. The RMS Celtic was the first ship to exceed Brunel's SS Great Eastern in overall tonnage, which was quite an accomplishment, considering Brunel's giant ship held the size record for almost 40 years. Except for the Adriatic all of these in turn, when built, would be the largest ship in the world for a short time. The RMS Cedric was a 21,035 gross ton ship, length 700 ft (213.36 m) x beam 75.3 ft (22.95 m), two funnels, four masts, twin propellers and a service speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 365 First, 160 Second and 2352 Third Class passengers. She was launched on 21 August 1902, and RMS Cedric commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 11 February 1903. This was the only route on which she was ever used, although Cedric was also sometimes used for winter cruises to the Mediterranean.

Trans-Atlantic service
For the next 11 years she plied the Atlantic crossing with out any major incident. When the Titanic sank in April 1912 Cedric was in New York and her departure was delayed until the RMS Carpathia arrived with survivors, including crew members not required for the Court of Enquiry, who wished to travel back to Liverpool. The Cedric however had to sail without any of the Titanic's survivors or crew due to their mandated appearances for testimony at the U.S. Inquiry. Her last voyage on the Liverpool-New York service started 21 October 1914 after which she was she was requisitioned for war service, and she was then converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser. The Cedric was decommissioned in 1916, and then she was converted into a troopship for operation initially to Egypt and then to the USA. In April 1917 her operation came under the auspices of the Liner Requisition Scheme. On 29 January 1918 the Cedric collided with, and sank the Canadian Pacific ship Montreal off Morecambe Bay. The Montreal was taken in tow but sank the next day 14 miles (23 km) from the Mersey Bar lightship. The Cedric was returned to her owner in September 1919 and refitted by Harland & Wolff. She was refitted to accommodate 347 First, 250 Second and 1000 Third Class passengers. She resumed Liverpool – New York voyages. On 30 September 1923 the Cedric collided with RMS Scythia of the Cunard Line in Queenstown (Cobh) harbour during dense fog. Neither vessel was seriously damaged. On 23 October 1926 she was again altered to Cabin, Tourist and Third Class. Her last Liverpool – New York sailing commenced 5 September 1931 and she was sold later the same year, for £22,150 to Thos. W. Ward and scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1932.