The Fleets
Henry Bucknall & Son was formed in London in 1742 as cork merchants and used chartered ships. They started shipowning in 1851 and in 1891 formed the British & Colonial Steam Navigation Co. In 1893 Edward Lloyd of Bucknall Bros. together with Union Line formed the American & African Line to operate passenger and cargo services between New York, Cape Town and Calcutta. 1895 Bucentaur SS Co. was formed to cater for trade to Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Due to financial problems, John Ellerman was sold a controlling interest in the company in 1908 and in 1914 the company was renamed Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Co. After 1973 all constituent Ellerman companies were combined into Ellerman City Liners which in 1987 became Cunard-Ellerman.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Routes
- 1880-1973 Glasgow - Liverpool / London - South and East African ports (terminating at Beira) - Mauritius - Madagascar.
- 1895-1912 (passenger) London - Cape Town - India - Suez - London. Liverpool - Panama Canal - North Pacific ports - Puget Sound or Vancouver UK - Suez - Red Sea ports - Persian Gulf.
- 1915 UK - Marseilles - Suez - Malaya - Singapore - Philippines - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Japan.
- Manchester - Liverpool - Panama Canal - Australia - New Zealand.
- Manchester - Liverpool - Panama Canal - Los Angeles - Dutch East Indies - Philippines - China - Japan - Dairen.
- 1921 Middlesbrough - Gdynia - Hamburg - Antwerp - London - Malaya - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Japan.
Routes with Norton & Lily
- 1893-1930 (passenger) New York - Cape Town - Calcutta.
- New York - South Africa
- New York - Philippines - China - Japan - Dairen.
- New York - Australia - Hobart - New Zealand.
- New York - Mediterranean ports.
Routes Without Passengers post 1930
- 1920 Montreal - USA - Port Sudan - Bombay - Colombo - Calcutta - Rangoon - Singapore - Batavia - Samarang - Sourabaya.
- 1926 Montreal - USA - South and East Africa - Mauritius - Reunion - Madagascar.
- 1926 Montreal - USA - Mediterranean ports - Black Sea - Red Sea ports - Persian Gulf.
- 1936 M.A.N.Z. service: Montreal - Australia - New Zealand. Australia - Java - Singapore - Australia.
- Australia - South and East Africa - Mauritius - Madagascar - Australia.
Ships
Abbreviations used: JRE - J. R. Ellerman & Co.; MOWT - Ministry of War Transport, London.
Sailing Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alecto | 1866 | brigantine, 1878 sold. | 199 |
| British Ensign | 1857 | brig, 1862 sold to King & Co. | 196 |
| Cambria | 1825 | schooner, 1854 sold. | 124 |
| Lisbon | 1852 | brig, ex- Alexander Brandt, 1868 purchased from J. Mitchell, Glasgow renamed Lisbon, 1873 trace lost. | 221 |
| Lusitania | 1867 | barque, 1880 sold. | 219 |
| Ruby | 1868 | barque, 1869 purchased, 1889 sold to East Downshire Sailing Ship Co., Belfast. | 266 |
Steam Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afrikander | 1892 | 1906 sold to Adolphe Deppe, Antwerp renamed Uruguay. | 2,755 |
| Amatonga | 1903 | 1927 sold to Italy renamed Foscolo. | 3,331 |
| Arabian | 1906 | see Bloemfontein 1892. | |
| Arabistan | 1893 | 1902 purchased from Frank Strick & Co., 1910 sold to Italy renamed Giano. | 3,194 |
| Balgay | 1897 | 1901 purchased from W. Kinnear, Dundee, 1905 sold to Bombay owners. | 303 |
| Balgowan | 1897 | 1901 purchased from W. Kinnear, Dundee, 1904 wrecked South Africa. | 286 |
| Bantu | 1901 | 1910 sold to Isthmian SS Co. renamed Orpheus. | 4,230 |
| Baralong | 1901 | 1914 naval supply ship, 1915 converted to 'Q' ship and renamed HMS Wyandra, deleted from Lloyds Register and renamed Manica after the infamous 'Baralong Incident'. 1923 sold to Japan renamed Kyokuto Maru. | 4,192 |
| Barotse | 1901 | 1922 sold to Japan renamed Kyokutu Maru No.2. | 4,119 |
| Bechuana | 1894 | ex- Strathtay, 1899 purchased from C. Burrell, Glasgow renamed Bechuana, 1915 naval collier, 1919 sold to Spain renamed Eusebia de Valle. | 4,148 |
| Beira | 1894 | ex- Turkistan, 1897 purchased from Frank Strick & Co., renamed Beira, 1910 sold to Japan renamed Shinkai Maru. | 4,120 |
| Bloemfontein (1) | 1892 | 1906 transferred to Ellerman Papayanni renamed Arabian, 1915 captured and sunk by U.33 off Greece. | 2,745 |
| Bloemfontein (2) | 1906 | 1932 scrapped. |
4,654 |
| Bucentaur | 1893 | ex- Oolong, 1898 purchased from China Mutual S.N. Co, Liverpool renamed Bucentaur, 1911 sold to Japan renamed Saikai Maru. | 3,593 |
| Buceros | 1894 | ex- Strathness, 1902 purchased from Charles Burrell, Glasgow renamed Buceros, 1911 sold to J. Bryde, Sandefjord, renamed Oestkysten, then John Bryde. | 4,038 |
| Bucrania | 1896 | ex- Monmouth, 1899 purchased from Elder Dempster & Co renamed Bucrania, 1911 sold to Japan renamed Shinsei Maru. | 4,069 |
| Bulawayo | 1895 | 1913 sold to Andrew Weir & Co. renamed Kathiawar. | 4,456 |
| Casilda | 1902 - 1908 sold to Soc. Les Affreteurs Reunis, Rouen renamed Ceres. | 3,928 | |
| City of Adelaide | 1964 | 1972 chartered to Hamburg South America Line renamed Cap Cleveland, 1973 reverted to JRE renamed City of Canterbury, 1976 sold to Cie. Maritime Belge, Antwerp renamed Rubens. | 10,511 |
| City of Alexandria | 1905 | ex- Rio Pardo, Hamburg South America Line, 1919 war reparations, 1921 acquired by JRE renamed City of Alexandria, 1933 sold to Petersen & Albeck, Hamburg, laid up. | 4,697 |
| City of Auckland | 1958 | 1978 sold to Gulf Shipping Lines, London renamed Gulf Falcon. | 8,181 |
| City of Batavia | 1907 | ex- Ganelon, Roland Line, Bremen, 1920 war reparations, acquired by JRE renamed City of Batavia, 1938 sold to Italy renamed Voluntas. | 5,597 |
| City of Bath | 1947 | ex- Langleescot, 1952 purchased from Medomsley Steam Shipping Co. renamed City of Bath, 1969 sold to Cyprus renamed Lena. | 7,030 |
| City of Brisbane | 1951 | 1970 sold to Ben Line renamed Bencairn. | 10,595 |
| City of Bristol | 1945 | ex- Sacramento, 1964 transferred from Wilson Line renamed City of Bristol, 1969 sold to Cyprus renamed Felicie. | 7,096 |
| City of Canberra (1) | 1927 | 1957 scrapped. | 7,485 |
| City of Canberra (2) | 1961 | 1978 sold to Singapore renamed Tasgold. | 10,306 |
| City of Canterbury | 1973 | see City of Adelaide 1964. | |
| City of Cape Town | 1968 | see City of Melbourne 1957. | |
| City of Cardiff | 1942 | ex- Empire Spartan, 1951 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Cardiff, 1959 sold to Hong Kong renamed Shun Wing. | 6,987 |
| City of Carlisle (1) | 1926 | see Kathlamba 1913. | |
| City of Carlisle (2) | 1946 | 1963 sold to Taiwan renamed Jeannie. | 9,913 |
| City of Chelmsford | 1943 | ex- Sambrake, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Chelmsford, 1959 sold to Panama renamed San George. | 7,271 |
| City of Christchurch | 1929 | see Lorenzo 1915. | |
| City of Colchester | 1944 | ex- Samlea, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Colchester, 1953 sold to Liberia renamed Sunset. | 7,238 |
| City of Derby | 1927 | see Karoonga 1921. | |
| City of Doncaster | 1943 | ex- Samshire, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Doncaster, 1961 sold to Trader Line, London renamed Pembroke Trader. | 7,257 |
| City of Dundee | 1961 | 1978 sold to Cyprus renamed Dundee. | 4,798 |
| City of Durban | 1953 | 1971 sold to Greece renamed Mediterranean Dolphin. | 13,360 |
| City of Eastbourne | 1962 | 1971 renamed City of Toronto, 1978 sold to Singapore renamed Kota Cantik. | 10,006 |
| City of Exeter | 1952 | 1971 sold to Greece renamed Mediterranean Sea. | 13,360 |
| City of Glasgow | 1963 | 1971 renamed City of Ottawa, 1978 sold to Singapore renamed Kota Cahaya. | 10,017 |
| City of Gloucester | 1963 | 1979 sold to Greece renamed Suerte. | 4,803 |
| City of Halifax | 1926 | see Kalomo 1907. | |
| City of Harvard | 1907 | ex- Giessen North German Lloyd, 1919 war reparations, 1920 acquired by JRE renamed City of Harvard, 1934 scrapped. | 7,091 |
| City of Hull | 1970 | 1980 sold to Liberia renamed St. John. | 7,093 |
| City of Keelung | 1936 | see Keelung 1919. | |
| City of Khartoum | 1927 | see Karroo 1913. | |
| City of Kimberley | 1925 | 1960 sold to Argonaut Shipping Co., renamed Fairhurst. | 6,169 |
| City of Leeds | 1944 | ex- Samcrest, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Leeds, 1960 sold to Grosvenor Shipping Co, London renamed Grosvenor Explorer. | 7,250 |
| City of Lichfield | 1961 | 1978 sold to Cyprus renamed Leeds. | 4,795 |
| City of Lincoln | 1938 | 1946 wrecked near Cape Agulhas, South Africa, salvaged and cargo unloaded and ship stripped, 1950 hull towed to sea and sunk by South African Air Force. | 8,039 |
| City of Liverpool | 1970 | 1981 sold to Greece renamed Marianthe. | 7,093 |
| City of London (1) | 1947 | 1967 sold to Greece renamed Sandra N. | 8,434 |
| City of London (2) | 1970 | 1981 sold to Greece renamed Sea Lord. | 7,415 |
| City of Melbourne | 1957 | 1968 renamed City of Cape Town, 1978 sold to Singapore renamed Ota Gold. | 9,914 |
| City of Mobile | 1926 | see Kentucky 1912. | |
| City of Montreal | 1971 | see City of Sydney 1960. |
|
| City of Ottawa | 1971 | see City of Glasgow 1963. | |
| City of Palermo | 1905 | ex- Rio Negro, Hamburg South America Line, 1919 war reparations, 1921 acquired by JRE renamed City of Palermo, 1933 scrapped. | 4,699 |
| City of Perth | 1926 | see Kandahar 1913. | |
| City of Port Elizabeth | 1952 | 1971 sold to Greece renamed Mediterranean Island. | 13,363 |
| City of Portsmouth | 1943 | ex- Samhain, 1947 purchased from MOWT renamed City of Colchester, 1959 sold to Greece renamed Efcharis. | 7,216 |
| City of Pretoria (1) | 1899 | ex- Waiwera, 1926 purchased from Shaw Savill & Albion renamed City of Pretoria, 1928 scrapped. | 6,237 |
| City of Pretoria (2) | 1937 | 1943 torpedoed by U.172 off Cape Race and blew up. All hands lost. | 8,046 |
| City of Pretoria (3) | 1947 | 1967 renamed Proxeneion for voyage to breakers in Japan. | 8,450 |
| City of St. Albans | 1960 | 1979 sold to Greece renamed Island of Marmora. | 6,980 |
| City of Swansea | 1929 | see Katuna 1907. | |
| City of Sydney | 1960 | 1971 renamed City of Montreal, 1977 sold to Panama renamed Yat Fei. | 10,155 |
| City of Toronto | 1971 | see City of Eastbourne 1962. | |
| City of Winchester | 1952 | 1970 sold to Ben Line renamed Benvannoch. | 10,594 |
| City of Windsor | 1928 | see Knaresboro', 1923. | |
| City of Winnipeg | 1926 | see Kansas 1910. | |
| City of York | 1953 | 1971 sold to Greece renamed Mediterranean Sky. | 13,360 |
| Coronda | 1900 | see Manica 1892. | |
| Delcomyn | 1880 | 1889 purchased from Lund's Blue Anchor Line, 1897 sold to Argentina renamed Felipe Lussich. | 1,827 |
| Egypt | 1878 | 1887 sank in heavy seas in Atlantic. | 1,556 |
| Elba | 1889 | 1893 sunk in collision with s/s WILLIAM BALLS near the Humber. | 2,293 |
| Etona | 1890 | 1908 sold to Nisbet, Calder & Co, Glasgow. | 2,513 |
| Euphrates | 1901 | 1906 sold to A. Deppe, Antwerp. | 2,809 |
| Fort Salisbury | 1895 | 1913 sold to Booth SS Co renamed Vincent, resold to Andrew Weir & Co., renamed Gujurat. | 4,456 |
| Griqua | 1902 | 1927 sold to Italy renamed Aleardi. | 3,344 |
| Johannesburg | 1895 | 1913 sold to Andrew Weir & Co., renamed Surat. | 4,495 |
| John Dixon | 1872 | 1876 purchased from E. W. King, Newcastle, 1889 sold to North of England Shipping Co., Liverpool. | 1,522 |
| Joseph Dodds | 1871 | 1876 purchased from W. T. Henley, Cardiff, 1883 wrecked off Tunisia. | 1,058 |
| Kabinga | 1907 | 1938 sold to African & Continental SS Co. renamed Lulca. | 4,657 |
| Kaffir | 1891 | 1906 transferred to Ellerman Papayanni, renamed Persian, 1916 sunk in collision with Royal Mail S.P.Co's MONMOUTHSHIRE off Greece. | 2,374 |
| Kafue | 1913 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk by U.86 near Sound of Galloway. | 6,064 |
| Kalomo | 1907 | 1926 renamed City of Halifax, 1931 scrapped. | 5,019 |
| Kandahar | 1913 | 1926 renamed City of Perth, 1943 torpedoed and sunk by U.431 off Oran. | 6,415 |
| Kansas | 1910 | 1926 renamed City of Winnipeg, 1934 sold for scrap and renamed Winny for final voyage to breakers. | 6,074 |
| Karema | 1894 | ex- Ranza, 1909 purchased from Caledonia SS Co., Liverpool renamed Karema, 1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.39 off Spain. | 5,263 |
| Karonga | 1907 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.63 in Straits of Messina. | 4,665 |
| Karoonga | 1921 | 1927 renamed City of Derby, 1957 sold to Liberia renamed Fairtrade. | 6,616 |
| Karroo | 1913 | 1927 renamed City of Khartoum, 1936 scrapped. | 6,127 |
| Kasama | 1907 | 1932 scrapped. | 4,635 |
| Kasenga | 1907 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk near Cartagena, Spain. | 4,652 |
| Kasenga | 1899 | ex- Drachenfels, Hansa Line, 1919 war reparations, 1920 acquired by JRE renamed Kasenga, 1928 sold to Italy renamed Adelia. | 7,160 |
| Kathlamba | 1913 | 1926 renamed City of Carlisle, 1934 scrapped. | 6,382 |
| Katuna | 1907 | 1929 renamed City of Swansea, 1937 sold to Barry Shipping Co., Cardiff renamed St. Glen. | 4,641 |
| Kazembe | 1907 | 1915-1918 Naval service, 1932 scrapped. | 4,658 |
| Keelung (1) | 1914 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk by U.53 while 110 miles west of Ushant. | 6,672 |
| Keelung (2) | 1919 | ex- War Walrus, completed as Keelung, 1936 renamed City of Keelung, 1947 sold to China Hellenic Lines renamed Hellenic Trader. | 5,186 |
| Kentucky | 1912 | 1926 renamed City of Mobile, 1940 bombed and sunk in Irish Channel. | 6,588 |
| Kioto | 1910 | 1917 torpedoed and sunk by U.87 off Fastnet. | 6,182 |
| Knaresboro' | 1923 | 1928 renamed City of Windsor, 1953 scrapped. | 7,247 |
| Koranna | 1905 | 1916 Indian army transport, 1929 sold to Greece renamed Apikia. | 3,585 |
| Kosmo | 1913 | ex- Nordmark Hamburg America Line, 1919 war reparations, 1920 acquired by JRE renamed Kosmo, 1928 sold to North German Lloyd renamed Nurnburg. | 5,170 |
| Lorenzo | 1915 | ex- Aschenburg, Hansa Line, 1919 war reparations, 1920 acquired by JRE renamed Lorenzo, 1929 renamed City of Christchurch, 1943 bombed and sunk off Lisbon. | 6,009 |
| Lotus | 1863 | 1900 purchased from F. Alexander, Antwerp, 1921 scrapped. | 621 |
| Madrid | 1879 | 1887 went missing in Atlantic; loss of 22 lives. | 1,961 |
| Manica (1) | 1892 | 1900 renamed Coronda, 1908 sold to Christian Salvesen as whaler. | 2,733 |
| Manica (2) | 1900 | 1914 sold to Admiralty and converted to balloon observation ship for Dardanelles campaign. | 4,117 |
| Manitoba | 1887 | 1899 sold to Spain renamed Valle, 1900 sank. | 2,127 |
| Mashona (1) | 1892 | 1899 renamed Parana, 1900 wrecked Uruguay. | 2,735 |
| Mashona (2) | 1894 | ex- Strathairly, 1899 purchased from C. Burrell, Glasgow renamed Mashona, 1915 wrecked off Lourenco Marques. | 4,142 |
| Matoppo (1) | 1904 | ex- Lady Strathcona, 1905 purchased from W. Peterson, Newcastle renamed Matoppo, 1905 sold to Union SS Co. of New Zealand renamed Wairuna. | 3,942 |
| Matoppo (2) | 1905 | 1930 scrapped. | 5,280 |
| Merida | 1888 | 1900 sold to Spain renamed Valle (2). | 2,365 |
| Ocean Spray | 1863 | 1869 purchased from R. Beauvais, London, 1873 trace lost. | 274 |
| Parana | 1899 | see Mashona 1892. | |
| Persian | 1906 | see Kaffir 1891. | |
| Pondo | 1892 | 1912 sold to Japan renamed Taisho Maru. | 2,741 |
| Ready | 1896 | 1901 purchased from Hawthorn Bros, Middlesbrough, 1907 sold to G. Wills, London. | 251 |
| Rialto | 1911 | ex- Olympos, Deutsche Levante Line, 1919 war reparations, 1921 acquired by JRE renamed Rialto, 1928 sold to Algiers, renamed Madali. | 2,948 |
| Saldanha | 1912 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk by UB.52 off Algiers. | 4,594 |
| San Domingo | 1874 | 1889 sold to Hine Bros, Maryport. | 1,087 |
| Swazi | 1901 | 1926 sold to Belgian owner renamed Scheldrestrand. | 4,941 |
| Sydenham | 1873 | 1886 sunk in collision with s/s LOVAINE off Portugal. | 1,279 |
| Tagus | 1872 | 1896 sold to Argentina. | 1,250 |
| Tigris | 1901 | 1906 sold to A. Deppe, Antwerp. | 2,805 |
| Transvaal | 1892 | 1906 sold to Royal Mail S.P. Co, renamed Manau. Basuto 1892 2742 tons, 1902 went missing at sea; loss of 57 lives. | 2,746 |
| Vanguard | 1872 | 1883 went missing at sea; loss of 23 lives. | 905 |
| Zulu | 1892 | 1906 sold to Royal mail S.P.Co., renamed Marima. | 2,746 |