For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

 


 

HMS RAJPUTANA F35

 

Armed Merchant Cruiser

 


 

 

This page is not meant to be a comprehensive history of HMS Rajputana, but a record of sailors of the ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY who served in her, photos they took and stories they may have shared with their families.

 

Launched: 06 Aug 1925          Commissioned: 16 Dec 1939          Fate: Sunk 13 Apr 1941 by U-108

 

On 4 September 1939 the passenger ship Rajputana of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty. She was converted to an armed merchant cruiser and commissioned as such on 16 December 1939.  HMS RAJPUTANA was torpedoed and sunk on 13 April 1941 by the German submarine U-108 west of Reykjavik, Iceland in position 64º50'N, 27º25'W. 283 survivors were picked up by the British destroyer HMS LEGION and landed at Reykjavik. 40 of her crew went down with the ship.

 


 

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

 

(s) - Survived the sinking of HMS Rajputana on 13 Apr 1941

 

 


 

Former crew members

 

Davidson, Frank C., Sto 1 - of Truro, NS

 


 

Photos and Documents

 

HM01

HM02

HM03

HM04

HM05

(HM01) - Luncheon menu from SS RAJPUTANA 05 Mar 1939  (HM01) SS RAJPUTANA postcard  (HM03) Gunnery drills on HMS RAJPUTANA (HM04) Sailors on HMS RAJPUTANA relaxing on deck. One of her 6-inch guns is visible on the port side  (HM05) Forward starboard side 6-inch gun on HMS RAJPUTANA

 

HM06

HM07

HM08

HM09

HM10

(HM06) HMS RAJPUTANA taking a wave over her bow  (HM07) Hamish McClay beside a 6-inch gun on HMS RAJPUTANA  (HM08-HM10) Engine room of HMS RAJPUTANA

 

HM12

 

HM13

(HM11) Guard aboard HMS RAJPUTANA - reason for the guard unknown  (HM12) Article on Stoker Frank C. Davidson surviving the sinking of HMS RAJPUTANA  (HM13) Article on Andrew Buster Winn returning home on leave after surviving the sinking of HMS RAJPUTANA

 

From the collection of Hamish McClay

 

Courtesy of Robert Edmund McClay

 


 

RK08

RK09

RK10

RK11

(RK10) ERA Robert Knowles on HMS RAJPUTANA

 

RK12

RK13

RK14

(RK14) ERA Robert Knowles on HMCS RAJPUTANA - standing, 1st on right

 

Other than noted for photos RK10 and RK14 ... all officers and ratings in these photos on HMS RAJPUTANA are unknown

From the collection of Robert A. Knowles, A/Wt (Eng)

Courtesy of George Knowles

 


 

HMS RAJPUTANA after her conversion to an Armed Merchant Cruiser

 

Article on the survivors of the sinking of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS RAJPUTANA arriving in Halifax

Halifax newspaper 26 Apr 1941

Click on the above article to view a larger image

 

From the collection of Capt. Paul B. Cross, RCNVR

 


 

Article / photo of survivors of the sinking of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS RAJPUTANA

Click on the above article to view a larger image

 

From the collection of Capt. Paul B. Cross, RCNVR

 


 

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