PC770 CNR STEAMSHIP, Royal Edward damaged by Iceberg Start Price USD 90.00 Current Price USD 90.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, November 18, 2008 End Time Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Location Niagara Falls, New York See more about 'PC770 CNR STEAMSHIP, Royal Edward damaged by Iceberg' Description JusTrainsTM Stamp Co.Railroad & Steamship Topicals ~ Postal History ~ Postcards ~ RPO's ~ Ephemera ~ Supplies CANADIAN NORTHERN RAILWAY STEAMSHIPSR.M.S. ROYAL EDWARD, MAY 1914 ITEM SPECIFICSA very fine and rare (Yes... we've finally used the word), vintage RPPC viewcard featuring the RMS ROYAL GEORGE tied up at Avonmouth Docks in England. What is special about the card is that in the background the RMS ROYAL EDWARD is being towed into the docks after arriving with bow damage from hitting an iceberg on the high seas, 100 miles east of Cape Race. You can plainly see the damage which extended below the water line. Only quick thinking by crewmen to seal the forward bulkheads behind the damage prevented a disaster like that which claimed the TITANIC only two years earlier! Sailors apparently were much more aware of the danger near ice floes with the TITANIC disaster still fresh in memory. Card #D. See scan for condition.HISTORICAL NARRATIVE RMS ROYAL GEORGE 11,146 gross tonnes, was built in December, 1890, by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd., Govan, Scotland Yard no. 450. Her details were - Steel hull, length 525.8' x beam 60.2' x 26.8' depth; two funnels, two masts, three steel decks, wood sheathed, web frames, shelter deck, teak sheathed and triple screw steam turbines with a service speed of 19 knots. There was passenger accommodation for 344-1st, 210-2nd and 560-3rd class.In 1907, it was renamed the Heliopolis for the British owned Egyptian Mail Steamship Co. Line, and launched 28th May 1907 to served the Marseilles - Alexandria route. She was found to be unprofitable, was laid up in December, 1908 at Marseilles. when the steamship company failed, and offered for sale.In August 1909, the Canadian Northern Steamships of Toronto purchased her (and her sister ship, THE CAIRO) for their Avonmouth - Quebec - Montreal route. They gave her a refit for North Atlantic service, and renamed her "Royal George". The SS Royal George set out on her maiden voyage for Canadian Northern Steamships on May 26, 1910, along with the ROYAL EDWARD the same month.On November 6, 1912, near Quebec, the Royal George had gotten stranded and later sank to the superstructure. She was raised, and sailed for Halifax for needed repairs on 12th Dec. 1912. It wasn't until June 17, 1913 that she resumed her Avonmouth - Quebec - Montreal run. When the Great War broke out in 1914, the SS Royal George sailed October 3rd, 1914 from Gaspe Bay for Plymouth with part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was then taken over as a British troopship.In 1916, Canadian Northern Steamships was acquired by Cunard, but HMT Royal George continued her trooping duties for the rest of the war. In 1919 after the War was over, the RMS Royal George made her maiden voyage, the first of five trips, for Cunard Line on the Liverpool - Halifax - New York route 10th Feb.1919. On August 15th, 1919 Cunard put the Royal George on the Southampton - Halifax - New York route. It was on June 10, 1920 the RMS Royal George made her ninth and last voyage for Cunard as an Ocean Liner. The Royal George was then used as emigrant depot ship in Cherbourg until 1922, when she was scrapped at Wilmhelmshaven. RMS ROYAL EDWARD is the sister ship to the Royal George, originally christened, "CAIRO", and, unfortunately, has the tragic honor of being the first vessel sunk during the beginning of WWI. The ROYAL EDWARD (Cdr.P.M.Watton R.N.R.) was reported off the Lizard on 29th July, 1915. On the same day her sister ship the ROYAL GEORGE sailed with troops from Devenport for Gallipoli. Records show that the ROYAL GEORGE called at Malta on 5th August and arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on the 9th. The ROYAL EDWARD would have followed a day behind. The ROYAL GEORGE sailed from Mudras harbour, Lemnos on 11th arriving safely on 13th. The ROYAL EDWARD sailed from Alexandria on 12th August for Mudras with a number of medical Regiments aboard her to join troops at Gallipoli, Turkey. Apart from her crew of 220 she had on board 31 officers and 1335 men. The Edward had earlier been pressed into war service as an internment ship.On the same day the recently arrived German submarine UB14 sailed from Bodrum for the known steamer route between Alexandria and the dardanelles. She was under the command of Lt.Commander Heino von Heimburg with a crew of 14. This small submarine of 127 tons was just over 90 feet long and less than ten feet wide. The UB14 had been completed at Bremen Dockyard earlier that year.On August 13th, 1915, UB14 sighted two hospital ships which she ignored. She then sighted the ROYAL EDWARD sailing unescorted for Madras. Six miles west of Kandeliusa Island in the Aegean Sea, the UB14 fired one torpedo from under a mile away which hit her stern. The ROYAL EDWARD sank quickly. The after deck was awash in three minutes and the ship had sunk with her bow in the air in six minutes. Just before the attack, the troops had carried out boat drill so when the torpedo struck many were below decks stowing their gear. Of the 1,586 on board less than 500 were rescued. Those saved were picked up by the Soudan, two French destroyers and some trawlers which were near enough to the scene to help with the rescue operations. The UB14 did not harass the rescue ships. A previous fault with her compass had caused it to become defective again, so she returned immediately to Bodrum for repairs, where she arrived on the morning of the 15th August.Of note, on 1914 May, 100 miles east of Cape Race, the Royal Edward damaged her bow in collision with an iceberg ripping a hole extending below the water line in the first 3 or so forward compartments. This is the same area that the TITANIC met it's fate on April 15th, 1912.The CNoR Steamships had yellow funnels with a blue top. The Company flag was a blue and white pennant divided vertically, horizontal red stripe on the blue with saltaires above and below, red ball on the white. The signal letters for the Edward was "H M D G" and the wireless call letters "M E R".   F I N E - P R I N TPlease acknowledge Winning Bidder Notice within 3 days.Payments not received within 10 days are considered PAST DUE, and may be subject to collections, eBay/PayPal claims, relisting and/or Negative Feedback.  Items shipped via First Class Mail unless otherwise noted.Please use Shipping Calculator within listing when available.We always combine 3-day winnings into one shipment to save you shipping charges.Multiple lot winners will be notified of the proper shipping discount when we are advised of your shipping address.S&H charges include the cost of shipping, plus supplies and labor.If you don't like our s&h charges either adjust your bid on the item, or please don't bid.It costs time & money to process orders & we work hard to earn a 5-star rating on every sold listing.**** PLEASE WAIT FOR INVOICE BEFORE PAYING - THANK YOU! ****Insurance is buyer's responsibility and optional under $50.00 final cost.There is no overseas insurance available (and some restrictions to Canada), unless you are willing to pay for registered, or expedited service.If your purchase is of a fragile kind, or high dollar amount, we will try to offer alternative choices that are still economical.We do not make false Customs Declarations, so DON'T ASK! Otherwise, please inquire if you have other concerns.**** PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR SHIPMENT VIA FEEDBACK ****AND WE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO RETURN APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK.PAYMENT ADDRESSJusTrains Group, MPO Box 1924, Niagara Falls, NY 14302-1924New York State residents pay 8% tax, or provide valid exemption certificate. Thank You! CANADIAN RESIDENTS:Payments in Canadian Funds drawn on a Canadian Bank or M.O. or VISA, can be arranged and welcomed.Save postage & time... mail payment to:JusTrains Group, Blakely RPO Box 68003, Hamilton ON L8M 3M7 **** PLEASE - DO NOT USE eBAY CHECKOUT **** Unsure? Konfused? Got a question? Ask us at sales@justrainsgroup.com where others have already been! JusTrains(TM) Group"THE RAIL THING… ON TRACK SINCE 1979"®© Copyright 2008 JusTrains(TM) Business Group, Inc.  A MAERKERMANN WORLDWIDE COMPANYAll rights reserved. Reproduction of this page or its contents is prohibited. Powered by eBay Turbo ListerThe free listing tool. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. Place a Bid!