Georgic
The Georgic was the last passenger liner built for the White Star Line and one of only two large motor vessels constructed for transatlantic service, along with her consort Britannic (2). Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, she represented the end of an era in British shipbuilding and went on to serve multiple roles through war and peace.
Construction and Design
Launched on November 12, 1931, and completed in June 1932, Georgic was a stately vessel characterized by her curved forward superstructure, twin squat funnels, and two tall raked masts. Her distinctive livery featured a black hull, white superstructure, buff and black funnel, and red boot-topping.
Early Commercial Service (1932-1940)
Georgic began her maiden voyage on June 25, 1932, sailing from Liverpool to New York via Cobh. Following the Cunard-White Star merger in 1934, her operations transferred to London, and her route was modified to include Le Havre instead of Copenhagen. During North Atlantic off-seasons, she conducted cruise services from New York to the Caribbean.
Wartime Service and Damage (1940-1948)
In March 1940, Georgic was requisitioned and converted into a military transport. Her most dramatic wartime incident occurred on July 14, 1941, when German bombers attacked her near Tewfik while carrying 1,000 civilian internees. Struck by incendiary bombs, she burned for two days before being deliberately beached to prevent blocking the waterway. Survivors were evacuated to the Holland-America liner Westernland.
After three months partially submerged, she was salvaged and towed to Karachi via Port Sudan for reconstruction. In 1943, the British Ministry of Transport purchased her for continued troop transport and repatriation duties.
Australian Immigration Service (1949-1955)
Following a substantial refit on Tyneside, Georgic began a new chapter on January 11, 1949, departing Liverpool for Sydney via Fremantle and Melbourne. She carried the first government-assisted migrants under Australia's "Ten Pound Pom" scheme. For the next five years, she alternated between immigration voyages and Asian trooping duties, with occasional charter work for Cunard between 1950 and 1954.
Final Disposition
After completing her final trooping voyage to Hong Kong in November 1955, Georgic was decommissioned and sold to the British Iron and Steel Corporation for scrapping in Scotland in December 1955.
Key Facts
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Tonnage | 27,469 GRT |
| Length | 712 ft (217 m) |
| Beam | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Draft | 35 ft (10.7 m) |
| Propulsion | Twin Burmeister & Wain 10-cylinder engines |
| Speed | 18 knots |
| Passenger Capacity | 1,962 tourist class |
| Crew | 480 |
| Passenger Decks | 5 |