Hi there,
Have just found your site whilst searching for information on the HMS Orama and Captain WS Shelford.
My Great Aunt and Uncle sailed on her (HMA Orama 2) on 24 July 1926, 2 years after she was built, travelling from London to Australia. I have a picture of the ship which is attached.
I am looking to find out how long the journey would have taken and the ports of call along the way, can you help at all?
Would appreciate any information or guidance you can give me, I have the passenger list, found that tonight!!
Look forward to hearing from you
Tracy
Tracy,
Thank you for your message, no attachment with it however.
Here is a Post card showing Orama 2, and some detail about her:
ORAMA 1924
19,777 gross tons, 632ft x 75.2ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw, speed 18 knots. Accommodation for 1,700 passengers. Built by Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness in 1924 for the Orient Line, she started her maiden voyage from London to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on 15th Nov.1924. Converted to a troopship in 1940, she was used to transport the British Expeditionary Force to Norway following the German Invasion. On the 8th June 1940, she was 300 miles West of Narvik, together with the aircraft carrier HMS GLORIOUS, two destroyers and an oil tanker, when she was spotted by aircraft from the German High Seas Fleet comprising SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU and ADMIRAL HIPPER. All five Allied ships were sunk with heavy loss of life. ORAMA lost 19 killed and 280 taken prisoner. [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.1, P&O, Orient and Blue Anchor Lines]
Orama in Sydney 1930.
# 1883 Cape voyages discontinued and the route became London - Gibraltar - Port Said - Suez - Colombo - Albany - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney.
Although I cannot find a precise time for the voyage from UK/Australia, it was I believe about 6 weeks or close to it.
I came from Tilbury to Melbourne in Straithaird 1946, and it took about that time.
Hope this assists you a little.
Best regards,
Mackenzie Gregory.
back to letters index
