Allen Tony31/05/2008The RMS Remuera was built by William Denny Co. in 1911 for the New Zealand Shipping Co. as a Refrigerated Passenger Cargo Vessel. With twin screws and triple expansion engines her size of 11,445 grt, 485´ x 62´ x 29´ makes her one of the largest ships to sink off the North East coast of Scotland. She was completed on 31st May 1911 and joined the NZSC fleet on 8th September 1911 for a total cost of £176,102 9s 4d.

Her role was to operate the UK/New Zealand round world route which she did with style and some excitement - she was the first British ship to travel the newly opened Panama Canal in 1914. She was approaching Rattray Head when she was spotted by German aircraft. Four Heinkel 115 torpedo bombers from KuFlGr I & II/506 based at Sola See, Stavanger and eight JU88´s from X-FliegerK orps Stab I & III/KG30 (Adler Geschwader) at Aalsborg in Denmark attacked. She suffered a sustained bombing and strafing attack by the JU88´s before being mortally damaged by a direct torpedo hit from one of the HE115´s. All 93 crew and one gunner took to their boats and were saved, some by Fraserburgh lifeboat.

ref. used:

Stuart Cameron, www.clydesite.co.uk