Due to losses incurred on the Cunard fleet during WWI the company undertook an extensive rebuilding programme during the early 1920's. The Scythia was the first of three 19,000 ton vessels built to achieve this aim, the others being the Samaria and the Laconia.
The Scythia was launched on 23 March 1920 by Mrs.S.Maxwell, the wife of a Cunard director. It made its maiden voyage on 20 August 1921 from Liverpool to New York, via Queenstown. Despite teething problems with the turbines the Scythia did not encounter trouble until 1923. On 30 September 1923 it collided with the White Star liner Cedric in Queenstown harbour during dense fog. Neither vessel was seriously damaged, but the Scythia was unable to continue its voyage and had to return to Liverpool for a survey and repairs, which took three weeks.
In February 1924 it made its first cruise from New York to the Mediterranean and on its return the second class accommodation was re-designated 'tourist class'. In March 1928 the ship had the honour of accommodating the King and Queen of Afghanistan, when they visited Liverpool. Later, in April 1928, the whole of the Scythia's passenger accommodation was re-designated, 'cabin class', 'tourist class' and 'third class'. On July 7 1934 the ship was involved in another minor collision as it departed from Liverpool, this time with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's ferry Viking. The damage, however, was minimal and the Scythia was able to continue its voyage.
In November 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, it was requisitioned by the Government as a troop transport and underwent conversion in Glasgow. The ship served various purposes during the war. In 1940 it carried children from Liverpool to New York as part of an evacuation programme set up by the Children's Overseas Reception Board and in 1942 it assisted in the landings on the North African coast. During this period, whilst anchored near the southern entrance to Algiers harbour, the Scythia was one of the targets of several bombing raids. After several near misses it was struck by a torpedo on its starboard side. The ship, however, managed to reach its berth and avoid a disaster, as there were over 4,000 troops on board. It received temporary repairs at Gibraltar and then work was completed in America. For the rest of the War it was engaged in ferrying American troops to Europe and once the War had ended in repatriating these troops. The ship also carried British troops home from India.
In August 1948, the Scythia was chartered to the International Refugee Organisation and the Canadian Government to carry European displaced persons to Canada. The service was maintained for over a year. After this it returned and sailed to the Clyde to be reconditioned by John Brown & Co. This was completed in August 1950. The passenger accommodation was improved and many new amenities were installed. The Scythia's first post-war voyage was from London to Quebec on 17 August.
For the reminder of its career the ship sailed on several routes, but mainly to Quebec. It also sailed the Liverpool-Cobh-Halifax-New York route for a short while. In November 1955 the Scythia was again employed in the transport of Canadian troops from Europe to Quebec. Its final voyage was on the Halifax-Le Havre-Rotterdam-Southampton route. A month after it arrived in Southampton it was sold to the British Iron & Steel Corporation and was broken up by Thomas W Ward. It arrived in Inverkiething to be scrapped on 23 January 1958 after 36 years of service.
Updated: June 5, 2003
