Ships of the Union-Castle Line

Front Cover, Ships of the Union-Castle Line by Laurence Dunn, 1954. GGA Image ID # 20c973efd5

Preface

In the course of a hundred years the Union-Castle Line has grown from a small collier owning firm into Britain's second largest passenger line. Such progress did not come easily, but was the outcome of many years of bitter rivalry between the original Union Company and the rather younger Castle Line, the latter headed by that remarkable personality Sir Donald Currie.

In this book I have not only tried to trace this fascinating history, but also with the aid of many drawings and photographs to show the development of the ships employed; how the design of the present liners has been evolved, stage by stage, from that of their tiny forbears. Finally, to describe in more detail the fleet as it stands today, so that the reader may more fully appreciate the qualities of these handsome and impressive vessels.

I wish to express my grateful thanks to the Union-Castle Company and to the various members of its staff who have assisted me in so many different ways. Also to my friends Jeffery Curtis and R. M. Scott for permission to use certain of their photographs.

Those wishing to delve more deeply into the Company's history will do well to read the official publication "Union-Castle Chronicle'' written by my good friend Marischal Murray.

LAURENCE DUNN

Contents

• Preface
• Distances on Mail Vessel Route, Intermediate Vessel Route (to Cape Town), East Coast Distances, and Union Castle Route Map Around Africa.
• Contents
• Evolution of the House Flag
• Chapter 1: The Union Line
• Chapter 2: The Rivals
• Chapter 3: After the Amalgamation
• Chapter 4: The First World War
• Chapter 5: Between the Wars
• Chapter 6: The Second World War
• Chapter 7: Centenary
• Chapter 8: The Present Mail Fleet
• Chapter 9: The Present Intermediate and Round Africa Fleet
• Chapter 10: The Present Cargo Fleet
• Appendix 1: Ships of the Union Line, the Castle Line and the Union Castle Line
• Appendix 2: Coloring of Ships
• Appendix 3: The Present Fleet, Natal Line and King Line Ltd.

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

• Personal name: Dunn, Laurence.
• Main title: Ships of the Union-Castle Line.
• Edition: [1st ed.]
• Published/Created: London, A. Coles; New York, J. de Graff [1954]
• Description: 128 p. illus. 13 x 20 cm.
• LC Classification: HE945.U25 D8
• LC Subjects: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company.
• Series: Ship series
• LCCN: 56001783
• Dewey class no.: 387.24
• National bib no.: GB55-5074
• Other system no.: (OCoLC)3132703
• Type of material: Book