• Description: Ocean going passenger liner; Twin screw steamer; 123 first-class and 476 third-class passengers; 15 knots.
• Tonnage: 9,764 tons.
• Built: Vulkan, Stettin. 1903.
• Materials:
• Dimensions:
• Machinery: Quadruple expansion; 2 screws.
• Repairs:
• Registered:
• Home Port:
• Intention:
• Owner(s): Norddeutscher Lloyd; in 1919 taken over as war reparations and placed under management of Orient Line (Pacific and Orient Steam Navigation Co.); in 1921 renamed Orcades when bought by Orient Line (first of three Orient ships to be so named).
• Master(s):
• Fate: Last sailing (Orcades (1)) 20 September 1924; broken up in Germany in 1925.

In 1919 the Prince Ludwick brought Australian servicemen home following the Great War. Amongst the AIF contingent was Private William Henry Kay (Bill) with his war-bride Mary Ann Connell Richardson (Molly) emigrating from Kilmarnock AYR with their infant son George William James Richardson Kay.

The Prince Ludwig, taken over for as part of war reparations imposed on defeated Germany, was purchased by the managing Orient Line and renamed Orcades (1). As such she worked the Australian run as an intermediate steamer, her speed of 15 knots being to slow for use as a liner. On one voyage she sailed from London on 8 October 1921 for Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Source(s): Andrews (1980), Marion Brown nee Kay (pers comm), Maber (1967), Smyth (1992).

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