The Themistocles made her inaugural
voyage to Australia on 16 February 1911, carrying 102 first
class and 258 third class passengers, with a crew of 160, from
London to Capetown, Melbourne and Sydney. She made many trips
to and from Australia both before and after World War I. During
that war she worked as a troop-ship (from 1914) and a hospital
ship, resuming service to Capetown, Sydney and Brisbane on 2 July
1920. In World War II she served as a troop-ship.
The T.S.S. Themistocles, under Commander W M Jermyn, sailed
to Australia in 1924; passengers included Mary Ann Connell Kay
(nee Richardson), her daughter Marion and new-born son George.
A grand concert was programmed to be held on the Well Deck Aft
on Wednesday 30 April.
In 1925 the Themistocles sailed from Plymouth on 3 January
1925, reaching Melbourne on 12 February via Capetown
and Albany; Dacre Smyth, aged 18 months, was aboard emigrating
with his family.
In 1927 the.Themistocles was sold to the Royal Steam Packet
Co., then chartered to the White Star Line, steaming from Liverpool
to Capetown, Sydney and Brisbane in September 1928. In 1932 she
was transferred to Shaw Savill and Albion Co., along with other
ships of the failed previous owners. On 30 June 1932 she
ran again from Liverpool to Capetown, Sydney and Brisbane.
Sources: Marion Brown nee Kay (pers comm),
Maber (1967), Smyth (1992).