From: http://www.liv.ac.uk/~archives/cunard/ships/cedric.htm This is one of a suite of pages describing the Cunard Archives held at the University of Liverpool. Cunard Archives Welcome Ships index page Cedric (1902-32) Statistics Career details Information in the University Archives Information held elsewhere Statistics These statistics are derived from NRP Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway, 5 vols, David & Charles, 1975-80. White Star is covered in volume 2. Gross Tonnage - 21,035 tons Dimensions - 207.52 x 22.95m (680.9 x 75.3ft) Number of funnels - 2 Number of masts - 4 Construction - Steel Propulsion - Twin screw Engines - Eight cylindered quadruple expansion engines Service speed - 16 knots Builder - Harland & Wolff, Belfast Launch date - 21 Aug 1902 Passenger accommodation - 365 1st class, 160 2nd class, 2,352 3rd class Details of Career The Cedric was the second of four large ships ordered by Thomas Ismay during the period 1901-07. These were the Celtic, Cedric, Baltic and Adriatic. All these ships combined great size and comfort with moderate speed, making them more economical and reliable. With large cargo and passenger capacity these ships were both profitable and popular. The Cedric was the second of the four to be launched, on 21 August 1902. It made its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York on 11 February 1903. Although the usual service was maintained it also began to make winter cruises to the Mediterranean from 1906 onwards. In April 1912, when the Titanic sank, the Cedric was at New York. When the Carpathia arrived carrying the survivors the Cedric carried some of them back to Britain. After the outbreak of World War I it was taken over by the Government and converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser. It was soon attached to the 10th Squadron and served alongside another White Star vessel, the Teutonic. In 1916 it was decommissioned from this role but by December had began to serve as a troopship. In this role it was employed carrying American troops to Europe and transporting troops to Egypt. In January 1918 it was involved in a collision with the Montreal, a Canadian Pacific vessel. As a result of this collision the Montreal sank, whilst being towed to Liverpool. By 14 December the Cedric had returned to commercial service. In September 1919 it was refitted and the passenger accommodation restyled to house 347 1st class, 200 2nd class and 1,000 3rd class passengers. It was involved in another collision in 1923. This time it was with the Cunard liner Scythia, off the coast of Ireland. Fortunately both ships only suffered minor damage. In 1928 the passenger accommodation was altered again. Now the ship catered for 300 cabin class, 385 tourist class and 530 3rd class passengers. The ship left Liverpool on its final voyage on 5 September 1931 and was then replaced by the Britannic. Early in 1932 it was sold to Thomas Ward & Co. and on 11 January it sailed to Inverkeithing to be scrapped. Information in the University Archives No series of records of the White Star Line have survived. There are, however, the following items in the University Archives specific to the Cedric. D42/PR7/1 Copies of the Ocean Times, an on board newspaper, from the Cedric - 8-10 June 1923. D124/3 Exterior photograph of the Cedric. Information held elsewhere The following item is held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum - - Builder's model of the Cedric. The address is - Merseyside Maritime Museum, Maritime Records Centre, Albert Dock, Liverpool - L3 4AA.