PS City of Rochester (1904)
1904 The CITY OF ROCHESTER was by far the Medway Steam Packet Co’s largest steamer. Built in 1904 by J. Scott and Co., Kinghorn, Fife, she was of the following dimensions: 160.2 ft. by 22.2 by 7.3. Gross tons 235; N.H.P. 72. She had diagonal compound engines with cylinders 20 in. and 42 in. by 45 in. Her normal run was between Harwich, Felixstowe and Ipswich, and for a time to Herne Bay.
During the first World War, the CITY OF ROCHESTER served as a Government tender at Chatham, from December, 1914, until November, 1919. She was one of the vessels that conveyed the men down the Medway to board the block ships waiting below the Nore for the memorable raid on Zeebrugge. On one occasion she had a remarkable escape from destruction. She had been lying alongside the PRINCESS IRENE in Sheerness harbour, and had only just left when the latter vessel was mysteriously blown up whilst lying at anchor. For a period she did a turn at mine-sweeping.
See Also
Sources of Information
- 'Steamers of the Thames and Medway' by Frank Burtt