Built as a cargo- passenger vessel under yard No 527 by Irvines Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., West Hartlepool for Furness Withy and Company Ltd., Hartlepool. England.
27 Nov. 1912, launched under the name "DIGBY".
Tonnage 3.966 BRT, 3.002 NRT, dim. 366.10 x 50 x 23.5ft.
Powered by a 3 cyl. Triple expansion steamengine, manufactured by Richardson Westgarth & Co. Ltd. ?hp, speed 14 knots, one screw.
Passenger accommodation for 58 first and 32 second class.
April1913 Delivered to owners.
April 1913 maiden voyage from Liverpool to St John's New Foundland and Halifax.
22 Nov. 1914 Hired by the Royal Navy and refitted in an Auxiliary Cruiser and attached to the Tenth Cruiser Squadron.
Armament:5 – 6inch, 2 – 6 pdr. guns.
24 Nov 1915, on loan to the French Navy renamed "ARTOIS" until 19 July 1917.
17 July 1917 returned to the Royal Navy again in the Tenth Cruiser Squadron, renamed again DIGBY.
06 Jan. 1919, returned to owners, renamed DOMINICA.
20 March 1919, in the service across the North Atlantic between Liverpool, St John's N.F., Halifax and Boston.
Passenger accommodation for 90, only in cabin class.
1925 Transferred to the Furness, Bermuda & West Indies Steamship Company Ltd., renamed "DOMINICA". Her passenger accommodation was extended to 100 first and 66 2nd class. Used in the service between New York and Bermuda's and West Indies.
1934 Sold to United Baltic Corporation, renamed "BALTROVER", only in use as a cargo vessel.
1939 After the outbreak of World War II again in the service, under Furness management, from Liverpool to St John's and Halifax.
1944 Made her last voyage in this service.
1946 Sold to the Hellenic Mediterranean Lines, Piraeus, and after a major overhaul on the Clyde, renamed "IONIA".
1965 Sold to the Ionia Shipping Co. S.A., Panama renamed "IONIAN".
26 July 1965, while alongside at Jakarta she touched the bottom by a falling tide and capsized. Most probably declared 'total loss', and scrapped at situ. At that time she was already 52 years old. .
Dominica 1990 60c sg318, scott300.
Sources: North Atlantic Seaways by Bonsor. Modern Shipping Disasters 1963-1987 by Hooke.
Furness Withy 1891-1991 by David Burrell. Ships of the Royal Navy Vol 2 by Colledge.
Armed Merchant Cruisers 1878-1945 by Osborne, Spong and Grover.