14. 1912 March

9 days after returning from Boston, F.A.I. was off again on his way to New York.
On 16th March he sailed out of Liverpool on the R.M.S. Campania returning on 3rd April. Bit of a come down he was now 4th Chef (I think ‘could do better’ springs to mind!)

The RM.S. Campania was built for Cunard by Fairfield Company Limited, Glasgow and was launched on 8th September 1892. Her maiden voyage was Liverpool to New York on 22nd April 1893. She was later converted into an armed merchant ship and represented Cunard at Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubliee Review at Spithead in 1897.

She remained in Cunards Liverpool – New York fleet until she was retired in April 1914.
Anchor Line briefly chartered her but Cunard called her back to replace the Aquitania who had been called to serve as a troop ship.

In the November she was sold to a ship breakers but quickly recalled by the Admiralty and she was converted into an armed merchant cruiser with a flight deck and hangar, which was capableof handling both planes and balloons. Her purpose was to act as a ‘scouting aide’.

The Campania’s days came to an end in November 1918 when she collided with HMS Revenge in the Firth of Forth and sank.

Reading through the poems in the book I feel F.A.I. must have been a ‘true sailor’ maybe a woman in every port. He certainly liked to gallivant!

The next one in his book is noted ‘Blanche 1912’

The Call

Speak louder O my soul Thou art so very near
That faith resounds the toll above the grave of fear
Speak louder for the night is very dark and cold
Oh send my cheering light and give me strength to hold
Amid the worlds dark hours I feel a sure response
And climb loves sheltering tower above my trials
Dear soul: God and thou are the guides I need
The road is plainer now the voice I hear and heed
Above the storm and clouds this is a peace for me
This life is but a shroud to me I belong to thee

Blanche 1912