1 Air Division

SS Columbia - Assorted Sources

SS Columbia


The Columbia (7) was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1913 as the "Katoomba" for McIlwraith & McEacharn of Melbourne. She was a 8,473 gross ton ship, length 466 ft x beam 60.3 ft, one funnel, two masts, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. Launched on 10/4/1913, she was used on the Sydney - Freemantle service, served as a troopship in both world wars and was sold to Cia Maritima del Este (Greek Line) in July 1946. In December 1946 she sailed on a voyage from Piraeus to Genoa, Lisbon, New York (arr. 9/1/1947, dep. 26/1/1947) and Piraeus. Between 1947-1949 she was under charter to Cie Generale Transatlantique (French Line) and sailed between France and the West Indies. In 1949 she was refitted at Genoa, converted from coal to oil burning, fitted with extra lifeboats, painted white and renamed "Columbia". There was accommodation for 52 first and 754 tourist class passengers. In 1949 she sailed between the Mediterranean and Central America for the Greek Line and in April 1950 started the first of two round voyages between Piraeus, Quebec and Montreal. On 31/5/1950 she commenced a single Montreal - Quebec - Cherbourg - Southampton voyage and on 1/7/1950 resumed Montreal - Quebec - Piraeus sailings. Her seventh and last voyage on this service was in May 1951 (arr. 18/5/1951) and on 21/5/1951 she started sailings between Montreal - Quebec - Cherbourg - Southampton and Bremen. In 1954 she came under the management of Neptune Shipping Co., Panama and in 1957 made several voyages from Liverpool to Belfast and Quebec. She was damaged in collision with the Home Line's "Homeric" at Quebec on 18/8/1957 in fog, and on 2/10/1957 started her last crossing from Quebec to Southampton. She subsequently sailed to Piraeus where she was laid up until 22/8/1959, when she sailed for Nagasaki, Japan where she was scrapped.

Additional detail from Ray Walker

I was in the first group that went to 2 (F) Wing in October 1952 on the SS Columbia and what a trip that was with 100 airmen and 1 woman on the ship. It took 9 days to cross as they had a broken shaft or screw and we we drifting in mid Atlantic for two days. To make matters worse there was a storm going on.


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  1. RCAF personnel enroute from Montreal to Le Havre - August 1954.
    Back row (L-R) Jack Bray, Bud Mercier, Dmitro Styba, Ron Bell. Centre row (L-R) Don MacLeod, Bill Carnell, Johnnie McDougal, Fred Cooper, Wayne Brazeau, Bob Rowe. Front row (L-R) - Percy Bent, Doreal Brazeau, Bernie Roberts, Bob Brown.
    Courtesy Don MacLeod.

  2. The remains of a World War II bunker emplacement in Cherbourg harbour - 25 October 1952.
    Courtesy Claude Bernier.

  3. Pilot Boat in Cherbourg harbour - 25 October 1952.
    Courtesy Claude Bernier.

  4. Cherbourg harbour - 25 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  5. Pilot boat meeting the SS Columbia just before Cherbourg - 25 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  6. Front cover of luncheon and dinner menu - 24 October 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Smith.

  7. Luncheon menu on the SS Columbia - 24 October 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Smith.

  8. Dinner menu on the SS Columbia - 24 October 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Smith.

  9. Back cover of luncheon and dinner menu on the SS Columbia - 24 October 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Smith.

  10. RCAF personnel on the SS Columbia - 24 October 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Smith.

  11. Storm while on board the SS Columbia heading for France - 21 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  12. Top deck of the SS Columbia - 20 October 1952.
    Courtesy Claude Bernier.

  13. Young Pierre Nadeau on board the SS Columbia - 19 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  14. Jacqueline and Jean-Guy Nadeau on the SS Columbia - 19 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  15. Claude Bernier on the sun deck fn the SS Columbia in mid Atlantic - 19 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  16. Passenger ticket on the SS Columbia - 16 October 1952.
    Courtesy Claude Bernier.

  17. Passenger ticket on the SS Columbia - 16 October 1952.
    Courtesy Jacques Nadeau.

  18. Newspaper article about AFPs travelling to France - August 1952.
    Courtesy Roger Chenier.

  19. Life jacket drill on the SS Columbia - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  20. (L-R) Bea Carter and Evelyn Johnstone holding an SS Columbia life preserver - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  21. (L-R) Evenyln Johnstone and Bea Carter resting on deck chairs - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  22. Fun time on the ship playing shuffleboard on the decks - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  23. The Captain's party on the SS Columbia - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  24. The Captain's party. (L-R) WO1 Sandy Carter, Bea Carter, Larry Carter, unknown, Diane Johnstone, Evelyn Johnstone - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  25. The Captain's party on the SS Columbia - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  26. Looking from the SS Columbia as some passengers transfer to Southampton. The Columbia continued to France - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  27. Looking towards the SS Columbia - July 1952.
    Courtesy Diane Johnstone (now Pearen).

  28. Postcard photo of the SS Columbia - 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Jackson.

  29. Postcard photo of the SS Columbia - 1952.
    Courtesy Bob Jackson.


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Updated: June 14, 2004