Empress of Japan was built in 1930 for the trans-Pacific services out of Vancouver by the Canadian Pacific Line. She was renamed Empress of Scotland in October 1942. After World War Two she was placed on the North Atlantic service replacing the Empress of Britain which was sunk during the war. In 1957 she was sold to the Hamburg Atlantic Line and was renamed Hanseatic. The ship was scrapped after being damaged by fire in 1966. She was used as a troopship in World War Two and transported Second Echelon troops from Wellington, May 1940.
Empress of Japan (Ship)
Empress of Scotland (Ship), Hanseatic (Ship)
There are 9 related items to this topic
Manuscript
Diary of an embarkation officer
Date: 26 Apr-16 Jun 1940
Reference: MSX-7867
Description: Diary of an unknown embarkation officer, serving on the troop transport `Empress of Japan', which sailed from Wellington on 26 Apr 1940 and arriving at the Firth of Clyde on 16 Jun. At Capetown he was reassigned to the `Empress of Canada' an Australian troop transport. Describes and comments on his fellow officers, their activities, behaviour of the troops, his wife and new-born son, and the ports visited on the voyage. Photographs of ships and officers are attached to various pages in the volume. Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 1 volume(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Provenance: Posted to the Library by an unknown person, possibly the writer of the diary himself. Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donation (Donor unknown), 2006
Image
World War, 1939-1945. New Zealand. Departure of troops from New Zealand
Date: 1940
From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency
Reference: PAColl-4161-01-032-1
Description: Departure of Second Echelon troops from Wellington and Lyttelton, May 1940 Quantity: 93 b&w original photographic print(s).
Manuscript
Letters to parents
Date: 1945
From: Fargher, Raymond Watson Shaw, 1920-2012 : Papers relating to service in World War Two
Reference: MS-Papers-9555-09
Description: On 31 December 1944 Fargher sailed from New Zealand to Egypt aboard the Empress of Scotland. After a period at Maadi Camp he sailed for Italy on 24 March 1945 where he was based in the vacinity of Taranto and Bari. After the end of hostilities he visited Rome, Florence and other tourist areas of Italy. On 13 December he sailed from Taranto for home. His letters describe his activities during this period. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss
Manuscript
McDougall, Robert Alexander, b 1904: Papers
Date: 1940-1943
By: McDougall, Robert Alexander, 1904-1975
Reference: Micro-MS-0576
Description: Diaries written during army service; describe training at Ngaruawahia; voyage on troopship Empress of Japan, Sep 1940; daily life and social activities in Egypt; bombing of Tobruk. Also, miscellaneous notes on military procedures and paybooks. Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) positive (ca 650 pages).
Manuscript
Diary
Date: 1945
From: Fargher, Raymond Watson Shaw, 1920-2012 : Papers relating to service in World War Two
Reference: MSX-8508
Description: On 5 Jan 1945 Fargher travelled by train from Auckland to Wellington where he boarded the `Empress of Scotland' and sailed with 2NZEF reinforcements for Egypt. After a period of training at Maadi Camp he left Egypt by sea and landed at Taranto, Italy on 28 March where he was stationed in a training camp from where he made several trips to Bira on leave. Quantity: 1 volume(s). Physical Description: Ms
Online
Image
Overlooking Thorndon, Wellington
Date: [ca 1940]
From: Raine, William Hall, 1892-1955 :Negatives of New Zealand towns and scenery, and Fiji
Reference: 1/1-018047-G
Description: Overlooking Thorndon, Wellington, circa 1940. The ship 'Aquitania' is visible at Pipitea Wharf. The ships 'Empress of Britain' and 'Empress of Japan' can be seen at Kings Wharf. The State Insurance building, which opened in 1941, is almost complete. Photograph taken by William Hall Raine. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Online
Image
New Zealand and Australian World War II troopships in the Indian Ocean
Date: January 1940
From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency
Reference: DA-07115-G
Description: New Zealand and Australian World War II troopships in the Indian Ocean. From left to right, 1st row: Otranto, Sobieski. 2nd row: Strathaven, Strathaird. 3rd row: Orion, Oxford, Dunera. 4th row: Empress of Canada, Empress of Japan. 5th row: Orcades, Rangitata, and an escorting cruiser. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Online
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Ships Empress of Japan and Mauretania at Kings Wharf, Wellington
Date: August or September 1940
From: Raine, William Hall, 1892-1955 :Negatives of New Zealand towns and scenery, and Fiji
Reference: 1/1-021750-G
Description: The troopships Empress of Japan (left) and Mauretania (right) at Kings Wharf, Wellington, photographed August-September 1940 by William Hall Raine. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 6.5 x 8.5 inches
Image
Artist unknown :Departure of 3rd Echelon. 1940
Date: 1940
From: Various artists :1. Jackson, Richard Edward, b. 1916. [Portrait of Sir Hamilton Mitchell. ca 1962]. 2. [Artist unknown. Four views showing vessels leaving Wellington Harbour. 1940-1941]. 3. Hooper, William John, 1916-1996. [Photolithograph of the New Zealanders who flew from RAF Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain, 1940] 1941
Reference: G-106
Description: Shows the troopships SS 'Empress of Japan' and RMS 'Mauretania', leaving Wellington Harbour in August 1940. The scene is painted from above The Terrace, possibly at Kelburn. The row of houses that face onto The Terrace can be seen in the middle distance, and among the city buildings shown are the Chief Post Office (clock tower visible) and the Government Life building. The eastern hills and Somes Island complete the background, with a dark, cloudy sky above the city Title taken from pencil inscription on verso of painting The artist is unidentified, but they have signed a monogram with the letters 'JMC' (or similar), 1940, in the bottom-right corner Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - [monogram reading JMC, or similar, 1940, in brushstroke] Quantity: 1 oil(s). Physical Description: Oil on canvas, 545 x 450 mm (sight), in oak frame 640 x 535 mm