Moreton Bay Ship Aberdeen & Commonwealth¹

• (Child) Birth*: Moreton Bay Ship Aberdeen & Commonwealth was born in 1821; MORETON BAY 1921
  The MORETON BAY was built by Vickers Ltd, Barrow in 1921 for the Australian Commonwealth Line of Steamers, Brisbane. She was the first of five sister ships which included the famous "Jervis Bay". Her details were - 13,855 gross tons, length 530.6ft x beam 68.3ft (161,73m x 20,81m), one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 12-1st (government berths) and 712-3rd class passengers and she was fitted with refrigerated cargo space for the carriage of frozen meat. Launched on 23rd Apr.1921, she started her first London - Suez - Fremantle - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane sailing on 7th Dec.1921. She was sold to the White Star Line in May 1928 but continued in the same service. Converted to a one-class ship in 1931 with accommodation for 542-tourist class passengers and with a gross tonnage of 14,145 tons. In April 1933, following the collapse of the Kylsant shipping organisation, she was transferred to the newly formed Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line, but continued the London - Brisbane service. Commissioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser in Oct.1939 and in 1941 was converted into a troopship. She took part in the Madagascar, North African and European campaigns and in 1946 reverted to commercial service between London - Colombo - Sydney. Her final sailing commenced 30th Nov.1956 and on 13th Apr.1957 she arrived at Barrow for scrapping. [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.17, Aberdeen and Aberdeen & Commonwealth Lines]²
• (Deceased) Death*: Moreton Bay Ship Aberdeen & Commonwealth died on 13 April 1957.²

• (Ship) Passenger List*: Moreton Bay Ship Aberdeen & Commonwealth passenger list included Leslie Gibson Nicolson when she sailed on 3 February 1932 at Southampton, England, . First name(s) LESLIE G
  Last name NICOLSON
  Title MR
  Gender Male
  Age 43
  Birth year 1889
  Occupation INDEPENDENT
  Departure year 1932
  Departure day 3
  Departure month 2
  Departure port SOUTHAMPTON
  Destination port BRISBANE
  Destination BRISBANE
  State Queensland
  Country AUSTRALIA
  Destination country AUSTRALIA
  Ship name MORETON BAY
  Ship official number 130169
  Ship master's first name W G
  Ship master's last name SUMMERS
  Shipping line ABERDEEN AND COMMONWEALTH LINE
  City SOUTHAMPTON
  Ship destination port AUSTRALIA
  Ship destination country AUSTRALIA
  Ship registered tonnage 8654
  Number of passengers 259
  Record set Passenger Lists leaving UK 1890-1960
  Category Travel & migration
  Subcategory Passenger lists
  Collections from Australasia, Great Britain, Ireland, United States.¹