Keel laid: 1901
Length: 470 Feet
Beam:  57" at broadest point
Weight: 9,000 gross tons
Ship Type: Passenger and Cargo Vessel

1901

Built by Palmers & Co. Jarrow for Steam Navigation Co.
Original Name "British Empire"
Duty: Antwerp - New York (cargo vessel)

1906

Sold to Navigazione de Generales Italiana
Renamed "Campania"
Converted to passenger ship, - now 22,000 tons gross
Duty: Genova - Naples - Palermo - New York

1910

Leased to Northwest Transport Line
Duty: Hamburg - Rotterdam - Halifax - New York

Sold to Canadian Northern Steam Ships
Renamed "Campanello"
Leased to Uranium Steamship Co
Duty:  Unknown

1916

Cunard takes over Canadian Northern Steam Ships
Renamed "Flavia"
Returned to use as cargo vessel
Duty: Avonmouth - Canada

1918

1st July, H W Black was engaged as a crewmember of the Flavia
24th August, on route from Montreal to Avonmouth, was Torpedoed off Tory Island (Republic of Eire) by U-107 Captained by Kurt Siewert
Of the 500+ souls on board (including 300 Serbian soldiers, 100 cattlemen and 100+ crew), 126 were saved.
The vessel also had on board 750 horses and Mules, all of which were drowned.

Letter written to H Black, 2 days after sinking (mariners called him Fred):


49 Clifton Road
Sittingbourne
Kent
August 27/18

My Dear old Fred,

I am writing this
on speculation of your being home as
I am glad to say I am.
No doubt you are aware that I
was taken into Buncrassie (?), by
a destroyer.

In short a most comfortable week
end at the Barracks. In fact I began
to feel like a sailor.

My word it was a bang wasn't
it. I understand there were 126
rescued in the boats, how many
would that be missing?

Well old Fred, for goodness sake write
me soon & let me know you are
alright.

I have written to Cunard Co to
 find out where I can get payed
off. I am still as fat as ever.

Kindly give my best to all at home

Yours devoted Bart


The uboat that torpedoed the Flavia, after it was surrendered at Weymouth

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