S. S. Rawalpindi

P. & O S. S. Rawalpindi, 16,600 Tons Gross.
She was completed in 1925 by Harland and Wolff's Greenock yard, formerly Caird's, for P&Os London to Bombay mail service.
She ran on this until 1939 when she was requisitioned as an Armed Merchant Cruiser and as such was sunk by bombardment on 23rd November off Iceland by the German heavy cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.
Her Master, Captain EC Kennedy, father of the TV presenter Ludovic, 38 officers and 226 ratings went down with her. 37 survivors were rescued by the German warships and P&Os CHITRAL.
Capt Kennedy received Mention in Dispatches which at that time was the highest accolade possible for his actions.