Hospital Ship. GRT 2816. Built as the cargo ship Swansea in West Hartlepool in 1887. 315 x 40 x 20 feet. Single screw triple expansion. Loaned as hospital ship for the Boer War but actually went to China for the Boxer Rebellion. At the end of the war in 1901 she was presented to the Admiralty as its first permanent hospital ship. Designated as RFA (the first) in 1905. Wrecked off Mull 1914.
Modern copy of poor quality original photo.