The"Italia" of 1950 was built as the "Kungsholm" (2) for the Swedish American Line in 1928. Built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (engines by Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen), she was a 21,532 gross ton motorship, length overall 609.2ft x beam 78.2ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 17 knots. There was passenger accommodation for 115-1st, 490-2nd and 970-3rd class. Launched on 17/3/1928, she sailed from Gothenburg on her maiden voyage to New York on 24/11/1928. In April 1932 she was feritted to carry 1st, tourist and 3rd class passengers and on 5/10/1939 commenced her last Gothenburg - New York voyage. Subsequently she was used until December 1941 on New York - West Indies cruises. She was bought by the US government on 13/12/1941, renamed "John Ericsson" and served as a US troopship. On 7/5/1946 she was chartered by United States Line and commenced New York - Southampton sailings. In February 1947 she commenced her eighth and last crossing from Southampton to Havre, Cobh and New York and on 7/3/1947 was damaged by fire in New York and repurchased by Swedish American Line. Sailed from New York for Genoa on 21/11/1947 and was refitted and acquired by Home Lines of Panama and renamed "Italia". After refit, she was 16,777 gross tons and with accommodation for 226-1st, 296-cabin and 800-tourist class passengers. On 8/4/1948 she commenced her first voyage from Genoa to South America, and on 12/6/1949 started her first Genoa - Naples - Lisbon - New York voyage. In 1952 she was altered to carry 213-1st and 1,106-tourist class and on 14/3/1952 started her first New York - Hamburg crossing. On 29/3/1952 she started sailings between Hamburg, Southampton, Halifax and New York and in 1958 was altered to carry 140-1st and 1,150-tourist class. She started her first Cuxhaven - Zeebrugge - Havre - Southampton - Quebec voyage on 23/4/1958 and her first Cuxhaven - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal voyage on 23/5/1958. Her last Montreal - Quebec - Southampton - Havre - Cuxhaven - Havre - Southampton - Halifax - New York round voyage commenced 28/11/1960 and she then did a single crossing from New York to Halifax, Lisbon, Naples and Piraeus. On 4/9/1962 she resumed sailing between New York, Halifax, Lisbon, Naples, Piraeus, Messina, Naples and New York and subsequently sailed between New York and the Bahamas. In 1964 she became the "Imperial Bahama Hotel" at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and on 8/9/1965 arrived at Bilbao where she was scrapped.
Additional detail from Don Norrie
Getting to our new postings in Europe and back home again was also of considerable interest.
In the early days the method of travel for single personnel was to fly over by North Star air transport from Trenton, Lachine or Ottawa. But some of us single chaps were fortunate enough to get booked overseas via luxury liners.
I went to Europe in April 1955 aboard the MS (Motor Ship) Italia. It was like a five day paid holiday. We departed from Halifax and debarked at Le Havre. Then we were bused to Paris for an overnight stop where we were put up in a very nice hotel (the name of which I cannot recall). There were two of us to a room, and I have to laugh in retrospect when my roomy and I were trying to figure out what that thing that looked like a small toilet (bidet) was for! We decided that it was for washing one's feet - naive Canadians.
Supper that night in the hotel dining room was unforgettable and a bit revolting. We all had a thick pork chop on our plate and assorted veggies. The chap beside me was a fellow Armourer by the name of Al Brumm. I had just taken a bite of my meat and looked over on Al's plate while we were talking. I looked at his pork chop and noticed something on top almost as thick as my little finger and almost an inch long. Closer inspection revealed the largest (cooked) maggot that I had ever seen in my life. We looked at each other and promptly left the table. Down the street somewhere in Paris we savoured our first "jambon sandwich" washed down with French beer. Then it was off to the Moulin Rouge and night clubbing until the wee hours of the morning. The next morning we boarded trains for our respective Wings.
Updated: October 24, 2004
