She rendered a superlative service throughout both World Wars and was one of the longest serving liners on the trade from England to Australia via the Cape. Ordered in 1912 for the passenger and cargo haul, a relatively new venture to Australia with calls at Cape Town, the Nestor and Ulysses were destined to become the best known of all Blue Funnel ships. With a gross tonnage of 14 501 and registered specifications of length 171.66m, breadth 20.85m and depth 9.51m, Nestor was a significant transport in difficult times. Built by Workman Clark & Company, Belfast, with twin propellers and coal burning, she delivered a service speed of 14 knots. Presenting a solid appearance with her tall masts and oversize funnel, all of which dominated the ship’s upperworks, she was able to accommodate 338 passengers in one class, situated midships. Speed trials were conducted in April 1913 and the maiden voyage Liverpool to Brisbane commenced on May 19. Calls were made at Cape Town, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. At the outbreak of World War 1 Nestor was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport (MOWT) for duties as a troopship and carried mainly Australian troops to and from the Dardanelles. Several times the ship came under heavy fire from Turkish batteries but the Nestor led a charmed existence and came through the campaign unscathed. In January 1916 she departed from Plymouth as part of a large convoy with troops bound for East Africa, India and Mesopotamia. In the late World War 1 she brought essential foods and munitions across the Atlantic to the beleaguered British Isles. At the end of hostilities the ship underwent a refit and with improved accommodation resumed her passenger service. Sea rescue On June 22, 1936 Nestor was involved in a dramatic sea rescue when she responded to a distress call from the Mungana, which had lost power and was adrift near rocks off Cape Jaffa, South Australia. In precarious conditions the Nestor secured a towline to the disabled vessel and towed her 170 miles to Port Adelaide. At the outbreak of World War 2 Nestor remained on the Australia run and was successful in evacuating large numbers of British children to Sydney. In an important convoy role later from Durban to Cape Town, during bad weather off Port St Johns, the old Nestor found difficulty in maintaining headway in the heavy seas and she had her ventilators foreward washed overboard. No serious harm came to this splendid ship during these dark days but age had crept up on her. Her low service speed had made her uneconomical despite Blue Funnel efforts. On December 23, 1949 she left Liverpool for the last time bound for Australia. At each Australian port as well as at Cape Town where she departed in June 1950 the Nestor was given resounding farewells to the accompaniment of ships’ sirens – a fitting tribute to a grand old lady of the sea. On August 8, 1950 Nestor arrived at Faslane, Scotland, for breaking up. For 37 years in war and peace this gallant ship gave unblemished service having completed 68 round voyages and steamed 2 112 000 miles. Source of reference: John H. Marsh Maritime Collection, Iziko; SA Maritime Museum”
