EPW041073 ENGLAND (1933). The RMS Mauretania in the floating dry dock, Southampton, 1933

See wikipedia article on RMS Mauretania (1906).



This was the first Mauretania. Designed by Leonard Peskett and built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson for the British Cunard Line, and launched on 20 September 1907





Unclear why she would be in dry dock in 1933 as she had very little life left to her.



1934 - Cunard Line merged with White Star Line. Mauretania deemed surplus to requirements and withdrawn from service. Her final eastward crossing from New York to Southampton was in September 1934.She was then laid up at Southampton.



In May 1935 her furnishings and fittings were put up for auction and on 1 July that year she departed Southampton for the last time to Metal Industries shipbreakers at Rosyth.



The demise of Mauretania was protested by many of her passengers, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who wrote a private letter arguing against the scrapping.



For a short period the name was preserved on a paddle steamer until the replacement ship was built and launched.