The EMPRESS OF ASIA completed her 307th and last crossing of the Pacific on January 11th, 1941. Two days later the ship was formally requisitioned as a troop carrier and preparations were begun for the delivery of the ship to Liverpool for refitting.
While in the peace time mercantile trade the EMPRESS OF ASIA was manned in part by a Chinese crew that were recruited in Asia, signed on under Hong Kong Articles, and had filled positions in the Engine, Deck and Catering Departments. When the ship was requisitioned, the Chinese crew (with the exception of four individuals) were discharged. Replacements were recruit for the vacated positions. Almost an entire Engine Room crew of Engineers, Firemen, Greasers, and Trimmers were brought to Vancouver from the Great Lakes shipping industry of Ontario.
Those that accepted positions for the delivery of THE EMPRESS OF ASIA were offered the choice, upon reaching Britain, of remaining as members of the crew or of repatriation to Canada.
The EMPRESS OF ASIA sailed for Britain on February 13th 1941. The ship sailed through Panama, where a stop for bunkering was made, and then continued for Britain by way of Jamaica and Bermuda reaching the Firth of Clyde in late March 1941.
After a brief stay at Scotland that ship sailed for Liverpool were the modifications for troop carrying duties were made. Accommodation and cooking facilities were improved and armaments added.
The ship was armed with a 6″ gun, a 3″ HA, 6 Oerlikons, 8 Hotchkiss, Bofors, 4 PAC rockets and depth charges. Concrete protective reinforcements were added to the Bridge.
The refit was completed by the end of April 1941 when the EMPRESS OF ASIA sailed with over 2,000 troops bound for Suez via the Cape of Good Hope.
The following table contains the names of the crewmembers that delivered the EMPRESS OF ASIA from Vancouver to Liverpool during 1941.
| NAME | RATING |
|---|---|
| Alexander, H. M. | Engineer |
| Anderson, A. | Boy Seaman |
| Anderson, C. | Greaser |
| Anderson, M.F. | Fireman |
| Avery, R. | Trimmer |
| Bains, J. | Cook |
| Baker, J. | Fireman |
| Bald, J. | Chief Engineer |
| Balens, A. | Trimmer |
| Ballan, W. | Surgeon |
| Barrett, B. | Greaser |
| Barry, R. | Boy Seaman |
| Baxter, C. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Beattie, R.A. | Greaser |
| Bernel, L.J. | Baker |
| Best, R. | Trimmer |
| Boddy, J. | Fireman |
| Bowman, C. | Steward |
| Boychuk, J. | Trimmer |
| Boyd, F. | Able Seaman |
| Brennan, R. | Greaser |
| Bryce, R. | Greaser |
| Bulley, T.E. | Linenkeeper |
| Burke, G. | Leading Seaman |
| Burns, G. | Able Seaman |
| Caldicott, D.H. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Campbell, A. | Trimmer |
| Carzi, E. | Trimmer |
| Cas, R. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Chan, Kam | Joiner |
| Chan, Lam | Joiner |
| Chang, Tin Yau (Chan, Tin Yau) | Rustyman |
| Chretien, V. | Cook |
| Collette, W. | Trimmer |
| Conlin, P. | Plate Scullery |
| Connal, E. | Trimmer |
| Connell, H.A. | Marconi Operator |
| Cook, T. | Able Seaman |
| Corcoran, W.F. | Fireman |
| Costello, M.W. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Cottingham, W.L. | Master-at-Arms |
| Cranney, H. | Fireman |
| Crannie, P. | Fireman |
| Cripps, N. | Fireman |
| Crofts, C.W. | 2nd Officer |
| Crone, A. | Fireman |
| Cunningham, A. | Donkeyman |
| Cushin, L.F. | Storekeeper |
| Dankoski, S. | Trimmer |
| Davidson, W. | Steward |
| Davis, A. | Steward |
| Davis, D. | Fireman |
| Davis, F. | Messboy |
| Davis, J. | Trimmer |
| Dean, D. | Fireman |
| Dean, J. | Quarter Master |
| Dean, W. | Fireman |
| Denton, P.M. | Fireman |
| Devoe, F. | Trimmer |
| Dibb, B. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Donnelly, J.W. | 3rd Officer |
| Doolittle, L. | Cook |
| Drummond, J. | Sanitation Engineer |
| Duff, J.N. | Able Seaman |
| Duff, P. | Fireman |
| Edgington, A. | Able Seaman |
| Elworthy, D.R. | Pantryman |
| Elyea, W. | Fireman |
| Everett, A. | Trimmer |
| Ewart, J.N. | Captain’s Steward |
| Ferguson, G.M. | Fireman |
| Ferguson, W. | Fireman |
| Fergusson, A. | Fireman |
| Fisher, J.S. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Ford, E. | Able Seaman |
| Fraser, G.W. | Storekeeper |
| Garvie, L. | Fireman |
| Gee, A.E. | Chef |
| Gibb, F. | Steward |
| Gillespie, F.T. | Chief Electrician |
| Gillett, C.J.O. | Boy Seaman |
| Gilmour, G. | Greaser |
| Glover, W.F. | Fireman |
| Gonely, B.F. | Chief Purser |
| Gorse, C.F. | Engineer |
| Gould, C.E. | Fireman |
| Greenslade, R. | Trimmer |
| Grise, W. | Greaser |
| Hales, J. | Fireman |
| Hall, G. | Engineer |
| Harding, H. | Trimmer |
| Harris, B. | Fireman |
| Harrison, H. | Trimmer |
| Hart, J.W. | Greaser |
| Heathcote, W. | Able Seaman |
| Henshaw, W.V. | Fireman |
| Higgs, E.E. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Hill, R. | Fireman |
| Hinds, A. | Fireman |
| Hogan, W.J.P. | Fireman |
| Holden, F.A. | Messman |
| Holmes, A.W. | Engineer |
| Holmes, H.P. | Cook |
| Hosken, G. | Able Seaman |
| Houston, W.B. | Fireman |
| Howard, W. | Fireman |
| Howe, A. | Messboy |
| Humphrey, W. | Butcher |
| Jackman, S.F. | Trimmer |
| Jackson, J. | Trimmer |
| Johnston, L.H. | 1st Officer |
| Johnston, N. | Trimmer |
| Johnston, R.A. | Fireman |
| Johnstone, J. | Fireman |
| Jones, W.H. | Storekeeper |
| Jordison, H. | Trimmer |
| Julian, F. | Trimmer |
| Justice, H.G.F. | Fireman |
| Kavanagh, J. | Engineer |
| Kearney, M. | Trimmer |
| Keeling, T. | Messman |
| Keith, W. | Fireman |
| Knowlan, E. | Able Seaman |
| Kocsis, J. | Engineers’ Messboy |
| Krause, J. | Steward |
| Lamb, A.M. | Engineer |
| Lane, L.R. | Marconi Operator |
| Lansley, K. | Fireman |
| Largis, J. | Greaser |
| Larsen, E. | Trimmer |
| Lasky, M. | Cook |
| LePatourel, P.A. | Bridge Cadet |
| Lewis, W. | Fireman |
| Linn, S. | Greaser |
| Lipsin, J. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Litster, D.B. | Greaser |
| Longfield, A.G. | Able Seaman |
| Lord, H. | Trimmer |
| Lorrain, A. | Cook |
| Lumley, B. | Fireman |
| MacDonald, R.A. | Engineer |
| Macinnes, P. | Quarter Master |
| MacKay, J. | Fireman |
| MacLeod, A. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Manning, L.A. | Fireman |
| Marion, L. | Cook |
| Masson, J. | Engineer |
| Matthews, R. | Able Seaman |
| Mayer, C.A. | Trimmer |
| McAlpine, D. | Able Seaman |
| McArthur, L. | Fireman |
| McArthur, N. | Fireman |
| McArthur, W.H. | Engineer |
| McCandle, J. | Able Seaman |
| McDonald, K. | Able Seaman |
| McDougall, G. | Trimmer |
| McDougall, H. | Baker |
| McGhee, J. | Trimmer |
| McIntyre, G. | Ordinary Seaman |
| McKean, R.A. | Refrigeration Engineer |
| McKenzie, R.B. | Fireman |
| McKillop, E.D. | Butcher |
| McKinnon, W.R. | Boy Seaman |
| McLean, H. | 5th Officer |
| McLeod, E. | Trimmer |
| McLeod, F. | Fireman |
| Meikle, G.L. | Electrician |
| Miller, A. | Fireman |
| Miller, L. | Fireman |
| Milne, J. | Fireman |
| Mitchell, C. | Trimmer |
| Mitchell, T. | Fireman |
| Moran, B.D. | Purser |
| Morris, G. | Fireman |
| Morrison, J.H. | Officers’ Steward |
| Morton, T. | Engineer |
| Murphy, J. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Nesbitt, G.M. | Fireman |
| Niejedli, A. | Messboy |
| Niemi, H. | Trimmer |
| Oatham, R. | Steward |
| O’Brien, W.E. | Trimmer |
| Ogilvie, F.T. | Steward |
| Oliver, W. | 4th Officer |
| Olsen, W. | Trimmer |
| Olson, O. | Messman |
| Otter, D. | Fireman |
| Otter, H. | Fireman |
| Peter, F. | Leading Seaman |
| Phillips, C.F. | Trimmer |
| Pickwell, S.J. | Steward |
| Piercy, D.B. | Steward |
| Pitt-Brooke, R. | Purser’s Cadet |
| Punter, E.R. | Quarter Master |
| Read, G.C. | Storekeeper |
| Record, F. | Greaser |
| Record, M. | Fireman |
| Reekie, G. | Purser’s Messenger |
| Reid, P. | Fireman |
| Ricker, N. | Greaser |
| Ridd, J.A. | Fireman |
| Rigby, N. | Chief Baker |
| Robb, J.H. | Engineer |
| Roberts, T. | Greaser |
| Robinson, R. | Messman |
| Robinson, W.J. | Purser |
| Ross, H.C. | Trimmer |
| Rudd, C. | Pantryman |
| Russell, A. | Steward |
| Russell, B.E. | Trimmer |
| Sadler, F.E. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Sandham, W. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Savage, J.W. | Baker |
| Scheib, R. | Fireman |
| Schmitt, G. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Scott, A. | Fireman |
| Semple, W. | Engineer |
| Shelley, H. | Trimmer |
| Sherman, R.G. | Fireman |
| Simmons, F. | Trimmer |
| Sims, P.J. | Able Seaman |
| Skidmore, H. | Able Seaman DEMS |
| Small, E. | Steward |
| Smallwood, H. | Butcher |
| Smith, A. | Fireman |
| Smith, D. | Carpenter |
| Smith, D. | Chief Officer |
| Smith, H.M. | Nurse |
| Smith, J.B. | Commander |
| Smith, J.B. | Fireman |
| Smith, J.B. | Fireman |
| Smith, L. | Able Seaman |
| Smith, S. | Boatswain |
| Spooner, G. | Fireman |
| Stainton, H. | Engineer |
| Stanley, C. | Cook |
| Stanway, G.W. | Boy Seaman |
| Steel, J. | Trimmer |
| Steinhauer, F. | Trimmer |
| Stephens, T.E. | Messboy |
| Stewart, T. | Greaser |
| Strang, E.N. | Able Seaman |
| Sutherland, M. | Fireman |
| Swales, J. | Trimmer |
| Switzer, P. | Trimmer |
| Sylvester, M. | Fireman |
| Taylor, E. | Fireman |
| Taylor, G. | Trimmer |
| Taylor, W. | Messman |
| Thomas, H. | Steward |
| Thomas, R.D. | Marconi Operator |
| Tomlinson, J.A. | Steward |
| Tozer, G. | Boy Seaman |
| Tracksly, R.H. | Able Seaman |
| Tran, G. | Officers’ Steward |
| Traynor, W. | Fireman |
| Treloar, E.B. | Engineer |
| Tremblay, W. | Fireman |
| Tufnail, O.C. | Barkeeper |
| Turnbull, W.E. | Engineer |
| Tyack, P. | Engineers’ Steward |
| Walkenshaw, D. | Trimmer |
| Walker, M. | Fireman |
| Waltenbury, M. | Fireman |
| Ward, J. | Fireman |
| Watts, C.E. | Storekeeper |
| Weaver, A. | Quarter Master |
| Whiteside, J.A. | Fireman |
| Wilde, John | Fireman |
| Williams, D.B. | Electrician |
| Williams, H.W. | Quarter Master |
| Williams, T.R. | Ordinary Seaman |
| Willington, D. | Barber |
| Wilson, W. | Fireman |
| Win, Chin (Wu Chiu) | Storekeeper |
| Woodrow, J. | Cook |
| Wright, F.S. | Chief Steward |
| Wyles, A. | Cook |
| Young, W. | Engineers’ Steward |