SS Empire Advocate - History

History

Solfels was built by J C Tecklenburg AG, Wesermünde as yard number 255 and launched on 8 April 1913, being completed the following month. She entered service with the Hansa Line, Bremen on 22 May 1913 and served with them for six years until taken as a war prize on 25 May 1919, passing to the British Shipping Controller under the management of H Hogarth & Sons. In 1920, Solfels was sold to the Lancashire Shipping Company, who renamed her Bowes Castle, under the management of Chambers & Co.

In August 1921, forty Mongolian stowaways were discovered aboard Bowes Castle at New York. John Thomas, an engineer on Bowes Castle was charged with conspiracy to violate the United States immigration laws. On 20 October 1929, Bowes Castle struck a reef in the Macassar Strait, Indonesia. She was refloated several days later and proceeded to Sourabaya for inspection before continuing her voyage to New York.

Bowes Castle was sold to Achille Lauro, Naples in October 1932, being renamed Angelina Lauro. On 23 September 1936, E M Dalgas collided with Angelina Lauro in the English Channel off Ouessant, France. E M Dalglas was severely damaged. Angelina Lauro was on a voyage from Gdynia, Poland to La Spezia, Italy. On 7 April 1937, Angelina Lauro collided with Silverpine at Port Said, Egypt. On 10 June 1940, Angelina Lauro was interned at Liverpool and taken into Ministry of War Transport ownership on 23 July 1940 under the management of Galbraith, Pembroke & Company, London and renamed Empire Advocate. Part of the cargo she was carrying was 14 casks of red wine, which were sold at auction in London on 27 March 1941 by order of the Prize Court. She served for five years and was sold for scrapping on 16 February 1945 to P & W Maclellan Ltd, Bo'ness.