The ship anchored in the Firth of Forth during World War I is the 7,654gt naval auxiliary Sandhurst, evident from the White Ensign and two of her four four-inch guns discernible at the stern. She started life as the Brocklebank Line cargo vessel Manipur, being completed in January 1906 for her owners’ UK-India services. She measured 470ft by 58ft and was propelled by a triple expansion engine of 3,300ihp giving a service speed of 10.5 knots. In 1914 she was requisitioned for conversion to the dummy battlecruiser Indomitable, and was paid off in October 1915. She was then converted to the fleet repair ship Sandhurst. She served in the Royal Navy and as a destroyer depot ship until scrapped in April 1946.
Robert H Langlois, Vale, Guernsey
