"This 1919 photograph shows the French Messageries Maritimes’ passenger and mail liner ‘Andre Lebon’ alongside the dock. The photograph is mounted on a board, with the handwritten words ""ANDRE LE BON Mescaries Maritime"" on the front. Launched in 1913 the ship entered service in 1915. From 1918 she served on the Marseilles – Yokohama service but was withdrawn from this in 1936. In 1918 on her first voyage east with 1,300 passengers and 800 crew aboard, she encountered a squall and was grounded in shallow water near the Sultan Shoal off Singapore on 7th April. All passengers and crew were rescued. She was re-floated and spent some months in dock being repaired before continuing her voyage. Many residents of Singapore and Malaya travelled in her to and from Europe. Sunk at Toulon by American bombers in March 1944 she was re-floated after liberation, entered service again but was sold for demolition in December 1952. Title devised by Library staff. Information contributed by Richard Hale. "
All rights reserved. Lee Kip Lin and National Library Board, Singapore 2009.
