SS Changte (1925)

Changte was a 4,324 tons steam ship built by Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, Hong Kong in 1925 for the Australian Oriental Line.

Operational history
Changte was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a Naval Stores Issuing Ship on 27 August 1939 and was known as RFA Changte (Y1-9). She was returned to her owners in 1946.

Fate
Changte was broken up at Hong Kong in August 1961.

MYSTERY AND TRAGEDY, THE VOYAGE OF THE CHANGTE. TWO PEOPLE DISAPPEAR. During the voyage of the Changte from Hongkong to Sydney a lady passenger and an officer disappeared at different times, and were not seen again. Sydney, May 2. When Captain Gambrill took the liner Changte to sea from Hongkong on Friday, April 13, he and his crew paid little heed to the old marine superstition regarding sailing on that day of the week, but before Sydney was reached to-day all hands on board had reason to regard their sailing day as the blackest Friday in their experience. Two mysterious deaths occurred on the voyage, and not a clue to the disappearance of the deceased persons could be traced. In northern waters an elderly English lady passenger, who was travelling round the world with Miss Jean Mackenzie, her young niece, kissed her protege good-night as usual and read a prayer before retiring at 10 o'clock' one evening. No one ever saw her again, and an examination of her personal effects established no suggestion of a motive for her disappearance. It was concluded that she walked in her sleep and fell overboard. This tragedy was followed by a fatality equally uncanny. The third officer, Mr. J. A. Allan, vanished off the Australian coast. He was seen by the quartermaster smoking in his cabin about an hour after he was relieved on the bridge at midnight by the second officer. Then he disappeared without a word or sign. He had been on the ship for some time, and was highly respected and popular. He had a substantial bank balance, in addition to a private income, and so far as any of his colleagues knew he had no trouble in the world.