In the early years of the 20th Century, Stanley and John Thompson set up a new shipping company, the St. Helens Steam Shipping Co, with the steamer Silverbirch which was employed in tramping. More ships came and in 1920 the company moved to liner voyages, mainly in the Pacific, but also as managers for Kerr Lines of New York. In 1930the company joined with the Java Pacific fleet of Rotterdam Lloyd and the Nederland Stoomvaarts and the Norwegian Wilh. Wilhelmsen Co. to operate liner voyages in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Interestingly enough the company ships rarely visited their home-port.
After WW2 the company was sold by the Thompson family to the Barraclough family, which also spelled a change in the company operations from liner voyages to tramping, again.
This change also was the reason for the company to sell its newest ships, the Silverbriar and Silverplane to Cunard.
The two ships were distinctive in appearance having two funnels (the fore one being a dummy), and this gave the ships the look of luxury liners.
Cunard used the two ships on their Canada services, hence the 'A' names, the Silverbriar being renamed Andria, and Silverplane being renamed Alsatia
the SS Silverbriar
the SS Alsatia
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Thank you Kim for the crest
"Never fear to try on something new. Remember that the Titanic was built by professionals, and the Ark by an amateur"