R.M.S. Lady Rodney

R.M.S. Lady Rodney

R.M.S. Lady Rodney Image
Dominica 20 cent "Ships Tied to Dominica's History" Stamp
depicting the R.M.S. Lady Rodney issued September 1, 1975

R.M.S. Lady Rodney Image
The R.M.S. Lady Rodney is depicted on Anguilla's 45
cent Christmas "Ships" stamp issued November 29, 1986.

R.M.S. Lady Rodney Image
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $1.10 "Historic Ships" Stamp
depicting the R.M.S. Lady Rodney issued September 5, 1996

One of five sister steam turbine ocean liners known as "Lady Boats" built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead, England in 1928 and 1929 for the Canadian National Steamship Company, the Lady Rodney was a Royal Mail Ship carrying mail, freight and passenger traffic between Halifax, Nova Scotia (and Montreal during the summer) on the western-route to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica and British Honduras. An oil-burner, she had a set of four Cammell Laird steam turbines driving the propeller shafts to her twin screws by single-reduction gearing. She had three passenger decks plus cargo holds to facilitate Canadian exports including lumber, and imports to Canada including fruit, sugar and molasses. The Lady-liners also had additional refrigerated holds for perishable cargo such as fruit, and capacity for 100,000 bunches of bananas. Their hulls were painted white, a colour then confined largely to passenger ships serving tropical or sub-tropical destinations. Lady Rodney was the only "Lady Boat" not sunk during World War II and she safely transported almost 60,000 troops and 66,000 other passengers during the war.

R.M.S. Lady Rodney on CNS Post Card with franking removed--unsent or sent under cover? Note on post card is dated July 18, 1930.

R.M.S. Lady Rodney on CNS Post Card with the 1935 painting of a "Lady Liner" by William Rigg. The card was "Posted
on Board" and postmarked Nassau, Bahamas on March 26, 1938, franked with a Canadian two cent George VI "Mufti" defintive. In
addition to the Lady Rodney handstamp there is also a Nassau Bahamas "SHIPMAIL" paquebot cancellation (Hosking Type 2421).

R.M.S. Lady Rodney Paquebot Cover
Paquebot cover postmarked Plymouth, Montserrat, October 5, 1951 addressed to Yardville,
N.J. with "Posted on the High Seas C.N.S. Lady Rodney" handstamp franked
with 4 cent Canadian William Lyon Mackenzie King commemorative issued June 25, 1951.

Namesakes

Admiral Sir George Rodney, famous for his defeat of the French fleet of Comte de Grasse in the Battle of the Saintes off the island of Dominica, is depicted on Antigua’s four cent “Ships” definitive of August 19, 1970. Rodney also appears on a 1976 stamp from French Polynesia, not because of any association with those islands, but because of his naval actions in opposition to the American Revolution.

Admiral Sir George Rodney on a stamp from St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla
Admiral Sir George Rodney is depicted on Antigua’s four cent “Ships” definitive of August 19, 1970.

Sources

Boileau, John . "The Lady Boats." Legion. 1 Jan. 2007. Web.
21 May 2023.legionmagazine.com/en/the-lady-boats/.

"Famous Lady Boats Returning to Peacetime Service." The Drummondville Spokesman. 20 Dec. 1946: 12.

Hanington, Felicity and Capt Percy A. Kelly. The Lady Boats: the life and times of Canada's West Indies
merchant fleet. Halifax, N.S.: Canadian Marine Transportation Centre Dalhousie University, 1980.

O'Carroll, David. "The Canadian Lady Boats." Bajan Things. 21 Mar. 2020. Web.
21 May 2023.www.bajanthings.com/the-canadian-lady-boats/.

"Une Merveilleuse Combinaison." Le Canada. 30 May 1929: 5.

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