The paddle steamer Duchess of Fife, seen in this picture in her World Wat I camouflage paint, had a long and varied career. She was built by Fairfields, in Govan, for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company and launched on the 9 May 1903. She entered service on the Gourock, Dunoon and Rothesay run but was requisitioned by the War Office in 1916 and served as HMS Duchess (PP533), operating in the North Sea as a mine sweeper. She returned to the Clyde in 1919 operating on the Wemyss Bay, Millport, Kilchattan Bay run. She was again requisitioned in 1939 and served as HMS Duchess of Fife based in Harwich. She made four crossings from Dunkirk to Ramsgate during Operation Dynamo, rescuing 1633 allied troops and was awarded Royal Navy battle honours for her part in the operation. She returned to Harwich after the Dunkirk evacuation and served with the 12th Minesweeping Flotilla till the end of the war when she returned to the Clyde for a much needed refit before re-entering service. Her last sailing was on the 6 June 1953 and she was sold for scrap in September 1953. (P20-0272, A6.259)
