The Empress of Canada was launched in 1920 and had her maiden voyage in 1922. At the time, she was the largest ship engaged in trans-Pacific service.  Following the outbreak of World War Two, she was converted to use as a troopship.  She left Wellington, New Zealand, on 6 January 1940 and continued transporting troops until torpedoed by an Italian submarine at midnight on 14 March 1943 while en route from Durban, South Africa, to Ghana, carrying Italian prisoners of war along with Polish and Greek refuges.  Of the approximate 1,800 people on board, 392 were killed, with 149 of those Italian prisoners.