▁to ▁the ▁British ▁register ▁after ▁her ▁ownership ▁was ▁transferred ▁to ▁He kt oria ▁Ltd . ▁He kt oria ▁was ▁requ is ition ed ▁for ▁use ▁as ▁an ▁oil ▁tank er ▁on ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁but ▁s unk ▁by ▁a ▁U - bo at ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁whilst ▁sail ing ▁in ▁an ▁Atlantic ▁con voy . ▁ ▁Pers ic ▁ ▁Pers ic ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 7 ▁September ▁ 1 8 9 9 , ▁and ▁started ▁her ▁ma iden ▁voyage ▁on ▁ 7 ▁December ▁carrying ▁ 5 0 0 ▁troops ▁for ▁the ▁Bo er ▁War . ▁During ▁the ▁ma iden ▁voyage ▁her ▁rud der ▁stock ▁broke , ▁and ▁Pers ic ▁had ▁to ▁remain ▁at ▁Cape ▁Town ▁until ▁a ▁replacement ▁could ▁be ▁sh ipped ▁out ▁from ▁B elf ast ▁and ▁fitted . ▁When ▁the ▁voyage ▁res umed ▁early ▁the ▁next ▁year ▁Pers ic ▁carried ▁home ▁injured ▁Australian ▁troops . ▁In ▁October ▁ 1 9 0 0 ▁Pers ic ▁res cu ed ▁the ▁crew ▁of ▁the ▁ship ▁Mad ura ▁which ▁had ▁caught ▁fire . ▁Pers ic ▁remained ▁in ▁commercial ▁service ▁until ▁she ▁was ▁requ is ition ed ▁under ▁the ▁Lin er ▁Re quisition ▁Sch eme ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁and ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁tro op ship . ▁On ▁ 1 2 ▁September ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁while ▁carrying ▁American ▁soldiers ▁Pers ic ▁was ▁tor ped o ed ▁off ▁the ▁Is les ▁of ▁Sc illy , ▁but ▁remained ▁af loat ▁and