Gloucester Castle SS was a British Steam Passenger Vessel of 8,006 tons built in1911 by Fairfield, Govan, Yard No 478 for the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company., London. On the 15th July 1942 whilst on voyage from Liverpool to Table Bay with 12 passengers, 142 crew and six gunners, she was sunk by a raider off south west Africa. Captain H.H. Rose and 92 passengers and crew were killed. Two lifeboats containing 61 people were picked up by the raider and taken to Japan as prisoners. Two of which died in captivity