HMS AusoniaA maritime heritage archive

An independent maritime heritage archive

Remembering HMS Ausonia

From Cunard passenger liner to wartime Armed Merchant Cruiser and Fleet Repair Ship. Discover the story of a remarkable vessel and the men who served aboard her.

Discover her history Explore the photographs →
ARCHIVE · 1921—1958HMS AUSONIA

The story continues

A ship, a crew, a living record.

HMS Ausonia served across several remarkable chapters of maritime history. This archive brings together ship histories, crew photographs, letters, memorabilia and research originally gathered by Peter Ryder in memory of his father and the ship's crew.

About the archive and its origins

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Where would you like to begin?

Follow the ship's history, browse the photographic collections, or discover the objects and model behind the research.

Explore the archiveHistoryExplore the photographs, stories and historical material in this collection.Explore the archiveGalleryBaker Collection , Bothwell Collection , Britton Collection , Calvert Collection , Cook Collection , Cunard Film Clips , Fewings Collection ,…Explore the archiveMemorabiliaMemorabiliaExplore the archiveHMS Ausonia ModelScale Model Line

A remarkable career

Three lives of Ausonia

01Passenger liner1922–193902Armed Merchant CruiserWartime service03Fleet Repair Ship1940s and beyond

Explore detailed accounts, convoy records and photographs in the ship history section.

Voices and memories

The people behind the photographs

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Photographic collectionRyder CollectionRon Ryder was a former Petty Officer onboard the HMS Ausonia between the 22 nd November 1945 and 8 th April 1946. This collection of photographs…Photographic collectionBaker CollectionCharlie Baker was a former Shipwright onboard HMS Ausonia, joining the ship in May 1944 just as the ship was preparing for her maiden voyage as…Photographic collectionUnknown Crew Members CollectionI acquired a collection of photographs in an auction which all relate to HMS Ausonia taken sometime during her deployment with the Eastern Fleet…Photographic collectionCalvert CollectionThe photographs and anecdotes within this collection have been very kindly supplied by Vivienne Dees whose father served as a gunner on HMS…

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Explore the published archive by crew name, historical detail or photograph collection.

How it all began

Inspired by a father's photographs.

The archive began with Peter Ryder's research into the ship his father, Petty Officer Ronald Herbert Ryder, served aboard during the Second World War. It has grown through the memories and photographs of former crew members and their families.

Read Peter's story ↗