SS Empire Attendant
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| Builder: | Barclay Curle & Company, Whiteinch, Glasgow |
| Yard number: | 579 |
| Launched: | 23 December 1920 |
| Completed: | 14 December 1921 |
| In service: | 30 December 1921 |
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| Fate: | Sunk by U-582, 15 July 1942 |
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| Length: | 450 ft (137.16 m) |
| Beam: | 58 ft 3 in (17.75 m) |
| Depth: | 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x SCDA diesel engines (North British Diesel Engine Company) 1,085 hp (809 kW) |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 158 Saloon class passengers, 11,000 tons of cargo (Domala) |
| Complement: | 50 crew, plus 9 DEMS gunners (Empire Attendant) |
Domala was an 8,441 ton cargo liner which was built in 1920 and launched as Magnava. Following damage sustained in an air attack in 1940, she was rebuilt as a cargo ship and renamed Empire Attendant. In 1942 she was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all crew.
Domala was the first ship in the British India Steam Navigation Company's fleet powered by diesel engines. She was built by Barclay, Curle and Company, Whiteinch, Glasgow and launched on 23 December 1920 as Magnava and completed as Domala on 14 December 1921. Her engines were built by the North British Diesel Engine Works, Whiteinch.Domala made her maiden voyage on 30 December 1921, arriving at Bombay, India on 27 January. A speed of 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h) was reported, consuming 17 tons of fuel oil per day. From Bombay, Domala sailed ot Karachi, India before returning to London.Domala had accommodation for 158 saloon-class passengers and 11,000 tons of cargo.
She was used on the service to and from Calcutta. On 6 October 1927, she collided with the British cargo ship Sagama River in the River Humber, severely damaging her. On 12 August 1934, Domala ran into the stern of Thames Barge Shannon at Erith, Kent. In 1940, Domala was sent to Antwerp to collect a number of Indian seamen who had been repatriated by Germany. On 2 March 1940, she was attacked by a Heinkel He 111H bomber of KG26 which dropped two sticks of bombs, setting Domala on fire. The order to abandon ship was given but the bomber machine-gunned survivors attempting to escape by lifeboat. A total of 108 of the 291 people on board the ship were killed. The Dutch ship Jong Willem rescued 48 survivors, despite being attacked herself.HMS Viscount assisted in the rescue. Surgeon Lieutenant MacDonald was Mentioned in Despatches for his zeal and devotion to duty, and skill in attending to the wounded survivors. Chief Officer Brawn and Cadet Duval, both crew on Domala were awarded Commendations for their actions.Avro Anson aircraft of 48 Squadron assisted in the rescue. On fire, Domala was towed to the Solent where she was beached. On 19 March, she was towed to Southampton where the decision was made to convert her to a cargo ship. Domala was requisitioned by the Ministry of War Transport and renamed Empire Attendant.
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