The last ship to be built for the Union Steam Ship Company, Saxon was a
product of Harland & Wolff, Belfast. She was launched in December 1899,
but was transferred to the newly-created Union-Castle Line before she
was completed. Saxon became the first ship to begin her career with
Union-Castle, making her maiden voyage on the line's mail service from
Southampton to Cape Town on 16 June 1900. On that voyage, Saxon was
painted in Union livery, but sported Union-Castle funnels. At her first
repainting, however, she was given Union-Castle's distinctive lavender
hull.
During World War I Saxon remained on commercial service, although her
third-class was devoted to troop-carrying on occasion. (Since
Southampton had become a military port when the war began, Saxon's
British terminus was moved to London.) From 1917 on, she was used
full-time for trooping, primarily in the Mediterranean, and after the
Armistice she repatriated Australian troops before being refitted for
passenger service again.
Saxon resumed her Union-Castle service in 1919, and remained on the mail
service through 1930. She made her final sailing on the intermediate
service in January 1931 and was then laid up as a "reserve" ship. She
was scrapped at Blyth in 1935, the last survivor of the Union Line
fleet.
