RMS Mauretania (also known as "Maury"), sister ship of the Lusitania, was an ocean liner built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson at Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, and was launched on September 20, 1906. At the time, she was the largest and fastest ship in the world. Particularly notable was her steam turbine propulsion, which was a revolutionary development in ocean liner design. Mauretania became a favourite among the passengers because of her luxury, speed and safety.
The name Mauretania was originated from a Berber kingdom on the Mediterranean coast of north Africa (named after the Maure tribe, after whom the Moors were named), not related to the modern Mauritania.

World War I
Mauretania returned to civilian service on September 21, 1919. Her busy sailing schedule prevented her from having a massive overhaul scheduled in 1920. However, in 1921, Cunard Line forced her out of the service when the fire broke out in the first class cabin and decided to give her a much needed overhaul. Like the RMS Olympic, her boilers were converted from coal to fuel oil. In 1922 she returned to service and later she broke her own Atlantic record with a speed of 26 knots. In 1928 Mauretania was modernised with new interior design and in the next year her speed record was broken by a German liner SS Bremen with a speed of 28 knots. On August 27, 1929, Mauretania collided with a train ferry near Robbins Reef; fortunately, no one was killed or injured and her damage was quickly repaired. In 1930, with a combination of the Great Depression and newer competition, Mauretania became a dedicated cruise ship to keep her busy. When Cunard Line merged with White Star Line in 1934, Mauretania, along with Olympic, Majestic and other aging ocean liners, had to be retired in order to make room for 81,000 tonnes Queen Mary.
The Mauretania is remembered in a song "Firing the Mauretania", with versions collected separately by Redd Sullivan and Hughie Jones. They both start "In 19 hundred and 24, I… got a job on the Mauretania"; but then go on to say "shovelling coal from morn till night" (not possible in 1924 as she was oil-fired by then); the number of "fires" is said to be either 64 or 34; but perversely the last verse on Hughie's version says "trimmers" not "stokers", so perhaps this is a reference to oil.
Cunard withdrew the Mauretania from service following a final eastward crossing from New York to Southampton in September, 1934. The ship was laid up, her furnishings were sold at auction, and in July, 1935, the Mauretania headed for the breaker's yard at Rosyth.
Some of the furnishings from the RMS Mauretania were installed in a bar/restaurant complex in Bristol called the Mauretania Bar (now Bar III), situated at the bottom of Park Street (the hill leading to the Wills Memorial Building of Bristol University) behind the Council House on College Green. The lounge bar was paneled with mahogany, which came from her 1st class library. The neon sign on the south wall still advertises the "Mauretania," and her bow lettering was used above the entrance. Additionally, the 1st class reading-writing room has become the board room at Pinewood Studios, west of London.

See also

Mauretania, by Humfrey Jordan
Atlantic Liners: A Trio of Trios, by J. Kent Layton