City of Kobe

A 4,373 ton ship built in 1924 originally named ‘Malvernian’ Ellerman & Papayanni. Transferred to Ellerman's Hall Line in 1925 and renamed ‘City of Kobe’ in 1927. In 1939 mined and sunk off Great Yarmouth. One of several ships mentioned by Lowry in his works to meet an untimely end. Lowry may have referred to the ship in his short story as an echo of his own visit to Kobe on his voyage to the Far East in 1927.

"And two able seaman, paid off that day from the City of Kobe, and in consequence, very, very drunk, joined in the chorus Ser-a-phina." ('Goya The Obscure' Pg. 270).