Built by Gourly Brothers in Dundee in 1897 this fairly large steamer was named Fenchurch by its first owners D. Bruce & Co, also from Dundee.

Only two years old she was acquired by Ångfartsaktiebolaget Finska Lloyd (Finnish Steamship Company Lloyd) at the turn of the century and renamed Hermes. Hermes was then managed by AB Lars Krogius & Co and she remained for many years the largest steamer in Finland. 

Before its independence in 1917 Finland had been an autonomous part (a Grand Duchy) of the Russian monarchy since 1809, when Russia finished first in the war against Sweden-Finland. The full view (click here) of the oil painting above therefore shows the Russian national flag in the stern.

The first master of Hermes was Captain Henry Charles Wilén. Henrik Emil Skog took command of the ship on July 24, 1902. He served her for more than 14 years. During Captains Skog's illness from December 1916, Hermes was commanded by the First Officer Johannes Theodor Tengström.

On February 10, 1917 Hermes was confiscated by the British government. She disappeared in May 1917 on a passage carrying coal to Arkhangelsk.

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