September 1939 she was requisitioned by the Admiralty to be an accomodation and stores ship
1940 mined and sunk off Cromarty
8217
On 26 January 1940 HMS Durham Castle, on passage from Rosyth to Scapa Flow, struck a mine laid on 21 January by U-57 and sank 3 miles east of Cromarty Firth, during a gale and in severe icy conditions.
The ship was in tow by the tug HMS Watermeyer for use as a blockship at Scapa Flow.