Swirlygirl,

I seem to rememmber reading (somewhere) that, before the Great War, a number of Liners (presumably including Cunard and White Star ships) were given Government subsidies during building, on the condition that the major ship's officers (Captain, Navigator, Chief Engineer etc.) were RN reservists/volunteer reservists and that the ships would be taken into RN service in the event of war.
Can you confirm or deny any of this please?

Walrus