Welcome to the Historical RFA

Supported by the RFA Association

Historical RFA

RFA Honour

RFA History

RFA Ships

Heroes of the RFA

In the history of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service the officers and men have repeatedly shown their gallantry and their bravery on many occasions not only during war but also at times of peace.

These acts have been recognised by the Sovereign with the awards of Orders,  Medals and Decorations.

We recognise and salute these Heroes of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service and have pride in reporting on their deeds and actions which brought them fame and recognition and in some cases even took their lives.

This section is not complete and more will be added on the site as quickly as they can be prepared.

Captain David Everett Lawrence DSC RFA

RFA Sir Geraint, under the command of Captain David E Lawrence RFA, was one of the first members of the amphibious task group and was present in San Carlos Water throughout the period of intense air attack immediately after the…
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Geraint

Donkeyman John Allan AM RFA

John Thomas Allan, from South Shields, served during the Great War as a Donkeyman in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and was serving aboard the fleet oiler R.F.A. Mixol, having joined this ship on 18 October 1916. RFA Mixol   An…
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Mixol-01-Allan

Assistant Cook Arthur Boyle RFA

  On 23 May 1963 at about 2210hrs a Seaman S Smith, who was serving on board the RFA Wave Prince which was berthed in Hong Kong Harbour, was sitting on the second uppermost guardrail on the starboard aft upper…
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Sailor Chiu Yiu Nam GM RFA

On the 8 June 1982 at the height of the Falklands conflict, RFA Sir Galahad was at anchor in Port Pleasant, about 3 cables from RFA Sir Tristram and about a mile from Fitzroy, preparing to disembark elements of the Welsh Guards.…
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sir-galahad

Heroes of RFA Engadine

Queens Gallantry Medal Chief Officer Christopher Onslow Smith RFA Chief Petty Officer (Deck) John Thomas Olley RFA   Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct Third Engineer Officer Roger Kenneth Stevens RFA Seaman Grade 1A Reginald Frederick Williams RFA Seaman Grade 1B…
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QGM

Commodore Samuel Clark Dunlop RFA

  Commodore Samuel Clark DUNLOP C.B.E., D.S.O., RFA   Commodore Dunlop was the senior officer of the RFA and the Commanding Officer of RFA Fort Austin. His ship was the first to be deployed south in the operation to regain…
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Commodore Dunlop

Captain Anthony Francis Pitt DSC RFA

At the start of the Falklands War in 1982 RFA Sir Percivale was among the first to sail with the Amphibious Task Group from England. She operated in the waters immediately around the Falkland Islands from D-Day, 21 May 1982, to…
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RFA Sir Percivale

Chief Engineer David Linley Smith Hood DSC RFA

In August 1914, while underage, David Hood joined the Army and underwent training at Plymouth, Devon. By March 1915 Private David Hood joined his battalion – the 2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – who were serving on the Western…
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DSC

Donkeyman John Allan AM RFA

Mixol-01-Allan
John Thomas Allan, from South Shields, served during the Great War as a Donkeyman in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and was serving aboard the fleet oiler R.F.A. Mixol, having joined…
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Sailor Chiu Yiu Nam GM RFA

sir-galahad
On the 8 June 1982 at the height of the Falklands conflict, RFA Sir Galahad was at anchor in Port Pleasant, about 3 cables from RFA Sir Tristram and about a mile…
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Heroes of RFA Engadine

QGM
Queens Gallantry Medal Chief Officer Christopher Onslow Smith RFA Chief Petty Officer (Deck) John Thomas Olley RFA   Queens Commendation for Brave Conduct Third Engineer Officer Roger Kenneth Stevens RFA…
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Commodore Samuel Clark Dunlop RFA

Commodore Dunlop
  Commodore Samuel Clark DUNLOP C.B.E., D.S.O., RFA   Commodore Dunlop was the senior officer of the RFA and the Commanding Officer of RFA Fort Austin. His ship was the…
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