The Adventures of a “Conway” Lad

Chris Puxley first went to sea with the RFA in 1964, after completing two years on the training ship “Conway”, he joined his first ship, the old RFA Wave Knight, as an Apprentice or Cadet and he left the service in 1979 as a Chief Officer (X).

This is the story of a life at sea through the recollections of one man and illustrates the work, people and ships of the RFA, from the early 1960’s to the late 1970’s.  These memoirs provide a unique insight into another era in the Fleet’s rich and varied history.

We hope that you enjoy reading these recollections, which we will be serialising over the next few months, and we would like to take this opportunity to express our grateful thanks to Chris for sharing his story with us.

The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Regent 1972-73

“REGENT” Pennant No. A 486                   International Callsign GRMH                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6712112   Builder Harland & Wolff, Belfast.   Launched 9th March 1966                                                                      Completed 6th June 1967   Displacement (Light-ship) Not Known                         (Loaded) 22,890…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Engadine 1971

“ENGADINE” Pennant No. K 08                      International Callsign GRBU                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6800684   Builder Henry Robb Ltd, Leith.   Launched 16th September 1966  (Named the previous day       Completed 15th December 1967 but strong winds…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Tidepool 1970-71

“TIDEPOOL” Pennant No. A 76                   International Callsign GJMB                     Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 5425607   Builder Hawthorn Leslie (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Hebburn on Tyne.   Launched 11th December 1962                                                            Completed 28th June 1963   Displacement (Light-ship) 8,531…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Empire Gull 1970

“EMPIRE GULL” Pennant No. L 3513                International Callsign MVRD                   Registered LONDON   Previous Name L 3523 / HMS ”Trouncer” (47) / “Empire Gull” (56).  Lloyds Ident No. 5103704   Builder Davie Shipbuilding & Repair Co Ltd, Levis, Quebec.   Launched…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Black Ranger 1969-70

“BLACK RANGER” Pennant No. A 163                    International Callsign GWKT                 Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 5045938   Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow.   Launched 22nd August 1940                                                           Completed 28th January 1941   Displacement (Light-ship) 3141…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Reliant 1969

“RELIANT” Pennant No. A 84          International Callsign GRLK          Registered WEST HARTLEPOOL   Previous Name “Somersby”  (Re-named  23/9/1958).                    Lloyds Identity No. 5292646   Builder Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.   Launched 9th September 1953                                                            Completed 4th March 1955  …
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Retainer 1969

“RETAINER” Pennant No. A 329                    International Callsign GGVC                 Registered LONDON   Previous Name “Chungking”  (Renamed 1952).                       Lloyds Identity No. 5293470   Builder Scott’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Greenock. (Yard No. 197).   Launched 19th January 1950.                                                             Completed November 1950…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Brambleleaf 1968

“BRAMBLELEAF” Pennant No. A 81                     International Callsign MQPK                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name “London Loyalty”  (Renamed 1959).                       Lloyds Identity No. 5050244   Builder Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Teesside. (Yard No. 454).   Launched 16th April 1953                                                                       Completed January 1954  …
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Resource 1968

“RESOURCE” Pennant No. A 480                    International Callsign GRFE                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6717423   Builder Scott’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Greenock. (Yard No. 242)   Launched 11th February 1966                                                               Completed 16th May 1967   Displacement…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Bacchus 1967

  Pennant No. A 404                     International Callsign GHVE                Registered LONDON Previous Name N/A                                                      …
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Bacchus

The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Regent 1972-73

“REGENT” Pennant No. A 486                   International Callsign GRMH                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6712112   Builder Harland & Wolff, Belfast.   Launched 9th March 1966                                                                      Completed…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Engadine 1971

“ENGADINE” Pennant No. K 08                      International Callsign GRBU                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6800684   Builder Henry Robb Ltd, Leith.   Launched 16th September 1966  (Named…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Tidepool 1970-71

“TIDEPOOL” Pennant No. A 76                   International Callsign GJMB                     Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 5425607   Builder Hawthorn Leslie (Shipbuilders) Ltd, Hebburn on Tyne.   Launched 11th…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Empire Gull 1970

“EMPIRE GULL” Pennant No. L 3513                International Callsign MVRD                   Registered LONDON   Previous Name L 3523 / HMS ”Trouncer” (47) / “Empire Gull” (56).  Lloyds Ident No. 5103704   Builder…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Black Ranger 1969-70

“BLACK RANGER” Pennant No. A 163                    International Callsign GWKT                 Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 5045938   Builder Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow.   Launched 22nd…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Reliant 1969

“RELIANT” Pennant No. A 84          International Callsign GRLK          Registered WEST HARTLEPOOL   Previous Name “Somersby”  (Re-named  23/9/1958).                    Lloyds Identity No. 5292646   Builder Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland.…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Retainer 1969

“RETAINER” Pennant No. A 329                    International Callsign GGVC                 Registered LONDON   Previous Name “Chungking”  (Renamed 1952).                       Lloyds Identity No. 5293470   Builder Scott’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Greenock. (Yard…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Brambleleaf 1968

“BRAMBLELEAF” Pennant No. A 81                     International Callsign MQPK                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name “London Loyalty”  (Renamed 1959).                       Lloyds Identity No. 5050244   Builder Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Teesside. (Yard No.…
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The Adventures of a Conway Lad on RFA Resource 1968

“RESOURCE” Pennant No. A 480                    International Callsign GRFE                  Registered LONDON   Previous Name N/A                                                                         Lloyds Identity No. 6717423   Builder Scott’s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Greenock. (Yard No. 242)  …
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