Official Number: 133101
Class: Armament Stores Carrier
Pennant No:
Signal Letters: GSDQ (1919)
Laid down:
Builder: Ardrossan Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Ardrossan
Launched: 6 December 1912
Into Service: 26 March 1913
Out of service: 25 January 1942
Fate: Stranded and sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of a group of nine coasters which were not normally classed as RFA’s although some, on making deep sea passages, had a proportion of RFA Officers among their complement. They are included here as the ancestors of the more modern ammunition ships
6 December 1912 launched by Ardrossan Drydock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan as Yard Nr: 241 named ISLEFORD for Messrs Mann, MacNeil & Co, Glasgow
20 February 1913 to 21 February 1913 ran exhaustive trials
24 February 1913 at Glasgow registered as ISLEFORD under reference 9/13 in the Registry
26 February 1913 the Times newspaper reported that –
28 February 1913 completed for her owners’ coasting trade
14 March 1913 the Dover Express & East Kent News newspaper reported …
26 March 1913 purchased by the Admiralty for service as an Armaments Stores Carrier, name unchanged
June 1913 the ships Master was Captain W Soper
14 June 1913 sailed Woolwich for Portsmouth
15 June 1913 off Folkstone Able Seaman Caleb Edgecombe Evans discharged dead – natural causes – heart disease. The ship diverted to and berthed at Folkstone. The Folkstone Express newspaper reported …
17 June 1913 an inquest touching on the death of Able Seaman Caleb Edgecombe Evans was held at Folkstone Town Hall by the Borough Coroner Mr W G Haines and jury
18 June 1913 the body of Able Seaman Caleb Edgecombe Evans was removed in an elm coffin to NAV Upnor for conveyance to Southampton for burial
19 June 1913 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour in No: 5 basin
25 August 1913 at Portsmouth Harbour moved to No: 5 basin
17 September 1913 the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail newspaper reported –
19 January 1914 at Portsmouth Dockyard moved out of No: 3 basin
26 June 1914 berthed at Portsmouth Dockyard in No: 3 basin
1918 Captain C Harrison was Master
24 March 1919 alongside RFA RUTHENIA at Longhope, Scapa Flow
15 May 1919 arrived at Leith Docks
20 May 1919 sailed Leith Docks for Inverness
21 June 1919 arrived West Hartlepool from Inverness
27 June 1919 sailed West Hartlepool for Inverness with a cargo of mine sinkers
29 April 1920 sailed Granton to Portsmouth
1922 Captain W G Williams appointed as Master
21 March 1922 arrived at Devonport from Woolwich
20 October 1922 sailed Plymouth
16 March 1923 arrived at Devonport
19 March 1923 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
16 April 1923 arrived at Devonport from Woolwich
14 July 1923 Mr J A Le Cointer appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 July 1924 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV’s UPNOR and BISON
16 July 1924 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
18 July 1924 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
23 July 1924 in No: 5 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
24 July 1924 in No: 5 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
28 July 1924 in No: 5 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
18 August 1924 berthed at Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
27 August 1924 berthed at Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
30 August 1924 berthed at Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
2 September 1924 berthed at Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
9 September 1924 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
13 September 1924 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
20 October 1924 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
10 December 1924 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
15 December 1924 arrived at Devonport from Portsmouth
22 December 1924 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
24 March 1925 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
30 March 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
4 April 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
14 April 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
5 May 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
12 May 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
20 May 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
27 May 1925 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
5 June 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
17 July 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
23 July 1925 arrived at Devonport from Portsmouth Harbour
20 August 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
16 September 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
17 September 1925 in No: 1 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
22 September 1925 in No: 1 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
26 September 1925 in No: 1 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
28 September 1925 in No: 1 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
3 October 1925 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
14 October 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV UPNOR
3 November 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
12 December 1925 berthed at Torpedo Boat Slip, Portsmouth Harbour
25 December 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV BISON
30 December 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV BISON
31 December 1925 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV BISON
1 January 1926 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
3 January 1926 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV UPNOR
12 January 1926 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV UPNOR
15 January 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
19 January 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
21 January 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
22 January 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
25 January 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
1 February 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
1 March 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour along with NAV BISON
6 March 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
8 March 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
29 March 1926 arrived at Plymouth
6 April 1926 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
26 April 1926 arrived at Plymouth from Woolwich
29 May 1926 berthed on the North Corner Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
6 June 1926 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
1 July 1926 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
6 August 1926 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
12 August 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
21 August 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
8 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
12 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
16 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
19 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
21 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
22 October 1926 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
27 October 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
30 October 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
1 November 1926 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
8 November 1926 in dry dock No: 3, Portsmouth Harbour
12 November 1926 in dry dock No: 3, Portsmouth Harbour
15 November 1926 in dry dock No: 3, Portsmouth Harbour
17 November 1926 berthed in No: 1 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
25 November 1926 berthed on North Corner Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
1 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
3 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
7 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA ARGO
8 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA ARGO
11 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
15 December 1926 berthed at Sheer Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
30 December 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
31 December 1926 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
26 January 1927 arrived at Portsmouth from Devonport
27 January 1927 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
15 February 1927 arrived at Grangemouth from Crombie in ballast
17 February 1927 sailed Grangemouth to Crombie with Government stores
3 March 1927 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
4 March 1927 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour
28 March 1927 sailed Grangemouth to Crombie with a cargo of sinkers
14 April 1927 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
15 April 1927 berthed in No: 2 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
20 April 1927 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
22 April 1927 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
10 May 1927 sailed Grangemouth for Crombie with a cargo of sinkers
24 May 1927 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport with NAV BISON
2 June 1927 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport with NAV UPNOR
13 July 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
14 July 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
19 July 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
2 August 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
3 August 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
19 August 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
25 August 1927 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour
27 August 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
31 August 1927 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
21 September 1927 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
21 October 1927 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
28 March 1928 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
24 May 1928 arrived at Devonport from Portsmouth
3 June 1928 sailed Devonport for Woolwich
4 September 1929 the Port Glasgow Express newspaper reported …
31 December 1929 Captain William E Truscott appointed as Master
1 January 1931 detailed in a published list of RFA’s in Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA KIMMEROL, RFA EBONOL (1), RFA PETRONEL, RFA ORANGELEAF (1), RFA WAR AFRIDI, RFA PRESTOL, RFA BRITISH LANTERN, RFA LIMOL, RFA NORA and NAV UPNOR
2 January 1931 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour together with NAV UPNOR
11 March 1931 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour together with NAV BISON
16 March 1931 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Harbour together with NAV UPNOR
3 April 1931 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
5 May 1931 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard
17 June 1931 berthed at North Corner Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
19 June 1931 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard together with NAV BISON
27 June 1931 berthed at Pitch House Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
2 October 1931 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard
25 November 1931 alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard
29 November 1931 arrived at Devonport
24 May 1932 in No: 5 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
15 June 1932 arrived at Devonport from Portsmouth
13 October 1932 arrived at Devonport
28 November 1932 berthed at Old Harbour, Hull after arriving from Newcastle
1 December 1932 sailed Hull for Chatham
8 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
9 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
12 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Gosport together with NAV BISON
13 December 1932 ran aground at Torcross Sands, Devon in foggy weather. Refloated with the assistance of an Admiralty tug from Plymouth
22 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
23 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
24 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard with NAV UPNOR
30 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard with NAV UPNOR
31 December 1932 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard with NAV UPNOR
2 January 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard with NAV UPNOR
16 January 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
17 January 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
20 January 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
26 January 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
16 February 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
2 March 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
3 March 1933 on No: 5 Buoy, Portsmouth Harbour
4 March 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
13 March 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
1 April 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
4 April 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
6 April 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
8 April 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
2 May 1933 berthed at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
3 May 1933 in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
4 May 1933 in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
5 May 1933 in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
6 May 1933 in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
12 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
15 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
19 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
20 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
22 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
30 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
31 May 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
1 June 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
2 June 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
6 June 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
7 June 1933 in No: 5 dry dock, Portsmouth Dockyard
12 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
13 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
14 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
15 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
22 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
23 June 1933 berthed in No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
24 June 1933 moved from No 1 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard to alongside at the Naval Armanents Depot, Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
26 June 1933 berthed at Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
30 June 1933 sailed Priddy’s Hard, Portsmouth Dockyard
24 July 1933 berth in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard
29 July 1933 arrived at Plymouth from Portsmouth
16 August 1933 Captain Sydney C Moyse appointed as Master
28 August 1933 arrived at Priddy’s Hard, Gosport
21 September 1933 berthed at Priddy’s Hard Naval Armanents Depot, Portsmouth Dockyard together with NAV BISON and NAV UPNOR
23 September 1933 berthed at Priddy’s Hard with NAV UPNOR
8 June 1934 on the River Tyne at Vickers Armstrong at Elswick
2 September 1935 berthed at Woolwich
22 September 1935 arrived River Tyne from Woolwich
18 October 1935 arrived at Devonport
5 June 1937 Captain A H Paice appointed as Master
20 January 1938 sailed Devonport for Portsmouth
25 August 1938 arrived at Plymouth from Woolwich
21 November 1938 arrived at the River Tyne
7 August 1939 Captain E G L Geary appointed as Master
25 January 1942 lost near Wick when she ran aground in snow and heavy weather, striking rocks and sinking while on passage from Lyness to Invergordon fourteen of the crew and one DEMS gunner were killed – their details appear in the Roll of Honour for that year. Gunner John Frederick Clark is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial, 2nd Engineer Officer William A Cleghorn, AB Cyril S Cook, Boy Sidney G Davis, Captain David A K Foalle, Chief Engineer Officer Horace D Gumbrell, Chief Officer William A Hall, AB Victor D Kingdom, Fireman Harry J Lawrence, OS Roy C J McGrane, Fireman Frank Rawlins, Boy Harry Rowe, OS George W Smith, and AB William G Witham are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial (Panel 130).
Images above from the Tower Hill Memorial
Fireman and Trimmer Hector MacNichol is remembered in Perth (Wellshill) Cemetery, in Section K, Jeanfield Div, , Grave 211
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
24 November 1953 the wreck was located at 58°26N, 03°47.5W, or on a bearing of 074 degrees and 880 metres from the Wick south pier light
13 December 1991 the area was determined as foul ground due to the presence of unexploded ordnance in the area bounded by positions: [a] 58°26 29°5N, 05°5W [b] 58°26 29.5N, 003 03 43W [c] 58°26 23.5N, 03°42.5W [d] 58°26 23.5N, 03°57.5W.
9 July 1992 clearance operations are being carried out by a Royal Naval clearance diving unit commencing on 30 June 1992. It was expected to last 2 weeks
5 August 1992. clearance operations were conducted between 30 June 1992 and 4 July 1992, during which a number of 4.7″ cartridge cases, .303 rounds, .50 calibre ammunition and a depth charge were removed. A 1000lb solid shot projectile was located but left in situ. The Admiralty recommend that the legend remain unchanged on charts because further ordnance may be uncovered in the future
4 September 2011 a memorial was erected at Wick Harbour by the Merchant Navy Association – the RFA was represented by Captain Duncan Lamb RFA
16 April 2012 the wreck of NAV Isleford has been made a designated wreck under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2012