Subsequent Names:                   Rachelle    Jemen

Official No:                               89541

Builder:                                    Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow

Launched:                                29 January 1884

Pennant No:                              Y9.29  Y6.9  Y3.1696

Into Service:                             3 August 1914

Out of service:                          1919

Fate:                                        Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

29 January 1884 launched by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow as Yard Nr 535 named ALBATROSS for General Steam Navigation Co, London.

March 1884 completed

5 February 1885 berthed at Falmouth

3 March 1885 sailed South West India Dock, London

26 February 1887 while on passage from Bremen to London docks grounded at Woolwich Reach at low water – source Lloyds Casualty report

6 October 1888 at Gravesend while on passage from Bordeaux to London Docks was in collision with a barque Orient. The Orient struck the Albatross on the port quarter – amount of damage not stated – source Lloyds Casualty report

8 December 1904 berthed at Bordeaux

3 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for commissioned service as a Flotilla Supply Ship No: 5 until 15 January 1915 – name unchanged. Lieutenant John C Arnold RNR appointed in command and Engineer Lieutenant Charles Joslin RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Engineer Lieutenant Charles Joslin RNR

16 November 1914 Stoker 1st Class Eugine Ahern discharged dead. He is buried in Gorleston Cemetery in grave Q.11.320

16 January 1915 re-deployed as a Squadron Supply Ship – name still unchanged

3 March 1915 re-deployed in commissioned service as mine carrier until 23 July 1915

24 July 1915 re-deployed as an Expeditionary Force transport until 26 September 1915

27 September 1915 re-deployed as a mine carrier again

1 January 1917 at Sheerness

1 July 1917 at Sheerness

9 March 1918 Fireman Mathew Smith discharged dead. He is remembered with pride on a screen wall in Liverpool (Ford) Roman Catholic Cemetery

1 January 1920 Commissioned service ended – returned to her owners

1923 purchased by A Lagorara, Italy and renamed RACHELLE

1926 owners now the Eritrean Government and renamed JEMEN

1928 reported broken up