SS Rose Marie after her Admiralty requisitioned auxiliary service

Official Number:                     128498

Laid down:

Builder:                                     Craig Taylor & Co Ltd., Stockton

Launched:                               17 September 1909

Into Service:                             September 1916

Out of service:                         1919

Fate:                                          Sunk after a collision in 1923

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:

22 September 1909 sailed Middlesborough for Sunderland

October 1909 completed

29 December 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard

8 December 1911 at Port Talbot, Wales landed four of the crew of a Belgian ship the ss Van Dyck which had run aground on rocks near the Sevenstones Light House, off Lands End on 6 December 1911. Fourteen other members of the crew had been drowned.

1912 owners restyled as Tree SS Co Ltd, Cardiff

13 July 1912 arrived the River Wear from Rosyth

11 July 1913 at Queensferry Fireman Michael Finegan discharged dead – drowned

21 April 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DONEGALL refuelling her with coal

21 August 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL refuelling her with 1164 tons of bunker coal

6 January 1916 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DONEGALL refuelling her with coal 

13 January 1916 signalled for assistance at height of a NW’ly gale. The Thurso lifeboat Sarah Austin was launched, rendered assistance and berthed the vessel at Scrabster

September 1916 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier

16 August 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS FEARLESS on buoy 81 refuelling her with  395 tons of bunker coal

HMS FEARLESS

23 August 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS FEARLESS on buoy 81 refuelling her with bunker coal – 122 tons supplied

31 August 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS FEARLESS on buoy 81 refuelling her with bunker coal – 78 tons supplied

15 December 1917 at Haslar Naval Hospital Engineer Lieutenant Andrew Cant RNR discharged dead from cancer of the throat. He is buried in Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery in grave L2033

21 July 1918 Sub-Lieutenant David Lawrence McLaren RNR discharged dead from pneumonia. He is buried in Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery in grave EH CE 676

1 February 1919 at Rosyth alongside HMS SOUTHAMPTON refuelling her with coal

1919 returned to her owners, then purchased by Pelton SS Co Ltd., Newcastle and renamed

SPERO

1919 purchased by Rodney SS Co Ltd, Newcastle and renamed ROSE MARIE