Beaconstreet after being sold and renamed Esso Dublin
Official Number: 149865
Laid down:
Builder: Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd., Jarrow
Launched: 31 May 1927
Into Service: WW2
Out of service: WW2
Fate: 5 November 1953 arrived to be broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA
Career Data:
31 May 1927 launched by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow as Yard Nr: 966 named BEACONSTREET for Beacon Transport Co of Canada Ltd, Montreal
1 June 1927 the Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelegencer newspaper reported …
July 1927 completed
13 September 1928 at Baltimore, USA Chief Engineer Officer Colin J Macaulay discharged dead from natural causes
6 June 1931 arrived at Boston from Tampico
27 February 1932 berthed at Liverpool from Aruba
1933 purchased by British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd (F.J. Wolfe, Manager) London
18 May 1934 sailed Charleston for Tampico
5 November 1935 passed Gravesend from Maturin Bar
5 December 1935 engaged a crew of 33 at the Shipping Office at North Shields, River Tyne
10 December 1935 radioed she was 80 miles east of Lands End
31 December 1935 on passage to Caripito
15 January 1936 radioed she was 1,220 miles SW of Lands End while on passage to Southampton
1 May 1936 on passage to Hamburg
12 June 1936 on passage to Aruba and Montevideo
12 July 1936 on passage to Talara
16 August 1936 passed the Needles for Southampton
20 August 1936 arrived at Southampton from Hebburn on Tyne
30 August 1936 signaled she was 30 miles east of Niton
21 September 1936 on passage to Caripito
30 September 1936 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head while on passage to Cartagena
13 November 1937 sailed from the River Tyne for Caripito
8 September 1938 sailed from the River Tyne for Caripito
21 October 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard saiing east bound
24 October 1938 sailed Southampton
1939 management transferred to R.A. Carder, London
30 June 1939 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne
20 August 1939 sailed Corpus Christie for Le Havre
19 September 1939 sailed Le Harve independently to Southampton arriving the next day
30 September 1939 sailed Southampton and joined convoy OA12G. On 2 October 1939 this convoy reformed as Convoy OG1 and passed Gibraltar on 8 October 1939. Thence she sailed independently to Port Said arriving 17 October 1939
18 October 1939 at Suez
5 November 1939 sailed Abadan independently to Suez arriving 21 November 1939
25 November 1939 sailed Port Said independently to Gibraltar arriving 4 December 1939
8 December 1939 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HG10 arriving at the Downs on 18 December 1939. RFA’s WAR AFRIDI and WAR BHARATA were also in this convoy from Gibraltar to Devonport
20 December 1939 sailed the Downs in convoy FN57 to the River Tyne arriving 22 December 1939
22 December 1939 sailed the River Tyne independently to Rosyth arriving the next day
24 December 1939 sailed Rosyth independently to Invergordon arriving the next day
3 January 1940 sailed Invergordon independently to Liverpool arriving 6 January 1940
12 January 1940 sailed Liverpool to join convoy OB70 and then to join convoy OG14 which passed Gibraltar on 19 January 1940. RFA ALDERSDALE was also in these convoys on passage to Aden
28 January 1940 arrived at Port Said
29 January 1940 sailed Suez independently to Abadan arriving 12 February 1940
13 February 1940 sailed Abadan independently to Suez arriving 29 February 1940
1 March 1940 sailed Port Said independently to Gibraltar arriving 11 March 1940
13 March 1940 sailed Gibraltar independently to Post Said arriving 22 March 1940
23 March 1940 sailed Suez independently to Abadan arriving 6 April 1940
7 April 1940 sailed Abadan indepedently to Cape Town arriving 1 May 1940
14 May 1940 sailed Cape Town independently to Abadan arriving 5 June 1940
7 June 1940 sailed Abadan independently to Bombay arriving 15 June 1940
23 June 1940 sailed Bombay in convoy BN1 to Aden arriving 12 July 1940. RFA PLUMLEAF (1) joined this convoy at sea for Aden
29 July 1940 sailed Aden and joined convoy BN2 the next day to Suez arriving 6 August 1940
5 September 1940 sailed Suez in convoy BS4 which dispersed on 13 September 1940 and then sailed independently to Bombay arriving 21 September 1940
24 October 1940 sailed Bombay independently to Abadan arriving 2 November 1940
4 November 1940 sailed Abadan independently to Aden arriving 13 November 1940
18 November 1940 sailed Aden in convoy BN9 to Suez arriving 25 November 1940
12 December 1940 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving the same day
17 December 1940 sailed Alexandria independently to Port Said arriving the next day
19 December 1940 sailed Suez in convoy BS11 until dispersal on 27 December 1940 thence independently to Abadan arriving 5 January 1941
7 January 1941 sailed Abadan independently to Cape Town arriving 2 February 1941
2 February 1941 sailed Cape Town independently to Freetown arriving 18 February 1941
1 March 1941 sailed Freetown in the Liverpool bound convoy SL67 until 13 March 1941 when she was detached to Gibraltar
23 March 1941 sailed Gibraltar under escort and thence independently to New York arriving 11 April 1941
24 April 1941 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 28 April 1941
30 April 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX124 to Loch Ewe arriving 19 May 1941 and then joined escorted convoy WN129 to Methil arriving 21 May 1941
22 May 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS496 to Southend arriving 24 May 1941
7 June 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy EC30 to Oban arriving 14 June 1941
15 June 1941 sailed Oban joining in escorted convoy OG65 from Liverpool to Gibraltar – on an unknown date detached from this convoy independently to Curacao arriving 5 July 1941
7 July 1941 sailed Curacao independently to Halifax arriving 16 July 1941
22 July 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX140 to Loch Ewe arriving 6 August 1941 thence joining escorted Convoy WN163 to Scapa Flow arriving 8 August 1941
13 August 1941 sailed Scapa Flow joining escorted convoy EC58 as far as Loch Ewe arriving 14 August 1941
10 September 1941 arrived at Trinidad having sailed independently from Loch Ewe
15 September 1941 sailed Trinidad independently to Freetown arriving 5 October 1941
9 October 1941 sailed Freetown independently to Takoradi, Ghana arriving 13 October 1941
14 October 1941 sailed Takoradi, Ghana independently to Lagos, Nigeria arriving 17 October 1941
22 October 1941 sailed Lagos independently to Curacao arriving 11 November 1941
13 November 1941 sailed Curacao independently to Sydney, Cape Breton arriving 27 November 1941
28 November 1941 sailed Sydney, Cape Breton in escorted convoy SC57 with a cargo of FFO to Belfast Lough arriving 14 December 1941
14 December 1941 sailed Belfast Lough independently to Loch Ewe arriving 16 December 1941 thence joining escorted convoy WN220 to Scapa Flow arriving 21 December 1941
24 December 1941 sailed Scapa Flow and joined the unescorted convoy WN222 to Methil arriving the next day
26 December 1941 sailed Methel in the unescorted convoy FS683 to Sunderland arriving the next day
8 February 1942 sailed Sunderland in the unescorted convoy FN625 to the River Tyne arriving the same day
11 February 1942 sailed the River Tyne in unescorted convoy FN628 to Methil arriving the next day
16 February 1942 sailed Methil in escorted convoy to Loch Ewe arriving 18 February 1942. RFA EAGLESDALE was also in this convoy
1 March 1942 sailed Reykjavik in escorted convoy PQ12 to the Kola Inlet arriving 10 March 1942
10 April 1942 sailed Murmansk in escorted convoy QP10 to Reykjavik arriving 21 April 1942
30 April 1942 sailed Reykjavik in escorted convoy RU21 to Loch Ewe arriving 3 May 1942
5 May 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted convoy WN279 to Methil arriving 7 May 1942
7 May 1942 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS796 to Middlesborough arriving the next day
13 July 1942 sailed Middlesborough joining in unescorted convoy FN758 to Methil arriving the next day
18 August 1942 Captain Alfred P W Collister and Chief Engineer Officer Samuel Robinson both appointed as Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division for services when the ship was damaged in the air attacks of North Russian Convoy QP10 in April 1942 – details published in the London Gazette of this day
Captain Alfred P W Collister OBE
25 August 1942 DEMS Gunner Able Seaman Sidney E Towndrow, Royal Navy, P/JX248847 awarded a Mention in Despatches for services when the ship was damaged in the air attacks of North Russian Convoy QP10 in April 1942 – details published in the London Gazette of this day
4 January 1943 Chief Engineer Officer Richard Costigan appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division and Chief Steward Robert Thompson awarded the British Empire Medal – Civil Division in the New Year Honours List for 1943 – details published in the London Gazette of this day
Chief Engineer Officer Richard Costigan OBE
16 April 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC127 to Belfast Lough arriving 3 May 1943. Acted as escort oiler during this convoy having been fitted with buoyant hoses to refuel escorts astern. She was also carrying 104 depth charges for transfer to the convoy escorts if required
8 May 1943 the Admiralty War Diary of this date (Page 744) reported that the ships deployment in Operation Obstacle while escorted by HMS WENDSLEYDALE had been delayed by 24 hours due to inclement weather
16 June 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC134 to Liverpool arriving 30 June 1943. Acted as an escort oiler during this convoy. She carried, in addition, 60 depth charges for transfer to the convoy escort if required
30 June 1943 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB305 to Milford Haven arriving the next day
1 July 1943 sailed Milford Haven in escorted convoy WP363 to Falmouth arriving the next day
8 July 1943 sailed Falmouth to Milford Haven arriving the following day
13 July 1943 sailed Milford Haven and joined escorted convoy ONS13 to Halifax arriving 29 July 1943. Was one of three escort oilers in this convoy
9 August 1943 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC139 to Liverpool arriving 25 August 1943. Was one of six escort oilers in this convoy. Also carried sixty spare depth charges for the escorts
30 August 1943 sailed Liverpool independently to the River Clyde arriving the next day
13 September 1943 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy ONS18 to Halifax arriving 29 September 1943
17 September 1943 RASed HMS’s KEPPLE and ESCAPADE
11 October 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC144 to the River Clyde arriving 26 October 1943. Acted as one of three escort oilers for this convoy
5 November 1943 sailed the River Clyde in convoy ONS22 to Halifax arriving 21 November 1943. Acted as one of four escort oilers for this convoy
2 December 1943 sailed Halifax in convoy SC148 to Loch Ewe arriving 16 December 1943. Acted as one of six escort oilers for this convoy and carried 60 spare depth charges for the escorts
18 December 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy UR102 to Reykjavik arriving 22 December 1943
25 December 1943 sailed Reykjavik in convoy RU102 to Londonderry arriving 29 December 1943
30 December 1943 sailed Londonderry to join convoy ONS26 which had sailed from Liverpool for Halifax arriving 18 January 1944
14 March 1944 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy SC155 to Milford Haven arriving 29 March 1944. Acted as one of four escort oilers for this convoy and carried 60 spare depth charges for the escorts
31 March 1944 sailed Milford Haven in convoy WP SP 26 to the Solent arriving 2 April 1944
7 April 1944 sailed the Solent and joined convoy PW503 to Belfast Lough arriving 9 April 1944
20 April 1944 sailed Belfast Lough joining convoy ON233 from Liverpool to New York arriving 8 May 1944
2 May 1944 Captain John H Drew appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Civil Division and Chief Officer Denis D S Anthes appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Civil Division – both for services during the passage of convoys – details published in the London Gazette of this day
1944 owners became Anglo American Oil Co, London name unchanged
10 June 1944 Chief Steward George V Gudridge awarded the British Empire Medal – Civil Division in the Birthday Honours List for 1944 – details published in the London Gazette of this day
29 September 1944 sailed from Liverpool in escorted convoy ONS33 to Halifax arriving 14 October 1944. Was an escort oiler with this convoy
2 November 1944 sailed from Halifax in escorted convoy SC160 to Liverpool arriving 17 November 1944. Was an escort oiler with this convoy and also carried 60 depth charges for the escorts
21 November 1944 sailed from Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN655 to Methil arriving 23 November 1944
8 December 1944 sailed from Southend in escorted convoy TBC1 to Milford Haven arriving 11 December 1944
28 December 1944 sailed from Liverpool in escorted convoy ONS39 to Halifax arriving 13 January 1945. Was an escort oiler with this convoy
7 March 1945 sailed from Halifax in escorted convoy SC169 to Liverpool arriving 21 March 1945. Was an escort oiler with this convoy and also carried 60 depth charges for the escorts
2 April 1945 sailed from Liverpool in escorted convoy ONS46 to Halifax arriving 20 April 1945. Was an escort oiler with this convoy
3 July 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard saiing west bound
25 July 1945 sailed Houston for Falmouth
9 January 1946 Chief Officer Peter Lowson appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) – Civil Division in the New Year Honours List – details published in the London Gazette of this day
24 May 1947 at 38°18N 44°50W Able Seaman John Cameron discharged dead – lost overboard
9 April 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard saiing west bound
16 July 1948 sailed Abadan
1 August 1948 arrived at Suez while on passage from Abadan for LEFO
24 September 1948 sailed from Port Said
8 October 1948 arrived at Abadan
1 November 1948 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
18 January 1949 berthed at Palmers, Hebburn on Tyne in refit
13 May 1949 at Martiques, France Donkeyman Greaser Edward Burns discharged dead from spinal injuries
21 May 1949 sailed from Suez
3 June 1949 arrived at Abadan
20 June 1949 sailed Port Said while on passage from Abadan for LEFO
25 September 1949 sailed Suez while on passage from Falmouth to Ras Tanura
1950 purchased by Esso Petroleum Co Ltd, London and renamed ESSO DUBLIN
5 November 1953 arrived Blyth for demolition by Hughes Bolckow & Co Ltd.