Official Number: 123185
Laid down:
Builder: Palmer’s Co Ltd., Jarrow
Pennant Nr: Y 3.4
Launched: 11 June 1907
Into Service: 24 October 1913
Out of service: after 1920
Fate: 5 December 1929 foundered off Lands End
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:
11 June 1907 launched by Palmer’s Co Ltd., Jarrow as Yard Nr: 797 named Frances Duncan for Frances Duncan Steamship Co Ltd., (J T Duncan & Co., Managers), Cardiff
2 July 1907 the Lloyds List newspaper reported …
August 1907 completed
5 September 1907 at Cardiff Workhouse Infirmary Fireman James Flynn discharged dead from a fractured based of the skull
20 September 1907 berthed at Calais from Cardiff
26 September 1907 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
27 September 1907 berthed at Penarth from Calais
30 November 1907 the Hampshire Telegraph newspaper reported –
5 May 1908 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Catherines Point sailing east bound
25 June 1908 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
26 July 1908 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound from Cardiff
1 September 1908 sailed Cardiff for Portland
10 April 1909 berthed at Kirwall
20 November 1909 sailed Cardiff for Devonport
4 April 1910 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound
21 July 1910 arrived at Cardiff from Falmouth
11 September 1910 arrived at Cardiff from Portland
14 September 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
12 November 1910 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound from Cardiff
1911 the crew refused to allow the ship to sail unless overtime was paid at an increased rates
19 May 1913 at Cardiff Able Seaman Phillip Badcock discharged dead – drowned
24 October 1913 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier – name unchanged – at a rate (for the first year) of £1,075 p.m.
23 April 1914 at Sheerness alongside HMS VENGEANCE supplying 740 tons of bunker coal
HMS VENGEANCE
9 July 1914 in collision with RFA ATTENDANT when the later was under going sea trials prior to her acceptance into the Service
3 September 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS TEUTONIC
HMS TEUTONIC
16 March 1918 at sea Donkeyman Frank Langlois drowned through enemy action
7 January 1919 the ships Master Captain Frederick William Rees appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
1919 returned to her owners – name unchanged
11 February 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
18 February 1920 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing
2 March 1920 arrived Barry Dock, Cardiff
23 April 1921 at Greenock
2 June 1921 alongside HMS BARHAM at Greenock supplying 70 tons of coal
20 December 1921 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
26 July 1924 berthed in Coaling Depot – C1 at Portsmouth Harbour
28 July 1924 berthed in Coaling Depot – C1 at Portsmouth Harbour
24 December 1925 berthed in Coaling Depot – C1 at Portsmouth Harbour
9 December 1926 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
13 January 1928 arrived at Newport from Devonport
1 January 1929 made fast to No: 9 Buoy, Portsmouth Harbour
2 January 1929 made fast to No: 9 Buoy, Portsmouth Harbour
12 January 1929 sailed from Portland
6 March 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 April 1929 arrived at Plymouth from Merthil
13 May 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 July 1929 arrived at Gibraltar
5 December 1929 at noon foundered off Lands End off Longships in a gale while on passage from Barry to Rouen with a cargo of coal. Sixteen of her crews lives were lost. Five survivors were picked up by the Newcastle registered cargo ship Alice Marie
6 December 1929 the Times Shipping reports published …
26 June 1930 the Cornishman newspaper reported …
