Official Number: 120523
Builder: Caledon SB & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee
Launched: 23 March 1905
Pennant Number:
Into Service: 5 August 1914
Out of service: 24 December 1917
Fate: Torpedoed by German Submarine UC40 on 8 December 1917. Later on 24 December 1917 sank while under tow.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA
23 March 1905 Launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee as yard Nr 179 named GRIVE for General Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London
May 1905 completed as a passenger / cargo ship for her owners’ London – Bordeaux service
18 December 1909 sailed Bordeaux
25 October 1911 sailed Bordeaux
28 February 1912 sailed Bordeaux
5 August 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a stores carrier up to 2 August 1915
7 August 1914 Lieutenant William Taylor RNR appointed as Commanding Officer and Engineer R Richards RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 August 1914 commissioned
5 February 1915 at 56.44N 7.50W sighted by HMS TEUTONIC and exchanged signals
HMS TEUTONIC
24 February 1916 became an armed boarding steamer
1 May 1916 anchored at Busta Voe
9 May 1916 anchored at Kola Inlet
10 May 1916 sailed Kola Inlet
12 July 1916 anchored at Semenova Anchorage – Murmansk. Sailed later the same day
1917 Commanding Officer Commander Stephen A. Pidgeon RD, RNR
27 June 1917 in the London Gazette Leading Seaman Thomas Dwyer ON J 8737 awarded the Distringuished Service Medal in recognition of service on HMS Grive between 1 February 1916 and 31 December 1916
10 July 1917 off North Cape escorting three Russain ships together with HMS STEPHEN FURNESS
8 December 1917 torpedoed off Lerwick by the German submarine UC40 (Kapitanleutnant Herman Menzel), did not sink. She was taken under tow to be beached at Lerwick
24 December 1917 After repairs she was in tow to Stornoway when she had to be abandonned in a gale and sank about 4 nm ENE of North Ronaldsay