Official Number:                      90344

Laid down:

Builder:                                  Ropner & Sons, Stockton

Launched:                              2 February 1887

Pennant No:                           Y 3.1011

Into Service:                           19 January 1916

Out of service:                        4 October 1916

Fate:                             4 October 1916 captured and sunk

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:

2 February 1887 launched by Short Bros Ltd., Pallion Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 166 named J Y Short for Westoll Line (James Westoll Ltd., Manager) Sunderland

14 February 1887 the Sunderland Daily Echo newspaper reported …

February 1897 completed at a cost of £22,400

19 January 1916 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier – name unchanged – until 26 June 1916

27 June 1916 re-deployed as a collier to Northern Russia for Russian Government a/c until 28 July 1916 and was temporarily released to the Hudon’s Bay Co., London

15 September 1916 re-deployed as a collier to Northern Russia for Russian Government a/c

24 September 1916 at 58°56N 14°44W stopped by HMS ANDES and boarded by Lieutenant Farrow RNR, Boarding Officer – all found correct and allowed to proceed

HMS ANDES

4 October 1916 captured by German submarine U-43 (Hellmuth Jurst) in the Arctic and sunk by gun fire 80 miles E from Vardo in position 70°14N 35°30E while on passage from Penarth to Archangel with a cargo of coal – there were no casualties