Official Number:                      105186

Laid down:

Builder:                                  Ropner & Sons, Stockton

Launched:                              3 May 1897

Pennant No:                           Y 3.838

Into Service:                           11 August 1915

Out of service:                        28 November 1917

Fate:                             28 November 1917 mined and sank

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:

3 May 1897 launched by Ropner & Sons, Stockton as Yard Nr: 335 named Windsor for “Windsor” Steamship Co Ltd., (Evan Thomas Radcliffe & Co., Managers) Cardiff

June 1897 completed

1911 owners became “Jane Radcliffe” Steamship Co Ltd., (Same Managers) Cardiff and renamed Jane Radcliffe

11 August 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Collier – name unchanged until 7 January 1916

12 May 1916 re-deployed as a collier until 23 June 1916

24 June 1916 re-deployed as a Transport carrying sugar from Cuba until 16 September 1916

17 September 1916 redeployed as a collier until 27 October 1916 and was then temporarily released

1 March 1917 re-deployed as a collier until 31 March 1917

1 April 1917 re-deployed as a Transport carrying sugar from Cuba until 12 July 1917

13 July 1917 re-deployed as a collier to Northern Russia for Russain Government a/c until 11 October 1917

12 October 1917 re-deployed as a collier until …

28 November 1917 struck a mine laid by German submarine UC-74 (Wilhelm Marschall) and sank in the Mediterranean 2 miles SW of Antimilo Island, Greece while on passage from Barry and Milos to Port Said with a cargo of coal – there were no casualties

28 November 1917 at Suda Bay five of the crew who attended the Board of Enquiry which was held on HMS THESEUS into the loss of the Jane Radcliffe were accommodated onboard RFA BACCHUS (1) until 30 November 1917

HMS THESEUS