(Rix Cox Collection)

Official Number:                      97534            

Laid down:

Builder:                                  Short Bros Ltd., Pallion Yard, Sunderland 

Launched:                              16 August 1890    

Pennant No:                           Y3.1119             

Into Service:                           1 April 1915

Out of service:                        1918

Fate:                                     10 February 1919 foundered 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:

16 August 1890 launched by Short Bros Ltd., Pallion Yard, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 197 named Joseph Davis for James Westoll, Sunderland. She was launched by Mrs Cameron sister in law of the owner

23 September 1890 undertook builders sea trials

September 1890 completed

16 March 1892 passed Dover

16 April 1892 sailed Genoa, Italy. Captain Wilson was the Master

9 June 1892 sailed Cardiff

13 June 1892 the Sunderland Daily Echo reported ….

11 February 1898 sailed Malta

4 May 1898 sailed Gibraltar

4 November 1898 sailed Venice, Italy

11 November 1898 sailed Constantinople, Turkey

6 January 1899 sailed Cardiff

14 January 1899 passed Gibraltar. Captain Chelvers was Master

13 April 1899 passed Gibraltar

29 June 1899 the Sunderland Daily Echo reported ….

16 September 1899 arrived at Middlesborough

29 September 1899 sailed Cardiff

28 August 1901 Able Seaman P Kennedy discharged dead following an accident

20 December 1902 at roston, Lincoln Fireman Thomas Goodsir discharged dead having drowned 

17 May 1910 sailed Huelva, Spain

8 May 1913 sailed Malta

30 October 1914 passed the Lloyds Signal station on Flamborough Head sailing north

15 February 1915 passed the Lloyds Signal station on Flamborough Head sailing north

30 September 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as an Expeditionary Force Transport – name unchanged until 16 March 1916

17 March 1916 re-deployed as a Collier until 1918

11 April 1916 arrived at Glasgow from Brest

24 October 1916 in the English Channel victim of a gun attack by a German submarine – escaped 

10 February 1919 after reporting by radio that she was in a sinking condition, she foundered in the Approaches to the English Channel 25 miles NW of Ushant on passge from Cardiff to Gibraltar with a cargo of coal and with the loss of all hands