Official Number:                    136014

Laid down:                              

Builder:                                   Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Low Walker Yard

Launched:                              22 May 1914

Pennant No:                           Y 8.55

Into Service:                           12 June 1915

Out of service:                        25 July 1916

Fate:                                        1958 Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of several ships requisitioned by the Admiralty for service during WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

22 May 1914 launched by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker Yard, Newcastle as Yard Nr: 936 named MACCLESFIELD for Great Central Railway Co., Grimsby

June 1914 completd for owners’ Grimsby to Antwerp service

22 June 1914 the Shields Daily News newspaper reported …

August 1914 remained on commercial service to the Netherlands

12 June 1915 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Stores Carrier – name unchanged

25 July 1916 returned to her owners – name unchanged

1919 resumed Grimsby to Antwerp service

9 May 1921 sailed Grimsby to Rotterdam

1 January 1923 owners became London & North Eastern Railway Co., Grimsby – name unchanged

29 April 1925 sailed Town Docks, Hull for Rotterdam

26 November 1925 sailed Town Docks, Hull for Rotterdam

7 January 1926 sailed Hull for Rotterdam

14 January 1926 sailed Town Docks, Hull for Rotterdam

10 March 1926 sailed Town Docks, Hull for Rotterdam

5 April 1926 arrived at Hull and berthed on Riverside Quay from Rotterdam

29 March 1929 the Scotsman newspaper reported …

9 April 1930 arrived at Grimsby from Hull in ballast

24 December 1930 at Antwerp Fireman William Donner discharged dead – heart failure

26 December 1930 at Cleethorpes Captain James Semple discharged dead – heart attack

May 1935 transferred to Associated Humber Lines – name unchanged

4 June 1936 berthed in Hull Town Docks from Grimsby in ballast

14 August 1938 arrived at Grimsby from Antwerp

9 May 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy MT66 to the River Tyne arriving the next day

26 July 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy OA190 to Lerwick arriving 28 July 1940

11 August 1940 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN2/1 to Kirkwall arriving 13 August 1940

25 August 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy OA204

28 September 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy OA221 to Stromness

10 November 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN22/1 to Lerwick arriving 14 November 1940

10 December 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN39/1 to Lerwick arriving 14 December 1940

7 January 1941 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN53/1 to Lerwick arriving 10 January 1941 and then onto Oban arriving 12 January 1941

29 January 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy FS399 to Southend arriving 31 January 1941

17 March 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN86A to Belfast Lough arriving 20 March 1941

23 May 1941 sailed the River Clyde in unescorted convoy WN131 to Methil arriving 26 May 1941

21 June 1941 sailed Belfast Lough in unescorted convoy BB37 to Swansea arriving 23 June 1941

20 July 1941 sailed Oban in escorted convoy WN155 to Methil arriving 23 July 1941

8 August 1941 sailed Southend in unescorted convoy EC57 to Methil arriving the next day

31 August 1941 sailed Oban in unescorted convoy WN191 to Methil arriving 3 September 1941

24 September 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EC77 to Ardrossan arriving 27 September 1941

9 October 1941 sailed Oban in escorted convoy WN191 to Methil arriving 12 October 1941. RFA BLACK RANGER also sailed in this convoy

30 October 1941 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EC91 to Liverpool arriving 2 November 1941

22 October 1942 sailed Oban in unescorted convoy WN352 to Methil arriving 24 October 1942

4 November 1942 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN158 to Kirkwall arriving the next day

11 November 1942 sailed Kirkwall joining in unescorted convoy WN359 to Dundee arriving the next day

4 May 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN224 to Liverpool arriving 6 May 1943

24 June 1946 Chief Officer Robert Hobson DSC appointed to Membership of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Civil Division – details published in the Birthdays Honours List of this day

1948 owners became British Transport Commission, Grimsby – name unchanged

20 January 1952 at Hull Able Seaman James Albert Grantham discharged dead from a heart attack

December 1958 arrived Utrecht for demolition by Vereenigde Utrechtsche Yzerhandel