Official Number:                     123949

Laid down:                              

Builder:                                 Swan & Hunter, Wallsend

Launched:                             22 June 1907

Pennant No:                          Y 3.668  /  Y 8.100

Signal Letters:                       HLMJ (1907)

Into Service:                           WW1

Out of service:                        1919

Fate:                                     Wrecked 17 March 1920

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 June 1907 J L Thompson & Sons Ltd., North Sands, Sunderland as Yard Nr: 457 named ARNELL for W R Rea, Sunderland

11 September 1907 sailed Sunderland on trials

1909 purchased London Gate Steamship Co Ltd., London – name unchanged

1910 purchased by Dowgate Steamship Co Ltd., London and renamed MOORGATE

15 July 1910 at Mariopul, Russia Able Seaman William Turner, Able Seaman Albert Nicholas, Able Seaman Sydney  Johnson and Carpenter Albert Edward Fenn – each discharged dead from Cholera

27 March 1912 passed Gibraltar west bound

13 May 1912 passed Fernando Noronha

29 May 1912 arrived at Buenos Aires from Emden

2 August 1912 arrived at Antwerp from Manchester

26 August 1912 sailed from Teneriffe for the River Plate

13 February 1913 sailed Buenos Aires for Rotterdam

10 September 1913 arrived at Buenos Aires from Antwerp

WW1 requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Collier – name unchanged

20 September 1914 in the English Channel off Plymouth while on passage from Barry. Challenged by HMS CAESAR and allowed to proceed

ss MOORGATE discharging stores for use by the Army at the 1st Battle of Ypres

March 1915 at Devonport loading Sopwith “Schneider” single seat floatplanes to take to the Dardenelles

6 April 1915 arrived at the Isle of Tendedos

13 May 1915 at the Isle of Tendedos Able Seaman John Dunn discharged dead with a fractured skull

5 March 1916 at Alexandria an armed guard from HMS HANNIBAL boarded. Two sentries left on guard

HMS HANNIBAL

26 September 1918 became a Stores Carrier – name unchanged

21 December 1918 became a Collier again – name unchanged

1919 returned to her owners – name unchanged

25 July 1919 delivered to Alexander Shipping Co Ltd., London and renamed TEWKSBURY

17 March 1920 wrecked 7 miles W of Cape Pine, Newfoundland while on passage from Antofagasta to Liverpool carrying a cargo of nitrate