Official Number:                      145417

Laid down:

Builder:                                  Taw Shipyards Ltd, Barnstaple

Launched:                              10 March 1921

Into Service:                           22 August 1940

Out of service:                        January 1946

Fate:                                     23 April 1952 sunk 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty during WW2 to augment the ships of the RFA

Career Data:

June 1921  completed as a coaster

23 September 1932 River Scheldt near Doel grounded while inbound to Antwerp – source Lloyds Casualty reports

25 September 1932 with the assistance of three tugs refloated (see above). Damage, if any, unknown – source Lloyds Casualty reports

1935  purchased by James Fisher & Sons Ltd, Barrow and renamed POOL FISHER

30 July 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy OA192 to Aberdeen

22 August 1940 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Boom Carrier, name unchanged

31 August 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy EN4/1 to Oban arriving 2 September 1940 with a cargo of Naval Stores

26 October 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy EN12/1 to Oban arriving 30 October 1940 with a cargo of Government Stores

26 December 1940 sailed Methil in Convoy EN47/1 to Lyness arriving 30 December 1940 with a cargo of Stores. The Admiralty owned MFA BRITISH LADY also sailed in this convoy

9 January 1941 sailed the Clyde in Convoy WN67 to Methil arriving 13 January 1941 – details from the Admiralty War Diary for 13 January 1941 and a signal of the same date from C in C Rosyth

19 February 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EN74/1 to Lyness arriving 22 February 1941

6 April 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EN95/1 to Lyness arriving 7 April 1941 with a cargo of cement

15 April 1941 sailed the Clyde in Convoy WN115 to Methil arriving 18 April 1941

16 June 1941 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN140 to Methil arriving 17 June 1941

19 July 1941 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN154 to Methil arriving 20 July 1941

4 August 1941 sailed Methil Roads in Convoy EC54 to Aberdeen arriving the next day

16 August 1941 sailed Oban in Convoy WN168 to Methil arriving 18 August 1941

8 September 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EC70 to Lyness arriving the next day. The Admiralty owned MFA BRITISH LADY also sailed in this convoy

20 September 1941 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN182 to Methil arriving the next day

18 October 1941 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN194 to Methil arriving the next day. RFA SCOTOL also sailed in this convoy

8 November 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EN4/2 to Oban arriving 11 November 1941

1 December 1941 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN212 to Methil arriving the next day

24 December 1941 sailed Methil in Convoy EN24/2 to Lyness arriving 28 December 1941 

24 January 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN36/2 to Oban arriving 27 January 1942 with a cargo of Government stores

14 February 1942 sailed Lyness in Convoy WN245 to Methil arriving 16 February 1942

13 March 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN58/2 to Lyness arriving 16 March 1942

31 March 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN264 to Methil arriving 2 April 1942

24 April 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN75/2 to Lyness arriving 26 April 1942

11 May 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN281 to Methil arriving the next day

20 June 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN100/2 to Lyness arriving 22 June 1942

1 July 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN303 to Methil arriving the next day

15 July 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN111/2 to Lyness arriving the next day

27 July 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN314 to Methil arriving the next day

12 August 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN123/2 to Lyness arriving the next day

18 August 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN324 to Methil arriving the next day

28 August 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN130/2 to Lyness arriving on 30 August 1942

13 September 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN336 to Methil arriving the next day

25 September 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN142/2 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

7 October 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN345 to Methil arriving the next day

24 October 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN154/2 to Lyness arriving 26 October 1942

5 November 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN357 to Methil arriving 7 November 1942

24 November 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN166/2 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

7 December 1942 sailed Lyness joining Convoy WN369 to Methil arriving the next day

22 December 1942 sailed Methil in Convoy EN176/2 to Scapa Flow arriving 24 December 1942

23 January 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy EN188/2 to Lyness ariving the next day

16 March 1943 sailed Methil in Convoy EN205/2 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

3 May 1943 sailed Lyness joining Convoy EN223/2 to Loch Ewe arriving the next day

15 July 1943 arriving at Scapa Flow in Convoy WN454. NAV KINTERBURY also sailed in this Convoy

20 July 1943 sailed Aberdeen in Convoy EN258/2 to Oban arriving 22 July 1943

24 February 1944 sailed Methil in Convoy EN350/2 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

23 September 1944 sailed Methil in Convoy EN438/2 to Scapa Flow arriving the next day

29 March 1945 sailed Methil in Convoy EN438/2 to Loch Ewe arriving 31 March 1945

January 1946 returned to her owners

1951 purchased by Holderness SS Co Ltd, London and renamed HOLDERNILE

23 April 1952 in collision with the Dutch steamer MEERKERK  in the River Scheldt near Fort St Marie and sank near Boerenschans with the loss of one of her crew.

24 April 1952 the Dutch ship RABENHAUPT hit the wreck and foundered but was later salved and returned to service