As built as HMS RANGER
AFTER CONVERSION IN 1892
Official Number: 102075
Laid down:
Builder: John Elder & Co, Govan
Launched: 10 February 1880
Into Service: 15 November 1914
Pennant No: W.67 (as of September 1918)
Out of service:
Fate: 1q/1954 broken up
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:
12 February 1880 launched by John Elder & Co, Govan as Yard Nr 228 named HMS RANGER for the Royal Navy as a Composite Screw Gunboat
1880 completed and served on the East Indies Station
10 February 1890 arrived at Aden
1892 purchased by Liverpool Salvage Association, Liverpool and converted into a Salvage Ship named RANGER
17 May 1898 arrived at Newhaven from Portsmouth
1902 re-engined in Belfast by Workman Clark & Co Ltd
4 April 1907 assisted with salvage of the stern section of the White Star’s ss SUEVIC
25 April 1908 was responsible for the successful salvage of HMS GLADIATOR following the warships collision with the American mail steamer ss St. Paul during which the warship foundered off the Isle of Wight. HMS GLADIATOR settled on her starboard side in shallow water close to Fort Victoria. Salvage work began almost at once, but it took over five months to right the ship, re-float it and tow it back to Portsmouth
HMS GLADIATOR being salvaged
2 June 1913 assisted in the salvage of the liner Haverford which went ashore near Queenstown. Divers examined the ship hull and made repairs which together with pumps placed onboard allowed the ship to be refloated clear
15 November 1914 requisitioned for Admiralty service, name unchanged, as a Salvage Vessel. Her Gross Charter fees were £150 per day until 28 February 1915, £125 per day until 31 March 1916, £100 per day until 17 January 1917 then £33 10sh per day
3 February 1915 at the Firth of Forth James Sutherland discharged dead – drowned (no rank or rate shown in the Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths maintained by the Registrar of Seaman)
30 June 1915 based at Portsmouth
31 August 1917 Thomas ANDERSON, James TIERNEY, George GALE discharged dead during an attempted rescue during ship salvage operations
22 March 1918 from the London Gazette
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal to Thomas Anderson and James Edward Tierney, late members of the crew of the Liverpool Salvage Association’s vessel Ranger, now in the temporary service of the Admiralty, and to George Gale, late foreman stevedore of the Admiralty at Portland Dockyard, who unhappily lost their lives under the following circumstances: —
On the 31st of August, 1917, during salvage operations on board the steamship Great City, the holds of which were known to be heavily charged with gas arising from decomposing grain, one of the stevedore’s men noticed some pieces of wood floating towards the pump and, contrary to strict orders, went down in order to pick the wood up so as to prevent the pump from choking. While in the act of doing this, he was overcome by gas and fell into the water. Anderson, who had some time previously suffered from gas poisoning, and, therefore, knew the gravity of the risk, at once went to his assistance and succeeded in holding him up while a rope was being sent down to him, but before this could reach him he was also overcome and fell into the water. Tierney and Gale then went to the rescue, but both were also overcome
The Edward Medal
Anderson, Tierney and Gale undoubtedly lost their lives in an endeavour to save the lives of their fellow workman.
15 October 1918 until 23 October 1918 at Southampton alongside HMS CARRIGAN HEAD undertaking work on damaged plates & getting timber on board
1925 owners became Liverpool & Glasgow Salvage Association, Liverpool name unchanged
8 November 1931 attended on the steam trawler Cevic which stranded in the Sound of Islay. The trawler was refloated and was berthed alongside the Ranger at Port Askaig, Islay
28 March 1932 reported by radio that the fire onboard the steamer Marie Moller had now been extinguished
13 July 1937 rescued ten of the crew of the cargo vessel Nellie on rock to the noth of Lundy Isle and took them to Ilfracombe
30 June 1939 to September 1939 assisted in the salvage of the sunken submarine HMS THETIS
8 February 1941 arrived Eriskay to attempt to salvage the Harrison Line steamer POLITICIAN which had run aground there but salvage proved to be impossible
12 November 1941 at Belfast Fireman Patrick Joseph Brennan discharged dead from pneumonia
June 1947 on the Inismore refloated the Aran Island steamer Dun Aengus repairing seven holes in hull with cement
1st quarter of 1954 reported broken up at Salthouse Dock, Liverpool by Henry Bath & Son Ltd