No Image

Currently

Available

Official Number:                       95548

Pennant No:                            Y 7 81

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Oswald Mordaunt & Co, Woolston

Launched:                               19 December 1888

Into Service:                            5 July 1915

Out of service:                         23 February 1918

Fate:                                      torpedoed and sunk 23 February 1918

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:

19 December 1888 launched by Oswald Mordaunt & Co, Woolston as Yard nr: 251 named ROCK LIGHT for Rock Light Steamship Co Ltd (C. Croshaw & Lane, Managers) London

April 1889 completed

October 1889 berthed on the River Tyne from Bremerhaven

21 October 1896 at 30°55N 1°33E Able Seaman T English discharged dead having drowned

1899 purchased by Shell Transport & Trading Co Ltd M Samuel & Co. Managers), London – name unchanged

29 July 1902 arrived at Thameshaven

7 July 1903 sailed Amsterdam

1907 purchased by Petroleum Steamship Co Ltd (Lane & MacAndrew Ltd, Managers) London – name unchanged

11 January 1913 at 49°34N 3°23W Able Seaman Edward Anderson discharged dead from heart failure

5 July 1915 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as an Oiler, name unchanged

18 August 1915 arrived at Newport News from Port Arthur

1 March 1916 at sea Fireman & Trimmer Henry Wallace discharged dead – natural causes

June 1917 purchased by British Tanker Co Ltd, London and renamed BRITISH VISCOUNT

23 February 1918 was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-91 when 12 miles NW of the Skerries while on passage from Liverpool to Queenstown with a cargo of fuel oil with the loss of 6 lives. The names of the six who were killed are remembered with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial