Official No: 118288
Builder: D & W Henderson Ltd, Meadowside
Launched: 28 April 1903
Into Service: 31July 1914
Out of service: 10 August 1916
Fate: 6 August 1917 torpedoed and sunk
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:
28 April 1903 launched by D & W Henderson Ltd., Meadowside as Yard Nr: 433 named SWANLEY for Century Shipping Co Ltd., (Harris & Dixon, Managers) London
29 April 1903 The Scotsman newspaper reported …
June 1903 completed as a passenger / cargo vessel
17 November 1903 arrived at Galveston from Barry
24 September 1904 sailed from Ching Wang Tao to South Africa being described as in ‘the coolie trade’
7 October 1904 struck an uncharted reef near Natunas. The vessel had 2,259 coolies onboard. One died through the effects of opium all the rest were landed on Seraia Island
11 October 1904 berthed at Singapore damaged and with the ships pumps going
29 November 1905 berthed at Tanjong Pagar docks, Singapore
August 1906 at Barry Docks the all Chinese crew attempted to desert – The ships Officers and Police attempted to stop them. 17 made good their escape but were later recaptured ashore and returned to the vessel
31 July 1914 taken up for Admiralty service as a collier while abroad – name unchanged
12 September 1914 at Sandakan alongside HMS CLIO to provide 64 tons of bunker coal
22 September 1914 at Sandakan Harbour alongside HMS CLIO to provide 92 tons of bunker coal
24 September 1914 at Sandakan Harbour alongside HMS CADMUS to provide 130 tons of bunker coal
2 October 1914 between Basilan and Darvel Bay, Borneo alongside HMS KENNET to provide bunker coal
19 October 1914 at Limbu Mata Island alongside HMS CLIO to provide 96 tons of bunker coal
3 November 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a collier until 23 February 1915
9 November 1914 at Singapore proving stores for HMS CLIO
9 December 1914 while on passage to Colombo at alongside HMS KENNET to provide bunker coal
13 December 1914 sailed Colombo and went alongside HMS KENNET to provide bunker coal
15 December 1914 while on passage to Aden at 08.04 N 68.50E went alongside HMS KENNET to provide provisions
21 December 1914 berthed at Aden
23 December 1914 while on passage from Aden to Suez stopped by HMS KENNET which sent a boat to collect fresh provisions
24 December 1914 while on passage from Aden to Suez stopped by HMS KENNET which sent a boat to collect fresh meat
27 December 1914 while on passage from Aden to Suez stopped by HMS KENNET which sent a boat to collect fresh provisions
24 February 1915 redeployed for service as a Stores Carrier, name unchanged until 10 August 1916
7 March 1915 at Mudros HMS SAPPHIRE secured alongside for bunker coal
HMS SAPPHIRE
14 March 1915 at the Dardanelles HMS USK secured alongside for stores
7 April 1915 at Tenedos issued stores to HMS AMETHYST
8 April 1915 at the Dardanelles HMS USK secured alongside for stores
HMS USK
11 April 1915 at Port Sigri secured alongside HMS DARTMOUTH to issue provisions
24 April 1915 at the Dardanelles HMS USK secured alongside for stores
30 April 1915 at the Dardanelles HMS USK & HMS DARTMOUTH secured alongside for stores
5 May 1915 at Gallipoli HMS SAPPHIRE drew engineers stores
18 May 1915 at Tenedos HMS SAPPHIRE received stores
21 May 1915 at the Dardanelles HMS USK secured alongside for fresh meat
13 June 1915 at Mudros HMS USK secured alongside for bunker coal
14 June 1915 between Mudros and Malta took trawler 362 in tow
1 October 1915 at Mudos Bay issued naval stores to HMS EUROPA
HMS EUROPA
4 January 1916 at Mudros Bay working party onboard from HMS EUROPA
20 June 1916 at Mudros secured alongside HMS EXMOUTH and issued stores
10 August 1916 returned to her owners
1917 purchased by Donaldson Bros Ltd, Glasgow and renamed ARGALIA
6 August 1917 torpedoed and sunk by the German U-94 81 miles NW of Tory island in position 55.35 N 10.35 W while on passage from Baltimore – Glasgow with general cargo and a consignment of horses with the loss of 2 lives both of whom have no known grave but the sea and are recorded with pride on the Tower Hill Memorial in London