Requisitioned Auxiliary – Swanley

 Swanley

 

 

 Swanley

 

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 …

 

29 4 1903 The Scotsman Swanley

 

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

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

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

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