Official Number:                      142667

Laid down:

Builder:                                   Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Howdon on Tyne

Pennant No:                            Y3.2377 / Y8.124

Launched:                                26 July 1918

Into Service:                            October 1918

Out of service:                         11 October 1919

Fate:                                       13 March 1953 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:

 26 July 1918 launched by Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Howdeon on Tyne as Yard Nr: 250 named War Castle for the Shipping Controller

October 1918 completed and placed under management by R Gordon & Co, London and requisitioned for Admiralty service as a collier – name unchanged

15 March 1919 sailed Wellington for London

15 May 1919 became a stores carrier – name unchanged

11 October 1919 returned to her owners – name unchanged

1919 purchased by Leeds Shipping Co Ltd., (Sir W R Smith, Popham & Liley, Managers), Bideford and renamed Bradclyde

17 April 1920 sailed Falmouth for Montevideo

19 August 1920 arrived at New Orleans from Barry via New York

8 February 1923 arrived at Brixham from New York sailing later the same day for Hamburg

1934 purchased by New Ere Steamship Co Ltd., Bristol and renamed Avonbridge

1 December 1935 sailed from Istanbul

1937 purchased by M N & P G Lyras, Piraeus and renamed Lyras

12 April 1940 sailed Cristobal independently to Halifax

18 April 1940 sailed Halifax in convoy HX36 to Liverpool arriving 3 May 1940

7 June 1940 arrived at Newport

12 June 1940 sailed Newport independently to Swansea arriving the same day

23 June 1940 sailed Swansea independently to Milford Haven

26 June 1940 sailed Milford Haven in escorted convoy OB174 until dispersal on 30 June 1940 and then independently to Montreal arriving 11 July 1940

18 July 1940 sailed Montreal independently to Halifax arriving 22 July 1940

23 July 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX60 to Liverpool arriving 7 August 1940 with a cargo of grain

18 August 1940 arrived at Cardiff having sailed independently from Liverpool thence to Avonmouth the same day

21 August 1940 arrived at Cardiff having sailed independently from Avonmouth

24 August 1940 sailed Milford Haven in escorted convoy OB203 until dispersal on 28 August 1940 and then independently to New York arriving 8 September 1940

23 September 1940 sailed New York independently to Halifax arriving 27 September 1940

30 September 1940 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX77 to Stornaway with a cargo of steel

20 October 1940 sailed Stornaway independently to Belfast Lough arriving 21 October 1940

17 December 1940 sailed Belfast Lough independently to Swansea arriving 19 December 1940

31 December 1940 sailed Swansea independently to the Clyde arriving 2 February 1941

9 February 1941 sailed the Clyde in escorted convoy ON284 until dispersal on 14 February 1941 and then independently to Halifax arriving 28 February 1941

2 March 1941 sailed Halifax independently to St. John, New Brunswick arriving 3 March 1941

15 March 1941 sailed St John, New Brunswick independently to Halifax arriving 17 March 1941

21 March 1941 sailed Halifax in escorted convoy HX116 to Liverpool arriving 9 April 1941

1946 owners now G N & H N Lyras, Piraeus – name unchanged

1950 owners became M L Lyras & J M Pateras, Piraeus and renamed Aelos

13 March 1953 arrived Britton Ferry for demolition by T W Ward Ltd