Subsequent name:
Official Number: 136700
Class: FIRST 1000t ATTENDANT CLASS Coastal Oiler
Pennant No: N97 / X15 / X02
Signal Letters: GQJL (1919)
Laid down: 7 October 1912
Builder: Chatham Dockyard
Launched: 5 July 1913 – No. 8 slip
Into Service: August 1914
Out of service: Sold 1935
Fate: Chartered back during World War 2
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a programme of tanker construction for the fledgling RFA Service and there were 4 ships in this Class, all of which were little more than powered barges. The early Swedish diesel engines in 2 of them gave endless trouble and ultimately, 3 of the Class were sold off at the end of the War as part of the Government Disposal Scheme. In April 1940, approval was given to build six 1500 ton Fleet Attendant Tankers, of which two were intended to replace two of this Class and the rest to replace larger Fleet Attendant Tankers for freighting duties, but eventually to replace the other 1000 tonners. As designed they were to have been 3200tons full load displacement, 263 ft (o.a.) x 38.5 ft x 16 ft, with steam engines developing 1200 ihp giving a speed of 10 knots with 2000 miles endurance. Cargo was to have been 1500 tons of fuel oil, 100 tons of diesel oil and 50 tons of petrol. There were no slips available in the U.K. for building and building capacity was sought in Canada but shipyards there could not cope either. In May 1940 the idea was abandoned
5 July 1913 launched by H.M. Dockyard, Chatham as Yard Nr: N/A named ATTENDANT
1 December 1913 Lieutenant William Gregory RNR appointed as Master
8 January 1914 the Western Morning News reported –
9 July 1914 when just 10 minutes into her trials, she was rammed by the Fleet Coaling Service collier FRANCES DUNCAN
Collier FRANCES DUNCAN
11 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 alongside to be refuelled
12 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB36 alongside being refuelled
13 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 alongside to be refuelled
14 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
15 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
16 August 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 alongside to be refuelled also supplied her with ½ ton of culinary coal
17 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
19 August 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside
20 August 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside
21 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
22 August 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside
23 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
24 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
25 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
26 August 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside
27 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
28 August 1914 completed and registered in Admiralty ownership also at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
29 August 1914 at Queensferry HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
31 August 1914 at South Queensferry HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
September 1914 the Admiralty commenced censorship of mail from ships at the start of World War 1. Stamps showing an item had been censored were applied to the outside of the envelope
1 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
3 September 1914 at South Queensferry with HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
4 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
5 September 1914 at South Queensferry with HM TB 36 alongside to be refuelled
6 September 1914 at South Queensferry with HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
7 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside
8 September 1914 at South Queensferry with HM TB 35 and HM TB 36 alongside being refuelled
10 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
15 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
17 September 1914 off Inchkeith with HM TB 35 made fast alongside being refuelled
21 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
24 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
26 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
29 September 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
7 October 1914 believed at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
3 October 1914 at Queensferry with HM TB 35 berthed alongside being refuelled
1914 to 1919 on Dockyard fuelling service
21 January 1915 at Rosyth alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL to refuel her – issued 235 tons of FFO
15 February 1915 at Rosyth alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL to refuel her – issued 518 tons of FFO
HMS PRINCESS ROYAL
3 April 1915 at Grangemouth Leading Stoker David Clements discharged dead – drowned
24 April 1915 at Rosyth alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL to refuel her – issued 130 tons of FFO
19 May 1915 at Queensferry alongside HMS LIVERPOOL refuelling her with 41 tons of FFO. The Requisitioned Auxiliary collier TRANSPORTER also alongside the warship delivering 349 tons of bunker coal
HMS LIVERPOOL
2 June 1915 Engineer Lieutenant William G Wiltshire RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 July 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON to refuel her – supplied 253 tons of FFO
HMS PHAETON
6 July 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON to refuel her – issued 39 tons of FFO
19 July 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON to refuel her
4 August 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON to refuel her and Engineer Lieutenant Archibald R Hindle RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. Was transferred to RFA RAPIDOL on 4 June 1917
9 August 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHAETON to refuel her
23 August 1915 Lieutenant William E Rousell RNR appointed in command
Lieutenant William E Rousell RNR
9 November 1915 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LIVERPOOL refuelling her – 45 tons of FFO supplied
1 January 1916 Lieutenant William H Harvey RNR appointed in command
1 September 1916 Lieutenant Edward Gattey RNR appointed in command
10 October 1916 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 66 tons of FFO supplied
HMS FEARLESS
22 November 1916 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 170 tons of FFO supplied
23 December 1916 at Gutter Sound alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 69 tons of FFO supplied
14 January 1917 at Gutter Sound alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 64 tons of FFO supplied
23 January 1917 at Gutter Sound alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 25 tons of FFO supplied
11 May 1917 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS FEARLESS refuelling her – 60 tons of FFO supplied
2 June 1917 Engineer Lieutenant William G Wiltshire RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Engineer Lieutenant William G Wiltshire RNR
8 August 1917 Stoker Ed Downs logged as deserted. He had signed on on 3 September 1916
11 May 1918 Lieutenant Lockhart D McKirdy RNR appointed in command
3 June 1918 2nd Officer Alfred J Malvisi RFA appeared before a court martial charged with being absent without leave. Pleaded guilty to the charge and was adjudged to be severely reprimanded
2nd Officer Alfred J Malvisi
10 August 1918 2nd Officer P H Warrall released to join the Royal Air Force. He had signed on on the 24 June 1918
27 August 1918 Stoker John William Harding logged as deserted. He had signed on on 11 March 1918
5 September 1918 Leading Stoker J F Smith logged as deserted. He had signed on on 3 September 1916
10 September 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Stoker John William Harding of the ship (see above)
21 October 1918 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
HMS GALATEA
6 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard secured alongside HMS CARADOC to refuel her – supplied 100 tons FFO
11 November 1918 at Rosyth Dockyard secured alongside HMS CARADOC to refuel her – supplied 186 tons FFO
HMS CARADOC
13 March 1919 at Rosyth Dockyard alongside HMS CAMBRIAN refuelling her – supplied 630 tons FFO
7 April 1919 at Rosyth Dockyard alongside HMS CASTOR refuelling her
HMS CASTOR
8 April 1919 Trimmer A Waterman MMR 877915 logged as deserted. He had signed on on 1 January 1919
16 April 1919 at Rosyth Dockyard alongside HMS CASTOR refuelling her
18 April 1919 Captain John P Ballard RFA appointed as Master
16 May 1919 Scullion E Byrne MMR 927483 logged as deserted. He had signed on on 1 April 1919
16 July 1010 at Lerwick HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel
21 August 1919 Mr G Alderson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 October 1919 at at Allesund, Norway HMS MANTIS came alongside to refuel – received 50 tons of FFO
9 October 1919 at Allesund, Norway HM Monitor M33 came alongside to refuel – received 33 tons of FFO
15 October 1919 at Allesund, Norway HM Monitor M31 came alongside to refuel
26 February 1920 at Charlestown, Fife moored alongside RFA CELEROL providing 90 tons FFO as bunkers
June 1920 Captain F J Richardson RFA appointed as Master. He had previously been the Chief Officer of RFA LIMOL
8 December 1920 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
9 December 1920 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
28 December 1920 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
29 December 1920 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
31 December 1920 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
7 January 1921 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
12 January 1921 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
30 March 1921 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
22 April 1921 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
3 May 1921 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
4 May 1921 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
1921 – 1923 was on a Yard Craft Agreement at Rosyth Dockyard
5 May 1922 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth
1929 – 1934 in reserve at Rosyth
11 February 1935 in reserve at Rosyth together with RFA’s Burma, Carol, Dredgol, Trefoil and Turmoil with their disposal being considered
21 May 1935 offered for sale by tender by the Admiralty in the Times of this day
28 June 1935 sold as lies at Rosyth, by competitive tender, to P & W McClellan Ltd, Bo’ness for demolition, but was resold by them to Hemsley, Bell & Co Ltd (H. L. R. Bell, Manager) Southampton for further trading under the same name. She was mainly used on the Thames and on the South Coast as a bunkering ship
1 August 1935 removed from Rosyth
1939 chartered by the Admiralty and based mainly at Scapa Flow
4 October 1939 at Devonport alongside HMS EMERALD refuelling her with 866 tons of FFO
HMS EMERALD
1 January 1941 mined off Sheerness but made port for repairs
13 February 1942 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN 46/2 to Oban arriving 16 February 1942
30 January 1943 at Scapa Flow Fireman H Forsyth and Sailor G Geddes absent without leave for 2 days – both logged and find £1.00 each
12 February 1943 at West Weddell Sound, Scapa Flow in collision with ss Beltoy and suffered damage
31 March 1943 at Lyness Cook/Steward R Boag logged as deserting the ship
27 April 1943 Captain John McFadyen RFA awarded a commendation – details published in the London Gazette of this day
Captain John McFadyen RFA
24 May 1943 at Lyness Fireman/Greaser J Rose logged for being absent without leave – fined 10/- and one days pay
9 July 1943 at Leith Fireman/Greaser J Rose logged for desertion
10 July 1943 at Leith Fireman F J Duncan logged for desertion
3 September 1944 at Plymouth alongside HMS BELLONA supplying 120 tons of FFO
11 September 1944 at Plymouth alongside HMS BELLONA supplying 240 tons of FFO
16 September 1944 at Plymouth alongside HMS BELLONA supplying 900 tons of FFO
27 July 1945 returned to her owners
9 March 1946 arrived Southampton from Falmouth
18 June 1946 arrived Southampton from Falmouth
20 August 1946 arrived at Hamble from Falmouth
29 January 1947 arrived at Southampton from Falmouth
30 September 1947 arrived Southampton from Falmouth
1948 chartered by British Mexican Petroleum Co Ltd, London
6 June 1950 sailed from Dover
20 June 1950 arrived at Dover
25 July 1950 arrived at Dover
17 August 1950 arrived at Dover
18 August 1950 sailed from Dover
17 October 1950 arrived at Dover
3 November 1950 sailed from Dover
6 December 1950 arrived at Dover
20 December 1950 arrived at Dover
8 October 1964 arrived Queensborough for breaking up by Lacmots Ltd
19 November 1964 register closed