Lower image taken at Hong Kong on 2 December 1925 – note the ensign is at half mast due to the death of Queen Alexandra who had died on 20 November 1925 and whose funeral had taken place on 28 November 1925. This image was very kindly donated by Andrew Gourlay from the collection of Captain Charles Noel OBE RFA. Captain Noel was the Master of the Belgol on the date this image was taken.
Official Number: 140377
Class: SECOND 2000t BELGOL CLASS Tanker
Pennant No: X06 / X 106 / A 106
Laid down:
Builder: Irvine, Middleton, West Hartlepool
Launched: 23 April 1917
Into Service: October 1917
Out of service: 1958
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: There were ten ships in this Class, all Admiralty designed of which five were named after Allied countries while the other five were given names indicating power or speed, all with the OL suffix. Three of them, RFA’s FRANCOL, MONTENOL and SERBOL had upright funnels with a single tall mast close by, while the remainder had a raking funnel and two raking masts. During WW2 the mainmast was removed from these.
23 April 1917 launched by Irvine Shipbuilding & Drydock Co, West Hartlepool as Yard Nr: 578 named BELGOL
1 September 1917 Engineer Lieutenant James A Brown RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 October 1917 at London registered as BELGOL under reference 280/17 in the Registry book
19 October 1917 completed at a cost of £183,757
17 October 1917 Lieutenant A D Davies RNR appointed in Command
4 November 1917 Bosun A McDonald logged as deserted from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 22 September 1917
13 December 1917 Able Seaman H May logged as deserted from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 27 September 1917
26 January 1918 Fireman W Canon and Fireman G Marshall both logged as deserted from the ship. They had both signed on the ship on the 27 September 1917
14 October 1918 in collision with the ss Phoenix (no further details currently known)
27 November 1918 Greaser F Hallett MMR 589058 discharged dead. He had signed on on 22 September 1917. Buried in St Sever’s Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France – Block S, Plot 4, Row C, Grave 3
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
27 November 1918 Stoker L Vanner logged as deserted from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 16 November 1918
December 1918 supported the RN Squadron sent to the Baltic during the Russian Civil War on Operation Red Trek which secured the establishment of the independent states of Estonia and Latvia along with RFA’s BACCHUS (1), PRESTOL and SLAVOL
3 May 1919 at Solombola, Russia HMS CICALA alongside to be refuelled – 33 tons of FFO issued
HMS CICALA
4 May 1919 Chief Cook Walter Tenson MMR 37360 discharged dead. He had signed on on 27 November 1918. He was buried in the Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russian Federation
24 May 1919 at Archangel HMS CICALA came alongside to be refuelled – 47 tons FFO
12 June 1919 at Archangel HM Monitor M33 berthed alongside to be refuelled – 30 tons FFO
13 June 1919 ar Archangel HM Monitor M31 berthed alongside to be refuelled
14 August 1919 at Murmansk berthed alongside HMS EREBUS to refuel her – 160 tons FFO supplied
HMS EREBUS
22 September 1919 at Murmansk HM Monitor M24 came alongside to be refuelled – 1,000 gallons
28 September 1919 at Murmansk HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 35 tons of FFO issued
6 October 1919 at Murmansk HM Monitor M31 berthed alongside to be refuelled
9 October 1919 at Murmansk HM Monitor M23 berthed alongside to be refuelled
18 February 1920 berthed at Portmouth Harbour
20 February 1920 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
12 June 1920 at Greenock alongside HMS COVENTRY refuelling her
HMS COVENTRY
29 September 1920 RFA PRESTOL was engaged with Royal Naval Ships in the Baltic when she was involved in a collision with a merchant ship. The PRESTOL had to return to the UK for repairs and RFA BELGOL sailed from the Clyde to take her place in the Baltic
January 1921 at Sheerness
7 January 1921 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer – re-signed fresh articles 17 February 1921. He had previously served on RFA PHILOL
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B Morton RFA
1 March 1921 arrived at Plymouth
22 June 1921 suffered a fire onboard – 3rd Engineer Officer David M Smith RFA was commended for rendering valuable assistance fighting the fire
28 November 1921 arrived Plymouth Sound from Queentown escorting RFA DAPPER – source Western Morning News of 30 November 1921
24 February 1922 sailed Immingham for Gibraltar
9 May 1922 at Constantinople with HMS TORCH alongside being refuelled – supplied her with 174 tons of FFO
HMS TORCH
22 May 1922 at Constantinople with HMS TORCH alongside being refuelled
23 May 1922 W/T Operator J R A Bickford who had signed on the ship on 13 May 1920 was logged as having deserted.
31 May 1922 at Constantinople with HMS TORCH alongside being refuelled – supplied her with 21 tons of FFO
24 July 1922 W/T J R A Bickford (see above) arrested by the Police at the Isle of Dogs, London for larceny
27 January 1923 sailed the River Tyne
19 December 1923 Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 December 1923 Captain Charles H Noel RFA appointed as Master
Captain Charles H Noel RFA
11 February 1924 at Singapore berthed alongside HMS DUNEDIN to refuel her
HMS DUNEDIN
19 February 1924 at Singapore berthed alongside HMS HAWKINS to refuel her
23 February 1924 to 3 March 1924 berthed on the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore
RFA Belgol alongside HMS Hawkins (Flagship) at Singapore in March 1924. This image was very kindly donated by Andrew Gourlay from the collection of Captain Charles Noel OBE RFA. Captain Noel was the Master of the Belgol on the date this image was taken.
11 March 1924 at Singapore alongside HMS HAWKINS to refuel her
2 April 1924 at Singapore alongside HMS HAWKINS to refuel her
11 April 1924 at Singapore alongside HMS HAWKINS to refuel her
12 April 1924 at Singapore slipped berth from alongside HMS HAWKINS
18 April 1924 arrived at Hong Kong
25 August 1924 arrived at Teneriffe from Rosyth
4 June 1925 Mr M N Carlyle RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 April 1926 Captain William Whiteley RFA appointed as Master
Captain William Whiteley RFA
10 September 1926 at 23°03N 117°00E Fireman Alexander Watts discharged dead – apoplexy
14 September 1926 the Daily Mirror newspaper reported …
23 August 1927 at Wei Hai Wei
5 March 1928 at Hong Kong a RFA Dinner Dance was held at Crawford’s Restaurant and was voted a great success – Officers and their Ladies from RFA’s BELGOL, FORTOL, FRANCOL, RUTHENIA and KHARKI attended
28 April 1928 Mr William A Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 October 1928 Captain Eric Parker RFA appointed as Master
Captain Eric Parker RFA
23 November 1928 Mr Frederick E Langer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick E Langer RFA
31 December 1928 at Hong Kong
29 March 1929 Captain Eric Parker RFA appointed as Master
December 1929 Captain Eric Parker RFA transfered to RFA PEARLEAF (1) at Hong Kong when her Master was hospialised and that ship was due to sail. Chief Officer William McEver RFA took over command as Acting Master until 29 December 1929 when RFA PEARLEAF (1) returned to the Colony.
16 October 1930 at Hong Kong having just completed a refit in the Naval Dockyard
17 January 1931 at Hong Kong (see note 1)
13 February 1931 Mr Alexander B McIntyre RFA (Engineer Lieutenant RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Alexander B McIntyre RFA
5 August 1931 at Hong Kong (see note 1)
29 October 1931 Captain Walter C T Barnes RFA appointed as Master
Captain Walter C T Barnes RFA
9 July 1932 thirteen survivors of a wrecked fishing junk No 728 from a small village close to Swatow, China were picked up at sea by Belgol while she was enroute from Wei-hai-wei to Hong Kong. The junk had been caught in a squall and capsized at 22°39N 119°9E
10 November 1932 Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 June 1933 at sea at 22°54.30N 116°38E Cook Chai Ah SAN discharged dead – natural causes – apparently heart failure. Buried at sea
16 November 1934 arrived at Plymouth from Aden
27 November 1934 Captain Eric Parker RFA appointed as Master and Mr W Maybray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1935 in reserve at Rosyth
21 February 1935 Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA appointed as Master
Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA
30 September 1935 Captain Richard D Scanlon RFA (Lieutenant Commander RN (Retd)) appointed as Master
1 February 1936 has paravanes fitted and the Admiralty write to the Grangemouth Dock Company who under took the work
Courtesy Falkirk Council Archives
18 July 1936 sailed Malta
22 July 1936 berthed at Gibraltar
29 July 1936 berthed at Gibraltar from Santa Cruz de Teneriffe
22 September 1938 Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA appointed as Master
28 September 1938 arrived at Cardiff and berthed in Roath Dock
10 October 1938 the Western Mail newspaper report –
15 October 1938 still berthed at Roath Dock, Cardiff
26 October 1938 arrived at Plymouth Sound from Pembroke Dock
14 December 1938 sailed Devonport for Rosyth
27 December 1938 Greaser William John Clarke appeared before Dunfermline Police Court charged with being drunk in the street and causing damage to his cell at Kirkgate, Dunfirmline on 20 December 1938
Press Cutting Evening Telegraph 27 December 1938
7 March 1939 at Rosyth. Mr Robert A Higgie RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
Temporary Chief Engineer Officer Robert A Higgie RFA
28 March 1939 Mr Thomas McGregor RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer until 19 April 1939
24 April 1939 2nd Engineer Officer William H MacFarlane RFA appointed Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
17 May 1939 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
19 May 1939 at Grangemouth
5 June 1939 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
5 July 1939 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
29 July 1939 Mr Thomas W Robinson RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
5 August 1939 at Invergordon alongside HMS ROYAL OAK refuelling her
HMS ROYAL OAK
1 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS’s ROYAL OAK and ROYAL SOVEREIGN refuelling them. RFA PETRONELL moored was alongside both supplying fresh water
7 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN refuelling her
17 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS EFFINGHAM refuelling her
HMS EFFINGHAM
20 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS EDINBURGH refuelling her
28 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS EMERALD refuelling her – supplied 1,391 tons of FFO
8 October 1939 grounded south of Scapa Flow while attempting to go alongside the cruiser HMS DUNEDIN
4 January 1940 Captain Samuel Thomas RFA appointed as Master
29 February 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NORFOLK refuelling her similtaneously with RFA MONTENOL also refuelling the heavy cruiser
18 March 1940 berthed at Glasgow
24 March 1940 sailed Greenock with RFA WAR PINDARI to Scapa Flow escorted by HMS’s ESKIMO and PUNJABI. RFA PETROBUS joined this convoy from Stornaway.
25 March 1940 arrived at Scapa Flow with RFA WAR PINDARI both being escorted by HMS ESKIMO. BELGOL remained at Scapa Flow until 31 August 1940
28 March 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her with 1,524 tons of FFO
HMS WARSPITE
19 June 1940 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 27 July 1940
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick O Brims RFA
29 June 1940 sailed from Scapa Flow
2 July 1940 Captain Stanley C Kernick RFA appointed as Master
27 August 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BARHAM to refuel her
HMS BARHAM
3 September 1940 sailed Scapa Flow to the River Clyde – remained on the Clyde until 3 December 1940
10 September 1940 Mr William E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William E Burke RFA
25 September 1940 anchored at Kilcreggan
3 December 1940 refit until 26 December 1940 – on the River Clyde
3 January 1941 at Greenock
1 February 1941 at Glasgow
2 February 1941 sailed the Clyde to Scapa Flow – remained at Scapa Flow until 17 August 1941
11 March 1941 Captain Edward Mills RFA appointed as Master
27 March 1941 in collision with the cruiser HMS CURACOA at Scapa Flow
HMS CURACOA
10 April 1941 Mr John H Dawe RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer John H Dawe RFA
22 April 1941 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as Master
29 May 1941 undertook Trough Method trials of OAS with RFA CELEROL and destroyers
6 June 1941 undertook OAS trials with the destroyer HMS INGLEFIELD
22 June 1941 Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA appointed as Master
Captain Raymond V Boodle RFA
17 August 1941 sailed Scapa Flow to the River Clyde
24 August 1941 arrived at the River Clyde
3 November 1941 refit on the Clyde until 11 November 1941
24 November 1941 sailed from Tail of Bank
7 December 1941 sailed in escorted Convoy ON044 from Greenock to Iceland – arriving at Hvalfjord on 16 December 1941
27 May 1942 at Hvalfjord, Iceland alongside USS Tuscaloosa to refuel her
27 July 1942 sailed in Convoy RU33 from Iceland detached from the convoy to the Clyde arriving 1 August 1942
7 August 1942 repairs commenced on the Clyde – these were completed 3 September 1942
1 October 1942 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
16 December 1942 at anchor at Loch Ewe
17 December 1942 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy WN373 to Methil arriving 19 December 1942
3 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON together with RFA BLUE RANGER to refuel her – the two RFA’s supplied 2,300 tons of FFO to her combined
5 January 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in escorted Convoy UR 60 for Reykjavik but returned to harbour
13 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON to refuel her – supplied 441 tons of FFO to her
HMS ANSON
25 January 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in convoy UR60 to Iceland but returned
7 February 1943 arrived at Reykjavik Harbour, Iceland in convoy UR61 to relieve RFA CELEROL – but ran aground and caused minor damaged to her tanks
15 February 1943 damage to her tanks caused by the grounding repaired – source Admiralty War Diary
22 February 1943 relieved RFA CELEROL for fuelling operations in Iceland
3 March 1943 grounded and damaged. On being refloated found to be holed
5 March 1943 orders given that Belgol was to return to the UK for necessary repairs to make her sea worthy
6 March 1943 temporary repairs were undertaken
17 March 1943 at Hvalfjord, Iceland alongside HMS ANSON to refuel her – supplied 500 tons of FFO to her. In the Admiralty War diary of this day it was reported that grave doubts exisited as to the adviseability of attempting to dock BELGOL in AFD 17 owing to lack of stability when the vessel is lightened sufficiently for lifting by the dock
18 March 1943 at Hvalfjord, Iceland alongside USS Vulcan to refuel her. Also moored alongside USS Chateau Thierry (AP31) to refuel her. In mooring alongside this second US ship on her starboard side the port bow hit the US ships lifeboat 9B crushing in the side and opening the seams – supplied 79,930 gallons of FFO
USS Chateau Thierry (AP31)
20 March 1943 at Hvalfjord, Iceland still alongside USS Vulcan refueling her with RFA FRESHBROOK supply fresh water
4 April 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in Convoy WN 411 to Methil arriving 6 April 1943. RFA SCOTTISH AMERICAN was also in this convoy
7 April 1943 undergoing repairs at Sunderland
23 April 1943 Mr W E Burke RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 April 1943 damaged at Sunderland by bombs dropped in an air raid
8 May 1943 repairs completed
13 May 1943 Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest V Blyth RFA
24 May 1943 hit by German bombs while at Sunderland. All midships accommodation gutted and no: 4 tank pierced. Chief Engineer and two other crew members injured and hospitalised. Source – the Admiralty War Diary
3 September 1943 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
24 October 1943 sailed in unescorted Convoy EN298 from Methil arriving at Milford Haven on 26 October 1943
5 November 1943 sailed Liverpool in Convoy OS 58KM which split. Belgol arrived at Gibraltar on 19 November 1943
11 November 1943 refuelled HMS HIGHLANDER
12 November 1943 refuelled HMS WALKER
19 November 1943 sailed in escorted Convoy KMS032 from Gibraltar as Escort Oiler to Port Said arriving 30 November 1943
13 December 1943 sailed Aden in escorted Convoy AP56 arriving at Bandar Abbas 20 December 1943
4 January 1944 sailed Colombo in unescorted Convoy JC 32 arriving at Trincomalee 7 January 1944
7 January 1944 at Trincomalee alongside HMS CEYLON refuelling her
HMS CEYLON
23 February 1944 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
12 March 1944 sailed Trincomalee to Addu Atoll escorted by HMAS CESSNOCK arriving 14 March 1944
6 April 1944 sailed Addu in Convoy XC18 along with RFA BACCHUS (2) arriving at Colombo, Ceylon 9 April 1944
10 April 1944 sailed Colombo in unescorted Convoy JC44 along with RFA PEARLEAF (1) arriving at Trincomalee, Ceylon 17 April 1944
9 September 1944 Captain Douglas B Snowdon RFA appointed as Master
28 September 1944 Mr Eric S Fielder RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 June 1945 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
Captain George S Perry RFA
31 December 1945 at 16°20N 93°13E Fireman Sk Ahmed Aboobaker discharged dead having suffered from acute Brights Disease
19 January 1946 at Bombay General Servant Thomas Santana Mendes discharged dead from heart failure
27 June 1946 Chief Engineer Officer Edward Charles Harrison RFA discharged dead. He is buried in Lanteglos-by-Fowey (St Wyllow) Churchyard, Cornwall
12 December 1946 Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master
23 March 1947 at Singapore Quartermaster Sang Ah Cheng discharged dead. He was killed in a motor vehicle accident ashore
27 October 1947 Mr T Dowling RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 August 1948 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
4 February 1949 Mr T W Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 April 1949 at Dunfermline Police Court Seamen Thomas A Grieve, David Meikle and George Brough admitted stealing various items from the ship when berthed in Rosyth Dockyard the previous day. Each seaman was fined £2
Press Report from Evening Telegraph dated 13 April 1949
13 May 1949 at Invergordon alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her
18 May 1949 Mr Oscar Goodwin RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 June 1949 at Portland alongside HMS SUPERB refuelling her
19 July 1949 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master
16 September 1949 at Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot
14 October 1949 at Greenock
23 October 1949 Donkey Greaser Alexander McDonald discharged dead at Greenock – drowned
31 October 1949 at Greenock
29 November 1949 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
30 November 1949 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
5 December 1949 berthed at Londonderry
12 December 1949 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
30 December 1949 at Portsmouth Harbour moved from the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty to No: 3 South Trot
11 January 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour and later passed Dover sailing east bound
19 January 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
21 January 1950 passed Dover sailing east bound
27 January 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 January 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
28 February 1950 berthed at Immingham
21 July 1950 berthed at Immingham
25 July 1950 in dry dock at Immingham
1 August 1950 Mr T W Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 August 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
9 September 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Statation on the Lizard sailing east
28 September 1950 sailed Plymouth
29 September 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Spithead berthing at Portsmouth Harbour and sailing later on the same day to sea. Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
6 October 1950 when on passage from Devonport passed St Catherine’s Point before berthing at Portsmouth Harbour and later sailed the same day to sea
13 October 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and sailed later on the same day to sea
25 December 1950 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
3 March 1951 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound
13 March 1951 Captain G O W Evans RFA appointed as Master
25 September 1951 berthed at Portland Harbour with HMS RELENTLESS alongside
HMS RELENTLESS
15 October 1951 berthed at Portland Harbour with HMS RELENTLESS alongside. The warship slipped the next day
29 December 1951 Mr Arthur L Barr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Arthur L Barr RFA
2 February 1952 arrived at the River Tyne from Immingham
4 February 1952 sailed River Tyne for Rosyth
12 March 1952 berthed at Smith’S Dock, River Tyne
17 March 1952 berthed on the River Tyne
5 April 1952 arrived River Tyne from Rosyth berthing at N E Marine
16 April 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne
5 May 1952 Mr David L S Hood DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
29 July 1952 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 December 1952 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
10 February 1953 placed in reserve at Devonport
28 February 1953 Lloyds Classification withdrawn
June 1958 handed over to BISCO for scrap
22 June 1958 arrived at Charlestown for breaking up by Shipbreaking Industries Ltd.
Notes
1. from the Discharge Book of 1st Officer Jack Hutchinson RFA