Official Number: 132547
Class: FIRST 2000t CLASS Harbour Tanker
Pennant No: N 96 / X 14
Signal Letters: GQNP (1919)
Laid down:
Builder: Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co., Greenock
Launched: 3 March 1911
Into Service: 30 June 1911
Out of service: 28 June 1935
Fate: Sold to ship breakers
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The five ships in this Class, although not sister ships, were similar and were all Admiralty-designed around 1908. RFA MIXOL and RFA THERMOL were both unsatisfactory as far as their stability went, and 200 tons of permanent ballast was always carried in numbers 1 and 3 tanks, which were never pumped out. RFA TREFOIL and RFA TURMOIL (1) were experimental ships which were mechanically unsatisfactory and they were little used
23 May 1910 contract cost of £40,107 10sh was accepted. (Hansard)
3 March 1911 launched by Greenock and Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd., Greenock as Yard Nr: 326 named BURMA.The Lady Sponsor was Miss Ruby Yates, the daughter of the Senior Naval Constructor of the Admiralty resident in Clyde District
4 March 1911 the Dundee Courier newspaper reported –
10 March 1911 the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail reported
30 June 1911 completed at a cost of £43,854 as the first tanker ever to be constructed to the order of the Admiralty and was designed for oiling destroyers at sea whilst towing or being towed by battleships and cruisers or else from alongside when in harbour
19 July 1911 arrived at Grangemouth from Cromarty
24 July 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Sheerness
16 August 1911 arrived at Grangemouth from Portland in ballast
20 August 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Fortrose
August and September 1911 carried out oiling at sea trials at Portland with the torpedo boat destroyers HMS MOHAWK when 117 tons were transferred, with HMS SWIFT when 270 tons were transferred, and with HMS AMAZON when 105 tons were transferred. C-in-C Home Fleet reported that “the use of tanker vessels for oiling destroyers at sea was unlikely to be of service and that further trials were unnecessary”
1 September 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Dover
7 September 1911 arrived Grangemouth from Dover
4 October 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Dover
7 November 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Sheerness
13 November 1911 arrived at Grangemouth from Sheerness
16 November 1911 sailed Grangemouth for Portland
28 January 1912 sailed Grangemouth for Portsmouth
30 January 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and moored to No: 15 buoy
31 January 1912 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
27 August 1912 sailed Grangemouth for Stornoway
1 November 1912 sailed Gransgemouth for Sheerness
10 March 1913 arrived Grangemouth from Portsmouth
21 March 1913 sailed Grangemouth for Invergordon
22 March 1913 at Invergordon along side HMS HOPE refuelling her when a hose burst and the fuel strayed onto a lower mess deck and caught fire
April 1913 Captain George H Franklin RFA (Commander RD RNR) was Master
4 May 1913 arrived at Grangemouth from Shetland
6 May 1913 sailed Grangemouth for Longhope
5 August 1913 Chief Officer William Gregory RFA appointed Acting Master while Captain George H Franklin RFA was absent on leave for RNR drill
8 August 1913 arrived at Grangemouth from Invergordon
12 August 1913 sailed Grangemouth for Sheerness
2 December 1913 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour berthing on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
3 December 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
15 December 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
8 January 1914 the Western Morning News reported –
9 March 1914 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead
15 March 1914 arrived at Grangemouth from Invergordon
16 March 1914 sailed Grangemouth for Sheerness
3 April 1914 arrived at Grangemouth from Invergordon
8 April 1914 arrived at Portsmouth and berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
9 April 1914 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead
12 April 1914 arrived at Portsmouth and berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
23 July 1914 sailed Grangemouth for Portsmouth
27 July 1914 arrived at Portsmouth and berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
28 July 1914 sailed Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty for Spithead
5 August 1914 sailed Grangemouth for Queensferry
7 August 1914 berthed at Grangemouth from Queensferry
8 August 1914 sailed Grangemouth for Queensferry
8 September 1914 took on charge a Dent Deck Watch No 40897 which had been bought by the Admiralty 1897 and had been issued on charge by HMS ARGONAUT and HMS MUTINE. Landed off charge on 25 May 1920
14 October 1914 The Master and crew made a donation to the Naval Disasters Fund run by the Mayor of Portsmouth
1 January 1915 at Dover
4 January 1915 at Portsmouth
13 January 1915 at Dover
11 February 1915 at Harwich
9 April 1915 at Dover
24 April 1915 Lieutenant William Frost RNR appointed in command
25 April 1915 at Sheerness
4 May 1915 at Harwich
8 May 1915 at Sheerness
11 May 1915 at Harwich
25 May 1915 at the River Thames Seaman John William Bastow discharged dead – drowned
5 July 1915 on the Firth of Forth
4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant William J Ford RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 November 1915 sailed Aberdeen under escort of Admiralty trawler Xerxes. Xerxes (commanded by Lieutenant John Joseph William Whitfield RNR) was ordered to escort the Burma clear of the area. The Burma sailed at 8.40pm, twenty minutes before the trawler, forcing the escort to catch up. With the light failing, the masthead, stern and starboard lights of the oiler were sighted and it was estimated that she was steering to the south-east. The trawler matched the course and slowly overhauled her, and when off her starboard quarter signalled by light, asking the oiler to confirm her course and speed. The tanker did not immediately reply, and the trawler, still assuming that she was heading south-east, decided to take station ahead of her. The pair were actually on a converging course, as the oiler was steering to the south-south-west. The officers of the Xerxes became confused as the pair closed, and thought that the Burma had altered course towards them. Before any action could be taken she crossed the bows of the tanker and at 9.28pm was struck on the port side amidships. She hung on the bows for some moments before falling away to sink on the starboard side of the oiler, with the loss of four men. The position was then 57.50.30N 01.59.30W. The blame for the incident was shared by both commanding officers. The Master of the Burma, Lieutenant William Frost, had not been on the bridge when the escort was closing, leaving an inexperienced third officer in command, who had failed to appreciate the dangerous situation that was developing. Lieutenant Whitfield had been guilty of an error of judgement in attempting to take station ahead of the tanker whilst judging her course and speed ‘by eye’. Both officers were reprimanded.
5 August 1916 Mr W J Ford RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
27 September 1916 Lieutenant Charles J Cooper RNR appeared before a court martial charge with Act to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline in being improperly absent from his ship. The charge was adjudged to be proved. He was adjudged to forfeit 3 months’ seniority and to be severely reprimanded
Lieutenant Charles J Cooper RNR
18 January 1917 Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR appointed in command. On 31 July 1917 Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR transfered to command RFA FORTOL
Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR
18 August 1917 Able Seaman J Caroll logged as deserted from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 12 January 1917
3 October 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
HMS GALATEA
8 October 1917 at Rosyth alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
11 October 1917 Lieutenant David E A Jones RNR appointed in command. On 16 May 1918 Lieutenant Jones transfered to command RFA MIXOL
Lieutenant David E A Jones RNR
20 October 1917 was attacked by a submarine when in the Mediterranean. The torpedo missed.
12 November 1917 Stoker J Olsen logged as deserted from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 13 July 1917
13 May 1918 Lieutenant John Henderson RNR appointed as Commanding Officer
20 August 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Stoker Thomas Callaghan MMR from the ship
10 September 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Bosun Joseph Bucker since 30 August 1918
27 October 1918 Able Seaman John Craig Philip MMR 873912 discharged dead. Died at Dundee. Buried in Tayport Cemetery, Fife. He had signed on the ship on the 4 July 1917.
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
13 November 1918 Stoker Thomas Callaghan MMR 917084 logged as deserted while en-route from the ship to HMS Eaglet at Liverpool. He was arrested on the 13 February 1919. He had signed on the ship on 26 December 1917
26 November 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Stoker W Allan MMR
1 December 1918 anchored at Granton Roads with RFA DISTOL alongside to load
2 December 1918 at Granton Roads HMS’s VALOROUS, TENACIOUS, SARFEDON, VIOLENT, VOYAGER and KEMPERFELT alongside refuelled
4 December 1918 at Granton Roads HMS VOYAGER came alongside to discharge her FFO
HMS VOYAGER (as HMAS VOYAGER after 1933)
5 December 1918 sailed Granton Roads to Methil
11 December 1918 anchored at Burntisland Roads
21 December 1918 anchorded at Leith Roads
28 December 1918 Stoker R McCade fined 30 days pay,lost 30 days CG and suffered stoppage of leave for 30 days for being absent without leave for 144 hours
31 December 1918 anchored at Leith Roads with HMS MARKSMAN alongside to refuel
20 May 1919 at Rosyth alongside HMS VINDICTIVE refuelling her with 520 tons FFO
HMS VINDICTIVE
1 August 1919 Able Seaman and Signaller James Bruce logged as deserting. He had signed on on 28 June 1919
22 August 1919 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
3 October 1919 Able Seaman George F Williamson MMR 882556 discharged dead – illness. Buried at Dunfermline Cemetery. He had signed on the ship on the 8 April 1917
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
10 October 1919 at Rosyth alongside HMS CASTOR to refuel her
HMS CASTOR
28 October 1919 at Rosyth alongside HMS CASTOR to refuel her
24 January 1920 sailed from Portsmouth
9 February 1920 at Devonport
23 February 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour sailing to sea the same day
1 March 1920 secured alongside HMS RENOWN at No 3 Basin, Portsmouth Dockyard to refuel her
HMS RENOWN
3 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning to Portsmouth Harbour the same day
5 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 March 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 March 1920 secured alongside HMS RENOWN at Portsmouth Dockyard to refuel her
19 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
22 March 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
30 March 1920 Able Seaman Henry Keysell MMR 759410 discharged to RN Barracks, Portsmouth for detention. He had signed on on 24 October 1919
Able Seaman Henry Keysell MMR 759410
17 April 1920 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
19 April 1920 at 54°28N 5°24W Ordinary Seaman Arthur W McKay discharged dead with congestion of the lungs
3 September 1920 at Copenhagen coaling party from HMS DRAGON on board
25 October 1920 at Danzig secured alongside HMS’s DUNEDIN and DELHI to refuel them
26 October 1920 at Danzig working party from HMS DELHI onboard
20 December 1920 berthed at Old Kilpatrick in ballast
19 January 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 January 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the same day
23 February 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
12 May 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 June 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
1 July 1921 Captain Frederick J Sweeting RFA appointed as Master
1 and 2 July 1921 at Portsmouth Harbour alongside HMS BARHAM refuelling her. The battleship received 1,100 tons of FFO
HMS BARHAM
17 July 1921 at Portsmouth Harbour alongside HMS MALAYA refuelling her
22 July 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
23 July 1921 berthed Portsmouth Harbour
24 August 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 August 1921 at Spithead alongside HMS Malaya refuelling her
30 August 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour sailing the same day to Spithead
1 September 1921 at Spithead alongside HMS BARHAM refuelling her. The battleship received 2,000 tons of FFO
3 September 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 September 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
22 November 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
6 June 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
7 June 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
15 June 1922 berthed Portsmouth Harbour
16 June 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
14 July 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
18 July 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the same day
19 July 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
31 July 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
2 August 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
4 August 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
10 August 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the next day
17 August 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 August 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
22 August 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
28 August 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and sailed later the same day
2 September 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and sailed later the same day
7 September 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
8 September 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
16 April 1923 at the Naval Hospital Stonehouse Greaser James Henry Holland discharged dead from natural causes
26 August 1923 arrived at Plymouth
8 July 1924 Mr Alexander R Murrison RFA appointed as Acting Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
1 October 1924 Captain William Whiteley RFA appointed as Master and Mr Clifford N Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Captain William Whiteley RFA
13 December 1924 Captain W Bushnell RFA appointed as Master
13 January 1925 at Devonport berthed alongside HMS HOOD and refuelled her
HMS HOOD
14 May 1925 Chief Officer Reginald J Harland RFA appointed as Acting Master
Chief Officer Reginald J Harland RFA
21 May 1925 2nd Engineer Officer William Mackay RFA appointed as Temporary Acting Chief Engineer Officer
12 June 1925 at Devonport 3rd Officer Frederick H Thomas RFA fell overboard and broke his leg. Admitted to Hospital at Plymouth
26 July 1925 at Devonport W/T Operator Arthur Harris deserted
1926 – 1935 in reserve at Rosyth Dockyard
11 February 1935 in reserve at Rosyth together with RFA’s Attendant, Carol, Dredgol, Trefoil and Turmoil with their disposal being considered
21 May 1935 offered for sale in The Times ‘as lies’ by tender.
28 June 1935 sold for £3,715 to P & W McClellan Ltd., for demolition at Bo’ness
Press Cutting from the Dundee Courier of the 6 August 1935
August 1935 demolition commenced
13 March 1936 demolition completed