Official Number: 167260
Class: 1st DALE CLASS Freighting Tanker
Pennant No: X80 / B510 / A380
Signal Letters: GGLT
Laid down:
Builder: Blythswood Ship Building Company
Launched: 25 March 1939
Into Service: 25 May 1939
Out of service: 15 November 1959 – laid up at Hong Kong
Fate: Sold at Hong Kong for breaking up 2 February 1960
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: Originally there were to have been nineteen ships in this Class. The first six were purchased off the stocks from the British Tanker Co Ltd whilst building at the instigation of the then Director of Stores, Sir William Gick, who was concerned at the age of the RFA Fleet and ships that were approaching the end of their economic lives. A further two ships were purchased from Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd for evaluation purposes. At the outbreak of WW2, a further eleven ships were acquired from the MoWT war programme although one of these, to have been named EPPINGDALE, which had been registered in London as EMPIRE GOLD on 21/02/43 and intended for transfer to the Admiralty for manning and management as an RFA and despite five Officers being appointed to her, the intended transfer was cancelled the following day and she thus never entered RFA service. Three of this Class were converted into LSG’s and were then reconverted back into tankers at the end of the War.
25 March 1939 launched by Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd., Scotstoun as Yard Nr: 54 named CEDARDALE for the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London and then moved the same day to James Watt Dock Greenock for machinery and boilers to be fitted
27 March 1939 the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper reported …
28 April 1939 Mr P B Weston RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 April 1939 Captain William Frost RFA appointed as Master
24 May 1939 ran official trials in the Firth of Clyde
25 May 1939 completed and taken over by the Admiralty. The Edinburgh Evening News reported also this day …
27 May 1939 sailed on her maiden voyage from Greenock to Abadan
7 September 1939 sailed Port Said independently to Aden arriving on 8 October 1939
10 October 1939 sailed Aden
20 October 1939 sailed Port Said independently to Haifa arriving on 21 October and then on to Alexandria arriving on 24 October
3 January 1940 sailed Alexandria independently to Gibraltar arriving on 10 January 1940
13 January 1940 sailed Gibraltar in convoy HGF 15 detached from convoy on the 22 January for the Clyde
24 January 1940 arrived Greenock
5 February 1940 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
28 February 1940 sailed the Clyde independently arriving Liverpool 1 March 1940
3 March 1940 sailed Liverpool in convoy OGF.21 for Trinidad arriving on 21 March 1940
24 March 1940 sailed Trinidad independently for Freetown arriving on 7 April 1940
5 July 1940 served with Force R
15 August 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CORNWALL to refuel her
15 September 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CORNWALL to refuel her
27 September 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CORNWALL to refuel her
2 October 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CUMBERLAND to refuel her – supplying 1,470 tons of FFO and 1,340 gallons of aviation spirit
HMS CUMBERLAND
4 October 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS BARHAM to refuel her
HMS BARHAM
16 October 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CUMBERLAND to refuel her – supplying 1,740 tons of FFO and 1,250 gallons of aviation spirit
19 October 1940 at Freetown alongside HMS CORNWALL to refuel her
29 October 1940 suffered a badly leaking oil retaining gland and in need of urgent repairs
2 November 1940 ready for sea and proceeded to Mombasa
1 January 1941 in the London Gazette of this day on page 14 Captain William Frost RFA was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) (MBE)
8 April 1941 at Freetown with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
HMAS NIZAM
20 June 1941 refuelled the aircraft carrier HMS EAGLE in Freetown Harbour
HMS EAGLE
21 August 1941 sailed Freetown independently to New Orleans arriving on 19 September 1941
4 September 1941 Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Douglas N J Williams RFA
19 September 1941 arrived New Orleans for repairs, refit and docking
17 October 1941 sailed New Orleans independently to Curaçao arriving 24 of the month
25 October 1941 at Curaçao the Bosun, 7 A.B.’s, 1O.S., 1D.B., 1 Pumpman and 1 Cabin Boy walked off the ship and refused to sail. They presented a list of grievances to the British Consul. Reported by the Master to the Senior British Naval Officer and the Consul. The crew returned to the ship at 17.00hrs 26 October 1941 on promise that a full enquiry into the grievances would be held at Simonstown, South Africa, the next port of call.
26 October 1941 sailed Curaçao independently to Simonstown arriving 25 November 1941
5 December 1941 sailed Cape Town for rendezvous with HMS CARTHAGE at outer end of Durban searched channel arriving on 9 December 1941 and met with HMS HECTOR from Durban
15 December 1941 arrived Mauritius
18 December 1941 arrived Seychelles
24 February 1942 at Port Victoria, Seychelles refuelled HMAS NORMAN
28 February 1942 at Seychelles
15 March 1942 sailed Mahe, Seychelles independently
23 March 1942 at Addu Atoll with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
31 March 1942 still at Addu Atoll
21 April 1942 arrived at Mombasa
23 April 1942 sailed Mombasa independently to Mahe arriving 3 May 1942
5 May 1942 sailed Mahe, Seychelles independently to Mombasa arriving 10 May 1942
5 July 1942 sailed Mombasa independently to Mahe arriving 9 July 1942
12 December 1942 at Mahe, Sychelles with HMAS CESSNOCK alongside being refueled
14 December 1942 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
15 December 1942 Mr Arthur L Barr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Arthur L Barr RFA
29 January 1943 sailed Mahe, Seychelles independently to Addu Atoll arriving 6 February 1943
14 February 1943 sailed Addu Atoll in convoy A3 along with RFA GREEN RANGER to Trincomalee arriving four days later
25 February 1943 sailed Colombo to Bombay arriving 2 March 1943
24 March 1943 C in C Mediterranean requested that RFA’s CEDARDALE and OLIGARCH should carry as part of Force R ammunition and depth charges to issue to destroyers in Force H due to limited stowage capacity. C in C Levant was requested to supply RFA CEDARDALE and the Admiralty to arrange supply to RFA OLIGARCH – Source Signal reported in Admiralty War Diary of this date on page 278
23 April 1943 reported in the Admiralty War Diary of this day that CEDARDALE was fitted with buoyant hose and was thus capable of refuelling cruisers or larger vessels at sea but this was later refuted in a further Admiralty War Diary that these hoses had not been fitted due to a lack of time
6 May 1943 sailed Bombay independently to Abadan arriving 12 May 1943 to load
15 May 1943 sailed Abadan independently to Aden arriving on the 25 May 1943
20 May 1943 in Operation Husky – Naval Operation Orders dated this day – Appendix 1 – shows CEDARDALE would be initially based at Tobruk together with RFA OLIGARCH (2) to provide Furnace Fuel Oil as part of Force “R”
25 May 1943 sailed Aden independently arriving Suez on the 31 of the month
1 June 1943 arrived at Port Said
4 June 1943 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving the next day
6 July 1943 at Benghazi with HMAS MARYBOROUGH alongside being refuelled
HMAS MARYBOROUGH
8 July 1943 sailed Benghazi as part of Force R for Operation Husky- the invasion of Sicily – providing refuelling support to destroyers.
9 July 1943 refuelled eleven destroyers. In C in C’s Mediterranean’s report on Operation Husky he praised the Master, Officers and crew for the efficient and expeditious manner in which the fuelling of the destroyers had been carried out. Reported in the Admiralty War Diary of this day she had only 7,000 tons of fuel remaining
10 July 1943 in Operation Husky along with RFA’s DERWENTDALE (1), ENNERDALE (1),
23 July 1943 sailed Malta in convoy KMS 19T along with RFA PEARLEAF (1) to Tripoli arriving the next day
26 July 1943 sailed Tripoli in convoy MES 37Y to Alexandria arriving on the 31 July 1943
3 August 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy MWS39 to Malta arriving on 10 August 1943
18 August 1943 sailed Malta and joined convoy UGS 13 to Port Said arriving on the 24 August 1943
27 August 1943 sailed Port Said to Beirut arriving two days later
30 August 1943 sailed Beirut independently to Haifa arriving the next day
3 September 1943 sailed Haifa independently to Port Said arriving the next day
4 September 1943 sailed Port Said independently to Alexandria arriving the next day
11 September 1943 sailed Alexandria in convoy XT 2 to Tripoli arriving on 16 September 1943. Mr George Bray RFA appointed Acting Chief Engineer Officer until 13 October 1943
Acting Chief Engineer Officer George Bray RFA (image taken in 1918)
21 September 1943 sailed under escort from Tripoli to Malta arriving the next day
28 September 1943 sailed Malta and joined convoy UGS 17 to Port Said arriving on 4 October 1943
7 October 1943 sailed Port Said independently to Haifa arriving the next day
10 October 1943 sailed Haifa independently to Alexandria arriving two days later
21 October 1943 sailed Alexandria independently arriving at Port Said the next day
23 October 1943 sailed Port Said independently arriving at Haifa the next day
25 October 1943 sailed Haifa independently to Tripoli arriving the following day
27 October 1943 sailed Tripoli to Haifa arriving the next day
30 Ocrober 1943 sailed Haifa to Alexandria arriving 1 November 1943
17 November 1943 reported in the Admiralty War Diary she will sail towards the end of the month without a gyro compass
24 November 1943 at Alexandria – from the ships log book – ‘4th Engineer Officer R A Holt at 0415 entered the Captain’s cabin,woke him and complained of the lack of ‘sweets’ for supper. Told to go away and make a complaint in the morning. He remained and became very abusive accusing the Master of ‘robbing my ship mates’ calling the Master a ‘bastard’. He was ordered to leave the Captain’s quarters and refused to do so. The Captain was forced to eject him. In doing so 4th Engtineer Holt fell down the staircase and shouted ‘You have broken by wrist you English Bastard!’ The Master called for the Chief Officer and the 2nd Officer who took the 4th Engineer away for a dressing to his wrist and then to his cabin. The 2nd Officer reported he had found the wrist swollen and the 4th Engineer’s back bruised. Medical Officer called for.’
6 December 1943 at Alexandria – 4th Engineer Officer signed off – broken wrist.
18 January 1944 sailed Alexandia to Abadan arriving 4 February 1944
7 February 1944 sailed Abadan toBombay arriving 13 February 1944
20 February 1944 sailed Bombay to Mahe arriving 28 February 1944
19 March 1944 sailed Mahe to Port Louis, Mauritius arriving 23 March 1944
25 March 1944 sailed Port Louis, Mauritius to Diego Suarez arriving 28 March 1944
29 March 1944 sailed Diego Suarez for Kilindini arriving 1 April 1944
3 April 1944 sailed Kilindini for Abadan arriving 15 April 1944
17 April 1944 sailed Abadan to Kilindini arriving 1 May 1944
8 May 1944 sailed Kilindini to Diego Suarez arriving 11 May 1944
12 May 1944 sailed Diego Suarez for Port Louis, Mauritius arriving 15 May 1944
15 May 1944 sailed Port Louis, Mauritius to Kilindini arriving 21 May 1944
3 June 1944 sailed Kilindini to Abadan arriving 14 June 1944
17 June 1944 sailed Abadan to Kilindini arriving 2 July 1944
22 July 1944 sailed Kilindini to Abadan arriving 5 August 1944
6 August 1944 sailed Abadan to Kilindini arriving 22 August 1944
27 August 1944 sailed Kilindini in Convoy KM5 arrived Diego Suarez 31 August 1944
7 September 1944 sailed Diego Suarez to Colombo arriving 18 September 1944
24 September 1944 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee arriving the same day
24 October 1944 sailed Trincomalee to Bombay arriving 28 October 1944
21 January 1945 sailed Bombay to Colombo arriving 25 January 1945
26 January 1945 sailed Colombo to Trincomalee arriving 28 January 1945
30 January 1945 sailed Trincomalee to Sydney NSW arriving 25 February 1945
16 February 1945 Captain Frank P Hennin RFA appointed as Master
27 February 1945 sailed Sydney NSW to Manus, Admiralty Islands anchorage arriving 9 March 1945
14 March 1945 part of British Pacific Fleet Train TF112.2.1
17 March 1943 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands to Leyte Gulf anchorage arriving 2 April 1945
28 March 1945 took part in Operation Iceberg One – the British Pacific Fleet operations against Okinawa and outlying islands – as part of Task Force 112 – along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS (2), BROWN RANGER, DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH
4 April 1945 sailed Leyte Gulf anchorage returning to the same anchorage on 17 April 1945
19 April 1945 at Leyte Gulf with HMAS BENDIGO and HMAS BURNIE alongside to refuel with FFO
HMAS BURNIE
23 April 1945 at San Pedro Bay with HMAS NORMAN and HMAS NAPIER alongside to refuel with FFO
30 April 1945 sailed Leyte Gulf anchorage
May 1945 took part in Operation Iceberg Two – 9 oilers made 18 sorties and refuelled the British Pacific Fleet on 5 occasions
5 May 1945 at Cootie refuelled HMAS’s NAPIER and NEPAL astern
6 May 1945 to 7 May 1945 elements of the British Pacific Fleet met up with the Tanker Group at Cootie One – 21°12 N 128°44 E – for refuelling purposes. The group consisted of RFA’s CEDARDALE, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH plus 2 other MFA oilers
7 May 1945 together with 2 MFA’s was escorted to Leyte by HM ships AVON and WHIMBREL while RFA’s WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH were escorted by the destroyer HMAS NORMAN
10 May 1945 anchored Leyte Gulf anchorage
13 May 1945 sailed Leyte Gulf anchorage to the Admiralty Islands
16 May 1945 RAS’ed with HMAS’s BURNIE and NORMAN by the Buoyant hose method in Fuelling Area ‘Cootie’
19 May 1945 RAS’ed HMAS NORMAN abeam then sailed Fuelling Area ‘Cootie’ with Requisitioned Auxiliary tankers San Ambrosia and San Adolpho and escorted by HMAS’s BENDIGO and CAIRNS to Manus, Admiralty Islands
21 May 1945 at Manus, Admiralty Islands with HMAS BENDIGO being refuelled by the buoyant hose method – supplied 60 tons FFO
HMAS BENDIGO
27 May 1945 arrived at Manus, Admiralty Islands
31 May 1945 listed together with RFA’s ARNDALE, BACCHUS, BROWN RANGER, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH as being in Manus port
4 June 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands to Brisbane arriving 11 June 1945
24 June 1945 sailed Brisbane to Admiralty Islands arriving 1 July 1945
7 July 1945 sailed Admiralty Islands
13 July 1945 refuelled HMAS PIRIE with a bouyant hose
HMAS PIRIE
18 July 1945 refuelled HMAS PIRIE with a bouyant hose supplying 50 tons of FFO
23 July 1945 refuelled HMAS PIRIE with a bouyant hose supplying 50 tons of FFO
31 July 1945 during an attempt to refuel HMAS LAUNCESTON
HMAS LAUNCESTON
with a bouyant hose the warship ran over the hose and floats and this was entangled with it’s starboard propellor. The warships Engineer Officer – Engineer Lieutenant John Smith RANR – using diving equipment attempted to free the hose but died in the attempt. After the hose and floats were later freed the replenishment was completed and stores were transfered to the warship
Report of Proceedings entry regarding the death of Engineer Lieutenant John Smith RANR
August 1945 Attached to the British Pacific Fleet along with RFA’s ARNDALE, BISHOPDALE, BACCHUS (2), BROWN RANGER, DINGLEDALE, EASEDALE, GREEN RANGER, RAPIDOL, SERBOL, WAVE EMPEROR, WAVE GOVERNOR, WAVE KING, WAVE MONARCH and HMS (later RFA) OLNA
1 August 1945 at sea off Saipan in convoy with RFA EAGLESDALE and being escorted by HMAS’s LAUNCESTON and PIRIE. Present when Engineer Lieutenant John Smith RANR was buried at sea from HMAS LAUNCESTON (see above)
12 August 1945 arrived at Manus, Admiralty Islands together with RFA BACCHUS (2) and RFA EAGLESDALE
14 August 1945 sailed Manus, Admiralty Islands escorted by HMS PLYM
3 October 1945 sailed Shanghai to Subic Bay arriving 8 October 1945
13 December 1945 arrived Singapore from Subic Bay
15 December 1945 sailed Singapore to Bombay arriving on 25 December 1945
27 December 1945 sailed Bombay
14 January 1946 passed Aden
21 January 1946 at Port Said
30 January 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing west
9 February 1946 and 10 February 1946 at Glasgow Assistant Cook L Forrest and 2nd Steward A Black logged for being absent without leave. Both fined £1.10.0d and stopped two days pay
7 February 1946 arrived at Glasgow
12 February 1946 Mr Arthur L Barr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 February 1946 sailed Glasgow but put back for repairs at Queens Dock
28 April 1946 sailed Queens Dock, Glasgow
4 May 1946 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
11 May 1946 arriving at Port Said
18 May 1946 sailed Aden to Abadan arriving 24 May 1946
24 May 1946 the Hampshire Telegraph reported from the House of Commons thus –
26 May 1946 sailed Abadan to Colombo arriving 4 June 1946
5 June 1946 sailed Colombo to Singapore arriving 10 June 1946
11 June 1946 in the London Gazette of this day for the wind-up of the war in the Far East Captain Frank Patrick Hennin RFA, Chief Officer Sydney Stuart Fender Dalgleish RFA both appointed as Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) Military Division,
Chief Officer Sydney Stuart Fender Dalgleish OBE RFA
medals
©DNW
2nd Officer Samuel Clarke Dunlop RFA appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Military Division. Deck Serang Ebram Adam and Fireman Serang Sheil Yacoon Dhurmoodeen both awarded British Empire Medal (BEM) Military Division. 2nd Officer Walter John Best RFA and 2nd Engineer Officer James Gorton Simpson RFA both Mentioned in Despatches
12 June 1946 sailed Singapore to Hong Kong
11 July 1946 sailed Hong Kong to Kure, Japan arriving 17 July 1946
20 July 1946 sailed Kure to Colombo arriving 6 August 1946
14 August 1946 sailed Colombo to Abadan arriving 24 August 1946
26 August 1946 sailed Abadan to Aden
4 September 1946 sailed Aden to Port Said
11 September 1946 sailed Port Said to Malta
19 September 1946 sailed Malta to Haifa arriving 23 September 1946
25 September 1946 sailed Haifa to Malta arriving 29 September 1946
October 1946 – Gyro compass equipment – which had been earlier removed from RFA’s ABBEYDALE, DERWENTDALE (1) and OLIGARCH (2) and was now set for fitting in the ship and RFA’s CHERRYLEAF (1), and PEARLEAF (1)
19 October 1946 sailed Malta arriving Port Said 23 October 1946
23 October 1946 said Port Said to Aden arriving 29 October 1946
29 October 1946 sailed Aden to Abadan arriving 6 November 1946
8 November 1946 sailed Abadan to Port Said
22 November 1946 sailed Port Said to Gibraltar arriving 30 November 1946
6 December 1946 sailed Gibraltar to Malta and then Port Said arriving 13 December 1946
12 December 1946 Quartermaster I P Ah Kwong discharged dead from heart failure. He is buried in Kalkara Royal Naval Cemetery, Malta
Image courtesy of British War Graves
14 December 1946 sailed Port Said to Abadan
28 December 1946 sailed Abadan for LEFO
19 January 1947 passed Gibraltar while on passage from Abadan to Devonport
10 June 1947 arrived at Malta from Port Said with a cargo of FFO
18 August 1947 Mr Harry G May RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 August 1947 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth
27 August 1947 berthed on TIC, Hebburn Quay, River Tyne
29 August 1947 sailed the River Tyne for Abadan
19 January 1948 Captain Howard D Gausden DSO RFA appointed as Master
21 March 1948 passed Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
13 September 1948 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
24 September 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 March 1949 Mr Harold M Pearson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 March 1949 sailed Avonmouth to Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot on the River Clyde
30 March 1949 Captain George S Perry RFA appointed as Master
1 August 1949 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Abadan
8 August 1949 sailed Port Adelaide
6 October 1949 Mr S Turner RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 January 1950 passed Gibraltar
29 January 1950 sailed from Malta for Abadan
2 February 1950 arrived at Port Said
4 February 1950 arrived at Suez
16 February 1950 arrived at Abadan
1 March 1950 sailed Aden for Abadan
9 March 1950 sailed from Abadan for Hong Kong
31 March 1950 arrived at Hong Kong
4 May 1950 arrived at Abadan
6 May 1950 sailed from Abadan
5 June 1950 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 June 1950 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour passing St Catherine’s Point sailing westbound
16 June 1950 arrived at Glasgow
9 July 1950 sailed Malta for Abadan
3 August 1950 sailed Port Said for Abadan
17 August 1950 sailed Abadan for Malta
25 August 1950 passed Aden
30 August 1950 arrived at Suez
5 September 1950 arrived at Malta
11 September 1950 arrived at Port Said
13 September 1950 sailed Suez
28 October 1950 berthed at Sydney, NSW
7 November 1950 sailed Sydney, NSW
25 November 1950 arrived at Singapore
22 January 1951 passed Gibraltar sailing east
27 January 1951 sailed from Malta for Abadan
31 January 1951 arrived at Port Said
6 February 1951 sailed Suez
19 February 1951 arrived at Abadan
21 February 1951 sailed from Abadan for Aden
1 March 1951 arrived at Aden
3 March 1951 sailed Aden for Abadan
13 March 1951 arrived at Abadan
15 March 1951 sailed Abadan for Singapore
1 April 1951 arrived at Singapore
24 June 1951 during a crew change at Malta 58 Chinese seaman were replaced by 37 Maltese seaman
30 June 1951 the 58 Chinese seaman crew who had been replaced by a Maltese crew sailed Malta this day on ss Mediterranean for Gibraltar to man RFA WAR HINDOO
9 July 1951 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
30 August 1951 Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cecil R Rosen OBE RFA
1 October 1951 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
1952 stranded near Mena-al-Ahmadi but refloated without serious damage
22 April 1952 Captain William G Gilmore RFA appointed as Master
1 November 1952 Mr D G Edgar RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 November 1952 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
7 November 1952 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
11 November 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
13 November 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
20 December 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
27 December 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
30 December 1952 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
6 January 1953 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
8 January 1953 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for refit or repair
14 January 1953 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
3 February 1953 Captain Donald B C Ralph OBE DSC* RFA appointed as Master
19 February 1953 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne for refit or repair
26 February 1953 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne for refit or repair
3 March 1953 berthed at Swan Hunters, Wallsend, River Tyne for refit or repair
7 March 1953 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, Wallsend on Tyne for refit or repair
6 April 1953 sailed Suez
17 April 1953 sailed Bahrein for Bombay
23 April 1953 arrived at Bombay
24 May 1953 arrived at Wellington, New Zealand
28 May 1953 sailed Wellington New Zealand for Colombo, Ceylon
8 June 1953 passed Thursday Island
15 June 1953 sailed from Banjuwangi, East Java, Indonesia for Bombay
28 June 1953 arrived at Bombay
4 July 1953 sailed Bombay for Mena Al Ahmadi
12 July 1953 sailed Mena Al Ahmadi
28 July 1953 arrived at Suez
29 July 1953 after Canal transit sailed Port Said
7 August 1953 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound for the Isle of Grain
3 September 1953 sailed Gibraltar for Malta
7 September 1953 arrive at Malta
11 September 1953 sailed Malta for Ras Tanura
15 September 1953 arrived at Port Said
19 September 1953 sailed from Suez
25 September 1953 sailed Aden for Ras Tanura
3 October 1953 sailed from Ras Tanura for Singapore
26 October 1953 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong
12 January 1954 Mr I M MacFarlane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 January 1954 at sea at 48°03N 06°54W General Servant Paul Fernandes discharged dead – natural causes
27 January 1954 the Western Mail newspaper reported –
7 February 1954 sailed from Gibraltar
18 February 1954 sailed from Suez
13 May 1954 in refit at the Greenock Dockyard Company’s facility on the Clyde
15 May 1954 Mr George Bray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 August 1954 passed the Lloyds SIgnal Station at Dover sailing east bound
19 September 1954 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound
22 March 1955 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
14 June 1955 Mr J A McKenzie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 June 1955 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
10 August 1955 Captain Robert H Venning RFA appointed as Master
9 September 1956 Mr Daniel S Wood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 September 1956 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand
24 November 1956 sailed Gibraltar
14 November 1957 while off the coast of Spain Chief Officer Robert W. Major RFA lost over the side – discharged dead. He had been appointed to the ship on the 17 September 1956
18 November 1957 the Birmingham Daily Post reported the loss of Chief Officer Major hence –
19 November 1957 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA
1 January 1958 Mr Kenneth I J George RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 July 1958 at Abadan Pantryman Augustinho Gomes discharged dead – heart failure
13 September 1958 after a two ship collision in the Gulf of Oman followed by a fire with 24 deaths. RFA CEDARDALE and RFA SEA SALVOR and RN ships were involved in rescue and salvage with the CEDARDALE recovering about 11,000 tons of oil from one of the ships which she discharged at Pembroke Dock Dockyard. A subsequent salvage claim by the Admiralty resulted in the Admiralty and the crew receiving various payments
26 October 1958 anchored at Muscat. RFA SEA SALVOR berthed alongside of her
27 October 1958 sailed from Muscat
24 November 1958 arrived at Pembroke Dock to discharge
5 December 1958 Captain Frank P Hennin OBE RFA appointed as Master
18 January 1959 Captain H W Lawford RFA appointed as Master
24 July 1959 at the Seychelles
26 September 1959 berthed at Calliope Jetty, Auckland, New Zealand
15 November 1959 laid up at Hong Kong
3 December 1959 advertised this day in the Times for sale ‘as lying’ at HM Dockyard, Hong Kong by the Ministry of Transport
2 February 1960 sold for demolition by Matthews Wighton at Hong Kong
Notes:
- Part of the British Pacific Fleet hence the ‘B’ Pennant number