Official Number:                         140314

Class:                                         SECOND 1000t CREOSOL CLASS Harbour Oiler

Pennant No:                               X21 / A154

Laid down:
Builder:                                       Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Launched:                                  10 May 1917
Into Service:                                23 June 1917
Out of service:                             21 May 1954 laid up at Portsmouth
Fate:                                            Broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a further programme of tanker construction for the newly-formed RFA Service. Eventually there were eighteen ships in this Class, twelve of which were named after trees with the OL suffix, while the remainder had names connected with the oil industry also with the OL suffix. four of the Class were diesel engined and were sold after the Armistice but the rest, being triple expansion steamers, had long and successful service

10 May 1917 launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend as Yard Nr: 1032 named ELDEROL

 8 June 1917 Lieutenant Arthur W Fuillet RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant Arthur W Fuillet RNR

8 September 1917 Lieutenant William C Meikle RNR appointed in command until 15 October 1918 when he was appointed in command of RFA Elmol

Lieutenant William C Meikle RNR

1 October 1917 Engineer Lieutenant John Barclay RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He was demobilised on the 31 August 1919

30 October 1917 Lieutenant Arthur W Fuillet RNR – Court Martial papers show he was severely reprimanded and dismissed the ship – the charge found proved was of being drunk on board.   30 October 1917 Engineer Lieutenant James Miller RNR pleaded Guilty before the Court Martial of being Drunk on Board. He was sentenced to be severely reprimanded and to be dismissed his ship.

29 November 1917 Lieutenant Arthur W Fuillet RNR and 1st Engineer J Miller both dismissed the service (from RFA papers at RNAS Yeovilton)  The Court Martial papers show they were both dismissed their ship.

9 July 1918 Ordinary Seaman  R G Hewitt MMR 870051 logged as deserted. He had signed on the ship on the 13 June 1917. He was remanded to Brixton Prison on the 16 July 1918

18 August 1918 at Dover with RFA Palmol alongside loading her with cargo

16 October 1918 Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR appointed in command. He had come from RFA Elmol. On 23 April 1919 he was appointed in command of RFA Ferol

Lieutenant Charles H Noel RNR

20 October 1918 Stoker Harold Arthur Parker MMR 798229 discharged dead – he is buried at Hull (Hedon Road) Cemetery

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

6 January 1919 Stoker H G Murdock logged as deserted. He had signed on the ship on 14 November 1918.

19 January 1919 Cooks Boy T Gitties MMR 968600 logged as deserted. He had signed on the 30 November 1918

6 February 1919 arrived at Sheerness

6 March 1919 arrived at Portsmouth

23 April 1919 Lieutenant Charles A Shepherd RNR appointed in command. Previously he had been in command of RFA Ferol. He was demobilised on 27 July 1919

Lieutenant Charles A Shepherd RNR

10 July 1919 Lieutenant Evan M Richards RNR appointed in command. Previously served on RFA PRESTOL. He was appointed as Master of RFA VISCOL on 18 April 1920

28 August 1919 Engineer Lieutenant John W E Burt RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 December 1919 alongside HMS CAIRO at Devonport to refuel

HMS CAIRO

19 January 1920 berthed in No: 3 Basin at Devonport Dockyard

2 April 1920 Fireman John J Shields recorded as ‘run’. He had signed on on 20 August 1919

18 May 1920 Captain Henry Symons RFA appointed as Master. Captain Symons retired from the RFA service on 17 May 1924

31 January 1921 at Devonport alongside HMS DELHI to refuel her with 452 tons of FFO

HMS DELHI

Photograph by Walter E. Frost

6 April 1921 at Devonport alongside HMS WARSPITE refuelling her

1921 to December 1932 on a Y C Agreement at Devonport

7 June 1922 at Devonport alongside HMS CAPETOWN refuelling her with 204 tons of FFO

10 July 1922 Mr R C Rendall RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

6 February 1923 at Devonport alongside HMS CONSTANCE refuelling her with 87 tons of FFO. While securing to HMS CONSTANCE on her port side caused damage to her hull with a plate being slightly buckled

HMS CONSTANCE

25 August 1923 berthed at Devonport

4 November 1924 at Devonport berthed alongside HMS HOOD to refuel her

HMS HOOD

3 January 1927 at Devonport off Yonderbury Oil Fuel Jetty in collision with RFA LIMOL

16 December 1929 alongside in No: 4 Basin at Devonport

23 December 1929 included in a published list of RFA’s at Devonport together with RFA’s  LIMOL, ORANGELEAF (1),  WAR NIZAM and  WAR HINDOO

30 December 1929 berthed on the Thanckes OFJ

20 January 1930 berthed on No: 11 wharf, Devonport Dockyard

17 February 1930 berthed on the Thanckes OFJ

10 March 1930 berthed on the Thanckes OFJ

7 April 1930 made fast to No 9 buoy at Devonport

HMS/m ORPEHUS at Devonport with RFA ELDEROL alongside

28 April 1930 berthed on Thanckes Oil Fuel Jetty, Devonport

24 February 1932 sailed Falmouth for Devonport

1 January 1933 Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA appointed as Master

Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA

7 June 1933 Mr Frederick C Pavitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

18 April 1934 Mr David L Walls RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 November 1934 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing southbound

15 November 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

7 March 1935 Chief Officer Richard D Scanlon RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (ret)) appointed as Acting Master

5 December 1935 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

26 May 1936 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and salied to sea later the same day

16 August 1936 Mr Leonard T Tominson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

4 November 1936 Mr Charles M Morgan RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) R.N.R.) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11 March 1937 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

25 March 1937 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

13 April 1937 Captain Thomas Drever RFA appointed as Master

3 September 1937 Mr John M Brown RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

7 April 1938 Mr William A Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

28 December 1938 Chief Engineer Officer William A Payne RFA discharged dead. He was buried in the Clayhall Royal Naval Cemetery, Gosport in Section B, Row 8 Grave 9

1 January 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

23 January 1939 in Elderslie Dry Dock, Scotstoun West, Glasgow 

23 February 1939 arrived at Belfast from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde

26 February 1939 sailed Belfast for Devonport

13 August 1939 Mr James Wade-Thomas RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR ret) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 August 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

19 August 1939 at Portland alongside HMS EFFINGHAM refuelling her

HMS EFFINGHAM

31 August 1940 Chief Officer Howard D Gausen RFA appointed as Temporary Master

3 September 1939 at Portsmouth on the outbreak of WW2. 

13 December 1939 in collision with the destroyer HMS VEGA at Portland

9 January 1940 at East London

Between 2 March 1940 and 25 February 1945 primarily engaged along the south coast between Falmouth, Devonport, Dartmouth, Portland, Southampton and Portsmouth

3 March 1940 sailed from Portland to Portsmouth arriving the next day

5 March 1940 sailed from Portsmouth to Portland arriving the next day

5 July 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

7 July 1940 arrived at Southampton

4 August 1940 sailed from Southampton

4 September 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Portland arriving the next day

21 September 1940 Able Seaman/Signaller George Henry Buck discharged dead – natural causes

30 September 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

1 October 1940 sailed from Portmouth Harbour

8 October 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

9 October 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

15 October 1940 Captain Thomas Drever RFA appointed as Master. Berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

16 October 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

26 October 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

27 October 1940 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

5 November 1940 Mr John M Brown RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1941 took on charge an Usher & Cole marine chronometer c1894 serial No: ZAA0100 which had previously been held on charge by HMS RAMBLER, HMS PENGUIN, HMS LION and HMS DEVONSHIRE. Held on charge until 1946

24 March 1941 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

25 March 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

2 May 1941 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

4 May 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

21 August 1941 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

22 August 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

5 September 1941 tankers British Valour, Mosli, Atheltemplar and Olvina all agroudn on the Shambles. Tugs Resolve and Pilot together with various RN units attended. RFA Elderol sent from Portland to take on oil from the tankers and thus lighten ship if necessary. – source Admiralty War Diary for this day

23 October 1941 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

26 October 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

3 February 1942 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

6 February 1942 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

2 April 1942 Captain John Mc Angus RFA appointed as Master

Captain John Mc Angus RFA

25 December 1942 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

1 January 1943 under going repairs at Southampton

18 January 1943 Captain Thomas G Bennett MID RFA (Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy (Rtd)) appointed as Master

2 February 1943 repairs at Southampton completed

2 October 1943 Mr Leonard T Tominson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 November 1943 under going repairs at Plymouth – completed on 20 December 1943

1 January 1944 Captain P D G Harrison RFA appointed Master

31 January 1944 Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer until 29 August 1944

1 June 1944 at anchor in Portland Harbour with USS Satterlee (DD626) alongside being refuelled

2 June 1944 at anchor in Weymouth Bay with USS Harding (DD625) and USS Baldwin (DD624) alongside being refuelled

8 August 1944 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master

13 December 1944 at Portland Harbour with USS Cormorant (ATO133) alongside being refuelled and Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer again

21 March 1945 Mr Leonard T Tominson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

23 April 1946 Mr Charles A Smith DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Charles A Smith DSC RFA

1 October 1946 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master

14 January 1947 Mr John Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1 February 1947 Captain Douglas Snowden RFA appointed as Master

3 March 1947 Captain Frank C Holt RFA appointed as Master

25 April 1947 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound

17 May 1947 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth berthing on TIC Hebburn Quay and joining together with RFA WAVE LAIRD

19 May 1947 sailed the River Tyne from TIC Hebburn Quay for Rosyth

3 July 1947 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Master

8 July 1947 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

14 July 1947 at Portsmouth Harbour alongside USS New Jersey which was moored to South Railway Jetty to refuel her with 2,500 tons of fuel oil

16 July 1947 at Portsmouth Harbour alongside USS Fort Mandan which was moored to North Corner Jetty to refuel her with 700 tons of fuel oil. Captain William F Curlett RFA appointed as Master

23 December 1947 Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA appointed as Master

Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA

2 March 1948 Captain Douglas Snowden RFA appointed as Master

5 March 1948 sailed Portsmouth Harbour and returned to her berth later in the same day

17 July 1948 Mr A Ballantyne OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 September 1948 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour and returned to her berth later in the same day

5 January 1949 Captain J Bottomley RFA appointed as Master

12 January 1949 moved within Portsmouth Dockyard from North Corner Jetty to B Lock and later from B Lock to No: 3 Basin

13 January 1949 moved within Portsmouth Dockyard from No: 3 Basin to D Lock 

14 January 1949 moved within Portsmouth Dockyard from D Lock into the Harbour

2 March 1949 moved from A Lock within Portsmouth Dockyard to the South Wall

4 March 1949 moved within Portsmouth Dockyard from the South Wall of the Tidal Basin  to No: 3 Basin

21 March 1949  moved from B Lock within Portsmouth Dockyard to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

12 April 1949 moved from within Portsmouth Dockyard to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

12 October 1949 Captain C N Rennels RFA appointed as Master

7 September 1949 Mr Robert A Higgie RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

Chief Engineer Officer Robert A Higgie RFA

16 February 1950 Mr Arthur L Barr RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

8 June 1950 arrived on the River Tyne from Portsmouth

12 June 1950 sailed from Portsmouth returning later the same day

19 June 1950 Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA appointed as Master

Captain Herbert A Shacklock RFA

7 March 1951 Mr T B Willis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

26 May 1951 Mr John Ismay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

3 April 1952 Captain P Colfer RFA appointed as Master

18 June 1952 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

17 October 1952 Mr J J Moore RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

14 December 1953 Mr C E Prentis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

January 1954 Captain Stephen J Pethurst RFA appointed as Master

21 May 1954 placed in reserve at Portsmouth

1959 sold to BISCO for scrap

1 September 1959 arrived at Llanelly for breaking up by Rees Shipbreaking Co Ltd