Official Number: 140341
Class: SECOND 2000t BELGOL CLASS Tanker
Pennant No: X58 / X26 / A126
Laid down:
Builder: McMillan, Dumbarton
Launched: 21 May 1917
Into Service: 31 August 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 5 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.
25 February 1917 Engineer Lieutenant Ernest K Horsley RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Engineer Lieutenant Ernest K Horsley RNR
21 May 1917 launched by A. Macmillan & Sons, Dumbarton as Yard Nr: 467 named FORTOL
1 August 1917 Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR appointed in command
Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR
25 August 1917 at London registered as FORTOL under reference 160/17 in the Registry
29 August 1917 Able Seaman Thomas Toole logged as deserting from the ship. He has signed on the ship on the 24 August 1917
12 September 1917 Fireman James Scharah and Pumpman William Stant both logged as deserting. Fireman Scharah had signed on on the 24 August 1917 and Pumpman Stant had signed on on the 26 August 1917
13 September 1917 Leading Fireman Thomas Kay and Leading Fireman Edward Styles both logged as deserting. Both had signed on on the 12 August 1917
14 September 1917 Signalman and Able Seaman C V Batchelor logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 15 August 1917
4 October 1917 Greaser James McKenna logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 14 September 1917
18 October 1917 Greaser Frank Holland logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 24 August 1917
3 November 1917 Bosun Charles Turbet logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 12 August 1917
Bosun Charles Turbet
11 November 1917 Greaser Thomas Coe logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 24 August 1917
27 December 1917 at Liverpool
8 January 1918 Lieutenant John C Hawick RNR appeared before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court charged with pumping water minged with petroleum into Liverpool Docks on 27 December 1917. He was convicted and fined £5 with 10 guineas costs
Liverpool Echo press report of 8 January 1918
31 January 1918 Able Seaman George Ellison logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 24 August 1917
2 February 1918 Fireman W Nash logged as deserting at Liverpool. He had signed on on the 12 November 1917
11 March 1918 Fireman Arthur Bright logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 10 February 1918.
12 April 1918 Fireman Jas Lyng logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 5 April 1918
23 August 1918 midstream in the River Mersey refuelling HMS ACHILLES alongside with 400 tons of FFO
HMS ACHILLES
25 October 1918 Able Seaman Edward Baldwin MMR 664763 logged as deserting while at Belfast. He had signed on on 5 February 1918
Able Seaman Edward Baldwin MMR 664763
1 November 1918 anchored at Tail of the Bank. Moved alongside RFA DREDGOL to load 256 tons of bunkers
4 November 1918 and 5 November 1918 moved from anchorage to alongside RFA DREDGOL at Greenock to load 2,200 tons of cargo. On completion moved alongside the wharf at Rothsay Basin. Cast off and moved up the River Clyde to Old Kilpatrick oil wharf
6 November 1918 discharged 2,200 tons of cargo. Sailed to the anchorage at Tail of the Bank and berthed alongside ss War Prophet to load cargo
ss War Prophet
7 November 1918 completed loading 2,222 tons of FFO and cast off from ss War Prophet. Sailed up the Clyde to Old Kilpatrick oil wharf to discharge
8 November 1918 sailed down stream to anchor off Princes Pier
27 November 1918 sailed Glasgow down stream to Tail of the Bank
28 November 1918 sailed the River Clyde in ballast to sea
26 December 1918 at Old Kilpatrick oil wharf. Sailed down river to Tail of the Bank. ss War Rajput came alongside
27 December 1918 at Tail of the Bank with ss War Rajput alongside.
29 December 1918 at Tail of the Bank with ss War Prophet alongside. ss War Prophet cast off and ship moved up the Clyde to Old Kilpatrick oil wharf
30 December 1918 at Old Kilpatrick oil wharf
31 December 1918 alongside RFA DREDGOL. Cast off at 11:50hrs sailed up the Clyde to Old Kilpatrick oil wharf
11 February 1919 Fireman Alfred Reed MMR 918492 logged as deserting. He had signed on on 7 December 1917
Fireman Alfred Reed MMR 918492
14 February 1919 3rd Officer J E J Holden RFA discharged dead. He died at Larbert Hospital, Stirlingshire, Scotland. He had signed on on the 26 February 1918
11 March 1919 berthed at Portsmouth
12 March 1919 sailed Portsmouth to sea
4 April 1919 sailed Sheerness
15 April 1919 Engineer Sub Lieutenant Frederick P Atkins RNR appeared before a court martial charged with (a) drunk on board ship and (b) Act to the prejudice of good order and naval discipline in drinking intoxicating liquors to such excess as to produce illness, by which he was unfitted for this discharge of his duty. The charges were adjudged to be not proved and he was acquitted. Engineer Sub Lieutenant Frederick P Atkins RNR had previously served on RFA Rapidol
24 April 1919 Greaser James Mahoney logged as deserting. He had signed on on the 27 February 1919
29 April 1919 arrived at Sheerness
21 June 1919 at Scapa Flow
1 November 1919 Able Seaman J W Mould MMR 1011631, Fireman D Mind MMR 1008152 and Fireman C E Rigby MMR 1008155 all logged as deserting while at Invergordon. Each had signed on on 23 August 1919
22 November 1919 Assistant Steward Harry Riley MMR 996773 logged as deserting while at Grangemouth. He had signed on on 23 August 1919
On an unknown date Ordinary Seaman William Bolton was logged as deserting. He was arrested and sent to Chatham Detention Quarters. He had signed on on 24 August 1917.
On an unknown date Fireman David McCulloch was logged as deserting. He had signed on on 24 September 1917
2 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS TORBAY alongside to be refuelled – 115 tons FFO and 1 ton of culinary coal supplied. FS L’Auere alongside to be refuelled – 75 tons FFO supplied. Fresh and salt water pipes burst on the fore well deck
4 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS SERENE alongside to be refuelled – 50 tons FFO supplied
9 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – moved alongside HMS CALEDON and refuelled her – 210 tons of FFO supplied. Then moved to anchorage where HMS’s TORQUOISE and STURDY came alonside to be refuelled. A total of 282 tons of FFO supplied to these two ships
10 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – FS Meuse alongside to be refuelled – 67 tons FFO supplied
12 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS TENEDOS alongside to be refuelled – 112 tons FFO supplied
HMS TENEDOS
18 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS’s TENEDOS and TYRIAN alongside to be refuelled – 159 tons FFO supplied
19 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS TORQUOISE alongside for naval stores and 50 gallons of parafin
21 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – FS’s Meurse and L’Anere alongside to be refuelled – a total of 130 tons FFO supplied
22 February 1920 at the outer harbour, Libau, in the Baltic while acting as the base oiler – HMS TOURMALINE alongside to be refuelled – 109 tons of FFO supplied
23 February 1920 in the Baltic issued 255 tons of FFO from No: 4 tank to the ships bunkers. Able Seamen Manson, Moore and Hill, Ordinary Seaman Miller and Signalman Hunter absent without leave ashore
25 February 1920 in the Baltic AB Manson, OS Miller and Signalman Hunter each fined 2 days pay. AB’s Moore and Hill both fined 1 days pay
31 May 1920 berthed at Portsmouth
26 June 1920 Mr William D Hewitt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer William D Hewitt RFA
16 July 1920 berthed at Portsmouth sailing the same day to sea
1 September 1920 at anchor at Acapulco Bay
8 September 1920 at Acapulco transfered 223 tons of FFO from the ships cargo to her bunkers
9 September 1920 at Acapulco moored alongside HMS RENOWN while she was at anchor to refuel her – supplied 1,876 tons of FFO. Whilst alongside HMS RENOWN with a heavy ground swell two timber floats which were used as fenders on RENOWN were damaged
HMS RENOWN
Fortol suffered damage also with several plates, rivets and frames distorted inside the buoyance tank on the starboard side, in No 5 tank and in the starboard bunker tank.
10 September 1920 sailed Acapulco Bay
15 September 1920 anchored off Balboa
16 September 1920 transitted the Panama Canal from Balboa to Cristobal. Anchored in Colon Bay
17 September 1920 moved from Colon Bay to the Oil Wharf in Colon Harbour
18 September 1920 alongside the Oil Wharf at Colon and loaded 100 tons of FFO for bunkers. Sailed for Trinidad
22 September 1920 anchored off Port of Spain, Trinidad
24 September 1920 anchored off Port of Spain, Trinidad cleaned starboard tanks
27 September 1920 anchored off Port of Spain, Trinidad starboard plates being repaired after damage being caused when alongside HMS RENOWN
29 September 1920 at Trinidad – oil barge alongside loaded 70 tons of FFO for bunkers
29 October 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour from Trinidad
8 December 1920 at Portsmouth alongside HMS MALAYA to refuel her
18 December 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Queenstown, Ireland in ballast
23 December 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 January 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour returning the same day
21 January 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
2 June 1921 at Rathmullen, Co Donegal, Ireland Leading Fireman Ernest Atkinson Turner discharged dead having been accidentally drowned
10 June 1921 the Derry Journal published a letter from the ship –
15 August 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
14 October 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
11 November 1921 at the RN Hospital Chatham 2nd Steward William John Thomas discharged dead – natural causes
13 March 1922 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
15 March 1922 sailed Grangemouth for Sheerness with a cargo of FFO
27 March 1922 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
1 April 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 April 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
1 July 1922 arrived at Plymouth from Dover
14 July 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour, sailing from the same later the same day
1 August 1922 berthed at Grangemouth from Devonport in ballast
10 August 1922 sailed Plymouth for Gibraltar
9 November 1922 berthed at Devonport
2 December 1922 at Plymouth Police Court Donkeyman George Rosam appeared and pleaded Guilty to stealing £3 4sh 1½d the property of Mess Steward Arthur Minas. The money was found in the possession of the accused by Police. He was sentenced to 2 months hard labour
Press report from Western Morning Mail 4 December 1922
9 January 1923 sailed from Devonport to assist RFA WAR KRISHNA which had reported she had lost her propellor some 600 miles out in the Atlantic
11 January 1923 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east towing RFA WAR KRISHNA
15 January 1923 RFA WAR KRISHNA arrived at Plymouth in tow of RFA FORTOL
16 January 1923 the Western Morning News published an image of RFA WAR KRISHNA with RFA FORTOL alongside
24 November 1923 at Devonport alongside HMS HOOD – Battle Cruiser – supplied 3,465 tons of FFO
HMS HOOD
2 January 1924 sailed Devonport for Pembroke Dock
15 January 1924 sailed Plymouth
16 January 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 January 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
18 January 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and sailed again later the same day
26 January 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 January 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
16 April 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 April 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 April 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
28 April 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
8 May 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
9 May 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 May 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard saling east bound
23 May 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 May 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
7 June 1924 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east and arrived at Plymouth from Old Kilpatrick Oil Fuel Depot, River Clyde
13 June 1924 sailed Devonport for the River Clyde
10 July 1924 Captain Frank J Delamotte RFA appointed as Master
22 November 1924 arrived at Plymouth from Portland
13 December 1924 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
16 December 1924 sailed Devonport for Gibraltar
21 May 1925 Captain Stanley G Kent RFA appointed as Master
Captain Stanley G Kent RFA
image taken after WW2
16 August 1926 at Portsmouth Harbour in dry dock No: 12
19 November 1926 Captainr David A Gibbins RFA appointed as Master
1 January 1927 Captain Charles L Cutsforth RD RFA appointed as Master
Captain Charles L Cutsforth RD RFA
29 January 1927 to 4 February 1927 alongside the oil wharf in HM Dockyard, Singapore
In April 1927 RFA Fortol was operating with HMS MANTIS on the Yangtze River, China when they came under deliberate rifle fire when proceeding below Nanking. HMS MANTIS returned fire with machine guns. There were no casualties among the crew
Report of 16 April 1927 from Yorkshire Post newspaper
1 June 1927 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
Captain William H Green RFA
22 June 1927 Mr Robert Blacklock RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
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 October 1929 alongside the oil wharf in HM Dockyard, Singapore
25 November 1929 at Gibraltar from Port Said with fuel oil cargo for the UK
9 December 1929 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA EBONOL (1)
10 December 1929 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA EBONOL (1) and Captain John W Pegden RFA appointed as Master
14 December 1929 in No: 12 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
16 December 1929 in No: 12 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
19 December 1929 Mr J A Macintosh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 December 1929 4th Engineer Officer Frank Taylor appointed
29 December 1929 Mr William A Payne RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 Januaqry 1930 4th Engineer Officer Frank Taylor deserted
11 January 1930 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
28 February 1930 involved in a collision in the Bay of Gibraltar with the White Star liner Calgaric. Both ships suffered some damage
White Star liner Calgaric
3 March 1930 following the collision of the 28 February 1930 (see above) an enquiry was held in HM Dockyard, Gibraltar. Pending the result of the enquiry the Chief Officer of the Fortol, Chief Officer Thomas G Bennett RFA, took command temporarily. The ship’s Master – Captain John W Pegden RFA returned to England
4 March 1930 Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cecil R Rosen RFA
15 March 1930 arrived at Gibraltar in ballast from Palma
28 April 1930 in No: 3 Dock, Devonport Dockyard
30 June 1930 Captain William B Browne RFA appointed as Master
23 August 1930 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
8 September 1930 arrived at Plymouth
9 September 1930 Captain William H Farrow RFA appointed as Master
9 December 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 December 1930 on No: 5 Buoy in Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA PRESTOL
18 December 1930 Captain John B Hurst RFA appointed as Master
Captain John B Hurst RFA
7 October 1930 Mr James Paton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 January 1931 moored on No: 5 buoy, Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA PRESTOL
14 January 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
15 January 1931 arrived at Plymouth
17 January 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 January 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
3 February 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 February 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
2nd Engineer Officer James Glen
13 February 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 February 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
23 February 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
24 February 1931 berthed at Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
28 February 1931 sailed from Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
1 March 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
9 March 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
11 March 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
20 March 1931 grounded at St Andrews Bay when on passage to Rosyth Dockyard
8 April 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
2 May 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour and sailed the next day. Captain Arthur Peters RFA appointed as Master
4 May 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
11 May 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
12 June 1931 berthed on South Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
17 June 1931 made fast to No: 5 buoy in Portsmouth Harbour
19 June 1931 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA KIMMEROL
1 July 1931 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty together with RFA KIMMEROL
3 July 1931 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
24 July 1931 in No: 15 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
12 August 1931 in No: 15 dry dock, Portsmouth Harbour
1 September 1931 berthed in No: 3 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA PETRONEL
8 September 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
25 September 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
2 October 1931 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
3 October 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 October 1931 Captain George W Callaway RFA (Retd Lieutenant Commander RN) appointed as Master
14 October 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
21 October 1931 moored on No: 5 buoy, Portsmouth Harbour
27 October 1931 moored on No: 5 buoy, Portsmouth Harbour
19 November 1931 Mr George C Dunning RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 November 1931 in No: 3 Basin Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA’s PRESTOL & RFA PETRONEL
18 December 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
21 December 1931 in reserve at Rosyth for next four years
1935 converted into a white oil carrier for service in the Gulf of Suez / Aden areas and then resumed black oil duties when RFA GREEN RANGER entered service
7 June 1935 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
16 October 1935 Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA appointed as Master
Captain John P Tugwood DSC RD RFA
23 October 1935 Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 November 1935 sailed Grangemouth to Rosyth
3 January 1936 Captain Murray W Westlake RFA (Lieutenant RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Murray W Westlake RFA
1 February 1936 has paravanes fitted and the Admiralty wrote to the Grangemouth Dock Company who under took the work
10 February 1936 Captain Murray W Westlake RFA the ships Master promoted Lieutenant Commander RNR
2 August 1936 arrived Gibraltar from Suez to discharge her cargo
Courtesy Falkirk Council Archives
22 October 1936 Mr Leonard T Tomlinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 January 1937 RFA FORTOL was in dry dock at Devonport when fire broke out under the vessel. Fire extinguished. No casualties or damage.
27 January 1937 the Gloucester Citizen newspaper reported …
1 April 1938 again re-entered service
21 September 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west under the tow of the tug Neptunia
23 September 1938 entered dry dock at Cardiff for survey
10 October 1938 the Western Mail newspaper reported –
20 April 1939 Mr Thomas McGregor RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
19 May 1939 Captain Thomas Elder RFA appointed as Master
3 September 1939 in reserve at Devonport at outbreak of WW2
24 December 1939 sailed Mauritius with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS EAGLE for the Seychelles. The RN ships formed part of Force I
HMS EAGLE
13 March 1940 at Colombo, Ceylon
4 July 1940 sailed from Bombay to Colombo, Ceylon arriving 8 July 1940
11 July 1940 sailed Colombo, Ceylon for Mauritius arriving 14 July 1940
14 to 21 July 1940 in port at Mauritius
21 July 1940 sailed from Mauritius for Cape Town
31 July 1940 arrived at Cape Town
4 August 1940 sailed from Cape Town for Lobito, Angola arriving 9 August 1940
9 August 1940 sailed from Lobito, Angola for Freetown, Sierra Leone
18 August 1940 arrived at Freetown, Sierra Leone
13 November 1940 sailed from Freetown, Sierra Leone to Lagos, Nigeria arriving 18 November 1940
22 November 1940 sailed Lagos, Nigeria to Freetown, Sierra Leone
31 December 1940 sailed from the Seychelles
8 January 1941 arrived at Colombo, Ceylon
23 January 1941 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
24 January 1941 arrived at Trincomalee, Ceylon
19 February 1941 sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon
21 February 1941 berthed at Colombo, Ceylon
19 March 1941 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
26 March 1941 berthed at Karachi, Pakistan sailing the same day for Bombay, India.
30 March 1941 arrived at Bombay, 1941
22 July 1941 Mr Frederick O Brims RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer to 26 July 1943
Chief Engineer Officer Frederick O Brims RFA taken earlier in his sea going career
20 December 1941 Captain Herbert Walker Flint RFA appointed as Master
8 April 1942 sailed Freetown in convoy ST19 arriving Takoradi on 13 April 1942
25 April 1942 at Point Noire
26 April 1942 sailed Point Noire for Lobito arriving 29 April 1942
30 April 1942 sailed Lobito for Walvis Bay
May 1942 at Cape Town and Simonstown in refit through to July 1942
24 July 1942 at the E G Hospital, Cape Town Deck Bhandry Hassan Ahmed discharged dead with meningitis
25 July 1942 under going repairs at Cape Town. Completed 2 August 1942
20 August 1942 at St. Helena HMS CATTERICK, an escort from convoy WS21 on passage south to Cape Town etc., came alongside to refuel in the lee of the Island
HMS CATTERICK
21 August 1942 at St. Helena HMS PETARD, also an escort from convoy WS21 on passage south to Cape Town etc., came alongside to refuel in the lee of the Island
26 August 1942 in the South Atlantic ss Beechwood was sunk by U-130 – the Master was taken by the U-Boat. Thirty six members of the crew, five gunners and one stowaway were rescued by RFA FORTOL and landed at Freetown.
25 September 1942 after trials she was ordered to proceed to Freetown via Ascension Island
1 November 1942 at Freetown
7 November 1942 at Connaught Hospital, Freetown Fireman Vallee Caramdeen discharged dead from cancer of the bladder
12 March 1943 sailed Freetown in convoy SL126 to St Vincent, Cape Verde Islands as the Escort Oiler
16 March 1943 arrived at Etienne escorted by HMS’s BIRDLIP and BUTSER
17 March 1943 at Etienne refuelled HMS’s SPEY and ROTHER and then sailed being escorted by the two warships
19 March 1943 while escorted by HMS BURDOCK left convoy SL126 to rendevous with convoy OS44
22 March 1943 berthed at St.Vincent, Cape Verde Islands and off loaded 1,216 tons of FFO
23 March 1943 sailed under the escort of HMS BUTSER St.Vincent, Cape Verde Islands for Freetown arriving on the 27 March 1943
31 March 1943 sailed Freetown under the escort of HMS BUTSER
20 April 1943 sailed Freetown in convoy SL 128 to Dakar arriving 30 April 1943
6 June 1943 on passage from Gibraltar to Freetown in Convoy RG 8
13 June 1943 sailed Freetown in convoy SL131 and r/v with convoy MKS15 to arrive Gibraltar 26 June 1943
17 June 1943 Mr James Hall RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 June 1943 arrived Gibraltar
29 June 1943 under going repairs at Gibraltar. Completed 30 June 1943 (?)
6 July 1943 sailed Gibraltar in unescorted convoy RS8 to Freetown. Detached to join convoy SL 132 to Gibraltar
25 September 1943 acted as Escort oiler on convoy MKS 25 from Gibraltar to Liverpool.
29 November 1943 Captain William R Parker RFA appointed as Acting Master
30 December 1943 under going repairs on the Clyde which were completed on 9 January 1944
18 April 1944 sailed from Reykjavik, Iceland in convoy RU 116 to Loch Ewe, in ballast, arriving on the 23 April 1944
31 May 1944 at Milford Haven outer harbour with USS Susan B Anthony (AP72) alongside to refuel. The USS Susan B Anthony was mined and sank off Omaha Beach on 7 June 1944
28 August 1944 Mr George Bray RFA appointed as Acting Chief Engineer Officer
Acting Chief Engineer Officer George Bray (image taken in 1918)
13 December 1944 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA
7 May 1945 sailed from Scapa Flow with HMS QUEEN (Flagship) plus nine other RN ships to the Skaggerak to accept the surrender of the German Fleet on the 8 May 1945 (VE Day) – Operation Cleaver
2 July 1945 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
12 July 1945 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
14 September 1945 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning to her berth the next day
22 September 1945 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
24 September 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north when on passge from Portsmouth. Later berthed at South Shields Oil Wharf, River Tyne
26 October 1945 at North Shields
16 November 1945 Mr James E Hawthorn RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer James E Hawthorn RFA
20 December 1945 sailed the River Tyne for Portsmouth
14 January 1946 Captain Francis J King RFA appointed as Master
13 February 1946 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
14 February 1946 sailed from Grangemouth for Leith
27 April 1946 at Rosyth
21 August 1946 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
4 October 1946 Chief Engineer Officer James E Hawthorn RFA discharged dead
28 October 1946 at Rosyth
19 November 1946 at Dunfermline Police Court Fireman James R Robertson from RFA Fortol admitted a breach of the peace the previous day at a restaurant . He was fined £3
Press report from the Evening Telegraph 19 November 1946
22 December 1946 entered and berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
30 January 1947 Captain Emil E Sigwart RFA (Temporary Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Master
4 February 1947 Mr James Paton OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 August 1947 off Charlestown while Fortol was receiving fuel oil from HMS CAMPAINIA Able Seaman Joseph Smith and another crew member left the ship in a two seater canoe. They were then seen floating in the Forth AB Smith had died from accidental drowning – discharged dead. The other seaman was rescued and taken to hospital. There was no sign of the canoe
20 August 1947 the Evening Telegraph reported –
14 November 1947 Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA appointed as Master
Captain Cyril F Cunningham RFA
22 November 1947 Mr George G Stenhouse RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer George G Stenhouse RFA
11 July 1948 at No: 1 buoy, Rosyth when coming alongside HMS IMPLACABLE the port wing of the flying bridge came into contact with the after gun superstructure of the warship. No damage to the warship but RFA FORTOL’s flying bridge carried away.
21 September 1948 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard under tow sailing west
19 April 1949 Donkeyman Greaser George Abbotts discharged dead at Port Edgar from a stroke
22 April 1949 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
6 July 1949 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Flamborough Head sailing north
17 January 1950 laid up at Devonport
June 1958 sold to the British Iron and Steel Corporation for scrap
27 June 1958 sailed Devonport in tow of the British tug MERCHANTMAN after handover to the breakers
6 August 1958 arrived for breaking up at Rosyth by Shipbreaking Industries Ltd..