RFA Maine (1)
Previous name: Swansea
Official Number: 94303
Class: Hospital Ship
Laid down:
Builder: William Gray & Company, West Hartlepool
Launched: 8 June 1887
Into Service: 1905
Out of service: 17 June 1914
Fate: Ran aground off the Isle of Mull and wrecked
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
8 June 1887 launched by Wm Gray & Co, West Hartlepool as Yard Nr: 322 named SWANSEA for Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Co Ltd, London
July 1887 completed as a cattle and cargo ship
22 December 1887 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound when on passage from Philadelphia for London
7 January 1888 while on passage from Baltimore to London and off Start Point with a general cargo and some cattle was in collision with the trawler Nimble from Brixham which sank. The Skipper and three hands from the trawler were all drowned. The Swansea stopped, lowered two boats and rescued one other hand who was in an exhaused state
21 January 1888 the Times newspaper reported –
25 March 1888 berthed at New York
4 August 1888 berthed at New York
17 November 1888 berthed at New York
1888 purchased by Maine Shipping Co (Williams, Torrey & Field Ltd, Managers) London and renamed MAINE
4 February 1889 arrived at Gravesend for Tilbury Docks from Baltimore
10 February 1889 sailed Gravesend from Tilbury Docks for Swansea
18 February 1889 sailed Swansea for Philadelphia
4 March 1889 docked at Philadelphia
2 October 1889 while on passage from London to Philadelphia passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
17 October 1889 docked at Philadelphia
4 January 1890 arrived at Gravesend from Baltimore
13 March 1890 at Philadelphia in hospital Able Seaman Hy Potter discharged dead from Pneumonia
26 March 1890 at sea at 46°52N 62°24W Able Seaman George Ripley discharged dead from injuries sustained when he fell from aloft
3 January 1891 sailed Baltimore for London
17 March 1891 off Blackwell Point, River Thames while inbound from Baltimore to Deptford and Tilbury Dock was in collision with the steamer Glenorchy outward bound for Penang. The Glenorchy suffered damage to her anchor stock and guard rails. The Maine suffered damage to her port side underwater and was leaking slightly
16 May 1891 arrived from Baltimore passing Gravesend for Tilbury Dock
4 July 1891 in Lower Hope, River Thames in collision with the steamer Heinrich Cruse of Kiel, Germany outward bound. The Maine suffered damage to her stem and bows and the Heinrich Cruse was badly damaged on the starboard side abaft fore rigging. Source the Times newspaper of 6 July 1891
1892 registered owners now Atlantic Transport Co Ltd, London name unchanged
14 May 1892 passed Dover for London
7 October 1892 sailed Swansea for Philadelphia and Baltimore
18 October 1892 berthed at Philadelphia from Swansea
24 February 1893 sailed Gravesend for Swansea and Philadelphia
19 June 1893 arrived Philadelphia from Swansea
15 September 1893 passed Browhead while on passage from Swansea to Baltimore
30 October 1893 sailed Gravesend and passed Dover for Swansea and Philadelphia
8 February 1894 passed Prawle Point while on passage from Gravesend to Philadelphia
18 June 1899 off Beachy Head, English Channel 2nd Steward John Neil found missing believed drowned – discharged dead
11 October 1899 the Boer War broke out in South Africa and the Mr Barnard N Baker, President of the Atlantic Transport Co. Ltd. immediately offered the ship to the British Admiralty for use as a Hospital Ship, but because of the high costs involved in altering and fitting her out, the offer, although eagerly accepted, was not acted upon promptly
6 November 1899 at Liverpool the American Chamber of Commerce in that city voted to donate £100 towards the fund to equip and run the Maine as a Hospital Ship during the Boer War
12 November 1899 three doctor and five nurses sailed from New York to London be part of the medical team on the Maine. They sailed on the Atlantic Transport Line ship Mesaba. The Doctors were Dr George E Dodge, Dr Harry H Rodman and Dr Charles H Weber. The nurses were Miss M E Hibbard, Miss Virginia Ludekens, Miss Jennie A Manly, Miss Sarah C McVean and Miss Margaret J McPherson.
Hospital Ship Maine
15 November 1899 Dr Julian Mayo Cabell, the Chief Surgeon of the American team sailed from New York for Liverpool on the RMS Oceanic. He had been granted six months leave of absence from the Columbia Hospital, Washington
18 November 1899 a concert was held at Clarridges Hotel, Mayfair to raise money for equipment for the ship having been organised by Mrs James Brown Potter. Over £2,000 was raised.
19 November 1899 sixteen male nurses, ten orderlies and two apothcaries under the charge of Dr Thomas W Hastings sailed from New York to London to join the crew of the Maine on the Atlantic Transport Line ship Manitou. The nurses were Charles S. Austin, Victor C. Bates, A. H. Chapman, Stephen Crick, George T. Cole, Ralph W. Ellsworth, Furman M. Green, Leon M. Howard, W. C. Kuder, Charles Nast, John M. McClintock, John J. Reilly, W. B. Rust, Theodore V. Speer, A. Bunner Vallance and Archibald Gillies. The orderlies were Otto Ranstrom, W. D. Ross, Charles C Brien, Charles H Rudgreen, P. M. Rayner, Ernest Wynne, Dudley Vivian, J. H. Kase, Robert Lowndes and Henry Niderer. The two apothcaries were Albert Spotts and Herbert Haigh
23 November 1899 the fund to fit out the ship now totalled in excess of $90,000 excluding money raised at Claridges Hotel by Mrs James Brown Potter
1899 fitted out as a Hospital Ship by Fletcher, Son & Fearnall at Limehouse Reach on the Thames. Her conversion cost more than £41,000. The five wards on the ship were named Columbia, Britannia, Whitelaw Reid, Baker and Committee
Surgeons from the Hospital Ship Maine
4 December 1899 the Officers, Medical Staff and crew were presented to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle
Members of the public were invited to purchase the above medal thus making funds to cover the ships operating costs
16 December 1899 at West India Docks, London HRH the Duke of Connaught presented HM The Queen’s flag to Lady Randolph Churchill and the Committee for raising the money to convert the ship into a hospital ship. The flag – a Union Flag with a red cross in it’s centre was raised by the Duke who was accompanied by HRH the Duchess of Connaught and the Princess Louise of Lorne. The ship was blessed by the Bishop of Islington. (Details from the New York Tribune of 17 December 1899)
Surgeon Lt. Col Hensman and the Nursing Sisters from the Hospital Ship Maine
17 December 1899 a fund raising banquet was held at Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, London in aid of the American Hospital Ship Fund. The Directors of the Hotel gave the banquet and the flowers with which the tables were decorated, and the entire suite of rooms on the ground floor was placed at the disposal of the ladies committee. The entertainment was arrnaged by Mrs Arthur Paget and Mme Von Andre, assisted by Mr Cesar Ritz, the Manager of the Hotel. A central table was reserved for the HRH’s Duke & Duchess of Connaught, and with their Royal Highnesses sat the Marquis of Lorne, Mr Choate (the American Ambassador) and Mrs Choate, Lady Randolph Churchill, Mrs Paget, Mrs Rolands, the Countess of Mar and Kellie, Mr & Mrs Blow, the Russian Ambassador, the Austrian Ambassador, Lord Chales Montague, Lord Algenon Gordon-Lennox, Lord Glenesk, and Mr Montague Guest. The company which numbered about 300, also included Prince Christrian, Sir Henry Drummond Wolff and Princess Dolgorouki. The banquet realized £2,000 worth the equivalent of over £200,000 to-day (2012)
The banquet’s menu –
Donated by & Copyright of UNLV Libraries, Special Collections.
19 December 1899 the Times Newspaper of this day reported on collections for the fitting out of the Hospital Ship Maine – some of those who made a donation were listed as – “Absent-minded Beggar” 5sh and “Prince” a Collie dog 3sh 3d
23 December 1899 sailed Gravesend for Cape Town, South Africa for service during the Boer War where she was chiefly used a the Base Hospital Ship at Durban
24 December 1899 the New York Daily Tribune newspaper reported …
30 December 1899 the Graphic Newspaper published …
3 January 1900 arrived at Las Palmas on way to the Cape sailing the next day
5 January 1900 the Morning Post newspaper reported –
6 January 1900 arrived at Maderia
21 January 1900 arrived at Cape Town
25 January 1900 sailed from Cape Town for Durban
29 January 1900 arrived Durban. Winston Churchill’s mother served as a nurse onboard and at one stage even treated her youngest son Jack Spencer Churchill there
8 February 1900 a telegram from Durban reported that the ship now held 140 patients which included 69 injured – mostly from Colenso and Spion Kop – 16 cases of dysentry, 14 of rheumatism, 3 of enteric fever and 4 of ague
13 February 1900 a tea dance in New York raised over $6,000 for the fund to maintain and run the ship
8 March 1900 a Ball was organised in aid of funds for the Hospital Ship Maine at the Grand Hotel, Rome. Some 400 guests were attended
Wounded and sick Officers on the Hospital Ship Maine at Durban
17 March 1900 sailed from Durban for Cape Town arriving 21 March 1900
24 March 1900 sailed from South Africa with a full complement of cot cases
29 March 1900 the Lord Mayor of London donated £2,000 for the fund to maintain and run the ship
4 April 1900 a concert in aid of the finances to run the Maine took place at the Crystal Palace
15 April 1900 arrived at Maderia while on passage to Southampton. While at Maderia a soldier – Sergeant J Grantham of the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers discharged dead – he was buried in Maderia with full military honours
23 April 1900 berthed at Southampton with 12 Officers and 151 wounded men on board
3 May 1900 William Benjamin Toulman, a labourer, pleaded Guilty at Southampton Borough Police Court to the larcency of various items valued together at 9sh 8d from the Maine while at Southampton. Toulman was working on the ship at the time.and was stopped at the Dock gate with the items hidden on his person. He was sentenced to two months hard labour
Press report from the Hampshire Advertiser of 5 May 1900
3 May 1900 sailed Southampton for a second trip to Durban, South Africa. During the period she was berthed at Southampton the ship was dry docked and improvements to the facilities were undertaken these included the provision of a mortuary on the main deck
21 May 1900 at 11°12S 1°42W Hospital Orderly Otto C Raustrom discharged dead from meningitis
29 May 1900 arrived at Table Bay
9 June 1900 sailed Table Bay for Southampton with 11 officers and 149 men as patients. Lieut -Colonel Hensman, Royal Army Medical Corp was in command of the medical team onboard
12 June 1900 the Shields Daily News reported –
26 June 1900 arrived at Funchal, Maderia and sailed the same day for Southampton
2 July 1900 passed Ushant
9 July 1900 the Executive Committee placed the ship at the disposal of the Admiralty for service in China as it was belived she would be of greater use in Chinese waters rather than at South Africa. This offer was made as the South African War was coming to a close and Maine had successfully fulfilled her mission there.
12 July 1900 sailed Southampton for Taku (China) for service during the Boxer Rebellion under the command of Captain F S Stone
17 July 1900 passed Gibraltar
21 July 1900 passed Malta
25 July 1900 arrived at Port Said
6 August 1900 it was reported in the Times newspaper that a series of further donations for the Executive Committee running the Maine had been received. This included a further grant from the Lord Mayor of London for £1,000 numerous smaller donations and one £1 from Miss Janotha’s black cat for ‘Good Luck’
10 August 1900 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon
14 August 1900 the St James’s Gazette reported –
18 August 1900 passed Singapore
25 August 1900 berthed at Hong Kong
29 August 1900 the Principal Medical Officer onboard reported that at Hong Kong they were loading stores and provisions for 3 months service away from the Colony. Doctors Shine and MacWhirter joined the Medical staff
31 August 1900 sailed Hong Kong for Wei-hai-wei
18 September 1900 arrived at Wei-hai-wei, China. Two further US surgeons joined the ship
26 September 1900 sailed Wei-hai-wei, China for Taku to collect invalids
10 October 1900 arrived at Wei-hai-wei, China from Taku with invalids comprising of 8 officers and 28 non commissioned officers and men of the British Forces and 2 officers and 69 non commissioned officers and men of the American Expeditionary Force on board. Sailed to Nagasaki
16 October 1900 was at Nagasaki shortly to sail to Yokohama with invalids from the Taku Forts
20 October 1900 arrived at Yokohama
3 November 1900 sailed from Yokohama
7 November 1900 arrived at Wei-hei-wei, China
9 November 1900 sailed from Wei-hei-wei
10 November 1900 arrived at Taku
18 November 1900 sailed from Taku
20 November 1900 arrived at Wei-hei-wei, China after calling at Chefoo for bunkers
21 November 1900 reported by telegram from Wei-hai-wei that a further group of invalids had been received on board comprising 6 officers and 66 non commissioned officers and men of the British Forces and 3 men of the American Expeditionary Force
Sick and wounded on the Hospital Ship Maine
26 November 1900 arrived at Hong Kong
1 December 1900 sailed Hong Kong for Southampton with 108 sick and wounded onboard
27 December 1900 the South Wales Daily News carried an advertisment from Colemans & Company Ltd., Norwich concerning one of their products –
31 December 1900 sailed Port Said for Southampton
13 January 1901 returned to Southampton with 4 officer and 138 others ranks patients all of whom had come from China with the exception of 34 patients who had been admitted onboard at Malta. The patients were all discharged and admitted to Netley Hospital. After her China Station service it was planned that she would be laid up
20 March 1901 the Portsmouth Evening News reported …
5 April 1901 arrived at Gibraltar sailing later for Malta to join the Mediterrean Squadron as a Hospital Ship
8 May 1901 arrived at Gibraltar
13 May 1901 berthed at Portsmouth from Malta with 66 patients from the Mediterranean Fleet. This was reported in the Shields Daily News of this day …
16 May 1901 the Daily Public Ledger newspaper of Maysville, Kentucky reported …
29 June 1901 formally presented to the Admiralty and renamed HMHS MAINE
2 July 1901 at Marlborough House H. M. The King received Mrs George Cornwallis West, the Dutchess of Marlborough and other American ladies who formed the Committee which had managed the Hospital Ship Maine during the South African War
12 July 1901 sailed Portsmouth for Southampton
21 November 1901 at Larnaca, Cyprus together with HMS GLADIATOR
6 December 1901 arrived at Malta from Platea
22 December 1901 sailed Malta for Corfu
27 December 1901 Sick Berth Attendant Chas Hy Whybrew discharged dead from typhoid
HMHS Maine
14 January 1902 arrived at Malta
18 January 1902 sailed from Malta for Alexandria calling at Platea and Suda Bay, Crete
20 February 1902 at Alexandria
20 March 1902 arrived at Malta from Cyprus
21 March 1902 sailed Malta for the UK with invalids and time expired men onboard
29 March 1902 the Magazine Navy and Army Illustrated published three images of the Hospital Ship Maine –
HMHS Maine – the Upper Deck facing aft
HMHS Maine – the Operating Theatre
HMHS Maine – one of the wards
31 March 1902 arrived at Portsmouth from the Meditterrean
1 April 1902 China Medals without Clasps
were awarded to –
11 members of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade serving onboard
14 members of the American crew serving onboard
6 members of the Royal Army Medical Corp serving onboard
20 members of the English crew serving onboard
6 April 1902 sailed Portsmouth to Southampton
12 April 1902 the Hampshire Telegraph reported
22 May 1902 sailed Malta with 89 patients on board for Portsmouth
6 June 1902 sailed Portsmouth for the Mediterranean
17 June 1902 vide the London Gazette of this date on page 3965 & 3967 in a despatch dated 1 March 1902 from Field Marshal Earl Robert KG GCB VC Etc reported to the Secretary of State for War, the War Office that the following from HMHS Maine should be recognised
Major J Meek MD Royal Army Medical Corps
G E Dodge Esq BS MD Civil Surgeon
T W Hastings Esq BA Civil Surgeon
Mrs George Cornwallis-West
Miss Eleanor Charlotte Warrender
Staff-Sergeant (now Sergeant Major) S J How, Royal Army Medical Corps
Mr J J Reilly Male Nurse
Mr W B Ruth Male Nurse
24 June 1902 vide the London Gazette of this date on page 4193 Superintentdent Miss E M Chadwick, Army Nursing Service and Mrs George Cornwallis-West (Lady Randolph Churchill) both shown as serving on the HMHS Maine were awarded the Royal Red Cross
19 August 1902 The Scotsman newspaper reported –
6 December 1902 arrived at Plymouth with one officer and eighteen men from a Military Hospital at Malta who had been invalided home
7 December 1902 arrived at Portsmouth
February 1903 nine officers were awarded the Sea Transport Medal with either the South Africa 1899 – 1902 bar, the China bar or both bars
Sea Transport Medal
Those who received the medal were –
Captain F Stone – both bars. Chief Officer W Johnston – both bars. 2nd Officer B W Griffiths – both bars. 3rd Officer A P Cooke – both bars. Chief Engineer Officer T G Richardson – both bars. 2nd Engineer Officer J Barrett – both bars, 3rd Engineer Officer J N Cairns – both bars, 3rd Engineer Officer J W Anderson – South Africa bar only. Purser J G Whyman – both bars
19 March 1903 a question was raised in the House of Commons by Mr Harold Tennant, MP for Berwickshire to the Government as to why the South African War Medal was issued to male American orderlies and nurses but was refused for the five female certified nurses in charge. The Government stated they had issued the instructions
29 April 1903 the China War Medal 1900 was awarded to male American Nurses who had joined the ship prior to her depature to South Africa in 1899 and remained onboard when she deployed to provide medical assistance at the Taku Forts, China during the Boxer Rebellion. Those who received the medal were J. J. Reilly, W. B. Ruth, J. F. McClintock, Victor Bates, L M Howard, Charles Austin and Archibald Gillies (details from the New York Tribune)
9 October 1903 following a Order in Council the Wardmaster was granted an allowance of 6d a day
12 October 1903 sailed from Malta for Cyprus
27 May 1904 off Cap de Gatt patient Stoker Dan Gear from Naval Store Ship Aquarius (later to be come RFA Aquarius) discharged dead – tumor on the brain
28 May 1904 the Army & Navy Gazette reported –
30 May 1904 at Gibraltar a patient, Ships Boy Oscar Solomon of HMS IRRESISTIBLE discharged dead from double pneumonia
10 June 1904 arrived at Malta
29 July 1904 the Lloyds List newspaper reported from Parliament –
1 August 1904 sailed Malta for Beirut
16 August 1904 while at sea a patient, Midshipman Roland G A Saunders, Royal Navy from HMS VENERABLE discharged dead from Enteric Fever
17 August 1904 together with HMS MONTAGU and three destroyers sailed from Larnaca, Cyprus
20 August 1904 while at sea off Rhode Island a patient, Midshipman Douglas George Inkpen, Royal Navy from HMS MONTAGUE discharged dead from Enteric Fever
30 August 1904 while at sea a patient, Assistant Paymaster Prosper Claude Conrad De La Rue, Royal Navy from HMS VENERABLE discharged dead from typhoid fever. He was buried the next day in the British Cemetery at Smyrna
30 September 1904 sailed Cephalonia for Malta
1 October 1904 berthed at Malta
20 March 1905 sailed Malta for Navarino Bay
10 May 1905 sailed Malta for Gibraltar and Portsmouth with 70 naval and 40 military invalids onboard
17 May 1905 in the House of Commons the Government’s Ships Bill was debated and it was explained that the Bill was needed due to the existence of the Hospital Ship Maine, the distilling ship Aquarius and other Fleet Auxiliaries as well as ships owned by other Government Departments which did not form part of Her Magesty’s Navy. The Bill enabled the King by order in Council to make regulations bringing these vessels under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 and Naval Discipline Act
19 May 1905 berthed at Portsmouth with naval invalids being sent to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar. The military invalids were sent to the Netley military hospital
29 May 1905 sailed from Portsmouth for Malta passing the Lloyds Signal Station at Ventnor when sailing west bound
19 June 1905 Dundee Evening telegraph reported …
6 June 1905 arrived at Malta
18 June 1905 arrived at Gibraltar
19 June 1905 Surgeon Algernon C Bean Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
11 July 1905 sailed Portsmouth
18 July 1905 arrived at Plymouth
27 July 1905 arrived at Gibraltar with HMS VENUS
HMS VENUS
1 August 1905 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
5 August 1905 sailed Malta for Gibraltar and England
1905 taken over as an RFA when the service was formed and renamed RFA MAINE (1)
12 August 1905 Stoker William P McQuirk of HMS COMMONWEALTH when as a patient onboard discharged dead from a cerebal abscess – he was buried in Plymouth Cemetery
15 August 1905 arrived at Portsmouth and Fleet Surgeon Daniel J P McNabb Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment on board
26 August 1905 sailed Portsmouth for Malta
4 September 1905 arrived at Malta
15 Septekmber 1905 at Phalcrum with the Mediterrean Fleet
28 September 1905 sailed Lemnos for Malta arriving 1 October 1905
5 October 1905 sailed Malta
8 October 1905 berthed at Gibraltar
10 October 1905 sailed Gibraltar for Devonport
14 October 1905 berthed at Devonport sailing for Portsmouth the same day
15 October 1905 berthed at Portsmouth
25 October 1905 sailed Portsmouth for Malta
30 October 1905 berthed at Gibraltar
3 November 1905 arrived at Malta
RFA Maine (1)
30 November 1905 Staff Surgeon Walter H O Garde Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
9 December 1905 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
14 December 1905 berthed at Gibraltar sailing the same day for Plymouth
19 December 1905 arrived at Plymouth sailing the same day for Portsmouth
20 December 1905 berthed at Portsmouth
27 December 1905 berthed on North Slip Jetty, Portsmouth
2 January 1906 moored on No: 5 buoy in Portsmouth Harbour
6 January 1906 sailed Portsmouth for Gibraltar passing No Man’s Fort in the Solent
11 January 1906 berthed at Gibraltar leaving the same day for Malta
16 January 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
31 January 1906 sailed from Malta with Vice Admiral Sir Harry T Grenfell KCB CMG and invalids onboard for Gibraltar and Portsmouth
Vice Admiral Sir Harry T Grenfell KCB CMG
6 February 1906 berthed at Marseilles and landed Vice Admiral Sir Harry T Grenfell KCB CMG, second in command of the Mediterranean Fleet who died on 19 February 1906
16 February 1906 berthed at Portsmouth
10 March 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
21 March 1906 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
27 March 1906 sailed Gibraltar for Devonport and Portsmouth
1 April 1906 berthed at Portsmouth
14 April 1906 sailed Portsmouth for Gibraltar
24 April 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
22 May 1906 sailed Portsmouth for Gibraltar and Malta passing Ventnor sailing west
31 May 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
12 June 1906 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
16 June 1906 berthed at Gibraltar and sailed the same day for Plymouth
21 June 1906 arrived Plymouth from Gibraltar
22 June 1906 berthed at Portsmouth
3 July 1906 sailed Portsmouth for Gibraltar passing St Catherine’s Point sailing west
14 July 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
18 July 1906 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
27 July 1906 arrived at Plymouth and landed 35 invalids from Malta & Gibraltar before sailing for Portsmouth
28 July 1906 arrived at 0830hrs at Portsmouth landing 6 naval officers, 35 men, 1 military officer & 32 men – invalids from Malta & Gibraltar
8 August 1906 sailed from North Slip Jetty, Portsmouth at 10.00hrs for Gibraltar
12 August 1906 arrived at Gibraltar
15 August 1906 sailed from Gibraltar
24 August 1906 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
24 September 1906 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
27 September 1906 arrived at Gibraltar from Malta
5 October 1906 Staff Surgeon Ernest S Reid MB appointed to the ship which was berthed on South Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
11 October 1906 sailed from Portsmouth for Malta. Passing the Lloyds Signal Station at Ventnor, Isle of Wight sailing west bound
20 October 1906 berthed at Malta from Gibraltar
3 November 1906 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
7 November 1906 arrived at Gibraltar
13 November 1906 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and berthed on South Railway Jetty
19 November 1906 entered the large basin at Portsmouth Dockyard for a refit
22 November 1906 berthed in South Lock at Portsmouth Harbour
27 November 1906 in No: 12 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
29 December 1906 still in No: 12 dry dock at Portsmouth Harbour
8 January 1907 moved from No: 12 dry dock to No: 5 basin at Portsmouth Harbour
20 January 1907 arrived Gibraltar
RFA Maine (1) arriving at Gibraltar Harbour
7 February 1907 Surgeon Charles T Baxter appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
11 February 1907 at Hampshire Assizes before His Honour Mr Justice Grantham two young men appeared on an indictment charging them with robbery with violence of a silver watch valued at £2 the property of Donkeyman Michaeal Warburton a member of the crew of RFA MAINE at Portsea in November 1906. They both pleaded not guilty. After hearing the evidence the jury found both men guilty of simple robbery. They admitted to having previous convictions. One was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour the other was sentenced to 18 months in a Borstal institution
15 February 1907 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound
25 April 1907 sailed from Portsmouth for Malta and passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Ventnor sailing west bound
14 July 1907 arrived at Malta towing HMS MALLARD
19 August 1907 sailed Smyrna for Lemnos with HMS MINERVA
HMS MINERVA
7 September 1907 sailed Constantinople with HMS HUSSAR to join the Mediterrean Fleet which was anchored at Lemnos
HMS HUSSAR
21 September 1907 sailed from Malta
25 September 1907 arrived at Gibraltar
26 September 1907 sailed from Gibraltar
30 September 1907 arrived at Plymouth
1 October 1907 sailed from Plymouth
2 October 1907 arrived at Portsmouth
October 1907 Fleet Surgeon Frederick J A Dalton Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard
22 October 1907 deployed with units of the Royal Navy near Rosyth
25 October 1907 arrived at Invergordon
27 October 1907 together with RFA AQUARIUS and some 47 units of the Royal Navy anchored both up stream and down stream of the Forth Rail Bridge
29 October 1907 arrived at Portsmouth
13 November 1907 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherine’s Point sailing west bound
22 November 1907 arrived at Malta
8 January 1908 sailed Malta for Gibraltar
12 January 1908 arrived at Gibraltar
13 January 1908 sailed Gibraltar for the UK
17 January 1908 arrived at Plymouth
RFA Maine (1) in 1908
18 January 1908 sailed Plymouth
19 January 1908 arrived at Portsmouth sailing on 28 January 1908
1 February 1908 arrived at Gibraltar sailing the same day
5 February 1908 arrived at Malta
15 February 1908 anchored in Hawich Harbour
31 March 1908 arrived at Aberdeen from Invergordon
3 April 1908 berthed at Provost Blaikie’s Quay, Aberdeen loading 350 tons of bunker coal and provisions
4 April 1908 sailed Aberdeen to take up duties with the Channel Fleet
15 June 1908 Surgeon Richard Willan Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
1 July 1908 Captain Alfred C Dunn RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
15 July 1908 anchored to the west of the Forth Bridge
16 July 1908 arrived at Sheerness with invalids from the Channel and Home Fleets for discharge to the RN Hospital, Chatham before sailing the same day for Malta
6 April 1909 Staff Surgeon John R Muir MB Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board. Passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Prawle Point sailing east bound when on passage from Malta to Portsmouth
7 April 1909 arrived an Portsmouth and discharged Naval and Military invalids from Malta and Gibraltar
9 April 1909 anchored off Dalmore in the Moray Firth
3 May 1909 a sailor from HMS LORD NELSON received onboard following an accident where he had fallen astride a boom, sustained serious injuries and was requiring an operation
11 May 1909 berthed at Provost Blaike’s Quay, Aberdeen to load naval stores
27 May 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Beachy Head sailing west bound
22 June 1909 arrived at Oban to join the Fleet
2 July 1909 arrived at Kirkwall
10 July 1909 passed Roches Point
14 July 1909 arrived at Foynes and received hospital cases before sailing to Berehaven
30 July 1909 Fleet Surgeon Herbert L Penny Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard
Fleet Surgeon Herbert L Penny Royal Navy
Image taken in March 1892
20 September 1909 berthed at Aberdeen for bunkers and boiler water
3 October 1909 arrived at Scapa Flow
14 October 1909 sailed Cromarty for Queenstown, Sheerness and Portsmouth Harbour
19 October 1909 the Fraserburg Herald reported –
20 October 1909 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
27 October 1909 sailed Portsmouth
1 November 1909 passed Gibraltar
10 November 1909 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Malta for a crew change returning to the UK via Gibraltar
2 December 1909 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour landing patients for Haslar Naval Hospital
19 January 1910 passed west of the Needles
29 January 1910 sailed from Gravesend
20 February 1910 passed east of Beachy Head
21 February 1910 arrived at Sheerness from Malta
5 March 1910 attached to the First Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet. Commander A C Dunn Royal Navy (Retired) in command
23 March 1910 sailed Chatham Dockyard after a refit for Sheernes sailing later the same day for Malta
24 April 1910 arrived at Devonport
25 April 1910 having discharged invalids at Plymouth sailed this day for Portsmouth passing Prawle Point sailing east bound
26 April 1910 berthed at Portsmouth and disembarked 28 Naval and 16 Military invalids from Malta and Gibraltar
28 April 1910 passed Beachy Head sailing eastwards
30 April 1910 arrived at Scapa Flow to join the Home Fleet
20 May 1910 at Kingstown, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
1 June 1910 passed the Needles sailing eastwards
2 June 1910 arrived at Portsmouth and discharged invalids for Haslar Hospital
8 June 1910 arrived at Torbay
6 July 1910 in collision with the wooden topsail schooner Gordon in Portland Harbour. Both ships were damaged. At a subsequent hearing the Master of MAINE was held totally to blame
13 July 1910 at Berehaven with HMS CYCLOPS
16 July 1910 received four injured sailors from HMS SUTLEJ which suffered an ‘on board’ explosion off Berehaven
17 July 1910 Naval Stoker Joseph Henry Beaumont from HMS SUTLEJ discharged dead from injuries sustained in the explosion onboard the previous day on the warship
HMS SUTLEJ
24 July 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound
25 July 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Prawle Point sailing east bound. Surgeon Richard Connell MB BA appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
27 July 1910 participated in the Torbay Fleet Review by King George V as the Naval Hospital Ship of the Grand Fleet
29 July 1910 passed Prawle Point
1 August 1910 berthed at Portsmouth
15 September 1910 arrived at Aberdeen to load 350 tons of bunker coal, 500 tons of water and naval stores
RFA Maine (1) in Aberdeen Harbour on 16 September 1910
17 September 1910 sailed from Aberdeen
13 October 1910 arrived at Queensferry
16 October 1910 berthed at Aberdeen to load 500 tons of water
28 October 1910 off Invergordon engaged in exercises
17 December 1910 arrived at Spithead from Gibraltar
24 December 1910 berthed on No:6 Buoy in Portsmouth Harbour
16 January 1911 sailed Stokes Bay to join the Fleet
15 February 1911 entered Portsmouth Harbour from Spithead
17 February 1911 arrived at Chatham for refit
11 March 1911 in a hearing before the Admiralty Division of the High Court proceeding were taken against the Master of the Maine (Captain Alfred C Dunn RFA) by the owners of the schooner Gordon. The Captain of RFA Maine was held to be totally to blame
21 March 1911 the Glove newspaper reported –
3 June 1911 arrived at Devonport sailing the same day for Portmouth
4 June 1911 arrived at Portsmouth
26 August 1911 at Invergordon
11 September 1911 anchored in the Cromarty Firth
20 September 1911 sailed Invergordon and arrived Aberdeen for bunkers, water and stores
23 September 1911 arrived at Invergordon
29 September 1911 an explosion in a Portsmouth Dockyard work shed killed two workmen. The explosion was caused by a gas cylinder which came from the Maine which was under a gas pressure test.
4 October 1911 at an inquest touching on the deaths of the two workmen (see above) held by the Portsmouth Borough Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death
10 October 1911 Staff Surgeon George C C Ross MB BA Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
Staff Surgeon George C C Ross MB BA Royal Navy
Image taken in May 1901
18 October 1911 the Globe newspaper reported –
20 October 1911 the Scotsman newspaper reported …
13 November 1911 Staff Surgeon Maurice T Male MB Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
Staff Surgeon Maurice T Male MB Royal Navy
Image taken in September 1903
24 November 1911 the Glove newspaper reported –
29 February 1912 arrived at and berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
6 May 1912 undertook Basin trials of the machinery at Chatham Dockyard after a refit
7 May 1912 sailed Chatham for Sheerness to adjust compasses
10 June 1912 Fleet Surgeon Ernest C Lomas MB FRCS Ed. DSO Royal Navy appointed i/c of Royal Naval detachment onboard
Fleet Surgeon Ernest C Lomas MB FRCS Ed. DSO Royal Navy
20 June 1912 at Portsmouth Harbour on No: 1 buoy
26 June 1912 berthed on C1 Coaling Depot at Portsmouth Harbour
5 July 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Stokes Bay
6 July 1912 arrived at Spithead together with 1st., 2nd., 3rd., 4th. and 5th. Battle Squadrons numerous cruisers and destroyers
9 July 1912 sailed Spithead
18 July 1912 anchored in the River Forth above the Forth Bridge and off Queensferry with HMS’s BLAKE, CIRCE, SEAGULL and JASON
HMS BLAKE
25 July 1912 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
15 October 1912 Assistant Paymaster W R Roe Royal Navy appointed
6 March 1913 arrived at and berthed at Portsmouth
18 April 1913 Staff Surgeon Thomas W Myles Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
Staff Surgeon Thomas W Myles MB, BS, Royal Navy
19 April 1913 sailed Sheerness for Berehaven
27 May 1913 anchored at Lamlash
4 July 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead
7 July 1913 moved into No: 9 Dock at Portsmouth Harbour
9 July 1913 the Portsmouth Evening News carried as small adverisment for a Third Cook who was required ‘at once’ onboard
1 August 1913 berthed at Portsmouth
2 August 1913 sailed Portsmouth for Queensferry
28 August 1913 The Scotsman newspaper reported –
September 1913 Captain Alexander M Tarver RFA was Master
13 October 1913 Staff Surgeon Duncan G Addison-Scott MB Royal Navy appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
Staff Surgeon Duncan G Addison-Scott MB Royal Navy
22 October 1913 arrived at Sheerness from Scottish waters
23 October 1913 berthed at Portsmouth from Sheerness
3 December 1913 arrived at Spithead to allow the crew Christmas leave
14 January 1914 Staff Surgeon Arthur R Thomas FRCS Ed appointed to the Royal Naval detachment on board
17 January 1914 sailed Portland for Vigo
21 February 1914 various ships of the Home Fleet while returning to the UK from Arosa Bay suffered from the effects of very rough weather. One sailor was lost overboard and six were injured, two so seriously that they were transfered to the Maine for treatment
20 March 1914 entered Chatham Dockyard for a refit
3 April 1914 at Chatham Dockyard
24 April 1914 sailed Chatham Dockyard for Lamlash
27 April 1914 arrived at Lamlash with HMS’s HERCULES, COLOSSUS, SUPERB, NEPTUNE, TEMERAIRE, COLLINGWOOD, SAPHO, EXE and CHERWELL
HMS HERCULES
16 June 1914 sailed from Lamlash
17 June 1914 grounded in thick fog and was wrecked on the east of coast of the Isle of Mull on a small island named Eilean Straide Eun (Frank Lockwood’s Island) about two miles north of the entrance to Loch Buie with serious damage forward. No casualties (From the Oban Times 20 June 1914)
18 June 1914 thirty five patients from the grounded Maine arrived at Campbeltown onboard HMS SWIFT
20 June 1914 salvage attempts were abandoned due to her age and potential salvage bill
RFA Maine (1) aground with her lifeboats lowered
22 June 1014 the Scotsman newspaper reported –
6 July 1914 wreck sold locally for scrap
23 September 1969 vessel found in deep water broken up and spread over a wide area. Of interest to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
3 June 2012 the ships steam cutter – RN Steam Cutter No 438 – sailed as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames with her crew dressed in the uniforms of the time
Notes:
1. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade served as orderlies on the MAINE. After being used on the run from England to South Africa, the ship was used on a single journey to China to bring home wounded from the campaign against the “Boxers”. This qualified the crew for the China War Medal 1900 without clasp.
2. Only eleven members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade served on the MAINE as orderlies and received the China War Medal. All had previously qualified for the Queen’s South Africa Medal, whether aboard MAINE or elsewhere.