Subsequent name:                 Juan Olavarriaga,  Iberia,  Virgen de Begona, Euzkera,  Elanchove

Official Number:                     114846

Class:                                    Collier 

Pennant No:                           P92 / X28 / Y3.1928

Signal Letters                         GSPM (1919)

Laid down:                             1900

Builder:                                  Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Howden-on-Tyne

Launched:                              27 November 1901
Into Service:                           1908
Out of service:                        1920

Fate:                                      Sold commercially

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  Soon after the turn of the 20th Century, the Admiralty acquired a number of small tankers and store ships and from the experiments conducted with these tankers was obtained  the experience which resulted in the building of a large number of tankers of various sizes which were especially designed for their task of refuelling warships. None of these early ships were sister ships, and they became the first Admiralty vessels to fall into the new RFA category on its inception in 1905

27 November 1901 launched by Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Howden-on-Tyne as Yard Nr: 97 named MERCEDES for Christie & Co Ltd, Cardiff

2 December 1901 Lloyds List newspaper reported …

14 December 1901 the Shields Daily Gazette reported …

11 February 1902 ran trials on completion. She was designed for the carriage of coal and other goods from Australia and New Zealand to the West Coast of North America, Hong Kong and Japan then back to New Zealand

13 February 1902 the Shields Daily News newspaper reported –

22 February 1902 sailed the River Tyne

24 February 1902 arrived at Cardiff

6 March 1902 sailed Cardiff for Hong Kong

14 April 1902 sailed from Singapore for Hong Kong

29 June 1902 passed Thursday Island when on passage from Hong Kong to Westport, New Zealand

13 July 1902 berthed at Westport, New Zealand to load coal for Hong Kong

19 July 1902 Wah Chin, a native of Canton was found smothered and dead in the stoke hold, discharged dead. He was buried at sea while the ship was on passage to Hong Kong from Westport, New Zealand

27 July 1902 sailed from Wellington, New Zealand for Hong Kong

31 July 1902 the Master reported to the authorities at Wellington, New Zealand he had been diverted to Wei-Hai-Wei to refuel 11 British warships. He also reported that plague was prevelant in Hong Kong and those who had succumbed could be seen floating in the harbour – he estimated that 30 – 40 deaths a day were occuring in the Colony

27 August 1902 arrived at Hong Kong from Wellington, New Zealand

13 September 1902 passed Thursday Island while on passage from Hong Kong to Westport, New Zealand

30 September 1902 a member of the public in Westport, New Zealand was found in possession of uncustomed tobacco which he had obtained from a member of the crew. The member of the public was charged £6.00 triple the customs duty evaded in the local Magistrates’ Court

11 October 1902 Captain Richard J Carter, the Master, appeared before Wellington Magistrates’ Court, New Zealand charged with four breaches of the Shipping and Seaman’s Act in that he left four member of the crew at Hong Kong with discharge certificates. He was fined £25 and costs of £3.17sh

20 December 1902 sailed Westport, New Zealand for Hong Kong

21 January 1903 sailed Hong Kong

24 January 1903 passed Kalavite Point, 30 miles south of Manila

25 January 1903 passed Sambanga

2 February 1903 passed Goode Island

9 February 1903 sighted Lady Elliott Island

14 February 1903 berthed at Brisbane, Australia to replenish bunkers while on passage from Hong Kong to New Zealand to load cargo

20 February 1903 sailed Brisbane

5 March 1903 sailed Westport, New Zealand to Hong Kong with 3,000 tons of coal

23 April 1903 arrived at Hong Kong

27 April 1903 the Auckland Star newspaper (a New Zealand publication) reported …

4 May 1903 at the Magistrates’ Court at Westport two Chinese crew members were fined £25 and £3 15sh respectively in default 6 months imprisonment for being in possession and attempting to sell uncustomed tobacco, cigars and cigarettes

8 May 1903 arrived at Wellington, New Zealand

4 June 1903 the Commodore and Superintending Transport Officer at Hong Kong certified that the ship with her Master – Captain John S McGregor – at this date in His Majesty’s service were fit in all respects for the service on which she was employed and complete, according to her Charter party and the Transport Regulationsin hull, spars, stores, machinery, boilers and crew and that the Master has, since the date of the last certificate, conducted himself properly, been obedient to command, and complied with the Regulations and Instructions furnished for his guidance, with the exception that the ship was delayed 1½ days at Hong Kong after sailing orders had been given for her to proceed to Wei-Hai-Wei owing to the ship being under arrest. This 1½ days arrest was due to the process of law over a debt owed to a private firm for repairs to the ship. The Admiralty advised the owners that they would deduct one days hire – £81-11-6d in the sum they paid the owners for the hire of the vessel 

10 June 1903 arrived at Hong Kong later the same day sailing for Nagasaki

28 July 1903 berthed at Westport, New Zealand from Hong Kong

31 July 1903 the Greymouth Evening Star (a New Zealand publication) reported …

9 August 1903 sailed Wellington, New Zealand

26 August 1903

Officers on Mercedes

Standing Back Row – 4th Engineer Officer T Atchison. 2nd Engineer J Nicholson. 3rd Engineer D Donaldson.  2nd Mate J Lee. 3rd Mate B McKenzie

Seated – Chief Engineer Officer J Bowden. Captain J S McGregor. Chief Mate D A Lange

5 September 1903 arrived at Hong Kong from Wellington, New Zealand

28 September 1903 sailed from Wei-Hai-Wei for Hong Kong

4 October 1903 arrived at Hong Kong

26 October 1903 while on passage from Hong Kong to Westport, New Zealand passed Goode Island this day

30 November 1903 passed Thursday Island

January 1904 vessel detained at Westport by the authorites for over one month – reason not known

31 January 1904 sailed Westport, New Zealand for Hong Kong

12 March 1904 arrived at Hong Kong

14 April 1904 passed Thursday Island 

1 May 1904 arrived at Wellington, New Zealand

6 May 1904 sailed from Wellington, New Zealand

19 May 1904 passed Thursday Island while on passage to Hong Kong from New Zealand

31 May 1904 berthed at Hong Kong from New Zealand laden with 7,000 tons of coal to be discharged at Kowloon for the Admiralty – information from the China Mail

10 June 1904 sailed Hong Kong for Nagasaki, Japan

14 November 1904 sailed from Wei-Hai-Wei

3 December 1904 sailed Hong Kong

7 January 1905 sailed Wellington for Westport

9 January 1905 sailed Westport for Hong Kong

11 February 1905 arrived at Hong Kong

12 February 1905 sailed from Hong Kong for Wai-hai-Wei

25 February 1905 sailed from Wei-hai-Wei for Hong Kong

1 June 1905 at Mirs Bay with HMS HOGUE – information from The Straits Times

HMS HOGUE

14 July 1905 arrived at Hong Kong

21 August 1905 alongside HMS IPHIGENIA supplying bunker coal

HMS IPHIGENIA

18 September 1905 alongside HMS DIADEM and supplied bunker coal. Then moved to alongside HMS SUTLEJ supplying 600 tons of bunker coal

19 September 1905 having coaled overnight supplied 900 tons to HMS SUTLEJ then moved to alongside HMS HOGUE to suply bunker coal

12 October 1905 arrived at Tokio

16 October 1905 alongside HMS ANDROMEDA and supplied 1,000 tons of bunker coal

HMS ANDROMEDA

9 November 1905 went alongside HMS SUTLEJ and supplied 1,200 tons of bunker coal

HMS SUTLEJ

27 November 1905 arrived at Hong Kong from Wei Hai Wei

1906 chartered by the Admiralty for £23,336 for service as an MFA based on the China Station

23 May 1906 sailed from Woosung with the British China Squadron on its annual cruise ending at Wei-Hai-Wei on 17 August 1906

21 August 1906 arrived at Hong Kong from Yokohama

21 September 1906 sailed from Wei-Hai-Wei.

2 November 1906 arrived at Hong Kong from Wei-Hai-Wei. Captain John S Macgrgor was the ships Master

6 January 1907 berthed at Singapore from Hong Kong with coal for the British China Squadron

10 January 1907 at the Civil Hospital, Hong Kong 3rd Officer Alfred Williams discharged dead – natural causes

16 January 1907 at Singapore Roads HMS ENCOUNTER alongside for coaling

HMS ENCOUNTER

6 April 1907 sailed Hong Kong

April 1907 grounded at the entrance to Yokohama – refloated on 24 April 1907 undamaged

20 October 1907 charter expired but was extended until 19/01/08

26 July 1907 at 16°05N 17°50W Fireman Kwi Pang discharged dead – natural causes. Buried at sea

29 July 1907 arrived at Hakaodadi from Hong Kong

6 September 1907 sailed from Nagasaki for Wei-Hai-Wei

29 April 1908 arrived at Singapore from Hong Kong

June 1908 purchased by the Admiralty for £37,250. She was based at Devonport, basically on coal freighting duties between Bristol, the Channel Area and Portland

14 August 1908 at T Pier, Woolwich Arsenal Fireman Tong Chong discharged dead – angina

18 August 1908 the Daily News newspaper reported ..

..

24 August 1908 entered the Channel Dry Dock at Cardiff

31 October 1908 arrived Roath Dock & Basin, Cardiff

6 November 1908 arrived off Barry Island from Cardiff

7 December 1908 passed up from Barry Island

10 December 1908 sailed from Cardiff for Portsmouth

11 December 1908 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

23 December 1908 berthed at Cardiff from Portsmouth

31 Decmber 1908 berthed at Cardiff from Portsmouth

1 January 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

28 January 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

29 January 1909 entered Queen Alexandra Dock, Cardiff

5 February 1909 passed down from Barry Dock

18 February 1909 sailed from Cardiff for Sheerness

19 February 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing eastbound

20 February 1909 passed Dover sailing east bound

1 March 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound

20 March 1909 sailed from Cardiff for Portsmouth

23 April 1909 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound when on passage from Barry for Portsmouth

27 April 1909 at Portsmouth Harbour while berthed alongside the floating coal depot C1 and discharging part of her coal cargo into the C1 when a loaded coal bucket was being hoised from the ships hold the contents emptied onto the deck of the C1 coal depot. A coal labourer Tom Albert from Portsea was struck by large lumps of coal. He was transferred to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar for treatment of head injuries but died

1 May 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound

2 May 1909 arrived at Penarth from Portsmouth

5 May 1909 passed Torr Head sail north bound

14 May 1909 passed St Annes Head sailing east

15 May 1909 the Hampshire Telegraph reported from Parliament –

19 May 1909 sailed from Barry for Portsmouth

20 May 1909 passed Prawle Point when on passage to Portsmouth

24 May 1909 berthed on North Slip Jetty, Portsmouth

28 May 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point

29 May 1909 at Spithead alongside HMS BELLEROPHON supplying her with bunker coal

HMS BELLEROPHON

5 June 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

6 June 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station at Beachy Head sailing east bound

13 June 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station St Catherines Point sailing west bound

14 June 1909 arrived at Newport, South Wales from Sheerness

22 July 1909 berthed in No: 5 basin, Portsmouth Dockyard

1 August 1909 passed St Catherines Point sailing west bound

2 August 1909 passed up from Barry Island

18 August 1909 arrived Barry from Devonport

27 August 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

28 August 1909 anchored at Spithead

30 August 1909 berthed at the Lower TBD Trot in Portsmouth Harbour

10 September 1909 berthed on North Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

16 September 1909 at Barry Dock Able Seaman Charles Thomas Brimming discharged dead having fallen into No: 1 hold and suffered head injuries. Taken to the town’s hospital but died

18 September 1909 sailed from Barry Dock for Portsmouth

19 September 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

20 September 1909 the South Wales Daily News newspaper reported …

30 September 1909 passed from Barry Island

8 October 1909 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point sailing east

9 October 1909 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour from sea

13 October 1909 made fast to No: 4 buoy at Portsmouth Harbour

2 November 1909 made fast to No: 6 buoy at Portsmouth Harbour

4 November 1909 made fast to No: 6 buoy at Portsmouth Harbour

23 November 1909 made fast to No: 5 buoy at Portsmouth Harbour

2 December 1909 arrived at Southampton from Portsmouth Harbour

15 January 1910 at Southampton in No: 6 dry dock

17 March 1910 arrangements were made for the crew to be paid weekly instead of monthly and the Master was instructed to cater into the bond for the safe custody of the money

25 March 1910 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound

4 April 1910 the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point sailing west bound

8 April 1910 passed Prawle Point when sailing west bound

13 April 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

12 May 1910 passed down for Barry Island

1 June 1910 passed Portland Bill sailing eastwards

6 June 1910 The Western Morning News reported that –

9 June 1910 passed up Barry Island

12 June 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on Prawle Point sailing east bound

22 June 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

30 June 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

3 July 1910 sailed from Cardiff

11 July 1910 passed up for Barry Island

23 July 1910 passed up from Barry Island

14 August 1910 passed Prawle Point sailing east

25 August 1910 passed up from Barry Island

28 August 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

September 1910 fitted with a modified Metcalfe Rig ex TORRIDGE, a steam collier chartered from the Torridge Steamship Co Ltd (W.J. Tatem & Co, Managers) Cardiff which operated  under Admiralty Orders as a Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary, for coaling-at-sea  experiments

6 September 1910 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

8 September 1910 berthed on the C1 coal lighter

9 September 1910 passed the Isle of Wight

14 September passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

23 September 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east for Portland

28 September 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

28 October 1910 the Barry Dock News reported –

28 October 1910 passed Barry Island

29 October 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

14 November 1910 berthed on South Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

17 November 1910 anchored in Stokes Bay

22 November 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

26 November 1910 the Army & Navy Gazette reported –

9 December 1910 berthed on South Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

10 December 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Needles sailing west bound

15 December 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

16 December 1910 passed up from Barry Island for Barry

22 December 1910 sailed from Barry for Portsmouth

23 December 1910 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

24 December 1910 passed St Catherines Point sailing eastwards

28 December 1910 berthed on the C1 coal lighter in Portsmouth Harbour

31 December 1910 berthed on Fountain Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

11 March 1911 moored on No: 4 buoy, Portsmouth Harbour

13 March 1911 entered No: 14 dry dock Portsmouth Harbour for refit

26 March 1911 passed Prawle Point

30 March 1911 moored to No: 15 buoy, Portsmouth Harbour

31 March 1911 berthed on the C1 coal lighter

20 June 1911 passed St Catherines Point sailing west when on passage from Portsmouth to Cardiff later passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west 

24 June 1911 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

27 July 1911 at Barry Docks loaded but unable to sail because of industrial action by dockers

2 October 1911 her Master queried whether or not he could issue railway passes to men proceeding on leave but was informed that arrangements with the Railway Companies did not permit this

1 November 1911 Lieutenant G E Newell Royal Navy appointed to HMS VICTORY additional in charge of a service working party onboard

3 January 1912 at anchor at Spithead

8 January 1912 berthed alongside HMS ORION to supply bunker coal at Portsmouth Harbour

31 January 1912 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

8 February 1912 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west bound

11 February 1912 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

25 February 1912 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east bound

29 February 1912 berthed in the Tidal Basin, Portsmouth Harbour

1912 conducted inconclusive coaling-at-sea trials with the battleship HMS DOMINION

HMS DOMINION

5 March 1912 at anchor at Spithead

20 March 1912 arrived at Devonport

27 March 1912 sailed Devonport

8 May 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead

28 May 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour from Cardiff and berthed alongside Coaling Depot No: 1

8 June 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

20 June 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour

21 June 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

26 June 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead

6 July 1912 at Portsmouth moved alongside Coaling Depot No: 1

22 July 1912 at Portsmouth Harbour on No: 4 buoy

23 July 1912 at Portsmouth Harbour moved at Coaling Depot No: 4

7 August 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour for Spithead

12 August 1912 at Portsmouth alongside HMS HINDUSTAN

5 September 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

21 September 1912 at Portsmouth Harbour berthed on No: 1 Coaling Jetty

30 September 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and berthed on No: 1 Coaling Jetty

8 October 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and berthed on No: 1 Coaling Jetty

7 November 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead

3 December 1912 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead

12 December 1912 arrived Portsmouth Harbour

23 December 1912 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour

2 January 1913 berthed alongside HMS BLACK PRINCE which was on North Railway Jetty and coaling her

HMS BLACK PRINCE

6 January 1913 moved berths at Portsmouth Harbour to South Railway Jetty

14 January 1913 arrived at Portmouth Harbour

20 January 1913 berthed on HMS VENERABLE which was moored on No: 4 Buoy, Portsmouth Harbour coaling her

22 January 1913 changed berths to alongside No: 1 Coaling Jetty

April 1913 was fitted with W/T

3 April 1913 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour and berthed alongside No: 1 Coaling Jetty

7 April 1913 at Portsmouth Harbour berthed alongside HMS ST. VINCENT to coal her

11 April 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead returning later and berthed alongside No: 1 Coaling Jetty

16 May 1913 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour sailing later in the day to Spithead

19 May 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

24 May 1913 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour berthing on Boat House Jetty

14 June 1913 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour

7 August 1913 at Roath Basin, Cardiff Ordinary Seaman James Hackett discharged dead – having drowned

18 August 1913 moved berths at Portsmouth Harbour to South Railway Jetty

19 August 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead

September 1913 Captain John E Edwards RFA (Commander RD RNR) was Master

17 November 1913 at Portsmouth Harbour berthed on No: 1 Coaling Jetty

3 December 1913 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead

12 December 1913 arrived at Portmouth Harbour

16 December 1913 at Portsmouth Harbour moved berths to alongside HMS ALBERMARLE

HMS ALBERMARLE

2 January 1914 arrived Portsmouth Harbour

5 January 1914 moved berth to No: 1 Coaling Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

8 January 1914 moved berth in Portsmouth Harbour to Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

14 January 1914 at Portsmouth Dockyard moved to No 1 Coaling Depot

19 January 1914 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Spithead

12 March 1914 berthed at Penarth Docks

10 April 1914 arrived at Spithead

11 April 1914 moved from Spithead to alongside HMS PRINCESS ROYAL on North Slip Jetty

HMS PRINCESS ROYAL

12 April 1914 at Portsmouth Harbour

17 April 1914 at Portsmouth Dockyard moved to No 1 Coaling Depot

30 April 1914 at Portsmouth Harbour moved berths to North Railway Jetty

1 May 1915 at Portsmouth Dockyard moved to No 1 Coaling Depot

4 May 1914 at Portsmouth Harbour moved to North Railway Jetty

June 1914 sailed to Birka Sound in the Baltic with part of the Grand Fleet.

14 June 1914 arrived at Kronstadt. Her crew were entertained by Russians. She then returned to the U.K. to take part in a Naval Review

29 June 1914 the Pall Mall Gazette newspaper reported –

12 July 1914 arrived Portsmouth Harbour

25 July 1914 at Portsmouth Harbour moved to No 1 Coaling Depot

3 November 1914 at Cromarty Firth with HMS DRYAD alongside loading 55 tons of bunker coal

HMS DRYAD

1 January 1915 at Longhope. Captain John E Edwards RFA was still the ships Master until 16 June 1915

15 January 1915 Stoker Frederick James Strickland discharged dead from a fractured base of the skull. He is buried in Osmondwall Cemetery, Island of Hoy

Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project

22 January 1915 at Cardiff

1 February 1915 Mr F S Davis RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He had previously served on RFA BURMA

20 February 1915 at Cardiff Second Steward Alfred Steere and Greaser W Regan both logged as having deserted

Second Steward Alfred Steere

23 April 1915 at Barry

1915 during a refit at Cardiff, ballast tanks were fitted for carrying fuel oil and she then proceeded  to Loch Ewe where she acted as W/T ship

15 June 1915 Lieutenant James D Ashworth RNR appointed in command

Lieutenant James D Ashworth RNR

1915 Lieutent J D Ashworth RNR applied his own censorship stamp to mail leaving the ship

30 June 1915 at Longhope, Orkneys

24 July 1915 and 25 July 1915 at Scapa Flow with HMS ACACIA alongside loading 300 bags of coal as bunkers

4 August 1915 Engineer Lieutenant Tom Perrett RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

20 August 1915 and 21 August 1915 at Scapa Flow with HMS ACACIA alongside loading coal as bunkers

7 October 1915 at Longhope HMS TENBY CASTLE alongside to load 171 tons of bunker coal

9 October 1915 at Longhope HMS TENBY CASTLE cast off

11 November 1915 at Scapa Flow with HMS ACACIA alongside loading coal as bunkers

18 November 1915 at Scapa Flow with HMS ACACIA alongside loading  coal as bunkers

26 December 1916 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Stoker G Griffiths RNR of RFA Mercedes

19 February 1917 Lieutenant W Watson RNR appointed in command until 18 December 1917

6 October 1917 Stoker J Stanley logged as deserted. He had signed on on the 15 July 1917 also Stoker James Murphy logged as deserted. He had signed on on 6 September 1916

October 1917 docked at Birkenhead to discharge mercantile ratings then proceeded to Cardiff to be handed over to commercial managers

30 November 1917 deployed as a collier until 20 January 1918 under commercial management of H. Rees Jones & Co, Cardiff

21 January 1918 re-deployed as a sugar transport bringing her cargo from Cuba until 13 April 1918

14 April 1918 re-deployed as a collier again

11 July 1918 in convoy from Hampton Road to London suffered engine defects and dropped out of the convoy

14 July 1918 back in convoy but still with engine defects

15 August 1918 re-deployed as an Expeditionary Force Transport D 2618

2 December 1918 Expeditionary Force Transport duties ended

27 February 1919 sailed from Cardiff

12 March 1919 arrived at Malta

5 May 1919 at Constantinople

7 August 1919 at Constantinople

25 September 1919 at Beikos Bay with HMS EMPRESS alongside receiving 190 tons of coal

HMS EMPRESS

31 October 1919 at Malta

6 November 1919 at Constantinople

20 December 1919 at Malta

13 January 1920 sailed from Malta with 5,500 tons of bunker coal for Constantinople

18 February 1920 arrived at Constaninople

20 March 1920 at Malta discharging arms and war materials seized by the Army at Constantinople

15 April 1920 sailed Malta

10 May 1920 at Gibraltar

19 May 1920 at Plymouth

19 June 1920 signed new Home Trade articles and sailed Devonport for Portsmouth

20 June 1920 achored at Spithead

21 June 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour – signing off the crew

28 July 1920 purchased for £27,500 by Harris & Dixon Ltd, London., name unchanged

31 July 1920 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

1921 sold to J.Olavarriaga and registered at Bilbao, Spain and renamed JUAN OLAVARRIAGA

31 August 1922 sailed Cardiff with 6,207 tons of coal for Spezia

1923 sold to F Sainz & Inchaustegui, same port of registry and renamed IBERIA

1925 sold to F Zugadi y Cia S en C, same port of registry and renamed VIRGEN DE BEGONA

1926 owners became Compania Naviera Euzkera, Bilbao with her previous owners as Managers and renamed EUZKERA.Later that year management was passed to Jesus de Azcarreta, Bilbao

7 September 1928 while on passage from Huelva to Bordeaux broke adrift and went ashore at Quoyrice Bank. 5 tugs failed to get the ship off the Bank and steps were taken to lighten the vessel and she was finally re-floated.

1934 sold to Cia Maritima Elanchove, same port of registry and renamed ELANCHOVE

22 October 1936 sailed Bilbao for Cardiff

25 October 1936 foundered in a storm 150 miles off Bilbao while on passage from Bilbao to Cardiff with a cargo of iron-ore, she broke in two. Only one member of the crew was lost

20 November 1936 the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail newspaper reported …