Subsequent name: Whitebrook. Irene M
Official Number: 139159
Class: FIRST 2000t CLASS Harbour Tanker
Pennant No: X 02 / X43 / A143
Laid down:
Builder: Caledon Ship Building & Eng Co., Dundee
Launched: 17 June 1916
Into Service: October 1916
Out of service: 1948
Fate: Sold commercially
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The five ships in this Class, although not sisterships, were similar and were all Admiralty-designed. RFA MIXOL and RFA THERMOL were both unsatisfactory as far as their stability went, and 200 tons of permanent ballast was always carried in nos 1 and 3 tanks, which were never pumped out. RFA TREFOIL and RFA TURMOIL (1) were experimental ships which were mechanically unsatisfactory and they were little used
6 March 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Commander Thomas Ripley RD RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
17 June 1916 launched by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd., Dundee as Yard Nr: 250 named MIXOL
September 1916 the Admiralty commenced censorship of mail from ships at the start of World War 1. Stamps showing an item had been censored were applied to the outside of the envelope
1 September 1916 Lieutenant William H Harvey RNR appointed in command. He signed off on 17 August 1917 to take command of RFA Vitol and subsequently RFA Dredgol. He was demobilised on 28 January 1920
19 September 1916 4th Engineer Albert T Warne RFA was appointed to RFA Mixol. He was appointed as 3rd Engineer on 31 January 1917 and 2nd Engineer on the 27 July 1917. He was also appointed Engineer Sub-Lieutenant RNR
Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Albert T Warne RNR
October 1916 completed
18 December 1916 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS RENOWN refuelling her
11 February 1917 & 12 February 1917 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS AVENGER to refuel her
17 May 1917 Fireman P Shinnock logged as deserted while the ship was at Glasgow
12 June 1917 Engineer Lieutenant John W Younger MIMerE RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
12 August 1917 Lieutenant William J D Read RNR appointed in command He signed off on 16 May 1918 to take command of RFA Thermol where he signed off on 31 December 1919
23 August 1917 at Lough Swilly HMS ATTACK alongside to be refuelled – 63 tons of FFO supplied
HMS ATTACK
27 August 1917 at Lough Swilly HMS ATTACK alongside to be refuelled
20 September 1917 Ship’s Cook H Humphreys logged as deserted.
18 March 1918 Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Albert T Warne RNR discharged at Scapa Flow to RFA Burma
16 May 1918 Lieutenant David E A Jones RNR appointed in command. He signed off on 23 January 1919 when he took command of RFA Black Dragon in Gibraltar.
Lieutenant D E A Jones RNR
3 June 1918 Ordinary Seaman David Alfred Hodge discharged dead
19 June 1918 while berthing alongside a Battle Cruiser in open water to refuel her Able Seaman Thomas W Johnson fell between the ships into the sea. He was in imminent danger of being crushed between the two vessels. Donkeyman John Allan MMR jumped into the sea to save him exposing himself also to imminent danger of being crushed. He kept the Able Seaman afloat until a rope could be thrown down to him. He caused the Able Seaman to be rescued before using the rope to safe himself. Donkeyman John Allan was awarded the Albert Medal for Gallantry in saving life at sea
Donkeyman John Allan’s Albert Medal
Images used with consent of the copyright owner – Wellington Auctions
17 July 1918 Engineer Lieutenant G Nixon RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 September 1918 the Scotsman Newspaper reported on this day …
3 June 1919 Wireless Operator David Alfred Hodges discharged dead
21 October 1919 off Copenhagen stopped and examined by HMS GALATEA
1 November 1919 Captain Harry Y Third RFA appointed Master until 31 March 1920. He then took command of RFA Philol
Captain Harry Y Third RFA
1 November 1919 crew transfered to B of T articles
8 November 1919 at Liban, in the Baltic alongside HMS EREBUS refuelling her with 300 tons FFO
HMS EREBUS
16 November 1919 at Liban, in the Baltic alongside HMS EREBUS refuelling her with 100 tons FFO
15 and 16 December 1919 alongside HMS DAUNTLESS at Liban, in the Baltic refuelling her with 390 tons of FFO
HMS DAUNTLESS
1 April 1920 Chief Officer Seymour H Biggs RFA appointed as Acting Master until 16 April 1920
18 April 1920 Captain W Watson RFA appointed as Master – resigned from Admiralty Service 28 April 1920
28 April 1920 Captain Richard D Williams RFA appointed as Master previously on RFA Appleleaf (1)
Captain Richard D Williams RFA
20 May 1920 at Chatham RN Hospital Pumpman Frederick Charles Cusheon discharged dead – cancer of the kidney
Pumpman Frederick C Cusheon RFA
7 August 1920 Master, Officers and crew signed a Home Trade Agreement
26 October 1920 at Rosyth – Captain Richard T Kestell RFA appointed as Master
30 October 1920 on Yard Craft Agreement
24 February 1921 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
4 July 1921 Mr G Nixon RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer. He had previosly served as Chief Engineer Officer of RFA FEROL and RFA PETROBUS
12 September 1922 Captain Charles W Moodie RFA appointed as Master
15 February 1923 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
16 February 1923 sailed from Grangemouth for Rosyth
28 February 1923 sailed from Grangemouth for Rosyth
1 March 1923 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast, loaded and sailed for Rosyth the same day
28 August 1923 berthed at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
29 August 1923 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth with cargo
1923 to 1935 as her stability was unsatisfactory, she was laid up with RFA THERMOL in the large drydock at Gibraltar
25 April 1925 Chief Engineer Officer Leonard H Taylor RFA reported to the Admiralty with regard to his RNR training he was Chief Engineer Officer on RFA Mixol at Gibraltar
Chief Engineer Officer Leonard H Taylor RFA
27 September 1935 Captain Benjamin Ellis RFA appointed as Master and Mr John Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1935 reactivated during the Italo-Abyssinian Conflict, but was found to be unsuitable so she returned to the UK and was placed in reserve
19 June 1936 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master
25 September 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard being towed by the tug Neptunia west bound
26 September 1938 arrived at Cardiff from Devonport in tow of the tug Neptunia for dry docking and survey
Tug Neptunia
1 October 1938 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as temporary Master
10 October 1938 the Western Mail newspaper reported –
12 October 1938 in Bute East Dock, Cardiff
14 October 1938 Captain Richard H P Mayhew RFA appointed as Master
6 November 1938 Captain Stanley M Woodward RFA appointed as Master
10 December 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
15 December 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
21 December 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
22 December 1938 sailed Plymouth
27 December 1938 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
24 January 1939 at Plymouth. Mr Robert A Higgie RFA appointed as Temporary Chief Engineer Officer
Temporary Chief Engineer Officer Robert A Higgie RFA
6 March 1939 at Rosyth
1939 300 tons of steel was removed to improve her stability
3 September 1939 in reserve at Devonport
13 September 1939 sailed Rosyth for Scapa Flow under the escort of HMS MATABELE – arrived on 14 September 1939
HMS MATABELE
17 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS EMERALD refuelling her with 1,054 tons of FFO
19 September 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ROYAL OAK and HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN to refuel them
HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN
27 September 1939 at 0715hrs at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOOD on her port side to refuel her – slipped at 1300hrs
HMS HOOD
7 October 1939 at 1315hrs at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOOD to refuel her – slipped at 1550hrs
10 October 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GLASGOW refuelling her
17 October 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS SHARPSHOOTER alongside to be refuelled
HMS SHARPSHOOTER
2 November 1939 at Scapa Flow with HMS SHARPSHOOTER alongside to be refuelled
27 November 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS’s GLASGOW and NORFOLK refuelling them
1 December 1939 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NORFOLK refuelling her
1 January 1940 at Scapa Flow until 20 February 1940
9 January 1940 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant RNR) appointed as Temporary Master
21 February 1940 in Methil Roads
10 March 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NORFOLK to refuel her
13 March 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS MANCHESTER refuelling her – 982 tons FFO supplied
HMS MANCHESTER
8 April 1940 sailed Leith to Rosyth
7 May 1940 Captain Edward Mills RFA appointed as Master
26 May 1940 Mr Francis Easey, RFA, Chief Engineer Officer discharged dead. He is buried in the New MacHar Cemetery, Aberdeenshire
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
29 May 1940 Mr Matthew Blair RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 June 1940 to 4 December 1940 at Scapa Flow
18 July 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS YORK refuelling her with 170 tons of fuel oil
22 July 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS YORK refuelling her with 171 tons of fuel oil
10 August 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BARHAM to refuel her
HMS BARHAM
1 September 1940 refuelling HMS HOOD alongside at Scapa Flow
24 October 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHOEBE refuelling her
1 November 1940 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS PHOEBE refuelling her
11 November 1940 Mr Lowrie Cowell RFA (Engineer Lieutenant RNR (retd) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 December 1940 sailed Methil in escorted convoy EN35 to Oban – arrived on 6 December 1940
7 December 1940 arrived the Clyde
6 January 1941 at Greenock with HMAS NIZAM alongside being refuelled
HMAS NIZAM
17 January 1941 arrived at Tail of Bank
24 January 1941 at Glasgow
3 February 1941 arrived at the River Clyde sailing the same day
10 March 1941 under repair at the Clyde
26 April 1941 at Holy Loch HM Submarine CLYDE came alongside to be refuelled
13 October 1941 Mr William H A Lawson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
November 1941 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
13 November 1941 Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master
26 November 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her with 493 tons of FFO
HMS DUKE OF YORK
11 December 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her with 835 tons of FFO
25 February 1942 Mr R B Burgh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 April 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37) to refuel her – Source War Diary of US ship
21 May 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37) to refuel her – Source War Diary of US ship
11 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
21 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37) to refuel her – Source War Diary of US ship
USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37)
31 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS JAMAICA refulling her with 514 tons of FFO
HMS JAMAICA
2 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37) to refuel her – Source War Diary of US ship
8 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
22 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
25 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her with 216 tons of FFO
27 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her with 169 tons of FFO
28 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her with 127 tons of FFO
30 August 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
9 September 1942 Captain Edward M Rae DSC RFA appointed as Master
Captain Edward M Rae DSC RFA
24 September 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
23 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
31 October 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
19 November 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her. RFA PETRONEL was also alongside her at the same time supplying fresh water
3 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her. Cast off 4 December 1942
5 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her. RFA SPA was alongside her at the same time supplying fresh water
11 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
17 December 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
2 January 1943 Mr John Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
27 January 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her
4 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 84 tons of FFO transferred
13 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND refuelling her – 325 tons of FFO transferred
20 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 446 tons of FFO transferred
27 February 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND refuelling her – 450 tons of FFO transferred
HMS NEWFOUNDLAND
6 March 1943 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN401 to Methil – arrived on 7 March 1943
6 May 1943 sailed Methil in unescorted convoy EN225 to Scapa Flow – arrived on 8 May 1943
20 May 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS HOWE refuelling her. RFA PETRONEL was alongside at the same time supply fresh water
27 May 1943 escorted into Scapa Flow by HMS CHIDDINGFOLD
29 July 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 1,266 tons of FFO transferred
10 August 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 512 tons of FFO transferred
22 August 1943 Mr William C Elliott RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer
22 October 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her – 481 tons of FFO transferred
12 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her
HMS LONDON
17 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS LONDON refuelling her – 260 tons of FFO transferred
24 September 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ANSON refuelling her – 443 tons of FFO transferred. RFA Spa was also alongside at the same time supplying fresh water
27 September 1943 at Lyness
1 November 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her – 443 tons of FFO and 37 tons of diesel transfered
3 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
8 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
12 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
16 December 1943 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH refuelling her – 805 tons of FFO transferred
3 January 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
19 February 1944 Mr Clifford N Ansell OBE RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 April 1944 sailed Loch Ewe in unescorted convoy WN572 to Methil – arrived 20 April 1944
25 April 1944 at Glasgow
15 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
20 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her with 900 tons of FFO
25 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
28 October 1944 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS BELLONA refuelling her
28 December 1944 Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA appointed as Master
Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA
15 March 1945 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS IMPLACABLE to refuel her
HMS IMPLACABLE
1 April 1945 at Lyness
15 April 1945 Captain Robert M Shaw RFA was Master
17 April 1945 berthed at Lyness Jetty to load. RFA FRESHWELL was berthing on her when her starboard anchor caused damage by striking Mixol’s port quarter, creating a hole in a plate for 2 feet by 2 feet, sheering rivets connecting knee bracket with the frame and bending frame and deck stringer
5 June 1945 sailed Scapa Flow to Lerwick arriving the same day
30 June 1945 sailed Lerwick to Rosyth
4 July 1945 Mr F Campbell RFA appointed as Chrief Engineer Officer
7 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth eith a cargo of FFO
10 July 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
11 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth with a cargo of FFO
12 July 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
14 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth with a cargo of FFO
17 July 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
18 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth
20 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth
23 July 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
24 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth
25 July 1945 arrived at Grangemouth in ballastr
26 July 1945 sailed Grangemouth
31 July 1945 in Charlestown Roads when at anchor – the Polish destroyer SLAZAK was coming alongside to refuel when she struck Mixol amidships on the port side causing damage to the port lifeboat, davits, rails and stanchions
Polish Destroyer ORP Šlazak
1 August 1945 arrived at Grangemouth to load cargo
2 August 1945 sailed Grangemouth
13 August 1945 at Rosyth
20 August 1945 at Rosyth in collision with RNorNS Buttercup which was coming alongside. A plate was holed in the fresh water tank
28 September 1945 HM King George VI inspected the Master, Officers and men of the MIXOL and the BLACK RANGER on the quarter deck of HMS RODNEY while reviewing the Home Fleet in the Firth of Forth off Rosyth
3 October 1945 sailed from Rosyth to Leith Docks arriving the same day
21 November 1945 berthed at Dundee
1 January 1946 arrived the River Tyne from Rosyth berthing on Jarrow Quay Corner
14 February 1946 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
10 March 1946 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness
16 April 1946 Mr James Hall RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 June 1946 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master
12 November 1946 Captain Albert V Barton RFA appointed as Master
27 February 1947 berthed at Dover Harbour from Sheerness to discharge cargo. Sailed the same day
11 March 1947 Captain Richard L Barber MID RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
26 June 1947 Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA appointed as Master
3 August 1947 Mr G A Calvert RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
19 September 1947 Captain Douglas S Norrington RD RFA (Lieut-Commander RNR) appointed as Master
1948 sold to Whitebrook Shipping Co Ltd (Counties Ship Management Co Ltd, Managers) London
20 February 1948 renamed WHITEBROOK by her owners
28 October 1949 grounded near Marseilles, France and reported in the Aberdeen press of 29 October 1949 –
1951 purchased by Nolido Compania de Navegacion S.A. (Marcou & Sons (Shipbrokers) Ltd, Managers) Panama and renamed IRENE M
5 July 1951 arrived the River Tyne and berthed on Lawe Oil Wharf
14 August 1951 sailed the River Tyne for Salt End, Hull
8 April 1952 berthed at Jarrow Oil Wharf, River Tyne
28 April 1952 arrived the River Tyne from Thames Haven berthing on the Jarrow Oil Wharf
6 June 1952 arrived the River Tyne from Thames Haven berthing on the Jarrow Slake
18 November 1952 sailed from Hamburg, Germany for Hull
1953 appeared in the casualty lists when her boilers failed completely in the English Channel near the Royal Sovereign Lightship, she sent out an SOS and was towed into the Thames by Dover tugs
27 December 1953 arrived at Antwerp for breaking up