RFA Mixol

 

mixol 2Mixol 03 

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

censor 3

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

 

AT_Warne_1

 

Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Albert T Warne RNR

 

Mixol_DisA

 

Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Albert T Warne RNR’s discharge book
Note the ship’s rubber stamp shows it’s name as HMS Mixol Royal Fleet Auxiliary

 

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

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.

 

untitled

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

 John Allan AM frontJohn Allan  AM reverse

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 …

 

Press Cutting Mixol Albert Medal 1918

 

3 June 1919 Wireless Operator David Alfred Hodges discharged dead

 

3 6 1919 MIXOL HODGES

 

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

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

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 WW1

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

Captain Richard D Williams RFA

20 May 1920 at Chatham RN Hospital Pumpman Frederick Charles Cusheon discharged dead – cancer of the kidney

Donkeyman Frederick C Cusheon

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

CEO Leonard H Taylor

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

Tug Neptunia

 

1 October 1938 Captain Frederick S Harvey RFA appointed as temporary Master

10 October 1938 the Western Mail newspaper reported –

 

Western Mail 10 10 1938 Belgol etc

 

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

 

CEO Robert A Higgie

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

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

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

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

 

Sharpshooter

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

1HMS Manchester C15

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

 

Easey_F

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 1914

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

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

 

 Captain EEA Le Sage

Captain Edward E A Le Sage RFA
(while early in his career at sea)

13 November 1941 Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA appointed as Master

 

Captain Ernest WIlliam ROUSELL

Captain Ernest W J Rousell RFA
early in his career at sea
 

26 November 1941 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her with 493 tons of FFO

 

HMS Duke Of York

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 CA 37

USS TUSCALOOSA (CA37)

 

31 July 1942 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS JAMAICA refulling her with 514 tons of FFO

HMS Jamaica

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

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

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 tow

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

Captain Ernest C Rogers RFA

15 March 1945 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS IMPLACABLE to refuel her

 

Implacable 1947

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 Slazak

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 –

 

Aberdeen Journal 29 Oct 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