Previous name: HMS Vanguard
Subsequent name:
Official Number: 102638
Class: Stores Supply Ship
Pennant No: X 05 / X 48
Signal Letters: JMHR (1919)
Laid down:
Builder: Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn on Tyne
Launched: 12 August 1893
Into Service: 28 October 1914 – hired by Admiralty
Out of service: 26 February 1934
Fate: Sold for scrap
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: She was originally built for the Australian emigrant and meat trade and was specially fitted for the carriage of frozen meat. When new, she inaugurated a new monthly service from the U.K. to New Zealand. Together with 13 other elderly vessels, she was acquired by the Admiralty to become Dummy Battleships during WW1. She also served as a water tanker and an oiler before becoming the Mediterranean Fleet’s Supply Ship. During her career she thus served under the Red, White and Blue Ensigns.
12 August 1893 launched by Hawthorn Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn as Yard Nr: 315 named PERTHSHIRE for Elderslie Steamship Co Ltd (Turnbull, Martin & Co, Managers) London
15 August 1893 Lloyds List newspaper reported –
November 1893 completed
ss Perthshire before her RFA service
13 November 1893 sailed North Shields, River Tyne to Plymouth
20 November 1893 sailed Plymouth for Las Palmas
26 November 1893 sailed Las Palmas
5 January 1894 arrived at Melbourne from North Shields – Captain Peter Wallace as Master
12 January 1894 sailed Melbourne to Newcastle with 15,000 frozen mutton
22 January 1894 berthed at Moreton Bay, Brisbane from Newcastle to load 550 tons of frozen meat
23 January 1894 sailed Moreton Bay, Brisbane for London via New Zealand
4 March 1894 arrived Port Chalmers
30 April 1894 arrived London with her cargo it was reported in perfect condition
22 May 1894 entered Greens Dry Dock, River Thames
29 July 1894 arrived at Brisbane from Sydney, NSW
7 September 1894 berthed at Sydney NSW from Brisbane. Captain Peter Wallace was Master
4 January 1895 sailed London for Sydney, NSW
18 April 1895 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Brisbane and with Captain Peter Wallace as Master
11 May 1895 the New Zealand Times newspaper reported …
23 November 1895 sailed Townville
9 December 1895 berthed at Sydney, NSW from Townville and with Captain Peter Wallace as Master
12 December 1895 sailed Sydney, NSW
5 January 1896 berthed at Wellington, New Zealand
8 January 1896 sailed Wellington, New Zealand
2 March 1896 arrived at London
ss Perthshire before RFA service
12 April 1896 passed Deal sailing west
15 April 1896 off Cape Finisterre
October 1896 sailed London for Sydney, NSW with 6 passengers. Captain Peter Wallace as Master
18 December 1896 arrived at Adelaide
4 January 1897 berthed at Sydney, NSW from London with 4 passengers and Captain Peter Wallace as Master
22 May 1897 passed Dover when on passage from London to Melbourne
19 July 1897 berthed at Sydney, NSW with Captain Peter Wallace as Master
9 December 1897 sailed from London for Queensland ports via Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
2 January 1898 rounded the Cape of Good Hope
22 January 1898 berthed at Port Adelaide
28 January 1898 sailed Port Adelaide for Melbourne
30 January 1898 berthed at Melbourne
3 February 1898 sailed Melbourne
6 February 1898 berthed at Sydney, NSW
26 April 1899 she sailed Sydney bound for Bluff, New Zealand and disappeared.
28 April 1899 she broke her tailshaft 391 miles from Sydney and drifted for 42 days, covering some 1,400 miles in the process, before temporary repairs were effected on 10 June when she got going again at a speed of 4 knots.
13 June 1899 A search had been mounted for her and the Union Steamship Co’s vessel TALUNE found her and towed her back to Sydney for permanent repairs
ss Talune towing the ss Perthshire
Chart from the Auckland Star of 18 June 1899
18 June 1899 sighted while under tow of the ss Talhune off The Heads, Sydney, NSW, Australia
19 June 1899 berthed at Sydney, NSW
8 July 1899 at the Water Police Court, Sydney, NSW Henry Buck, a seaman from the Perthshire was sentenced to three weeks hard labour for being absent without leave from the ship
19 July 1899 after a new tail shaft had been fitted while the ship was in dry dock at Sydney, NSW left dry dock this day
21 July 1899 at Sydney NSW onboard the Perthshire Chief Engineer J Blair was presented with an illuminated address, and the 2nd Engineer and those under him were presented with framed photos
22 July 1899 sailed Sydney, NSW to Port Chalmers, New Zealand with a new tail shaft fitted
25 July 1899 the towing of the Perthshire by the ss Talhune resulted in a payment of £5,000 being made to the owners of the Talhune
3 August 1899 arrived at Port Chalmers, New Zealand – the Chief Engineer was reported in the local press as Mr John Blair a resident of Otago
5 August 1899 sailed Port Chalmers, New Zealand for Lyttelton
10 August 1899 sailed Lyttelton for London via Las Palmas
30 August 1899 Captain Jas Wallace and Chief Engineer Officer J Blair each awarded the Lloyds Silver Medal for Meritorious Service
Lloyd’s Medal for Meritorious Service
12 October 1899 berthed at Royal Victoria Dock, London to load
27 February 1900 arrived Sydney, NSW from Brisbane and London with Captain J Wallace as Master
10 July 1900 sailed London for Las Palmas, Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney NSW with 11 passengers. The ships Master was Captain Peter Wallace
3 September 1900 berthed at Port Adelaide from London
17 September 1900 arrived at Sydney, NSW
1 October 1900 sailed Melbourne with a cargo comprising 29,674 small bags of Victorian toria oats, 9412 small bags of New Zealand oats, and 22,000 bales of hay, and 842 bags bran
4 October 1900 arrived at Sydney, NSW from Melbourne
5 October 1900 at Sydney, NSW, Australia while loading 475 remounts for the British Army in China at Pyrmont Wharf, a Gunner from the Royal Artillery – Fred Glathhill was kicked by one of the animals and conveyed to hospital by ambulance due to his injuries
6 October 1900 sailed from Sydney, NSW, Australia for Taku, China
28 November 1900 sailed Hong Kong for Sydney, NSW, Australia arriving 17 December 1900
4 January 1901 at Brisbane a member of the public – James Morris – was attacked on shore close to the ship and suffered injuries which resulted in him being conveyed to hospital. A fireman from the ship Patrick Fitzgerald was arrested and charged with unlawful wounding, He appeared before the Criminal Sitting of the Brisbane District Court on 29 January 1901 and pleaded guilty. He admitted to being drunk and not remembering what had occured. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and released on £100 bond under the Offenders Probation Act to leave Australia having signed on a ship.
4 January 1901 at South Brisbane Police Court Stephen Keenan, Patrick Cunningham, Patrick Fitzgerald, John Purdy, Joseph Redmond, James Carey, WIlliam Edmonds and William Davies were charged with being absent without leave from the ship. Each pleaded Guilty and were ordered to forfeit two days pay and to pay 3/- costs.
11 January 1901 sailed Brisbane for Sydney, NSW and then via Melbourne, Adelaide, Durban to Cape Town with 11,000 quarters of frozen beef together with 200 bales of wool, 50 casks of tallow, 600 hides and sundries for London
5 March 1901 arrived at Suez sailing the next day
17 May 1901 sailed London to Fremantle with 48 passengers
6 August 1901 berthed at Albany
15 August 1901 arrived at Sydney, NSW
16 September 1901 arrived at Sydney, NSW
23 September 1901 sailed from Sydney, NSW for Albany
23 October 1901 sailed Durban, South Africa
23 November 1901 Fireman John Devante discharged dead from Pneumonia
8 January 1902 sailed London to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, NSW with 1 passenger. The Master was Captain J C Delcomyn
13 March 1902 arrived at Sydney, NSW
4 July 1902 at Royal Victoria Dock, London – the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London condemmed 19 sheep carcasses and 23 pieces of lamb, as cargo, as being unfit for human consumption
26 July 1902 sailed Las Palmas for Fremantle
15 October 1902 arrived at Sydney, NSW with Captain J L Delcomyn as Master
3 February 1903 sailed London for Australian and New Zealand ports
25 March 1903 at Royal Victoria Dock, London – the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London condemmed 7 tins of rabbit, as cargo, as being unfit for human consumption
20 April 1903 arrived at Sydney, NSW
25 April 1903 on arrival at Wellington, New Zealand the Master requested Police assistance on board as a number of stowaways from Sydney, NSW had been discovered.
27 April 1903 seven stowaways appeared before Wellington Magistrates’ Court – they pleaded Guilty and were fined £1 each or seven days imprisonment in default
2 May 1903 sailed Wanganui, New Zealand
16 October 1903 arrived at Sydney, NSW
30 November 1903 arrived at Sydney, NSW
27 February 1904 sailed Natal
11 May 1904 at the City Police Court, Melbourne a passenger on the Perthshire a William Rogers appeared charged with theft of £60 the property of a Jospeh Brown while the ship was at sea on 14 April 1904. Brown gave evidence he had boarded the ship at Cape Town with £73 in cash. He had spent some money in the ships bar. He had gone to bed drunk and woke to find his trouser pockets had been cut open and the money was mssing. Another passenger gave evidence he had seen Rogers cutting Brown’s trouser pockets while he was drunk in his berth. Rogers was committed for trial
14 May 1904 arrived at Sydney, NSW
13 November 1904 arrived at Natal from East London
6 December 1904 sailed from Natal for Sydney, NSW
30 December 1904 arrived at Sydney, NSW
21 April 1905 sailed Shields
7 August 1905 arrived at Sydney, NSW
6 September 1905 arrived at Sydney, NSW
30 December 1905 sailed New York for Australian and New Zealand ports
5 March 1906 arrived at Sydney, NSW
13 March 1906 berthed at Auckland, New Zealand on Queen Street Wharf
19 March 1906 berthed at Wellington, New Zealand
30 November 1906 arrived at Sydney, NSW
21 June 1907 arrived at Sydney, NSW
8 July 1907 arrived at Albany
10 July 1907 sailed Albany for Natal
31 August 1907 arrived at London from Australian ports
23 November 1907 arrived at Sydney, NSW
15 December 1907 arrived at Sydney, NSW
18 December 1907 at the Water Police Court, Sydney, NSW – Owen Hickey, 45 a seaman on the ship appeared charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting the Chief Officer on 17 December 1907. It was alleged that while drunk he had used insulting and threatening behaviour towards the cook and later had hit the Chief Officer in the face dislodging some of his teeth. Hickey pleaded Guilty to both offences. He was sentenced to a fine of 10/- or seven days imprisonment in respect of the first offence and to one months imprisonment for the assault
26 January 1908 arrived at Natal
2 March 1908 berthed at London from Brisbane, Durban and Cape Town with 32 passengers. Captain E Cumer was Master
31 July 1908 sailed Table Bay for London
27 August 1908 berthed at London from Australian and South African ports with 53 passengers. Captain Charles Forder was Master
2 January 1909 arrived at Sydney, NSW
18 March 1909 berthed at London from Sydney, NSW, Melbourne, Durban and Cape Town with 22 passengers
28 June 1909 arrived Brisbane
1 July 1909 at the Central Police Court, Brisbane James Harvey was charged with absenting himself from the ship without leave. He pleaded Guilty and was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment unless the ship sailed earlier when he was to be released to the ship. He was also ordered to pay 4/6p costs
25 July 1909 arrived at Sydney, NSW
1 October 1909 berthed at London from Australian. South African ports and Gibraltar with 38 passengers. Captain Charles Forder was Master
5 October 1909 at Royal Victoria Dock, London – the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London condemmed 472 pig carcasses, as cargo, as being unfit for human consumption
28 October 1909 sailed London for Australian ports with 338 passengers
29 October 1909 passed St Catherines Point sailing west
9 November 1909 arrived at Port Said
13 December 1909 at Cairns, Queensland, Australia
16 December 1909 at Townsville, Queensland, Australia
1910 nominal ownership passed to Scottish Shire Line, name unchanged
10 January 1910 arrived at Sydney, NSW
25 March 1910 berthed at London from Brisbane and Sydney NSW with 24 passengers
17 July 1910 arrived at Sydney, NSW
23 July 1910 sailed Sydney, NSW for Natal
10 November 1910 arrived at Port Said from Hull and London while on passage to Brisbane
23 December 1910 arrived at Brisbane
7 January 1911 arrived at Sydney, NSW
14 January 1911 arrived at Melbourne
19 March 1911 berthed at London from Sydney, NSW, Melbourne and Durban with 21 passengers. Captain J N Thompson was Master
22 March 1911 at Royal Victoria Dock, London – the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London condemmed 80 bags of ox cheeks and 32 pig carcasses, as cargo, as being unfit for human consumption
12 April 1911 sailed London to Australian ports with 359 passengers
29 August 1911 berthed at Liverpool from Brisbane with 21 passengers
2 October 1911 at Royal Victoria Dock, London – the Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London condemmed 88% of liver, as cargo, as being unfit for human consumption
14 October 1911 sailed London to Australian ports with 373 passengers
26 December 1911 arrived at Sydney, NSW
3 September 1912 berthed at London from Brisbane with 30 passengers
28 September 1912 sailed London for Australian ports with 220 passengers
26 October 1912 at sea at 9°50N 61°24 a passenger Thomas George Fynn aged 15 weeks discharged dead – natural causes
25 December 1912 arrived at Sydney, NSW
29 March 1913 sailed London to Port Said, Jakarta (Batavia), Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane with 395 passengers. Captain J N Thompson was the Master
20 May 1913 two fireman from the ship were charged before Cairns Police Court with creating a disturbance – they forfeited their bail by way of penalty
11 June 1913 sailed Brisbane to Liverpool arriving on 2 September 1913 with 3 passengers
12 August 1913 at sea at 15.00N 42.6E Quartermaster G Pylad discharged dead – missing at sea
18 October 1913 sailed Royal Albert Docks, London to Port Said arriving on 31 October 1913 with 41 passengers for Australian ports
19 October 1913 in the English Channel A.E. Bland, W. Vincent, R Graf, J Culverhouse and F Legrand found on board as stowaways – signed on the ships articles to work at 1/- per month.
22 October 1913 Able Seaman Frederick Valentine discharged dead – natural causes – buried at sea
1 November 1913 sailed Port Said to Thursday Island
2 December 1913 at Thursday Island F Legrand (Passage Worker) deserted taking his effects with him
5 December 1913 sailed Cairns to Townsville arriving on 6 December 1913
8 December 1913 sailed Townsville to Rockhampton arriving on 10 December 1913
16 December 1913 sailed Rockhampton to Harvey Bay arriving on 17 December 1913
18 December 1913 sailed Harvey Bay to Brisbane arriving on 19 December 1913 with 280 immigrants to Australia
2 January 1914 at Brisbane J Morton, A Vaughan, M Herbert and T Tolley all deserted taking their effects with them
2 January 1914 sailed Brisbane to Rockhampton arriving on 5 January 1914
7 January 1914 sailed Rockhampton to Bowen arriving the next day
10 January 1914 sailed Bowen to Townsville arriving the next day
18 January 1914 sailed Townsville to Thursday Island arriving 22 January 1914
18 January 1914 at Cleveland Bay, Townsville J Culverhouse (Passage Worker) and J Jeyard deserted the ship taking their effects with them
18 January 1914 after the vessels departure from Townsville A Marshall, a stowaway was found onboard. Signed to work at 1/- a month.
22 January 1914 sailed Thursday Island to Batavia arriving on 2 February 1914
3 February 1914 sailed Batavia to Colombo arriving 12 February 1914
12 February 1914 sailed Colombo to Perin arriving 21 February 1914
21 February 1914 sailed Perin to Port Said arriving on 27 February 1914
27 February 1914 sailed Port Said to Gibraltar arriving 9 March 1914
9 March 1914 sailed Gibraltar to Liverpool arriving 14 March 1914
19 March 1914 sailed to Liverpool to London arriving on 22 March 1914
5 April 1914 sailed Royal Albert Dock, London to Las Palmas arriving on 12 April 1914
13 April 1914 sailed Las Palmas to Durban arriving 7 May 1914
5 May 1914 radioed when 640 nmiles south of Durban that her engines were defective
11 May 1914 at Durban Quartermasters C Sutherland and W Butcher found to be under the influence of alcohol. An investigation by the Chief Engineering and the Chief Officer found the cargo in No 1 tween deck had been broached, entrance having been made by breaking up and dislodging an insulated plug in the air ducts. Two cases of Champagne were found exposed with one being empty. A case of Razors had several packages short and a parcel of cotton goods was empty. An official search of the crews quarters was conducted and two new razors belonging to those taken from the hold were found under the bunk of Trimmer P Linz. An empty Champagne bottle was found in a cabin occupied by Trimmer’s H Devlin and R Wilson. Linz, Devlin and Wilson all denied any knowledge of the items found.
11 May 1914 sailed Durban to Adelaide arriving on 2 June 1914
19 May 1914 at Sea four packets or razors and cotton goods were found in the Refrigerating trunks were found by the Chief Engineer Officer – these items were part of the stolen cargo
3 June 1914 sailed Adelaide to Melbourne arriving 6 June 1914
3 June 1914 Able Seaman C Batt absent without leave from the ship while in port and coming onboard drunk. Logged and fined 5/- in respect of each offence. Quartermaster and AB W Butcher absent without leave in Port Adelaide logged and fined 5/-
9 June 1914 sailed Melbourne to Sydney arriving 11 June 1914
11 June 1914 at Sydney – while the ship was at Melbourne Thomas Atkinson, Chief Refridge Engineer was arrested by the Police as being of unsould mind. The Police returned him to the ship to be kept in confinement as he was a prohibited person.
13 June 1914 at Sydney Greaser W Taylor, Fireman O Kelly, Fireman Jas Wedlock and Firemen F Loose all absent from the ship this day without leave. Each fined 5/-
14 June 1914 Ordinary Seaman A Bedford deserted the ship and took his effect with him
14 June 1914 sailed Sydney to Brisbane arriving 16 June 1914
17 June 1914 at Brisbane Trimmer R WIlson deserted this day and took his effects with him
18 June 1914 sailed Brisbane to Bowen arriving 21 June 1914
23 June 1914 Firemen Jas Wedlock, F Buoys and J Boyd and Trimmer J Goodman absent from the ship without leave at Bowen. All four logged and fined 5/-. Fireman Jas Wedlock then deserted see below. The fines against the other three cancelled.
24 June 1914 sailed Bowen to Townsville arriving the same day
2 July 1914 at Townsville Jas Wedlock, O. Kelly, P Budd, E. Ecleson, F.Wilkinson and H. Haines all deserted taking their effects with them.
4 July 1914 sailed Townsville to Bowen arriving the same day
6 July 1914 sailed Bowen to Port Alma arriving 8 July 1914
8 July 1914 sailed Port Alma to Cairns arriving 11 July 1914
13 July 1914 sailed Cairns to Thursday Island arriving 15 July 1914
15 July 1914 sailed Thursday Island to Batavia arriving 25 July 1914
27 July 1914 sailed Batavia to Colombo arriving 5 August 1914
5 August 1914 sailed Colombo to Aden arriving 23 August 1914
1 September 1914 sailed Aden to Port Said arriving 11 September 1914
13 September 1914 sailed Port Said to Malta arriving 18 September 1914
18 September 1914 at Malta Able Seaman W Rer, W Knuth also A M King being Germans were arrested as Prisoners of War and were discharged at the Mercantile Marine Office
22 September 1914 sailed Malta to Gibraltar arriving 27 August 1914
2 October 1914 sailed Gibraltar to London arriving on 9 October 1914 with 5 passengers and 2 DBS
28 October 1914 hired by the Admiralty for conversion into the Dummy Battleship HMS VANGUARD and on completion of conversion was based at Loch Ewe.
3 November 1915, after the disbandment of the DBS Squadron, she was purchased by the Admiralty and converted for carrying canteen stores, fresh water and about 1,500 tons of oil and was utilized as the Coaling Officer‘s ship at Scapa Flow
5 November 1915 Engineer Commander George E Robinson RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 January 1916 at Govan fitting out for service in the Eastern Mediterrean as a water vessel
9 February 1916 Lieutenant Hermann R Elsby RNR appointed in command
28 March 1917 Sub-Lieutenant Harold David Bennet Daw RNVR aged 26 discharged dead – having died on HMHS SOUDAN. He was buried in Lyness Naval Cemetery, Scapa Flow in Grave B11
13 June 1917 Lieutenant Alexander McLean RNR appointed in command
9 October 1917 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Greaser Henry Loveridge MMR since 16 September 1917 from the ship
6 January 1918 Leading Stoker Richard James Burns discharged dead. He was buried in Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery in grave Con C 4651
29 January 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Able Seaman James Thompson MMR for desertion on 12 December 1917 from the ship
5 August 1918 Able Seaman James McCarthy aged 57 years MMR 553189 discharged dead. He was buried in Rothesay Cemetery, Kilchatten Bay Road, Rothesay, Buteshire, Scotland in grave L 756
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
6 August 1918 Lieutenant Alfred Mills RNR appointed in command
1919 she was converted into an oiler and proceeded to Malta for use as a mobile hulk
6 February 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Charles E Harland RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 April 1919 Lieutenant John H Jones RNR appointed in command
Lieutenant John H Jones RNR
1 May 1919 berthed at Imperial Dock, Leith, Scotland
8 May 1919 entered dry dock at Leith, Scotland
13 May 1919 towed out of dry dock and moored alongside at Imperial Dock, Leith
15 May 1919 while moored at Imperial Dock, Leith struck by ss Wolfram causing minor damage to the starboard forecastle
ss Wolfram
29 May 1919 while moored at Imperial Dock, Leith at 00:20hrs struck by ss Rhenania on the port side making a hole and denting the forecastle shear plate
31 May 1919 2nd Officer Robert Davis logged and severley reprimanded by the Commanding Officer for neglect of duty and he was informed that any future misconduct on his part will be dealt with under the strictest application of the Naval Discipline Act
2 June 1919 sailed Leith to Rosyth arriving the same day
5 June 1919 sailed Rosyth to Gibraltar
7 June 1919 Assistant Steward J Kennedy logged and forfeited one days pay for drunkenness. Ship anchored off Deal due to thick fog
10 June 1919 Assistant Steward J Kennedy logged and forfeited two days pay for ‘inattention to the orders of the Chief Steward’.
11 June 1919 James Gardner logged – ‘The rating named below severly reprimanded by Commanding Officer in presence of the Chief and Second Engineers for neglect of duty and informed that any future misconduct action will be taken under the Naval Discipline Act.’
14 June 1919 arrived at Gibraltar
16 June 1919 at Gibraltar Fireman J Farrell logged and reprimanded by the Commanding Officer for being absent without leave half an hour on 14 June 1919. Fireman A Innes and Fireman William McGeary logged and fined 2 days pay and 1 day’s grog for being absent without leave 9 hours on 14 June 1919
17 June 1919 at Gibraltar Bosun J Johnson logged and fined 1 days pay for drunkenness and 7 days grog on 16 June 1919. Fireman Lewis logged and fined 2 days pay and 7 days grog for drunkenness
20 June 1919 Assistant Steward J Kennedy taken before the Flag Captain, Gibraltar by the Commanding Officer who directed that he (Kennedy) be detained in the cells until the ship was ready to sail.
26 June 1919 sailed Gibraltar
1 July 1919 arrived at Malta from Gibraltar
2 July 1919 at Malta ss War Sikh alongside – pump over 2,438 tons of FFO
8 July 1919 at Malta Fireman William McGeary fined 8 days pay 30 days grog forfeit for breaking ship and returning unfit for duty
10 July 1919 at Malta Trimmer J Robinson fined 3 days pay and stopped 7 days pay. Broke ship and failed to return to keep his watch. P Murphy fined 2 days pay, 2 days leave and 7 days grog forfeit. J H Pope fined 3 days pay and stopped 3 days pay. E Sanky 2 days pay, 2 days leave and 7 days grog forfeit.
13 July 1919 at Malta Fireman W Lewis brought onboard by patrol found drunk on shore while on leave
14 July 1919 at Malta Fireman W Lewis fined 2 days pay and 2 days leave stopped (see above)
21 July 1919 at Malta Greaser D Riordan MMR fined 3 days pay for being absent without leave and returning on board drunk
25 July 1919 at Malta RFA BOXOL alongside to pump over to RFA PERTHSHIRE
4 August 1919 at Malta Greaser D Riordan fined 1 days pay for drunkeness. Fireman William McGeary 7 days grog stopped and Greaser A Inmey 12 days pay stopped
6 August 1919 J Regan fined 3 days pay and 1 weeks grog forfeit. A Jones fined 1 days pay and 2 weeks grog forfeit. Fireman W McGeary fined 3 days pay and 1 weeks grog forgeit. P Murphy fined 1 days pay and 2 weeks grog forfeited
7 August 1919 at Malta signal sent to HMS EGMONT for a Marine Escort to take 2nd Officer in charge. 2nd Officer Robert Davies placed in his cabin under arrest with 2 seaman for guard. Commanding Office also on guard duties. 2nd Officer Robert Davies later taken ashore in custody of the Commanding Officer and handed over to the Principal Medical Officer HMS EGMONT for observation and necessary treatment.
11 August 1919 at Malta at Greaser J Regan, Trimmer William McGeary and Trimmer J Robinson brought on board by the Naval Patrol for being drunk, creating a disturbance and striking the Patrol
13 August 1919 at Malta 2nd Officer Davies discharged to await passage to Gibraltar to join RFA VISCOL
18 August 1919 at Malta Fireman W Higgins fined 2 days pay for inattention to duty after being cautioned
28 August 1919 at Malta Chief Steward J J Wilson fined 1 days pay and severley reprimanded by the Captain for drunkeness
30 December 1919 Captain James D Ashworth RFA appointed as Master
Captain James D Ashworth RFA
1920 she was converted into a Stores Ship there and carried naval stores to the Bosphorus during the Allied Occupation with an RFA Crew
24 January 1920 sailed Malta to Constatinople arriving on 29 January 1920 having fully loaded with fuel and relief supplies
26 January 1920 and 27 January 1920 Chief Steward Allen M Baggott logged after found suffering from the effects of liquor and found throwing his clothes overboard. Was off duty. He was confined to his cabin with a guard placed over him to prevent him committing suicide. His cabin was searched for liquor and whisky found was taken from him.
28 January 1920 Chief Steward Allen M Baggott still suffering from the effects of liquor and struggling with the guard and in doing so caused damage to cabin fittings. Confined in an iron locker foward.
29 January 1920 Chief Steward Allen M Baggott suffering from the effects of liquor was examined by a Surgeon Lieutenant, Royal Navy and taken in charge to HMS IRON DUKE
11 February 1920 returned from the Naval Hospital and resumed duty on 12 February 1920. Having been off duty since 26 January and also since 29 January to 11 February 1920 off duty and on shore in Naval Hospital being treated for Delirium Tremens caused by excessive drinking – logged and his pay is accordingly stopped during that period for 17 days and is forfeited
12 March 1920 at Constantinople alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 76 tons of FFO
17 April 1920 Seaman & Signalman F Guiliano broke out of ship at 2.45pm and did not return until 6.45pm on the 18 April 1920. Logged for insubordination and wilful disobedience and ‘shall not be paid wages except as provided in the agreement for the period during which he was absent from his duties’
23 April 1920 at Constantinople alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 141 tons of FFO
8 June 1920 at the Bosphoros Seamen Marcel Borg, G Tonna, S Grech, D. Constantine, Greasers I Paretti, Y Azzopardi, G Galea, E Gristi, M Buttigrief (?), A Montebello, C Pisani, E Meilak and G Micaleff, Fireman R Micaleff, F Magri, E Stivala, L Casar, G Attard and G Ellul, Trimmers S. Spiteri, G Spiteri, C Spitari P Pisani, G Mizzi and G Borg all logged for refusing all duty until arrival of an armed guard from HMS IRON DUKE. Firemen G Ellul, Fireman E Stivala and Seaman I Paretti were removed from the ship by the guard from HMS IRON DUKE
HMS IRON DUKE
10 June 1920 at the Bosphoros except the three removed by the Guard all the rest admitted the offence and were fined 5/- and forfeit one days pay for disobedience to lawful commands and for being absent from their duties
14 June 1920 at the Naval Base at Constantinople and enquiry was held by the Captain of the Naval Base regarding the refusal of duty by Fireman G Ellul, Fireman E Stivala and Seaman I Paretti. The minutes of evidence were submitted to the Commander in Chief who was flying his flag in HMS IRON DUKE
24 June 1920 the three mentioned above released from detention by Order of the Captain of the Naval Base. The men were signed off article and their wages deposited with the DNTO
5 July 1920 Seaman D Constantine absent from the ship and from his duties without leave for two days. Forfeited to the owners 2 days pay whilst off duty
7 July 1920 at Constantinople HMS APHIS alongside being refuelled – 36 tons of FFO
8 July 1920 at the Bosphoros Trimmer C Spitari granted night leave from the afternoon 7 July 1920 to 7am 8 July 1920 failed to return and has been absent from the ship and from his duties without leave and all attempts since made to discover his whereabouts failed to trace any news concerning him. Logged as such on 17 July 1920
26 July 1920 at Constantinople Trimmer C Spitari interviewed by the British Naval Transport Officer
22 August 1920 at Constantinople alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 114 tons of FFO
17 September 1920 at Constantinople HMS APHIS alongside being refuelled – 45 tons of FFO
HMS APHIS
1 October 1920 at Constantinople HMS APHIS alongside being refuelled – 17 tons of FFO
11 October 1920 at Bosphorus Able Seaman and Signalman granted weekend leave being on shore from Saturday till Sunday midnight broke out of ship at 1.30pm on Monday 11 October 1920 returned at 10pm – he having been previously warned by the Master against leaving the ship. Logged and forfeited one days pay and fined 5/-
3 November 1920 AB and Signalman H R Hemmings for drunkeness was fined 5/-, for bringing and having onboard intoxicating liquor fined 5/- for being drunk and incapable and being absent from his duty from 7am to 5pm forfeits to the owners one days pay. The log entry was read over to AB & Signalman Hemmings who replied that ‘it would happen again’.
3 November 1920 at Constantinople Chief Steward Allen M Baggott who had been on shore in the course of his duties appeared at the British Naval Base under the influence of liquor. The Captain of the Base directed he was placed onboard HMS HELIOTOPE, be medically examined and detained as being unfit to carry out his duties through his own neglet
6 November 1920 at Constantinople Chief Steward Allen M Baggott returned on board from HMS HELIOTOPE after detention since 3 November 1920
11 November 1920 at Constantinople alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 166 tons of FFO
19 November 1920 at Constantinople alongside HMS TORCH refuelling her with 129 tons of FFO
25 November 1920 sailed Constatinople to Malta arriving on 1 December 1920
17 January 1921 Mr Chas Harland RFA discharged as Chief Engineer Officer
22 January 1921 Captain James D Ashworth RFA discharged as Master. Chief Officer John Humphries RFA appointed as acting Master
Chief Steward Allen M Baggott RFA
12 February 1921 Chief Steward Allen M Baggott taken suddenly ill while onboard – examined by Surgeon Lieutenant William Anthony Jolliffe Royal Navy from HMS Emperor of India who advised that Mr Baggott should be immediately taken to hospital. While on passage to the RN Hospital had a sudden attack of fits followed by heart failure and died. Chief Steward Allen Mardon Baggott discharged dead at Malta. Allen Baggott was one of the survivors from the sinking of the RMS Titanic. He had signed on the Titantic at Southampton on 4 April 1912 as a first class steward at a monthly salary of £3 15sh. After the ship had sunk he was rescued from Titanic’s lifeboat 9 by the Carpathia and landed from that ship at New York on the 18 April 1912.
15 February 1921 Chief Steward Allen M Baggott buried at Ta’Braxia Cemetery, Malta – in an unmarked grave
21 September 1922 Captain Alexander H Hardy RFA appointed as Master
29 March 1923 the Admiralty in communication with the C in C Mediterrean gave suggested directions for various cost saving actions involving RFA’s. One of the directions was for RFA PERTHSHIRE to be placed in reserve at Malta at 14 days notice – she was thus laid up (ADM 137/1789)
1924 – 1925 she was thoroughly reconditioned and fitted out by Malta Dockyard as the Mediterranean Fleet’s Supply Ship. She carried refrigerated and general naval stores and also had a distilling capacity too.
5 December 1924 Mr J A Brown RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
23 September 1925 at Volvos Labourer Giachino Grima discharged dead. He was certified dead on RFA MAINE (3). He died from a fractured base of the skull after he fell from the upper deck into hold No: 3 while working cargo
30 September 1925 with the Third Cruiser Squadron, the Third Destroyer Flotilla, RFA AINE (3) and other RN ships at Ægina Island until 7 October 1925; at Suda Bay, Crete from 8 to 14 October 1925 and returned to Malta on 16 October 1925
17 to 21 July 1926 with HMS BARHAM and other RN units at Trieste during the Mediterrean Fleets Summer Cruise
HMS BARHAM
21 to 24 July 1926 with RFA MAINE (3), HMS WARSPITE and other RN units at Brioni Island during the Mediterrean Fleets Summer Cruise
HMS WARSPITE
26 to 28 July 1926 with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at Sebenico during the Mediterrean Fleets Summer Cruise
7 August 1926 sailed from Dragomesti. Greece for Malta
1 October 1926 off Volos, Greece together with RFA’s BRAMBELEAF (1), MAINE (3) and MONTENOL
23 March 1927 at Gibraltar. Junior Engineer Officer Norman C Thompson RFA admitted to hospital
28 March 1927 sailed from Hyères, France with HMS WARSPITE and HMS MAYALA for Villefranche sur Mare, France
12 April 1928 at St Raphael with RFA MAINE (3)
24 April 1928 she sailed from Malta with relief supplies for victims of the Corinth Earthquake in company with HMS STUART
20 August 1928 Mr Thomas Perrett RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
21 September 1928 at Malta together with RFA’s BRAMBLELEAF (1), DREDGOL and MONTENOL
2 April 1929 berthed at Gibraltar from Malta with naval stores
1929 while on the China Station was painted white with a yellow funnel
23 September 1929 sailed from Fiume for Zara
4 November 1930 Mr Charles E Wrate RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Charles E Wrate RFA
1 April 1931 at Gibraltar
RFA Perthshire at Gibraltar, being moved berths, to allow HMS Glorious alongside after her collision off Gibraltar on 1 April 1931 (with damage plainly visible to her bow)
20 April 1932 berth at Malta after the Fleet’s Spring Cruise
15 August 1932 Prince George visited the ship together with RFA MAINE (3) and the destroyers of the 1st Flotilla
26 February 1934, having been relieved by RFA RELIANT (1), she was sold for scrap for £6,602.
20 March 1934 sailed from Malta for breaking up at Spezia by Soc Anon Cantieri di Portovenera.
14 April 1934 her ship’s bell was offered for sale by the Admiralty for £10.00
30 October 1935 the Auckland Star newspaper (a New Zealand publication) reported …
