Official Number: 139135
Class: SECOND 1000 t CREOSOL CLASS Harbour Oiler
Pennant No: X 43 / X 53 / A 253
Laid down:
Builder: Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co., Willington Quay
Launched: 5 April 1916
Into Service: August 1916
Out of service: 1956 hulked
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: On the outbreak of WW1, the Admiralty embarked on a further programme of tanker construction for the newly-formed RFA Service. Eventually there were eighteen ships in this Class, twelve of which were named after trees with the OL suffix, while the remainder had names connected with the oil industry also with the OL suffix. Four of the Class were diesel engined and were sold after the Armistice but the rest, being triple expansion steamers, had long and successful lives
10 February 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Charles P Vickerman RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
5 April 1916 launched by Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Willington Quay as Yard Nr 204 named PHILOL
25 July 1916 Lieutenant Frederick William Rae RNR appointed in command. He remained in command until 26 March 1920 when he was appointed as Temporary Master of RFA Prestol.
August 1916 completed
21 June 1917 Stoker William Seager logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 1 August 1916
15 November 1917 Trimmer Hugh Finlay logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on the 13 July 1917
20 February 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
HMS GALATEA
23 February 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
27 February 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
5 March 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
14 March 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS GALATEA refuelling her
6 May 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS COMMONWEALTH to refuel her with 100 tons of FFO
HMS COMMONWEALTH
14 May 1918 at Scapa Flow alongside HMS ACHILLES and received 440 tons of FFO from her
HMS ACHILLES
22 October 1918 Leading Stoker William George Hall MMR 936755 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 10 May 1918
14 November 1918 Leading Stoker Michael Goggin MMR 884479 discharged dead. He had signed on on the 7 March 1918. He was buried in Leytonstone (St. Patricks) Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
31 December 1918 Stoker J McDermott and Leading Stoker Laurence Morrissey logged as deserting the ship. Stoker McDermott had signed on on the 11 November 1917 while Leading Stoker Morrissey had signed on on 9 December 1918.
16 January 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Charles P Vickerman RNR appeared before a court martial charged with three offences – (a) improperly leaving his ship (b) using insulting language to a Sub Lieutenant and (c) being absent without leave. He pleaded guilty and was severely reprimanded and dismissed his ship. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty considered that the second charge in this case was irregular in being drawn under two separate sections
27 January 1919 Engineer Lieutenant Peter Percival RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
6 February 1919 sailed from Sheerness
1 March 1919 Able Seaman John W Coultas MMR 926047 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 18 April 1918. He surrendered to HMS Eaglet on 3 March 1919 and was sentenced to 14 days cells
Able Seaman John W Coultas
23 May 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HM Monitor M33 came alongside for fuel – 20 tons supplied
24 May 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HM Monitor M31 came alongside to be refueled
28 May 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HM Monitor M24 came alongside to be refueled
5 July 1919 Engineer Sub Lieutenant Robert Herdman RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
2 August 1919 Officer’s servant J Pottinger logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 25 July 1919
13 October 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HM Monitor M33 berthed alongside to be refueled
14 October 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HMS MANTIS berthed alongside to refuel – 7 tons of FFO issued
25 October 1919 at Lerwick, Shetland Islands HM Monitors M23 and M31 came alongside to be refueled
6 November 1919 Mr Edward B Morton RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Edward B. Morton RFA
21 February 1920 Stoker J Stewart MMR 903336 logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on on 19 November 1919
2 March 1920 arrived at Aberdeen to load cargo from the Admiralty oil store at Point Law
4 January 1921 Mr George McL Macdonald RFA appointed Temporary Chief Engineer Officer until 19 September 1921
10 January 1921 at Sheerness alongside HMS DUNEDIN refuelling her
HMS DUNEDIN
19 February 1921 Captain William Distant RFA appointed as Master
1 April 1921 Captain Harry Y Third RFA appointed as Master
Captain Harry Y Third RFA
23 May 1921 berthed at Avonmouth
26 May 1921arrived at Plymouth
30 May 1921 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth
6 June 1921 berthed at Avonmouth
19 June 1921 sailed Avonmouth
2 July 1921 berthed at Grangemouth
4 July 1921 sailed Grangemouth for Charleston Roads
3 September 1921 Mr William P Keohane RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
4 September 1921 at Sheerness alongside HMS DELHI to refuel her
10 January 1921 at Sheerness alongside HMS DUNEDIN to refuel her
21 October 1921 Captain D Durrant RFA appointed as Master. He had previously sailed as the ship’s Chief Officer from 1 April 1920 until his promotion
8 April 1922 Captain James P Downie RFA appointed as Master and Mr Watkin Maybray RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
20 April 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
17 January 1923 Chief Officer Stanley B Spillett RFA appointed as Acting Master
Chief Officer Stanley B Spillett RFA
15 August 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 August 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
27 August 1923 at Sheerness alongside HMS REPULSE on No 1 Buoy to refuel her (twice)
28 August 1923 at Sheerness alongside HMS REPULSE on No 1 Buoy to refuel her
3 September 1923 at Sheerness alongside HMS DUNEDIN refuelling her
27 December 1923 at Sheerness alongside HMS DUNEDIN refuelling her
27 May 1924 Captain J Reid RFA appointed as Master
10 December 1924 berthed on the Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
23 February 1925 Mr Alfred H Ireland RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
28 May 1925 sailed Hull for Sheerness
3 August 1925 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing westbound
13 August 1925 arrived Devonport from Pembroke Dock
23 July 1926 arrived Swansea from Devonport
16 August 1926 arrived Swansea from Devonport
14 September 1926 Captain J Martin Smith DSC RFA (Acting Lt. Commander RNR (Rtd)) appointed as Master
13 October 1926 sailed Plymouth for Swansea
25 November 1924 Mr Alexander R Murrison RFA appointed as Acting Chief Engineer Officer
23 October 1926 sailed Swansea for Devonport
28 December 1926 Captain Joseph C Gibson RFA appointed as Acting Master
30 December 1926 sailed Plymouth for Swansea
22 May 1927 arrived at Plymouth
8 June 1927 arrived Swansea from Devonport
9 June 1927 sailed from Kings Dock, Swansea
27 July 1927 Chief Officer Leonard Elford RFA appointed as Acting Master
24 May 1928 Captain William J Shipton RFA appointed as Master
Captain William J Shipton RFA
12 June 1928 at Port Victoria, Sheerness Seaman John Henry McCooey discharged dead – accidental drowning. The Weston Morning News reported …
14 June 1928 The Scotsman newspaper reported …
15 June 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
2 August 1928 Mr P Greenwood RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 August 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
11 December 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
18 December 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
30 December 1928 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
4 January 1929 Home Trade article signed this day show vessel under charter to Shell Mex Ltd., London
7 January 1929 sailed Shell Haven for Manchester arriving on 11 January 1929
9 January 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
12 January 1929 sailed Manchester for Shell Haven arriving on 16 January 1929
15 January 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
21 January 1929 sailed Shell Haven for Manchester arriving on 25 January 1929
1 February 1929 sailed Manchester for Sheerness arriving on 5 February 1929
12 February 1929 sailed Sheerness for Portsmouth arriving on 14 February 1929
15 February 1929 sailed Portsmouth for Sheerness arriving on the next day
18 February 1929 sailed Sheerness for Portsmouth arriving on the next day
20 February 1929 sailed Portsmouth for Sheerness arriving on the next day
21 February 1929 sailed Sheerness for Portsmouth arriving on the next day
26 February 1929 sailed Portsmouth for Southampton arriving the same day
14 March 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
15 March 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
19 March 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty
20 March 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
22 March 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
26 March 1929 sailed Portsmouth Harbour to Southampton and then Belfast arriving on the 30 March 1929
31 March 1929 sailed Belfast to Ardrossan arriving on 1 April 1929
3 April 1929 sailed Ardrossan to Liverpool arriving on 4 April 1929
4 April 1929 at Liverpool on entering 50 foot lock at Eastham at 7.45pm wind NW (6) ship fouled East pier head causing a slight dent in port bow. Also fouled lock gates causing slight damage to gate and slight dent in starboard bow shell plating
15 April 1929 sailed Liverpool for Belfast arriving the same day
17 April 1929 sailed Belfast to Stanlow arriving the next day
21 April 1929 sailed Liverpool to Dublin arriving the next day
22 April 1929 sailed Dublin to Liverpool arriving the next day
25 April 1929 sailed Liverpool to Glasgow arriving the next day
30 April 1929 sailed Glasgow to Ardrossan arriving the next day
3 May 1929 sailed Ardrossan arriving the next day
16 May 1929 sailed Liverpool to Larne arriving the next day
17 May 1929 sailed Larne to Liverpool arriving the next day
22 May 1929 sailed Liverpool to Avonmouth arriving on 24 May 1929
25 May 1929 sailed Avonmouth to Liverpool arriving 27 May 1929
28 May 1929 at Liverpool when leaving Brunswick Dock Pier – strong easterly wind. Tide about 2 hours ebb. The ship fouled and damaged the Mersey Dock & Harbour Board dredger Burbo. Damage to Philol – slight dent in shell plating on starboard bow and shank of starboard anchor bent
Mersey Dock & Harbour Board dredger Burbo
29 May 1929 sailed Liverpool to Dublin arriving the next day
30 May 1929 sailed Dublin to Liverpool arriving the next day
15 June 1929 sailed Liverpool to Sheerness
17 June 1929 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
18 June arrived at Sheerness
8 September 1929 sailed Sheerness to Killingholme arriving 10 September 1929
12 September 1929 sailed Killingholme to Invergordon arriving 14 September 1929
23 October 1929 sailed Invergordon to Rosyth arriving the next day
26 October 1929 berthed at Grangemouth in ballast from Rosyth
9 December 1929 sailed Rosyth to Invergordon arriving the next day
11 December 1929 sailed Invergordon to Rosyth arriving the next day
16 December 1929 sailed Rosyth to Invergordon arriving the next day
18 December 1929 sailed Invergordon to Rosyth arriving 20 December 1929
21 December 1929 sailed Rosyth to Sheerness arriving 24 December 1929
14 January 1930 arrived at the Hartlepool in ballast from Sheerness
22 January 1930 sailed Hartlepool with a cargo of creosote
13 March 1930 Chief Officer Issac Evans RFA appointed temporary acting Master
RFA Philol
24 March 1930 at Devonport
7 April 1930 berthed on Thanckes Oil Fuel Jetty
9 April 1930 at Devonport in collision with an oil hulk Valiant while moving No: 10 Buoy to alongside HMS GLORIOUS to refuel her. The ships Acting Master was cautioned for showing great lack of judgement. The hulk and the Philol were both damaged in the collision.
24 April 1930 Captain George W Callaway RFA (Lieut-Commander Royal Navy (retd)) appointed as Master
27 April 1930 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing west
28 April 1930 at Devonport berthed on Thanckes Oil Fuel Jetty
3 September 1930 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
30 December 1930 Mr Thomas A Reay RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Thomas A Reay RFA
29 October 1931 Captain George W Calloway RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Retd)) appointed as Master
9 February 1932 arrived at Sunderland from Plymouth
11 February 1932 sailed Sunderland for Portland and Nantes
4 March 1932 Captain George W Calloway RFA (Lieutenant Commander RNR (Retd)) appointed as Master and Mr Thomas A Reay RFA (Engineer Lieutenant Commander RNR) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer again
15 March 1932 berthed on South Shields Oil Wharf, River Tyne
11 May 1932 Mr E B Morten RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
15 September 1932 Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA appointed as Master
Captain Nathan Colbridge RFA
15 November 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
23 November 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
16 December 1932 arrived Roath Dock, Cardiff and then sailed the same day from Cardiff for Rouen
From around July 1933 to December 1939 was on a YC agreement at Devonport
12 May 1935 berthed at Devonport
3 July 1936 sailed Falmouth
3 May 1937 at Torpoint the ship keeper Maurice Long found dead on the foreshore at Gravesend, Torpoint – he had drowned. An inquest decided an open verdict
27 July 1937 at Devonport together with RFA LIMOL both alongside HMS ROYAL OAK refuelling her with 2,360 tons of FFO
8 December 1937 at Devonport together with RFA LIMOL both alongside HMS ROYAL OAK refuelling her with 1,500 tons of FFO
HMS ROYAL OAK
8 July 1939 at Devonport alongside HMS EDINBURGH refuelling her with 1,148 tons of FFO
1 August 1939 at Devonport alongside HMS ADVENTURE refuelling her with 136 tons of FFO
13 January 1940 at Devonport alongside HMS REVENGE receiving FFO prior to the battleship entering dry dock
4 July 1940 Mr Allan A Woolley RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
8 August 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 246 for Methil arriving on 10 August 1940
15 August 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 253 for Methil arriving on 17 August 1940
1 September 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 269 for Methil arriving on 3 September 1940
5 October 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 300 for Methil arriving on 10 October 1940
13 October 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 307 for Methil arriving on 16 October 1940
23 October 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 316 for Methil arriving on 25 October 1940
29 October 1940 Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant RNR) appointed as Master also sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 322 for Methil arriving on 31 October 1940
4 November 1940 sailed from Southend in unescorted convoy FN 327 for Methil arriving on 6 November 1940
7 December 1940 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
7 January 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour returning to her berth the next day
11 January 1941 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 February 1941 when entering Salisbury Dock, Liverpool the ship was in collision stern on with the Dock’s entrance causing damage to the ships stern. Collision cosidered to have been caused through an error by the Master – Captain Frank A Shaw RFA (Lieutenant RNR) – who failed to make sufficient allowance for the effect of the tidal steam
19 February 1941 Captain Horace W Taylor RFA appointed as Master
14 June 1941 Captain J H Phillips RFA appointed as Master
12 September 1941 Mr A Sharp RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 January 1942 at Liverpool
20 April 1942 Captain Douglas B Snowdon RFA appointed as Master
28 May 1942 at Barrow in Furness alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her
12 June 1942 at Liverpool alongside HMS JAMAICA refuelling her
30 June 1942 at Liverpool alongside HMS KING GEORGE V refuelling her
31 July 1942 Captain Charles F Smith RFA appointed as Master
Captain Charles F Smith RFA
18 December 1942 at Liverpool
25 January 1943 Captain James Jolly RFA appointed as Master
11 March 1943 at Liverpool
28 June 1943 Mr John Cook RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
1 September 1943 Captain Alfred W Camamile DSC RFA appointed as Master
4 January 1944 Mr Walter McKee RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 May 1944 at Liverpool with USS Aucilla (AO56) alongside – the US Navy tanker transfered 1,129 long tons of US Navy Special Fuel oil to PHILOL
USS Aucilla (AO56)
8 September 1944 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master
Captain Iden W J Hall RFA
23 February 1945 at Liverpool alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her – 1,009 tons of FFO transferred
HMS DUKE OF YORK
28 February 1945 at Liverpool alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her
12 March 1945 at Liverpool alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her – 1,031 tons of FFO transferred
19 March 1945 at Liverpool while coming alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK caused damage to the warship’s hull and the clamps of her starboard boom
29 March 1945 at Liverpool alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her
23 July 1945 Mr F Johnstone RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
9 August 1945 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east
8 October 1945 sailed Dover for Devonport
22 December 1945 at Devonport when coming alongside the hulk War Bahadur was in collision with the hulk causing considerable damge there to. Reported that Captain Hall had committed a serious error of judgement in his movement of the ship before coming along side the hulk. Captain Hall was warned to be more careful in future by the Admiral Superintent at Devonport
27 July 1946 Captain James H Chant RFA appointed as Master
29 September 1947 Captain B Smith RFA appointed as Master
19 October 1947 Mr W McKay RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 July 1948 entered Devonport passing HMS VANGUARD
26 November 1948 Captain E Payne RFA appointed as Master
1 January 1949 Mr Walter McKee RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
26 September 1949 at Devonport alongside HMS GRAVELINES on No.1 wharf to refuel her
HMS GRAVELINES
21 November 1949 Captain Arthur J D Gosney RFA appointed as Master
21 January 1953 placed in reserve at Pembroke Dock where she was later joined by RFA‘s BOXOL and LIMOL
1956 at Henry Robb, Leith for fitting of a diesel pump and then became a tank and sullage hulk at Chatham Dockyard
17 August 1962 moved as a hulk and under tow, from River Medway into Chatham Dockyard into No: 2 dry dock
25 September 1963 laid up on the River Medway
1 December 1964 moved as a hulk and under tow, from Chatham Dockyard into the River Medway to berths 39 & 40
14 and 21 March 1967 offered for sale ‘as lying’ in the Times of these days by the Department of Transport
June 1967 arrived at Burcht, Belgium for breaking up