lower image HMS Racer in 1884
Previous name: HMS Racer
Class: Salvage vessel – MARINER CLASS Sloop (originally)
Pennant No: X 76 / X 57
Signal Letters GTJC (1919)
Laid down: 9 April 1883
Builder: Devonport Dockyard
Launched: 6 August 1884
Into Service:
Out of service: 6 November 1928
Fate: Broken up by Hughes Bolckow of Blyth.
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: She was one of a Class of six gun vessels designed by Nathaniel Barnaby, the Royal Navy Director of Naval Construction, which were all re-rated as sloops before they entered service. The Class consisted of: HM ships ACORN, ICARUS, MARINER, MELITA, RACER and REINDEER, three of which were converted into Salvage Vessels. They were originally powered by a 2 cylinder horizontal compound expansion steam engine produced by Hawthorn Leslie
9 April 1883 laid down
6 August 1884 launched by HM Dockyard, Devonport as the screw gun vessel HMS RACER by Miss Maud Wright niece of Rear Admiral Charles T Curme, Superintendent of the Dockyard
26 November 1884 was re-rated as a sloop
9 April 1885 commissioned for the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station. Hull cost £37,000 and her machinery cost £12,000. Commander Edmund H Oldham, Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer
28 April 1885 at sea off Plymouth testing her equipment
29 April 1885 undertook full power trials off Plymouth
11 May 1885 Commander Edmund H Oldham Royal Navy in command
10 June 1885 joined the British Evolutionary Squadron, formed to test the practical efficiency of the material of the Fleet
28 June 1885 the Portsmouth Evening News reported –
29 August 1885 sailed Plymouth for the Cape of Good Hope
12 September 1885 berthed at Maderia and then sailed for Cape Coast Castle and the West Coast of Africa
20 November 1885 was at Cape Coast Castle
23 February 1886 was at Sierra Leone
31 March 1886 suffered defects in her engines – the Admiralty were advised that she would have to return to the UK for repairs or sail to the Dockyard at Simonstown
4 August 1886 refit of her engines completed at Simonstown for Sierra Leone
3 October 1886 arrived at Bathurst
October 1886 employed on duties for the Niger River Expedition
27 January 1887 proceeded 200 miles up the River Gambia
17 June 1887 arrived at Las Palmas
26 June 1887 berthed at Gibraltar from St Helena – sailing on the 2 July 1887 for Malta to relieve HMS CONDOR
June 1887 joined the Mediterranean Squadron
4 August 1887 sailed from Malta
13 August 1887 sailed from Malta for Alexandria
6 September 1887 arrived at Port Said
1 October 1887 at Port Said as the senior officer’s ship
10 October 1887 Commander Henry J May Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer
1 November 1887 arrived at Suez
December 1887 ordered east to Sakim in the Soudan
14 December 1887 arrived at Malta – at the same time it was reported in the UK press of this date that an enquiry was to be held into the cause of the breakdown of the machinery in HMS RACER – she was designed to steam at 11kts but it was found unsafe to steam her at more than 8kts as her ‘machinery was little more than worthless’
17 December 1887 sailed from Malta for Sakim
22 December 1887 at Port Said on passage to Sakim
31 December 1887 at Sakim firing heavily at rebels
3 March 1888 sailed Sakim for Suez
30 April 1888 arrived at Port Said
4 May 1888 sailed Alexandria for Malta
10 May 1888 arrived at Malta
9 June 1888 sailed Genoa
26 July 1888 sailed from Malta
28 September 1888 arrived at Port Said
3 October 1888 arrived at Sakim bringing stores and sailors for HMS GANNET
21 November 1888 Ordinary Seaman B Strong discharged dead. He is buried in Khartoum War Cemetery in Plot 5 Row C Grave 13
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
3 December 1888 Shipwright C Revell discharged dead. He is buried in Khartoum War Cemetery in Plot 5 Row C Grave 12
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
20 December 1888 together with HMS STARLING the ship was engaged in the battle of Gemaizah – a port in Eastern Sudan – British forces lost 12 killed the Mahdi forces lost about 1,000 killed. Soudhan Medals for the crews of both ships with a Gemaizah bar were presented on 29 March 1890
7 January 1889 arrived at Suakim – due to sail for Suez on 10 January 1889
28 January 1889 sailed from Alexandria for Malta
7 February 1889 arrived at Malta
11 March 1889 sailed Malta for the UK
6 April 1889 arrived at Gibraltar to load bunkers
16 April 1889 returned to Devonport with Commander Henry John May Royal Navy in command
10 June 1889 paid off into Reserve at Devonport
2 July 1889 the Sunderland Daily Echo newspaper reported –
21 April 1891 commissioned at Plymouth – Commander Henry L F Royle Royal Navy as Commanding Officer
4 May 1891 before Stonehouse Police Court, Plymouth A member of the crew – Alfred Ashcroft – was convicted of being drunk and riotous in the street and assaulting the Police. On being arrested Ashcroft bit a Constable in the hand and tore the great coat and trousers of an Artilleryman who was assisting to remove him. A warrant officer from the ship paid the fine and costs amounting to £2 14sh 3d including 15sh 9d damage to the Arilleryman’s clothing
10 May 1891 sailed Plymouth for West Africa
26 May 1891 sailed Las Palmas
1 January 1892 arrived at Bathurst
8 January 1892 landed the Naval Brigade at Bathurst
24 February 1892 sailed Bathurst for Sierra Leone
9 March 1892 sailed Sierra Leone for Fernando Po and Loanda
27 April 1892 at Bathhurst with HMS ALECTO
7 May 1892 arrived at Sierra Leone
25 May 1892 sailed Sierra Leonne for St. Helena
28 July 1892 Commander Robert S Rolleston, Royal Navy as Commanding Officer
8 September 1892 sailed Loanda for Fernando Po
30 September 1892 arrived at San Thome
2 October 1892 sailed from San Thome for Loanda
20 January 1893 arrived at Sierra Leone
10 March 1893 at Tristan da Cunha
12 June 1893 at Simonstown, South Africa
3 November 1893 at Rio de Janerio, Brazil Lieutenant Charles George de Beauvoir Tupper Royal Navy discharged dead having died from multiple injuries following an explosion in a magazine ashore. He is buried in the Cemiterio dos Ingleses Gamboa in Section 7 Grave 178
1893 to 1894 served on the South East Coast of America
24 January 1894 at Rio De Janeiro during Revolution in Brazil
8 June 1894 arrived at Buenos Ayres from Montevideo
9 June 1894 sailed from Buenos Ayres
31 July 1894 Able Seaman J Fisher discharged dead having drowned at sea – fell overboard
5 September 1894 arrived at Devonport
1894 in reserve at Devonport
28 May 1896 Commander Henry W Steele, Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer
2 September 1896 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound
6 November 1896 passed Prawle Point sailing west bound
12 May 1897 at Plymouth ERA J H Kerswill discharged dead from multiple injuries
4 June 1897 arrived at Devonport with a party of Naval Cadets to visit naval establishments
5 June 1897 sailed Devonport for Dartmouth
24 June 1897 arrived at Portsmouth with a party of Naval Cadets to visit the Dockyard
26 June 1897 took part in the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead
1898 after a refit, she commissioned as a tender to Britannia Naval College at Dartmouth
1 June 1898 arrived at Portsmouth with a party of Naval Cadets to visit the Dockyard
12 July 1898 passed Portland Bill sailing west bound
19 July 1898 arrived at Devonport with a party of Naval Cadets to visit naval establishments. She sailed the same day for Dartmouth
28 July 1898 arrived at Portsmouth from Dartmouth with a party of Naval Cadets to visit the Dockyard
7 October 1898 sailed Dartmouth for a Channel cruise with Naval Cadets
12 November 1899 Commander Michael S Beatty Royal Navy appointed in Command
17 April 1899 Seaman John Broughton Hauger discharged dead having drowned in Dartmouth Harbour – buried in a common grave in consegrated ground
2 October 1899 passed Portland Bill
12 October 1899 passed Prawle Point sailing west bound
12 February 1900 arrived at Devonport from Dartmouth for a refit
19 June 1900 arrived at Devonport. Captain M F O’Callaghan CB Royal Navy in command
20 June 1900 sailed Devonport to Dartmouth
11 July 1900 passed the Lloyd’s signal station on the Lizard sailing west bound
19 October 1900 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound
12 February 1901 passed the Lloyd’s signal station on Prawle Point sailing west bound
3 April 1901 arrived at Plymouth from Dartmouth. Commander M S Beatty Royal Navy in command
4 April 1901 sailed Devonport to Dartmouth
4 June 1901 passed the Lloyd’s signal station on Prawle Point sailing east bound
24 June 1901 passed Portland Bill sailing east bound
1 July 1901 at Teignmouth
2 July 1901 passed the Lloyd’s signal station on Prawle Point sailing west bound
22 July 1901 Stoker William James Bruce discharged dead. He had died while the ship was berthing having been scalled to death when a steam pipe burst
23 July 1901 an inquest was held at Dartmouth touching on the death of Stoker William James Bruce which was reported in the Western Times the next day ….
20 August 1901 passed Prawle Point sailing east bound
27 October 1901 passed Portland Bill sailing west bound
19 May 1902 her deployment as a tender to Dartmouth Naval College ended and her position as tender was taken over by HMS ISIS
HMS ISIS
2 July 1902 the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported ……
7 July 1902 sailed from Dartmouth to Torbay
25 November 1902 Captain Rosslyn E Wemyss Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer
Captain Rosslyn E Wemyss Royal Navy
February 1903 sailed Dartmouth for Portsmouth, where she was used as a tender to Osborne College on the Isle of Wight
6 June 1903 before Newport Police Court, Isle of Wight Sailor William Millard appeared having been charged with assaulting Constable Stevens on 4 Jun 1903. Millard pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that a group of sailors including the defendant were causing a distubance in the street. The Officer attempted to stop a fight and was struck by Millard in the mouth. Millard was found guilty and due to a good character reference he was not sent to prison but fined 10sh with 6sh costs – in default, as an alternative, he was sentenced to seven days imprisonment. Time was allowed for payment
31 August 1903 before Portsmouth No 2 Police Court Petty Officer John Roberts of HMS RACER appeared summoned for assaulting Rose Galbraith, a domestic servant, at the Hero Beer House, Meadow Street, Landport with a glass causing her an injury which he admitted. He was sentenced to one months imprisonment with hard labour
9 March 1904 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on St Catherines Point sailing east bound
23 March 1905 berthed on North Railway Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour
13 April 1905 moored in the Medina River, Cowes with HM Torpedo Boat No: 33 berthed alongside
1 May 1905 Captain Edwyn S Alexander-Sinclair Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer (and in command of the Royal Naval College, Osborne)
28 July 1905 arrived at Portsmouth Harbour
1 August 1907 the Isle of Wight Times reported –
24 June 1908 Captain Arthur H Christian Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer (and in command of the Royal Naval College, Osborne)
5 October 1910 Captain Horace L A Hood Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer (and in command of the Royal Naval College, Osborne)
10 November 1913 before the Isle of Wight Petty Sessions two cases involving crew members of HMS RACER were heard –
- Stoker Frederick Dobson appeared charged with stealing three tins of paint,valued at 32sh from the Naval Stores at Osborne Naval College. PC Sibbick gave evidence he had seen Dobson pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with the three tins of paint. The paint was found to be missing from the stores. Dobson was convicted and bound over under the First Offenders Act
- Sailor John F Brown appeared charged with assaulting Linda Holland, bar maid at the Alexandria, Mediana Road, Cowes. He pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that he had poured a glass of beer over Miss Holland when she turned down his advances. He was convicted and ordered only to pay the costs of the proceedings
1 August 1914 Captain (Retired) Herbert E Holmes-à-Court Royal Navy appointed as Commanding Officer (and in command of the Royal Naval College, Osborne)
12 May 1915 Chief Petty Officer Griffith Williams G 98523 discharged dead – illness – be is buried in Baglan (St. Catherine) Churchyard, Glamorganshire
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
21 August 1915 before the Isle of Wight Petty Sessional Court charges were brought against Stoker William James Wheeler of HMS RACER for assaulting his wife Isabella Wheeler on 13 August. Mrs Wheeler gave evidence that she had collected her husband from a public house. He ill treated their dog and then when they had returned home had assaulted her. Their son gave supporting evidence. Wheeler did not appear in Court but was found guilty and fined 10sh with seven days imprisonment in default
23 December 1915 Chief Petty Officer Ernest Edward Grant discharged dead – he is buried in Portsmouth (Kingston) Cemetery having died at home while on leave from pleurisy
Rebuilt 1916 – 1917 as a RFA Salvage Ship
2 May 1916 Stoker 1st Class George Poole discharged dead. Drowned – suicide – He is buried in Cowes (Kingston) Cemetery, Isle of Wight in Section C grave 271
2 December 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Henry C Hancock RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 March 1917 Engineer Lieutenant John B Russell RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
18 April 1917 Lieutenant Horace H Gauld RNR appointed in command. He had previously been in command of RFA Melita from 29 January 1916 until 17 April 1917.
RFA Racer’s Radio Room
21 April 1917 Able Seaman H Skinner committed suicide at his home address – by hanging
7 August 1917 arrives in the Waterford and Suir estuary docking in Dunmore East harbour
22 August 1917 Rigger John Tremble charged with assault at Queenstown and detained. Discharged to HMS Eagle. He had signed on on 7 May 1917
5 September 1917 Engineer Sub Lieutenant J Russell RNR was married. The Captain and Officers of RFA RACER gave a silver wedding present –
8 January 1918 Lieutenant F B Nicholson RNR appointed in command.
3 April 1918 Lieutenant Harold Jones RNR appointed in command. He remained in command until 9 March 1920 when he was demobilised
RFA Racer dressed overall for the Armistice 1918
RFA Racer’s Riggers in 1918
Back left to right – Salvage Rigger Henry McDonald, Salvage Rigger Henry Furley, Salvage Rigger W (Lofty) Harris, Salvage Rigger Thomas E Robinson, Salvage Rigger James W Jones, Salvage Rigger B McAteer
Middle Row left to right – Salvage Rigger Herbert Redgrave, Salvage Rigger Thomas Moore, Salvage Foreman William Dole, Salvage Bosun Fred Collins, Salvage Rigger John (Jack) Foulkes
Front Row left to right – Salvage Rigger E Coone, Salvage Rigger Chas G Abrams, Biddy (Ships Mascot)
(Research by Tony Babb)
Image and crew lists kindly donated by the Totnes Image Bank
22 January 1918 ss Admiral Cochrane torpedoed off Berry Head by UB31 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Thomas Bieber and sank at the entrance into Dartmouth Harbour at 18.30hrs the same day. Was refloated and regrounded in Dartmouth Harbour on 29 January 1918 by RFA RACER
SS Admiral Cochrane salvaged by the crew of RFA Racer
14 March 1918 ss Comrie Castle, a troop ship, torpedoed by UC71 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Walter Warzecha, 5 miles south of St Catherine Point, Isle of Wight, 9 died in the attack. She was beached and then salvaged by RFA RACER
RFA Racer’s pumps working in ss Comrie Castle
24 March 1918 SS Anchoria was torpedoed by U98 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Andler in Loch Swilly, Northern Ireland. She was salvaged by RFA RACER
SS Anchoria in happier times
SS Anchoria as approached by RFA Racer sent to salvage her
3 April 1918 Lieutenant Harold Jones RNR appointed as Commanding Officer
10 April 1918 HMS MAGIC was mined of Lough Foyle, Ireland and had her bows completely blown off with about 15 lives lost
HMS Magic with no bow, RFA Racer on her port side and a tug forward
20 August 1918 HMS SHIRLEY, an improved Racecourse minesweeper was mined 25 miles SE of Aberdeen. The mine had been laid on 17 April 1918 by the German submarine U71. The damage to the minesweeper was to the port side. She was towed ashore and beached. RFA Racer’s crew assisted in the salavage
To receive a bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Acting Commander Gervase W Heaton, RN
To be awarded the Distinguised Service Cross
Lieutenant George Davis, RNR
To be awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Petty Officer Frank Pegrome Eaglestone, ON 220100 (Chatham)
Mentioned in Despatches
Rigger William McDonald, RFA
These awards were Gazetted on 7 June 1918
USS Narragansett
USS Narragansett with RFA Racer alongside
1 February 1919 USS Narragansett carrying 2,000 troops from France ran aground on Bembridge Ledge, Isle of Wight during a SE gale and snowstorm. Towed off by RFA RACER on 17 February 1919
1918 to 1922 involved in the salvage of gold from HMS LAURENTIC off County Galway, Eire. (See RFA Awards for details of RFA crew recognised for the work (one BEM). Non RFA Awards for details of RN divers who were recognised for their work on this task)
HMS LAURENTIC
During the salvage of the gold from HMS LAURENTIC, out of the salvage season, the ship was laid up at Portsmouth
Salvage Rigger John R Foulkes’ Discharge Certificate
25 June 1919 arrived at Lough Swilly
3 July 1919 the ships divers landed on the deck of HMS Laurentic
20 July 1919 five bars of gold bullion were recovered from HMS Lautentic
By 31 July 1919 a further two hundred and one bars of gold bullion were recovered from HMS Lautentic
12 August 1919 the Scotsman newspaper reported this day –
18 August 1919 the Westminster Gazette newspaper reported …
17 January 1920 sailed from Portsmouth
29 March 1920 Lieutenant in command James C N Macmillan OBE appointed as Master
23 April 1920 Commissioned Gunner Albert B Baldock appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
10 May 1920 at Belfast rebunkering with 50 tons of coal
11 May 1920 sailed from Belfast for Buncrana
21 May 1920 The Times newspaper reported this day
7 July 1920 two ingots of gold recovered
11 July 1920 two ingots of gold recovered
18 July 1920 one ingot of gold recovered
28 July 1920 sailed to Londonderry
29 July 1920 at Londonderry
1 August 1920 having bunkered at Londonderry sailed for Lough Swilly
25 August 1920 sailed to Londonderry to bunker
26 August 1920 at Londonderry
27 August 1920 having bunkered sailed for Lough Swilly
31 August 1920 two ingots of gold recovered
17 September 1920 due to very rough weather only seven bars of gold had been recovered so far from the wreck of HMS Laurentic
1921 the crew were awarded a total of £58.17sh.0d for salvaging gold from HMS Laurentic during 1920
19 March 1921 brought forward from care and maintenance and Captain Francis A Trepess RFA (Lt. Commander RNR) appointed in command
Captain Francis A Trepess RFA
as a Commander RN during World War 2
5 April 1921 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Devonport and Londonderry attended by Drifter No: CD 1
RFA RACER – the Laurentic salvage team (David Masters)
11 April 1921 at Belfast rebunkering
12 April 1921 sailed from Belfast to Buncrana
15 April 1921 at Rathmullan received 24 tons of bunker coal from a collier
24 April 1921 at Rathmullan received further bunker coal from a collier
5 May 1921 three ingots of gold recovered
6 May 1921 three ingots of gold recovered
10 May 1921 sailed from Rathmullan for Belfast
11 May 1921 and 12 May 1921 at Belfast bunkering and undergoing repairs
21 May 1921 sailed Belfast for Lough Swilly
2 June 1921 one ingot of gold recovered
4 June 1921 one ingot of gold recovered
8 June 1921 one ingot of gold recovered
17 June 1921 one ingot of gold recovered
18 June 1921 three ingots of gold recovered
22 June 1921 sailed to Belfast for a boiler clean
June 1921 Captain Donald R McCutchan RFA appointed as Master
Captain Donald R McCutchan RFA
23 June 1921 to 29 June 1921 at Belfast boiler cleaning
30 June 1921 sailed from Belfast to Lough Swilly
31 July 1921 due to salvaging difficulties the divers had only recovered about 20 bars of gold despite enjoying fine weather at Lough Swilly
12 October 1921 paid off at Portsmouth with the ship in charge of a care and maintenance party for refit
1922 the crew were awarded a total of £330.1sh.10d for salvaging gold from HMS LAURENTIC during 1921
1 March 1922 Captain George C Brock RFA appointed as Master and Mr R McWhannell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
RFA Racer’s Football Team 1922
14 March 1922 an RFA crew were signed on
27 March 1922 sailed Portsmouth for Londonderry
30 March 1922 arrived at Londonderry and loaded bunker coal
31 March 1922 sailed Londonderry for Buncrana arriving the same day
1 April 1922 commenced weighing all four sets of moorings which had been oaid in a sheltered position for the winter months
2 April 1922 fine weather continuing. All hands employed refitting the moorings and slinging them ready for laying in position at the wreck of HMS LAURENTIC
27 April 1922 grounded off Moville Pile Light, Lough Foyle, Northern Ireland. Captain George C Brock RFA cautioned to be more careful in future. Their Lordships considered the ship was anchored much too close to the shoal off Moville
22 May 1922 berthed at Londonderry to resume salvage operations on HMS LAURENTIC
Image described as HMSS RACER (H.M. Salvage Ship Racer)
27 May 1922 Stoker J Simpson logged as deserting
16 June 1922 sailed to Londonderry to transfer salvaged gold to a bank. The ship then sailed to Ardrossan for boiler cleaning
18 June 1922 Lt. Commander DAMANT Royal Navy reported to the Admiralty that recovery work has resulted in –
29 May 1922 – 6 bars of gold recovered
30 May 1922 – 13 bars of gold recovered
31 May 1922 – 1 bar of gold recovered
1 June 1922 – 4 bars of gold recovered
7 June 1922 – 7 bars of gold recovered
8 June 1922 – 6 bars of gold recovered
9 June 1922 – 6 bars of gold recovered
10 June 1922 – 7 bars of gold recovered
12 June 1922 – 2 bars of gold recovered
15 June 1922 – 1 bar of gold recovered
TOTAL – 53 bars of gold
20 July 1922 by this day this season, the crew of Racer had recovered about one million pounds of gold from the wreck of HMS LAURENTIC. The gold was brought to Lough Foyle and transfered to HMS VANCOUVER for conveyance to Portsmouth
HMS VANCOUVER
9 October 1922 sailed from Lough Swilly to Londonderry
10 October 1922 loaded bunker coal and sailed Londonderry to Portsalon
11 October 1922 sailed to the wreck site but diving conditions were unfit
12 October 1922 sailed to the wreck site and commenced diving – 5 bars of gold recovered. The air compressor broke down
A diver returning to RFA RACER after working on HMS LAURENTIC
13 October 1922 directions were given by the Admiralty for the ship to return to Portsmouth due to the breakdown on the large air compressor onboard
14 October 1922 at wreck site raising moorings
15 October 1922 sailed for Portsmouth
16 October 1922 Commander Dammant Royal Navy reported to the Admiralty that during the 1922 ‘season’ diving on the wreck could only be done on 77 days out of 198 days. Bad weather had prevented diving on many of the other days with some periods lasting 15 days. During the ‘season’ a total of 895 bars of gold had been recovered. During the four previous ‘seasons’ a total of 904 bars of gold had been raised – thus a total of 1,799 bars of gold had been raised. He believed that between 600 to 700 bars were still buried in the wreckage
26 October 1922 grounded on How Bank, Isle of Wight – was refloated and proceeded to Portsmouth. There was no court of enquiry and their Lordships approved no further action was necessary
4 November 1922 directions were given by the Admiralty that the ship was to be paid off at Portsmouth with a care and maintenance party remaining onboard
7 November 1922 the ship was paid off this day at Portsmouth
27 February 1923 The Times newspaper reported this day
26 March 1923 Mr Albert E Fisher RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
3 April 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Londonderry
16 April 1923 arrived at Lough Swilly
30 August 1923 Portsmouth Evening News reported –
19 October 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 October 1923 the Western Daily Press reported –
29 October 1923 paid off at Portsmouth Harbour with a Care and Maintenance party remaining onboard
22 February 1924 at Lower TBD Trot, Portsmouth Harbour
21 March 1924 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
1 April 1924 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to resume salvage operations on HMS LAURENTIC. On this date there were still 154 bars of gold valued at £240,000 in the wreck
4 April 1924 arrived off Lough Swilly and laid one set of moorings which the ship had brought from Portsmouth
5 April 1924 raised three sets of mooring from their winter position in Ballymacstocker Bay, refitted them and laid the in position around the wreck. Anchored at Portsalon
25 June 1924 since the ships arrival for the 1924 ‘season’ a total of 115 bars of gold had been recovered
20 September 1924 anchored at Rathmullan
26 September 1924 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour. The total amount of gold bars recovered during the 1924 ‘season’ amounted to 129. Thus the salvage operations since HMS LAURENTIC sank amounted to 3,186 bars of gold recovered from the 3,211 which went down with the vessel
3 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
13 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
16 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
20 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
29 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
30 October 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
5 November 1924 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
11 November 1924 Sailor Harold John Tee from RFA RACER discharged dead
1 December 1924 at Portsmouth Harbour
3 December 1924 berthed at the Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
10 December 1924 berthed at the Promontary, Portsmouth Harbour
11 December 1924 the Times Newspaper reported that –
1 January 1925 berthed on the Lower TBD Trot, Portsmouth
1925 as a final reward the crew were paid a total of £1,000.0sh.0d for salvaging gold from HMS LAURENTIC during 1924
11 February 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
7 March 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
25 March 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
30 March 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
4 April 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
5 May 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
12 May 1925 alongside in the Tidal Basin at Portsmouth Harbour
20 May 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
27 May 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
5 June 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
17 June 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
9 July 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
14 August 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
20 August 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
8 September 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
16 September 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
17 September 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
25 September 1925 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
26 September 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
3 October 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
14 October 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
29 October 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
14 November 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
1 December 1925 berthed on the Upper TBD Trot, Portsmouth
1925 placed on the Sales List
12 December 1925 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA’s KIMMEROL and MARINER
24 December 1925 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
30 December 1925 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
31 December 1925 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
6 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
9 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin, Portsmouth Harbour together with RFA MARINER
15 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
19 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
21 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
22 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
25 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
27 January 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
1 February 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
11 February 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
18 February 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
22 February 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
3 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
4 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
5 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
6 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
8 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
16 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
17 March 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
6 April 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
15 April 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA MARINER
22 May 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA KIMMEROL
29 May 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard together with RFA’s KIMMEROL & MARINER
4 June 1926 berthed in No: 3 Basin of Portsmouth Dockyard
18 February 1927 the Hampshire Telegraph reported –
6 November 1928 sold for breaking up by Hughes Bolckow of Blyth.
10 November 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to the ship breakers yard
7 November 1929 RFA Racer’s ships bell was advertised for sale for £10 in the Sheerness Times Guardian newspaper
23 August 1934 the Aberdeen Press & Journal reported –
Ships of the same name
Racer. A Cutter of 203 bm, 75 x 26 feet by Baker of Sandgate, launched on the 24 April 1810. Stranded off the French coast on the 24 May 1810 and captured by the French.
Racer. A schooner of 250 bm, 93.5 x 25 feet, 12 x 12 pdr carronade, 2 x 6pdr, American privateer Independence, captured on the 9 November 1812. Wrecked in the Gulf of Florida on the 10 October 1814.
Racer. A cutter of 123 bm, 63.5 x 22 feet built by Pembroke Dock and launched on the 4 April 1818, armed with 2 x 6 pdr, 4 x 6 pdr carronade. Ordered to be sold at Malta on the 4 May 1830.
Racer. A brig sloop of 413 bm launched by Portsmouth Dockyard on the 18 July 1833. 101 x 32.5 feet armed with 14 x 32 pdr carronade, 2 x 12 pdr. Sold to Wilson and Company in September 1852.
Racer. A wood screw sloop of 579 bm, 151 x 29 feet by Deptford Dockyard, launched on the 4 November 1857. Armed with 11 x 32 pdr guns. Broken up at Portsmouth in 1876.