Subsequent name:
Official Number: 139085
Class: FIRST 2000t CLASS Harbour Tanker
Pennant No: N 93 / X 11 / X 73
Signal Letters JLTH ( 1916) GVHC (1919)
Laid down: 15 January 1913
Builder: H.M. Dockyard, Pembroke
Launched: 27 October 1913
Into Service:
Out of service: 1935
Fate: Broken up
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: The five ships in this Class, although not sister ships, 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 was never pumped out. RFA TREFOIL and RFA TURMOIL (1) were experimental ships which were mechanically unsatisfactory and they were little used
15 January 1913 laid down on No: 5 slip at Pembroke Dock
27 October 1913 launched by HM Dockyard, Pembroke Dock as Yard Nr: 250 by Mrs E J Maginness, wife of the Chief Constructor at the Dockyard named TREFOIL but was considerably delayed during construction as warships had priority
Press Report from The Times of 28 October 1913
8 January 1914 the Western Morning News reported –
2 May 1914 the Cambria Leader newspaper reported …
8 September 1916 Engineer Lieutenant Charles McTaminey RNR appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
7 March 1917 her engine had been built by Vickers at Barrow and had already been installed in her. This engine had to be removed just before her builders trials. RFA THERMOL engine’s, had been manufactured by J. Samuel White at Cowes to a MAN of Ausburg, Germany design. Both of these sets of engines were requisitioned for use in the monitors HMS MARSHAL SOULT and HMS MARSHAL NEY
22 March 1917 arrived at Barrow-in-Furness from Pembroke Dock
13 June 1917 Lieutenant Hermann R Elsby RNR appointed in command
24 July 1917 conducted basin trials
31 July 1917 sailed Barrow-in-Furness for Liverpool running at full power
9 January 1918 Lieutenant John Gow RNR appointed in command
5 June 1918 Able Seaman Cyril Chapman MMR 816636 discharged dead. He died in the Royal Infirmatory, Liverpool. He had signed on on 3 August 1917
6 August 1918 Fireman Chas H Gibbs MMR 897013 logged for deserting. He had signed on on 21 November 1917
9 August 1918 Able Seaman Samuel Clayton MMR 961046 logged for deserting. He had signed on on 8 June 1918
16 August 1918 Second Officer George E Wilson RFA appeared before a court martial charged with being absent without leave The accused pleaded guilty and was adjudged to be dismissed his ship and forfeit 6 months seniority. Junior Engineer Officer Charles H Mitchell RFA appeared before a court martial charged with being absent without leave The accused pleaded guilty and was adjudged to be dismissed his ship and forfeit 3 months seniority
24 September 1918 Fireman Francis McGuinness MMR 896106 logged for deserted. He had signed on on 12 August 1918
28 November 1918 sailed the River Clyde in ballast to sea
7 December 1918 arrived Glasgow from Liverpool in ballast
9 December 1918 Engineer Sub Lieutenant Cyril Kay RNR appointed as Engineer
Engineer Sub Lieutenant Cyril Kay RNR
10 January 1919 arrived at Glasgow from Greenock in ballast
24 May 1919 Engineer Sub Lieutenant Cyril Kay RNR paid off at the end of his RNR wartime service
9 October 1919 off Rosyth Dockyard berthed alongside HMS GALATEA to refuel her
HMS GALATEA
13 November 1919 Able Seaman Chas Millar MMR 993429 logged for deserting. He had signed on on 28 October 1919
14 January 1920 Captain John Gow RFA appointed as Master
Captain John Gow RFA
29 January 1920 at Rosyth alongside HMS CASTOR refuelling her with 185 tons of FFO
HMS CASTOR
9 February 1920 Mr Henry Baker DSO RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
Chief Engineer Officer Henry Baker DSO RFA
9 April 1920 the Birmingham Daily Gazette newspaper reported –
9 July 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
19 October 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
19 October 1920 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
12 November 1920 Captain Richard D Williams RFA appointed as Master
Captain Richard D Williams RD RFA
7 February 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
18 February 1921 arrived at Arosa Bay, Villagarcia, Spain to refuel units of the Royal Navy anchored there
19 February 1921 at Arosa Bay, Villagarcia, Spain berthed on HMS COVENTRY to refuel her
HMS COVENTRY
23 February 1921 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
29 March 1921 sailed Portsmouth Harbour
4 July 1921 at Sheerness alongside HMS DUNEDIN which was at anchor to refuel her
HMS DUNEDIN
25 July 1921 Mr John Atchison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
25 September 1921 berthed at Devonport from Portsmouth
8 October 1921 deployed from Devonport to attend on RFA BRITISH LANTERN which had been damaged in a collision in thick fog 150 miles west of Plymouth. The BRITISH LANTERN made passage to Whitesands Bay where RFA TREFOIL berthed alongside intending to take 1,600 tons of FFO from her. After 1,000 tons had been removed the BRITISH LANTERN was able to make her way to Jennycliff Bay with her damaged plates being above water
14 November 1921 at Devonport alongside HMS DURBAN on No: 5 buoy to refuel her
13 January 1922 sailed Plymouth for Portsmouth Harbour
13 February 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
3 April 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to adjust compasses in Stokes Bay
27 April 1922 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard when on passage to Barry Roads
24 August 1922 arrived at Grangemouth in ballast
6 September 1922 arrived at Grangemouth from Sheerness
8 September 1922 sailed Grangemouth for Devonport
9 September 1922 arrived at Plymouth from Grangemouth
13 September 1922 sailed Plymouth
18 September 1922 arrived at Grangemouth from Devonport
23 September 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 September 1922 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour
14 February 1923 arrived at Devonport from Gibraltar
20 February 1923 sailed Plymouth for Grangemouth
25 February 1923 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour
27 February 1923 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for Plymouth arriving 1 March 1923
3 April 1923 Chief Officer J Martin Smith DSC RFA (Acting Lieutenant Commander RNR (Rtd) appointed as Acting Master
7 August 1928 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth in ballast
January 1929 to May 1935 in reserve at Rosyth as she was mechanically unsatisfactory
11 February 1935 in reserve at Rosyth together with RFA’s Attendant, Burma, Carol, Dredgol, and Turmoil with their disposal being considered
21 May 1935 RFA Trefoil offered for sale by tender by the Admiralty in the Times of this day. Vessel lying at Rosyth
28 June 1935 arrived Bo’ness for demolition by P & W McClellan after sale for £5,854
Press Cutting from the Dundee Courier of 6 August 1935
August 1935 demolition begun