RFA Vanellus

 

RFA Vanelius

 

Official Number:                          128309

Class:                                           Stores Carrier

Pennant Number:                       Y9.19

Laid down:

Builder:                                         Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker Yard

Launched:                                   7 November 1912

Into Service:                                 7 November 1914

Out of service:                             8 October 1915

Fate:                                              Sunk by a mine

 

RFA Vanelius

 

Official Number:                          128309

Class:                                           Stores Carrier

Pennant Number:                       Y9.19

Laid down:

Builder:                                         Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker Yard

Launched:                                   7 November 1912

Into Service:                                 7 November 1914

Out of service:                             8 October 1915

Fate:                                              Sunk by a mine

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data:  One of an additional group of ships requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW1 to augment the ships of the RFA

 

7 November 1912 Launched by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Low Walker Yard, Newcastle as Yard Nr 894 named VANELLUS for Cork Steamship Co Ltd, Cork

1912 Captain J. Walsh was Master

December 1912 completed

7 November 1914 requisitioned by the Admiralty for service as a Stores Carrier

22 February 1915 Petty Officer William L. Card discharged dead

8 October 1915 returned to her owners

1 October 1916 while on passage from Portishead to Rouen with a cargo of petrol struck a mine which had been laid by UC-26 (Kapitanleutnant Matthias Graf Von Schmettow) in Le Havre Roads, caught fire and sank with loss of 3 lives. 3rd Engineer Joseph Conolly was awarded the Albert Medal, Second Class, for his actions in savings lifes as a result of the fire. In consequence of his actions he was badly burned. The medal was presented to Mr Conolly by H.M. King George V at Buckingham Palace on 24 February 1917.