Previous name:
Official Number: 140342
Class: SECOND 2000t BELGOL CLASS Tanker
Pennant No: X 62 / X76
Laid down:
Builder: Grangemouth & Greenock Dockyard Co, Cartsdyke, Mid.- Yard number 383
Launched: 24 May 1917
Into Service: October 1917
Out of service: 7 March 1918
Fate: Sunk
Items of historic interest involving this ship: –
Background Data: There were ten ships in this Class, all Admiralty designed of which 5 were named after Allied countries while the other five were given names indicating power or speed, all with the OL suffix. three of them, RFA’s FRANCOL, MONTENOL and SERBOL had upright funnels with a single tall mast close by, while the remainder had a raking funnel and two raking masts. During WW2 the mainmast was removed from these.
24 May 1917 launched by Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd, Cartsdyke Mid Yard, Greenock as Yard Nr: 383 named VITOL
16 June 1917 Mr Frederick C Reynolds RFA appointed as what is described in the RFA records as 1st Engineer Officer. In the Navy List 1917 he is shown as an Engineer Lieutenant RNR
Engineer Lieutenant Frederick C Reynolds RNR
18 August 1917 Lieutenant Herbert W Harvey RNR appointed in command. He remain in command until 31 March 1918 when he was appointed to RFA DREDGOL
27 August 1917 at London registered as VITOL under reference 161/17 in the Register
28 August 1917 Stoker J O’Neil logged as deserting from the ship. He had signed on the ship on 20 August 1917
18 September 1917 underwent sea trials at Skelmorlie, Firth of Clyde
25 September 1917 Stoker W Watson logged as deserting from the ship at Greenock. He had signed on the ship on the 20 August 1917
11 October 1917 Stoker S Lloyd logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. He had signed on the ship on 23 August 1917
15 October 1917 Stoker J Garner logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. He had signed on the ship on the 23 August 1917
30 November 1917 Greaser J Bogle logged as being absent without leave from the ship. He had signed on the ship on the 23 August 1917
5 December 1917 Able Seaman R V George logged as deserting from the ship at Liverpool. Was arrested and sent to Walton Jail, Liverpool. He had signed on the ship on the 20 August 1917
17 January 1918 sailed Queenstown for Liverpool escorted by USS Balch (DD50)
USS Balch (DD50)
24 January 1918 Assistant Steward William Alfred Kimmins MMR 926684 discharged dead having died in the Northern Hospital, Liverpool from meningitis. He had signed on on the 23 August 1917 and is buried in Glasgow (Craighton) Cemetery
Courtesy and © of The War Graves Photographic Project
2 February 1918 Greaser W O’Brien logged as deserting from the ship. Was arrested on 8 February 1918 and sent to HMS Eaglet. He had signed on the ship on the 24 January 1918
5 February 1918 Leading Fireman J Creswell logged as deserting the ship. He had signed on the ship on 30 December 1917
7 March 1918 struck a mine at 52°37.55N; 5°04.07W laid by the German submarine U110 while on passage from Liverpool to Queenstown, Ireland. She was beached as a constructive total loss and was subsequently broken up “as lies”. Her lost cargo was valued at £17,919. Four of the crew were killed – Greaser John Fletcher MMR 761804, Greaser Peter Graham MMR 652800, Fireman Joseph Mangion MMR 836856 are remembered with pride on the Plymouth Naval Memorial and Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Percy Edward Miners RNR is remembered with pride on the Chatham Naval Memorial – all having no known grave but the sea
19 March 1918 the Police Gazette of this day listed among those who were wanted for Deserting or being Absentees from H M Services – Leading Fireman J Creswell for desertion on 5 February 1918 from the ship (see above)
12 October 1918 the Grantham Journal reported (with some inaccuracies) ..
