RFA War Afridi

 

 
RFA War Afridi

 

 

Official Number:                    144340                                                                           

Class:                                    WAR CLASS Freighting Tanker – 7 cargo tanks

Pennant No:                          Y7.337 / X90

Signal Letters:                      GTWL  GCVR

Laid down:
Builder:                                  Robert Duncan, Port Glasgow

Launched:                             11 November 1919
Into Service:                          29 January 1920

Out of service:                       1947

Fate:                                      Broken up

 

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

 

Background Data: To combat the alarming losses of British merchant ships during WW1, the New Ministries and Secretaries Act was passed in December 1916, which provided for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with very wide powers “to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping”. On 20 December 1916, the first meeting of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee took place where it was decided that an extensive shipbuilding programme should be started, the ships to be of a simple design and as far as possible to be of a standard type as regards hulls and engines. These new vessels for the Government were given a standard nomenclature, the prefix to their names being WAR. 821 vessels were ordered from U.K. yards and abroad and 416 were completed to Government order, 279 were sold and transferred to private owners before completion and the remainder were cancelled. Of the 416 completed to Government order, 15 were transferred to Admiralty service as oilers. They were all modified versions of the A and B Class standard dry cargo ships, known as the Z Class. All had 2 large dry cargo holds, 6 of them had 5 cargo tanks and the remaining 9 had 7 cargo tanks, specially designed for the carriage of heavy fuel oil. Most of them were initially under commercial management.

 

11 November 1919 after launching she was towed to the James Watt Dock at Greenock for her engines to be fitted.

29 January 1920 ran trials and placed under initial management of C.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, Liverpool

15 February 1920 arived Port Said from the Clyde

24 May 1920 sailed Port Said

15 July 1920 arrived Suez from Abadan

16 July 1920 sailed Port Said for Constantinople

3 August 1920 sailed Port Said for Abadan

4 September 1920 arrived at Suez from Abadan

20 September 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

4 October 1920 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

5 October 1920 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

21 November 1920 berthed at Port Arthur, Texas from Rotterdam – source New York Herald of 22 November 1920. RFA BRITISH LANTERN berthed at Port Arthur on the same day

28 December 1920 sailed Port Arthur, Texas for Avonmouth

17 January 1921 berthed at Templepreedy from Port Arthur, Texas

3 February 1921 arrived at Port Said

10 February 1921 sailed Suez

14 February 1921 passed Perrim east bound when on passage to Abadan

1921 RFA manned

11 March 1921 arrived Port Sudan

17 March 1921 passed Perrim East bound

23 June 1921 arrived at Suez from Abadan

24 June 1921 sailed Port Said for Devonport

3 August 1921 arrived at Port Arthur from Rosyth

7 August 1921 sailed Port Arthur for Devonport

11 August 1921 reported to the US Navy Radio Service her position was 27°52N 79°34W and published in the New York Tribune on 12 August 1921

15 September 1921 arrived Port Said from Milford Haven

17 October 1921 arrived Suez from Abadan

2 December 1921 arrived Glasgow from Abadan

9 December 1921 while berthed on the River Clyde was hit by another vessel which had been involved in an accident with two other ships. All four ships were damaged – in the case of  WAR AFRIDI to her bow. The matter of blame was heard in the Scottish High Court in 1923. The other ships involved were the ss Bogota, the ss Alconda and a tug Samson

1 January 1922 arrived at Port Arthur from the Clyde

3 January 1922 in collision with a tug Waban – location currently unknown but reported in a US Congress report of 1926

 

tug Waban

Tug Waban with which RFA War Afridi was in collision

 

25 January 1922 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

26 January 1922 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

28 January 1922 sailed Portsmouth Harbour

11 February 1922 sailed Suez for Abadan

1 April 1922 at 36°22N 0°1E Fireman James Brown discharged dead – natural causes – buried at sea

3 April 1922 passed Malta

13 October 1922 arrived at Malta from Plymouth

9 November 1922 arrived at Abadan from Malta

30 November 1922 arrived Suez from Abadan

6 December 1922 sailed Malta for Devonport

18 December 1922 berthed at Devonport from Abadan with 2 passengers. Captain Alfred N Beavan was the Master

26 January 1923 sailed Devonport for Texas

22 March 1923 underwent repairs at Barclay Curle & Co on the River Clyde

11 April 1923 arrived at Port Said from the Clyde

16 May 1923 alongside the Oil Wharf, Singapore

21 May 1923 at the Main Dock, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

2 July 1923 alongside the Oil Wharf, Singapore

20 September 1923 at Singapore

28 September 1923 to 2 October 1923 in dry dock, Singapore

12 November 1923 alongside the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

15 November 1923 alongside the Main Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

18 November 1923 sailed Singapore for Abadan

21 November 1923 the Admiralty Fuel & Stores Officer, Singapore advertised in the local press –

 

21 11 1923 No debts Advert Singapore

 

26 November 1923 Captain Arthur Flower RFA as Master

 

Capt A Flower

Captain Arthur Flower RFA

 

24 December 1923 alongside the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

9 January 1924 at Abadan – sailed 13 January 1924

6 February 1924 arrived at Albany, Western Australia

16 February 1924 at Albany, Western Australia the ships football team played a local football team

20 February 1924 an advert from the Albany Advertiser of the date might suggest a ‘good run ashore

 

Press Report 16 Feb 1924 Albany WA

 

2 March 1924 1815hrs berthed alongside HMS HOOD at King Georges Sound, Albany, Western Australia and supplied 2,006 tons of FFO to the battle cruiser

 

HMS Hood

HMS HOOD

 

3 March 1924 cast off from HMS HOOD and moored alongside HMS REPULSE to refuel her

 

repulse hms

HMS REPULSE

 

7 March 1924 sailed Albany, Western Australia for Tarakan

16 March 1924 arrived at Singapore

27 March 1924 berthed at Singapore – sailed 1 April 1924

9 April 1924 at Miri, Sarawak

12 April 1924 berthed at Singapore

4 May 1924 at Suez – sailed 9 May 1924

14 May 1924 arrived at Aden – sailed 15 May 1924

25 May 1924 berthed at Abadan

25 June 1924 berthed at Abadan sailed 28 June 1924

30 June 1924 at sea in the Persian Gulf at 26°20N 55°27E Sailor Lee Ah Poo discharged dead. He died from beri – beri. He had signed on at Singapore on 1 April 1924. He was buried at sea.

15 July 1924 at Suez to transit Suez Canal arrived Port Said the same day

20 July 1924 berthed at Malta until 27 August 1924

15 September 1924 at Port Said to transit the Suez Canal having sailed from Malta

16 September 1924 arrived Suez

30 September 1924 berthed Abadan

16 October 1924 berthed at the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore – sailed 17 October 1924

1 November 1924 berthed at Hong Kong

7 November 1924 berthed at Singapore – sailed the same day

22 November 1924 berthed at Abadan

25 November 1924 sailed Abadan for Port Said

9 December 1924 arrived at Suez from Abadan

11 December 1924 at Port Said sailed to Malta arriving 15 December 1924

14 February 1925 berthed alongside the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore at the same time as RFA OLEANDER (2)

20 March 1925 Captain Herman R Elsby RFA appointed as Master

12 May 1925 at Singapore

1 June 1925 Mr C Ansell RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer appointed

5 June 1925 sailed from Abadan

22 June 1925 berthed at the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

15 November 1925 at Abadan

22 March 1926 Mr Charles A Smith RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

CEO_Charles_Smith

Chief Engineer Officer Charles A Smith RFA 

 

10 May 1926 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

14 May 1926 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

30 June 1926 off Sultan Shoal Quartermaster Chievi Leng discharged dead – disappeared – supposed drowned

14 September 1926 sailed Abadan for Malta

8 February 1927 at Suez

6 May 1927 berthed at Freemantle from Abadan with bunkers for HMS RENOWN

24 May 1927 sailed Freemantle for Singapore

2 June 1927 berthed at Singapore

15 June 1927 at 17°42N 67°01E 2nd Engineer Officer Daniel David Barrett discharged dead – missing presumed drowned

 

 D D Barratt

2nd Engineer Officer Daniel David Barrett

 

7 July 1927 at 5°55N 95°37E Fireman Tong Leu discharged dead – natural causes

10 July 1927 arrived at Singapore from Abadan. Sailed same day to Hong Kong

3 August 1927 at the Oil Wharf, Kepple Harbour, Singapore

4 October 1927 at the General Hospital, Colombo Fireman Wong Heng discharged dead – neuro syphilis

1 November 1927 while under tow from the oil wharf at Keppel Harbour, SIngapore by the tug Varuna was in collision with a Chinese coasting vessel Ban Teck Guan which caused minor damage to the RFA. (Reported in The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser of 2 November 1927)

17 November 1927 grounded at Abadan

25 December 1927 sailed from Gibraltar for Abadan

24 February 1928 in the Albert Dry Dock, Tanjong Pagar

2 May 1928 at Gibraltar and Mr David E Morgan MIMarE, AMIME RFA appointed Chief Engineer Officer

 

CEO David E Morgan

Chief Engineer Officer David E Morgan MIMarE, MIME RFA

 

13 May 1928 sailed from Gibraltar for Abadan

25 May 1928 passed Perim

18 October 1928 sailed from Milford Haven for Devonport

20 October 1928 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

22 November 1928 Captain Reginald J Harland RFA appointed as Master

 

 HARLAND REGINALD JOHN

Captain Reginald J Harland RFA

 

24 November 1928 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

13 December 1928 passed Perim sailing east for Abadan

25 February 1929 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Said to discharge cargo

20 April 1929 berthed at Gibraltar from Port Said to discharge cargo

24 April 1929 sailed from Gibraltar for Abadan

23 June 1929 passed Perim sailing east bound for Abadan

3 July 1929 sailed from Abadan for Trincomalee, Ceylon

31 August 1929 sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore

5 November 1929 was 400 miles south of Lands End when on passage from Abadan to Portsmouth

8 November 1929 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

23 November 1929 in Dock 15 at Portsmouth Harbour

30 November 1929 in Dock 15 at Portsmouth Harbour

4 December 1929 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour to Stokes Bay and later passed St. Catherine’s Point sailing west bound

10 December 1929 passed Gibraltar sailing east

10 January 1930 passed Perim sailing north bound

24 January 1930 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan

28 January 1930 sailed from Gibraltar for Abadan

26 June 1930 sailed Abadan for Malta

17 July 1930 sailed Suez

23 August 1930 arrived at Suez from Abadan

7 September 1930 arrived at Plymouth

17 September 1930 Mr Andrew C Fraser RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

17 October 1930 arrived at Abadan from Devonport

27 October 1930 passed Perim when on passage from Abadan to Portsmouth

2 November 1930 sailed Port Said from Abadan for Portsmouth

17 November 1930 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

12 December 1930  in Dry Dock No: 12 at Portsmouth Dockyard

2 January 1931 in Dry Dock No: 12 at Portsmouth Dockyard

5 January 1931 in Dry Dock No: 12 at Portsmouth Dockyard

29 January 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

19 February 1931 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

25 February 1931 Captain Richard D Williams RD RFA (Commander RNR (retd)) appointed as Master

 

Captain Richard D Williams

Captain Richard D Williams RD RFA

 

28 February 1931 berthed on Fountain Lake Jetty, Portsmouth Harbour

2 March 1931 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

18 March 1931 arrived at Port Said

25 March 1931 arrived at Aden

13 May 1931 sailed Port Said

14 May 1931 sailed Suez for Abadan

30 May 1931 sailed from Abadan for Malta

31 May 1931 at sea at 28°48N 49°59E 3rd Officer Thomas Holt Mogg discharged dead from heat apoplexy. 3rd Officer Mogg had previously served on RFA MAINE (3), RFA PETROLEUM, RFA BACCHUS (1) and RFA PEARLEAF (1)

18 June 1931 sailed Suez for Malta

17 July 1931 sailed Suez for Abadan

23 July 1931 arrived at Aden

20 August 1931 arrived at Suez when on passage to Gibraltar

23 August 1931 at Suez

25 August 1931 arrived at Gibraltar

27 September 1931 passed Galata when on passage to Constanza

30 September 1931 sailed Constanza for Port Said

11 October 1931 sailed Port Said for Abadan

30 October 1931 sailed Abadan for Malta

19 November 1931 sailed Port Said for Malta

5 December 1931 sailed from Malta

24 December 1931 passed Perim sailing east bound

30 December 1931 sailed Suez for Abadan

26 January 1932 arrived Suez from Abadan

27 January 1932 sailed Port Said for Portsmouth

16 February 1932 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

24 March 1932 Mr Charles J Falconer RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

CEO Charles J Falconer

Chief Engineer Officer Charles J Falconer RFA

 

12 April 1932 berthed at Portsmouth

15 April 1932 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour for  Chatham

21 April 1932 sailed from Chatham

4 May 1932 sailed Malta for Abadan

22 June 1932 at Malta

5 August 1932 at Malta

9 August 1932 arrived at Port Said from Malta

27 August 1932 sailed Abadan for Singapore

23 September 1932 sailed Singapore for Colombo, Ceylon

9 October 1932 sailed Colombo, Ceylon

14 October 1932 sailed Abadan for Malta

13 November 1932 sailed Suez for Abadan

23 November 1932 Captain William T Williams RFA appointed as Master

 

 Captain WILLIAMS WM THOMAS

Captain William T Williams RFA

 

22 December 1932 sailed Abadan for Portsmouth

10 January 1933 arrived at Suez when on passage to Portsmouth

31 January 1933 arrived at Portsmouth from Spithead and berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

2 February 1933 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

3 February 1933 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

4 February 1933 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

6 February 1933 berthed on Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty

7 February 1933 sailed from Gosport Oil Fuel Jetty for Devonport

8 February 1933 arrived at Devonport

18 March 1933 the Daily Mirror newspaper reported …

 

18 3 1933 Daily Mirror War Afridi

 

March 1933 while in dry dock at Devonport sand and brass filings were found in machinery – reported in the press and mentioned in Parliament as deliberate sabotage

6 April 1933 arrived at Port Said

7 April 1933 sailed Suez for Abadan

24 April 1933 sailed Abadan for Malta

12 May 1933 arrived at Suez from Abadan

24 May 1933 sailed from Malta for Abadan

30 May 1933 arrived at Port Said from Malta

11June 1933 passed Perim when on passage to Abadan

22 June 1933 sailed from Abadan for Sheerness

8 July 1933 arrived Suez

25 July 1933 arrived at Devonport

27 July 1933 Captain Alfred L Jones RFA appointed as Master

25 August 1933 at Devonport

7 September 1933 at Devonport

12 October 1933 sailed Abadan for Hanjam

21 November 1933 arrived at Port Said

3 December 1933 arrived Port Said from Malta

8 December 1933 at Port Said sailing for Abadan

29 December 1933 sailed from Abadan for Gibraltar

12 January 1934 arrived at Suez from Abadan

13 January 1934 sailed from Port Said for Gibraltar

25 January 1934 sailed Gibraltar

9 February 1934 arrived at Devonport

13 February 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

23 February 1934 in No: 13 Dry Dock, Portsmouth Dockyard

24 March 1934 sailed from Portmouth Harbour

12 April 1934 sailed from Port Said

18 May 1934 arrived Singapore from Abadan

9 June 1934 sailed Abadan for Gibraltar

24 June 1934 arrived Suez from Abadan

3 July 1934 arrived at Gibraltar

11 August 1934 sailed from Abadan

27 August 1934 arrived at Port Said sailing later the same day for Portsmouth

10 September 1934 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

19 September 1934 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

24 September 1934 passed Gibraltar

28 September 1934 berthed at Malta

13 November 1934 sailed from Malta

17 November 1934 arrived at Port Said from Malta

1 December 1934 sailed from Abadan for Singapore

27 December 1934 at Singapore

30 December 1934 sailed Singapore for Abadan

25 January 1935 passed Perim sailing north bound

30 January 1935 arrived at Suez from Abadan

14 February 1935 reported she was 70 miles west of Niton, Isle of Wight

20 February 1935 at Sheerness

11 March 1935 Mr William H A Lawson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

 

CEO William H A LAWSON

Chief Engineer Officer William H A Lawson RFA

 

10 April 1935 at Rosyth

12 April 1935 sailed from Rosyth for Malta

24 April 1935 sailed Halto for Port Said

28 April 1935 sailed Port Said for Abadan

2 June 1935 sailed Port Said

3 June 1935 sailed Suez

16 June 1935 at Abadan

14 July 1935 sailed from Malta for Abadan

1 August 1935 arrived at Abadan from Malta

17 September 1935 sailed from Singapore for Trincomalee, Ceylon

3 December 1935 sailed Port Said

21 December 1935 at Singapore

5 March 1936 passed Perim sailing north bound

21 March 1936 arrived at Port Said

20 April 1936 arrived at Suez from Abadan

19 May 1936 berthed at Portsmouth Harbour

26 May 1936 sailed from Portsmouth Harbour

4 June 1936 sailed Falmouth for Abadan

12 September 1936 sailed from Colombo, Ceylon

3 October 1936 having sailed Darwin, Australia this day after discharging 8,000 tons of FFO into the Naval storage tanks there two male stowaways, both from the UK, were discovered on board. The ship was en route to the Persian Gulf. The stowaways were transferred to RFA WAR SIRDAR which was due at Darwin on the 10 October 1936

30 November 1936 arrived at Suez

12 December 1936 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan and Port Said to discharge cargo

24 December 1936 sailed from Port Said

7 January 1937 on passage from Gibraltar to Abadan passed Aden this day

23 January 1937 sailed from Aden

16 February 1937 arrived at Plymouth Sound from Abadan

4 March 1937 berthed on the River Tyne at Fletcher & Co (Walker). Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master

 

Captain WILLIAM HERBERT GREEN

Captain William H Green RFA

 

22 April 1937 came under full RFA control

23 April 1937 sailed the River Tyne for Sheerness

30 April 1937 sailed Sheernes for Abadan

6 May 1937 passed Gibraltar sailing east bound

29 June 1937 sailed Darwin, Northern Territories, Australia for Colombo, Ceylon having discharged cargo

19 July 1937 at Colombo, Ceylon 2nd Steward William John Briars discharged dead – fell overboard from a rowing boat and drowned

16 September 1937 arrived at Aden from Colombo, Ceylon

19 September 1937 sailed Aden for Abadan

23 October 1937 to 25 October 1937 in the Albert Dry Dock, Singapore

24 January 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Abadan and Alexandria to discharge cargo

2 March 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo

12 April 1938 at Lyness Seaman Low Ah Rue discharged dead. Death subject to Police enquiries

 

 Press report - Aberdeen Jou 15.4.38 War Afridi

Press report from Aberdeen Journal of 15 April 1938

 

18 April 1938 at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne

20 April 1938 Mr John Atchison RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for general repairs and docking

27 April 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for general repairs and docking

30 April 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for general repairs and docking

2 May 1938 berthed at Wallsend Slipway, River Tyne for general repairs and docking

11 June 1938 berthed at Gibraltar from Trinidad to discharge cargo

18 March 1939 sailed Aden for Abadan

25 April 1939 Mr Leonard T Tomlinson RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 June 1939 passed the Lloyds Signal Station on the Lizard sailing east

17 June 1939 arrived at the River Tyne from Devonport

19 June 1939 at Swan Hunters, Wallsend in refit. Discharged crew at the North Shields Board of Trade Office

20 June 1939 at Swan Hunters, Wallsend in refit

26 June 1939 at Swan Hunters, Wallsend in refit

30 June 1939 at Swan Hunters, Wallsend in refit

3 July 1939 at Swan Hunters, Wallsend in refit

5 July 1939 sailed from the River Tyne for Sheerness

7 July 1939 arrived at Sheerness

31 July 1939 at 15°03.N 52°25E Sailor Tang Ah Tay discharged dead – lost overboard

8 December 1939 sailed Gibraltar in escorted convoy HG 10 with RFA’s THERMOL and WAR  BHARATA arriving Devonport on 16 December 1939

10 January 1940 and 11 January 1940 at Rosyth alongside the heavy cruiser HMS BERWICK refuelling her

 

rn berwick

HMS BERWICK

 

7 Mar 1940 Captain John Gow RFA appointed as Master

 

 John Gow

Captain John Gow RFA

 

2 April 1940 at the Firth of Forth

1 May 1940 at Rosyth

10 May 1940 Mr David L Walls RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

9 June 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS YORK and supplied 150 tons of fuel oil

 

HMS York

HMS YORK

 

19 June 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS YORK and supplied 110 tons of fuel oil

29 June 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS YORK and supplied 170 tons of fuel oil

9 July 1940 at Rosyth alongside HMS YORK and supplied 122 tons of fuel oil

10 September 1940 at Leith Docks

17 October 1940 sailed Leith Docks for Grangemouth

13 January 1941 at Rosyth berthed along side HMS HOOD to refuel her until the next day

11 February 1941 sailed Rosyth for Grangemouth

12 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

25 February 1941 arrived at Grangemouth

27 February 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

8 March 1941 sailed Grangemouth

10 March 1941 passed St Abbs Head

12 March 1941 arrived at Southend

17 March 1941 sailed Southend

16 June 1941 Mr William W Ridgway RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

19 August 1941 arrived at Grangemouth

22 August 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

27 August 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

6 September 1941 arrived at Grangemouth

7 September 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

6 October 1941 arrived at Grangemouth

11 October 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth arriving the same day

23 October 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth

24 October 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

28 October 1941 at Rosyth alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her with 3,230 tons of FFO and 98 tons of diesol

 

HMS Duke Of York

HMS DUKE OF YORK

 

30 October 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth

1 November 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

5 November 1941 arrived Grangemouth from Rosyth

6 November 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

24 December 1941 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth

26 December 1941 sailed Grangemouth for Rosyth

9 April 1942 arrived at Grangemouth from Rosyth

2 June 1942 at Rosyth. Mr Charles A Smith DSC RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

12 August 1942 damaged the cruiser HMS LIVERPOOL at Rosyth

3 October 1942 Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA appointed as Master

 

 Capt Archibald Hobson Photo

Captain Archibald Hobson DSC RFA

 

26 October 1942 at Rosyth alongside HMS DUKE OF YORK refuelling her with 3,126 tons of FFO

2 November 1942 at Rosyth Dockyard Able Seaman John Galbraith discharged dead – fell into the entrance of an air raid shelter in the Dockyard – died from misadventure

4 December 1942 at Rosyth Dockyard Fireman Frank Watson discharged dead – accident

20 January 1943 at Rosyth alongside HMS NEWFOUNDLAND refuelling her with 592 tons of FFO

 

HMS lNewfoundland

HMS NEWFOUNDLAND

 

February 1943 in collision with RFA OLIGARCH

1 April 1943 Captain Richard H P Mayhew RFA appointed as Master

July 1943 fitted with tanks in forward hold to hold 120 tons of diesel oil

18 August 1943 Captain William H Green RFA appointed as Master

4 December 1943 Mr Harold R Bullimore RFA (Lieutenant Commander (E) (RN (ret)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 April 1944 Captain William H Green RFA appointed Master until 27 July 1945

19 December 1944 at Rosyth alongside HMS COLOSSUS refuelling her with 1,650 tons of FFO

22 January 1945 at Leith until 28 January 1945

6 April 1945 Mr Lowrie Cowell RD RFA (Engineer Lieutenant RNR (retd)) appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

11  June 1945 at Swan Hunter, Wallsend on Tyne – preparation for foreign service until 21 September 1945

28 August 1945 at No: 2 Tier, Willington Quay, River Tyne

30 August 1945 Captain Charles H Noel OBE RFA appointed as Master

 

Charles Noel 3 - 1943

Captain Charles H Noel RFA

 

5 September 1945 Mr R B Burgh RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

21 September 1945 arrived the River Tyne and then sailed the same day but had to put back through defects

22 September 1945 sailed the Tyne

1 October 1945 passed Gibraltar

11 October 1945 arrived and sailed Port Said

26 October 1945 arrived at Abadan

7 June 1946 Captain Charles H Noel RFA appointed as an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the most excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) vide the London Gazette of this date – page 2882

11 January 1947 at Hong Kong with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled

1 April 1947 Captain Iden W J Hall RFA appointed as Master

9 April 1947 Mr A W Symonds RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer

1947 at Hong Kong on Yard Craft agreement with Captain G W Bowden appointed as Master and Mr J L Pedrick appointed as Engineer (First Class)

1949 Captain G F W Reid appointed as Master and Mr S R Clark appoined as Engineer (First Class)

21 June 1950 at Hong Kong with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled

25 August 1950 at Hong Kong with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled

1 February 1951 at Hong Kong with HMAS BATAAN alongside being refuelled

1 April 1951 at Hong Kong with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled

12 April 1951 hulked

3 July 1951 at Hong Kong while berthed on No: 17 buoy refuelled HMAS MURCHISON alongside

12 August 1951 at Hong Kong while berthed on Buoy 18 at Kowloon refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside

18 August 1951 at Hong Kong with HMAS WARRAMUNGA alongside being refuelled

3 October 1951 at Hong Kong while berthed on Buoy 18 at Kowloon refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside

10 December 1951 at Hong Kong while berthed on No: 17 buoy refuelled HMAS MURCHISON alongside

25 February 1952 refuelled HMAS BATAAN alongside

28 February 1952 refuelled HMAS BATAAN alongside

16 September 1952 at Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside

1 April 1953 refuelled HMAS CULGOA alongside

27 April 1953 at Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside

HMAS Anzac AWM P00271 001

HMAS ANZAC

 

23 July 1953 at Hong Kong refuelled HMAS CULGOA alongside

11 November 1953 at Hong Kong while berthed on No: 17 buoy refuelled HMAS MURCHISON alongside

12 April 1954 at Hong Kong refuelled HMAS MURCHISON alongside

30 June 1954 at Hong Kong refuelled HMAS MURCHISON alongside

4 April 1956 at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside. Supplied 455 tons of FFO

21 May 1956 at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside. Supplied 367 tons of FFO. HMAS TOBRUK also alongside being refuelled

4 July 1956 at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside. Supplied 101 tons of FFO and 7,143 gallons of diesel oil

14 September 1956 at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong refuelled HMAS ANZAC alongside. Supplied 332 tons of FFO

14 April 1958 offered for sale by tender ‘as she lies’ at Hong Kong in the Straits Times of this day – page 11

August 1958 arrived for breaking up at Hong Kong